Local authors Raquel Eatmon and Brandi Johnson spoke Saturday at the Mansfield/Richland County Public Library in honor of Black History Month which is observed in February.
The two authors shared their stories of how they each embarked on becoming authors. Eatmon revealed that she was born and raised in Mansfield. “I have a lot of respect and spirit for Mansfield and just coming back feels right because it is home,” said Eatmon.
Brandi Johnson resides in Mansfield and revealed that she began writing at a young age. “I don’t consider myself an author. I was just blessed to be able to write,” said Johnson.
Eatmon has written one book entitled, “Strut Your Stuff.” Eatmon runs a company entitled Rising Media and produces conferences for the company.
“It can be hard for us to see what we are doing but it is much easier for me to point out someone else’s issues. So, I stepped back and took a hard look at myself and was surprised to see these cycles I was living. I wanted to change these things because they were keeping me from moving forward and feeling good,” said Eatmon.
Eatmon explained that she always kept a journal documenting the different aspects of her life. “One day I looked at all these journals and I thought this is my journey. I would like to put all of it in one spot and that was how this book was born. I had written it all along I just didn’t know it,” said Eatmon.
Eatmon explained to audience members that she does not have an agent or a publishing company. “I had to figure out how to publish the book and get representation for the book,” said Eatmon. Eatmon revealed that she had to get out and promote herself for the book. “If we don’t strut our stuff then who is going to do it for us,” said Eatmon.
She suggested that aspiring authors should look to someone who has written a book before and ask as many questions as possible.
Johnson has written four books including, “Spoiled Rotten”, “In My Girls I Trust’, “Trickin”, and “ What Ya Girl Won’t Do”. Johnson also has a short story on E-book and is currently working on two more books.
“I was working at the prison in Mansfield and I started writing this story. I gave it to my co-workers to read and they wanted to know what would happen next. That gave me the confidence to continue to write. Maybe three months into writing this story I finished it and then something happened to my computer. I lost my entire book, but I dusted myself off and it actually turned out better the second time,” said Johnson.
Johnson met a man that offered his help by letting his wife read the first four chapters of her book, “Spoiled Rotten.” His wife contacted Johnson and wanted to help her find an agent or a publishing company. “She shopped around to four different publishing companies and I got accepted by all four,” said Johnson.
Johnson revealed that she was the first brand new author with her publishing company that sold 9,000 copies in three months. “I am still not where I need to be, but by 2015 I will be there,” said Johnson.
Johnson told the audience that she writes whenever she has enough time. Johnson works full time, goes to college full time, and is a single mother of three sons. “I don’t have a specific time that I write. Whenever it hits me is when I start writing,” said Johnson. Johnson said that the most time she has spent writing in one session was about six hours. “It has to be perfect in order for me to move on,” said Johnson.
Eatmon explained that she shuts herself out from the outside world and made a commitment to herself to write at least ten pages a day. “I try to touch my projects every day to keep them alive, but as of now I don’t know if that will be what I do for my next book,” said Eatmon. The longest she has spent writing in one session was about 12 hours.
Johnson revealed that her inspirations from her book come from everyday life. And Eatmon said that her book is about learning how to self manage. “We manage other people and we forget about self management and that is a very important part of life,” said Eatmon.
