I try to be a unique storyteller. I’m lucky to have found an area of fiction that isn’t revolutionary but is just different enough to make that trailblazing part of me happy.
I call my stories Urban Fantastic and it’s not so much as a new genre I’m trying to create but an expectation the readers will have when they see my work. And that expectation will be an urban setting, with sci-fi, horror or fantasy elements and a cast of characters of colour.
I’m a big fan of the great Young Adult titles that are available in the market. The quality of these books are exceptional but for me, there was always something missing in the market. And that was there are a very few YA books with young black lead characters
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.So I decided to add my name to a small select group of writers who have done this.
When I was growing up there were no books with young action characters of colour, having adventures and battling the bad guys. I wasn’t deprived of fantastic examples of books, comics, and TV but this lack of diversity did no good for my self-esteem as a young man. It’s funny how after so many years those very comics and TV series influenced my writing. The Hanna Barbers cartoon Johnny Quest stands out as an inspiration and the Marvel character Black Panther. With those icons in mind, I set about creating Joshua N’Gon, the Last Prince, and his story.
I’ve included all the themes and action that I would still enjoy as a young man. And followed in the tradition of the Harry Potter, Alex Rider, Percy Jackson and Katniss Everdeen for depth. If I can add a new face and vibe to the Young Adult genre I would have succeeded.
I hope you like it.