My name is CHAMSIL. I am an Atlanta, GA-based author/poet/spoken word artist who hails from Kalamazoo, Michigan. I've been writing since 1998, initially starting with writing rhymes in my spare time when I was on the brink of beginning my senior year at Western Michigan University. The one thing that really inspired me to write was the album 'Aquemini' from the hip-hop group, OutKast. The music and the lyrics on that album moved me so much and I listened to it so frequently, that I decided that I needed to find a way to channel some of my thoughts and creativity via writing. That was essentially where my journey began. I did a lot of on-line battling over the next year with cats all over the world and that only further helped strenghten my writing skills. Personally, I think that if it wasn't for that period, I may not have become so passionate about writing and blossomed into the writer that I have become today. I dibbled and dabbled in short stories that I pretty much kept to myself, because I wasn't really sure how it would be received. I also started writing poetry. Then I felt more comfortable with sharing my work in 2004, which translated into me performing at local open mics and poetry slams, which then translated into me attempting to write my first novel, Unbeknownst, in 2005 (published in 2010). I released a slew of free eBooks and poems and conceptualized my two books that were destined to follow: the LOAD memoirs (An Erotiq Anthology) and Breaux (An Urban Nightmare) in 2008 (published in 2010 and 2011, respectively). I got on my steel-toed boots and am on a mission to kick in the doors of this literary fortress. I won't stop until somebody or something kills me.
2. How did you come up with the title, Breaux?
The title 'Breaux' came about in a funny way, actually. Every since my early teens, I was a HUGE fan of the New Orleans Saints football team. I still am. I had some friends that I came up with that were from New Orleans, so I learned so much about the city. I even attended a historical black college, Xavier University of Louisiana, right after I graduated from high school. Although my time there was short, I absorbed New Orleans like a sponge. I own albums by the rapper, Juvenile, who is a native of New Orleans and a product of the Magnolia Housing Development, Uptown 3rd Ward. So, in one of the songs from his album 'Solja Rags' (circa 1997), he mentioned a hotel/motel called Reauxchambreaux (which I may be butchering the spelling of it), plus I familiar with the slogan, "Geaux Saints", from back in the 90's. I thought it was a very eclectic way of spelling it and so New Orleans-esque, I kept the title locked in my memory bank. So, when it was time to run with it, it was a no-brainer. 'Breaux' was it.
3. What inspired you to write this novel?
I was in a real dark place in my life. I was impacted by a downturn in the economy on a personal level and I was pissed off beyond belief. The manifestation was a culmination of my anger and frustration at 'the system'. Plus with a lot of the homework that I did on New Orleans, I knew that was just the setting to set this story in motion. I was well-versed on how I wanted the principal character to be, ranging from the pain, the misery, the angst, the psychological distress, etc. It's a tumultuous story. But, I felt I had to tell it. More importantly, I had to tell it my way. I think I was able to successfully. The thing that I appreciate the most about this experience is that I was actually able to write a portion of the book in New Orleans during a visit to the city in early 2009. Breaux has so much more sentimental value because of that.
4. What was the hardest part of writing?
The hardest part of writing 'Breaux' was the struggle with not only the storyline, but the extreme levels of violence that takes place in the crucial parts of the book. The book was so out of control, that I felt obligated to put a disclaimer in the beginning credits. I definitely don't want people to have a misconception and believe that I feel the exact same way this character does. The lines between fiction and real life can really be blurry, especially when the writing is so powerful, dark and sinister. I'm a fun-loving guy who just loves to write and is very passionate about it. I will not lie, I surely had difficulty with some of the scenes that I wrote. But, all in all, I had to allow the reader to have a crystal clear vision of what was going on in the mind of Breaux, as well as his experiences. Vivid pictures painted....emotions viciously tainted.
5. Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?
I'm just a passionate writer with a voice trying to be heard. I strongly feel that I am the writer that readers can truly believe in. A CHAMSIL experience is unforgettable. Readers can visit my website at www.iamchamsil.com for all information CHAMSIL-related, including books, of course. Don't think twice...get (a) CHAMSIL book(s) in your life. :)
I would like to thank Readers In Motion Book Club for the time and the opportunity. It is greatly appreciated.
That's my word.
One love.
Chamsil
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