Q&A with
"Passion Marks"
Author Lee A. Hayes
Ujima-Nia: Would you tell us a little bit about yourself and your interests?
Lee A. Hayes: Well, not a whole lot to tell…I’m a pretty simple person. I’m a southern gentleman by nature, born and raised in Texas, but I have been in Washington, DC for the last seven years with plans on moving to Atlanta, GA soon. I play tennis, read, write, love movies, very single and I just finished my Masters in Public Administration (a long way from writing, huh? LOL) in July 2005. Now, I’m poised to conquer the world! LOL
UN: Which character was the most interesting to create and why?
LAH :Kevin was the most interesting character to create because I think he is so human, full of the good and capable of lapses of judgment, as we all are. It was very interesting for me to create a complex real-life character who finds himself in the midst of tragedies and has to find that inner strength to overcome the obstacles.
James was fun, too, because I think villains can be more interesting and with James I wanted to created the villain everyone would love to hate.
UN: What question were you asked the most after "Passion Marks" was released?
LAH: The most common question, the one that everyone is dying to know, but sometimes afraid to ask is….”Is Passion Marks based on me?”
The second most common question was: This happens to gay people?
UN: Were you worried that people would be offended by some of the content.
LAH: Ain’t for everybody, so I expected so people to be shocked and even offended. Part of the beauty of reading is that it can expose people to worlds they haven’t even imagined so I expected people to not completely understand that world. But, the humanity of the characters transcends race, class, and sexuality. And, in a country of free speech, no one has a right to not be offended.
UN: Was it easy or hard writing ,"A Deeper Blue" the sequel to"Passion Marks , and did you do it for yourself or for your fans?
LAH: A Deeper Blue was harder for a couple of reasons. Number one, this novel is told in 3rd person whereas Passion Marks was told exclusivity in first person. For me, it was a complete shift in writing because I have to take in a lot of perspectives in 3rd person. Also, A Deeper Blue was hard because of expectations. As much as I try to get that out of my head, its still there in a slight form. People are expecting great thing with this second novel (and they’ll get it). So, as I wrote, I asked myself the same questions I asked in writing Passion Marks: Is this interesting? And, would I personally want to read this story? Mainly, I did it for myself. A Deeper Blue is HOT but it’s very different from Passion Marks.
UN: Are you similar to any of the characters in your books and, if so, which one?
LAH: Nope
UN: Who are some of your favorite authors and what are some of your favorite books?
LAH: My favorite books are: The Long Blue Moan by L.M. Ross, and Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin. I’m a big fan of ZANE, Dayne Avery who wrote “I Wrote This Song”, E. Lynn Harris.
UN: If you could only meet and learn from one author, past or present, who would it be and why?
LAH: Wow…interesting question. it would be James Baldwin. It took a lot of courage to write the kind of things he wrote in the time period in which he wrote them. His words are fluid and passionate and powerful.
UN: What other projects are you working on?
LAH: Screenplay to Passion Marks. A movie producer asked my publisher did I have a screenplay to the novel, so I’m tryna get that done.
UN: How can readers contact you?
The Brothers and Sisters of Ujima-Nia would like to thank Lee A. Hayes for taking the time to, not only respond to our email, but to also answer our questions.....We look forward to seeing Lee at our Literary Retreat '06.......
Peace and Blessings
