First, I think an introduction is needed. I’m Michael Presley the author of the BLACKFUNK trilogy and my most recent work Tears on A Sunday Afternoon. I’m in my forties and most people say that my personality is like Tony Dungy, quiet but strong. I rarely believe that it is necessary to get into anyone’s face unless it is in defense of myself or a loved one. I’m humble but dedicated and persistent. The most important person in the world to me is my daughter whom I’m presently raising. She is four years old and I have had her since September of 2006. In addition, to this project I’m also trying to write The Last Black Man, my next novel and keep my full time job.
Blackfunk took me over four years to write. In the original book, the main character died, but Debbie, a friend of mine convinced me to change it. The book was also more than five hundred pages with a lot more sex scenes which my friend also convinced me to limit. I’m hoping to publish a limited run of the original book sometime in the future. I couldn’t contain my pride when I received Blackfunk from the printer in June of 2001. My first print run was 1000, but the boxes seem endless as I carried them from the UPS truck. It cost me approximately 5000 dollars to print the books and if those books didn’t sell I was going to be giving Blackfunk as a Christmas gift to everyone I knew. But it did sell and it did feed me well. Presently, Blackfunk has sold more than 100,000 copies and the complete trilogy has sold about 200,000.
I remember going to Newark to take the plane to Atlanta sometime in 2003 and to me you haven’t made it as a writer until you see your books selling in the airport. My friends have always seen people reading my books in the train and on buses but to me the airport test was very important. I had traveled a lot doing book signings all over the country but I had yet to see my books in a bookstore at the airport. So before boarding the plane in Newark I did my customary check of the book shelves on the airport. And there they were Blackfunk and Blackfunk II sitting on the shelf needless to say I asked the clerk if I could sign them and she obliged. I have always set goals for myself. I’m a procrastinator but when it comes down to meeting a goal, impossible is a foreign word. My next goal is to see one of my books made into a movie. I love movies and I use to go to movies religiously. I remember sitting with my friend Eleise in the movie house and saying to her that one day I want my name to be up there in the credits. I don’t want to be a movie star or anything like that I would rather be known but not seen. I hate taking pictures but I like meeting fans of my books. In other words you won’t see me but you’ll know that I’m there.
Blackfunk, the movie. I have a wish list of actors/actresses I want to play the main parts. My number one choice is to have Halle Berry play Andria or Kim. For Rashaun I would love to see Djimon Hounsou of Blood Diamond or Derek Luke of Catch A Fire. For the soundtrack I want Jay-z to write and rap the theme sound. But back to reality… yesterday I received information on how to turn a book into a movie. After Tears on a Sunday Afternoon came out I hired a publicist to help me get the word out about the book and she referred me to the some guys in California so I contacted them. They told me it would cost a million dollars to make a decent movie of Blackfunk. But I have to come up with the million dollars. I don’t know about you but I sure don’t have a million dollars. Let’s start with the first thing to do when going down an unknown road. When you can’t get a guide you get someone to help you stay out of danger or help you when you get into danger. I have contacted a lawyer and everything goes through him.
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