"The Interview with John Wooden"

THE ROCK: Who is John Wooden, tell us something about you?
Wooden: I was born and raised in Memphis, TN, graduated from Tennessee State University in 1982, joined the Air Force as an officer and gave Uncle Sam 21 and a half years of my life. I was fortunate enough to travel the world, do a myriad of jobs/projects and learn a lot about life and different cultures, before retiring last July as a Major. When I am usually asked this question, I tell people I am a man who is blessed. I am a father to two wonderful kids, a son to a loving mom, a brother, a friend, a confidante, a businessman, a storyteller and most importantly, a child of God.

THE ROCK: Where are you from, and currently residing?
Wooden: Born and raised in Memphis, the home of great BBQ (smile) and I currently live in Albuquerque, NM, which was the location of my duty station before I retired.

THE ROCK: Are there any other writers in the family?
Wooden: My son, Jonathan, contributed a poem to my first book, but my daughter, Jene’, who is 13, is a poet and writer of Nancy Drew type mysteries. Jonathan is a senior and graduating from high school soon and plans on pursuing a degree in computer graphics. He came up with the concept for the book cover for "A Moment of Justice." If all goes well, Jene’ will be releasing her first book by the end of the year.

THE ROCK: When did you start writing?
Wooden: In some ways, I have always been a writer at heart, but if I had to boil down it to a year, it was 1993/94 timeframe. I was stationed in Hawaii when I really started taking writing seriously. I started writing poetry and short stories, and eventually progressed to my true love, murder/suspense thrillers.

THE ROCK: What prepared you to become an author?
Wooden: (Taking a deep breath) A combination of family, friends, life and the world we live in. In my Book’s Dedication, I give much love and homage to my father, his friends and other family members, who used to sit on our porch and tell story after story. Much of what they told was true with a taste of exaggeration (smile)… ok, a big taste of exaggeration (laughing). I listened, I learned and I studied the art of storytelling. They taught me well. I may never be the vocal storyteller each of these men was, but on paper, I like to think I do justice to their memories. Additionally, growing up in the South, attending a predominantly Black college, being a member of the Armed Forces and seeing as much as I have about life, on so many different fronts probably over-prepared made me to be an author. Many say I see the world from a different perspective or I see the Big Picture, but I don’t know if there really is a Big Picture. I personally think I am a man who has been blessed to come from a tradition of storytellers and fortunate in his travels to have been able to get a grasp on certain elements of life.

THE ROCK: What inspired you to become a writer?
Wooden: I give much credit to the Air Force and the positions I held. From writing performance reports, which sometimes can be the biggest fairy tales (smile), to writing technical reports and publications, forced me to learn something about writing. As an avid reader, I, like most, thought writing was easy if you had a great idea/story. But I was fortunate Uncle Sam took an interest in teaching me how to write and allowed me to become a Technical Writer/Editor. When I decided to become an author, my biggest challenge was learning the intricacies of writing a story or novel.

THE ROCK: What inspired you to write your book?
Wooden: Remembering the stories those old men on the porch used to tell me. Though it has been years, I can still see the faces of my father, uncles, cousins and their friends. Some of those stories stayed with these men I loved all of their lives. I owe it to them to write something capturing and releasing the pain they lived and died with. I just hope I did them some justice.

THE ROCK: Tell us about your newest creation. What is the premise?
Wooden: I wanted something original and creative. So I came up with a good idea for a story, but it is also a story that needed to be told. A story I honestly think is overdue. Lynching used to be the ultimate degradation and weapon used against African-Americans years ago. As one who has traveled throughout the world, regardless of how many Jewish people I meet, not one tries to live down the Holocaust or their history the way African-Americans do. I wanted to write a novel where African-American crime-fighters were faced with the horrifying dilemma of solving a crime of saving people who lynched and posed for a picture with a Black man and now, 30 years later, those who accomplished the lynchings are now coming up dead. I know African-American law enforcement personnel are faced with black and white dilemmas every day, but I know this is completely different than the average deal with a bigot case. I think people will find "A Moment of Justice, A Lifetime of Vengeance" truly a unique and interesting story.

THE ROCK: Any publishing contracts in the working?
Wooden: I’m trying, hoping, wishing and praying for a book contract (smile). But fortunately, I have been contacted by a filmmaker who has read "A Moment of Justice" and think it would be a great movie. For now, I am marketing and selling books and hoping my efforts lead to something good.

THE ROCK: Have you ever self-published? Why or why not?
Wooden: This book is self-published. My first book was a print-on-demand (POD). But I love the control I have with this book. If this book is a disaster, I have me to blame. I love having the complete decision-making authority on my project, from pricing to marketing, and that makes a difference. If I get a major book contract, I have no problems relinquishing control, but for now, I am enjoying it.

THE ROCK: What are "traditional publishers" looking for?
Wooden: I think they are always looking for a good story/book, i.e., something unique, original and flows well. But I also think they are looking for someone who is marketable, plans on being around for a long time and considers him/herself a writer or storyteller. I really do believe that anyone can write, but it takes skills, vision and the love of telling a story to be a great author or outstanding storyteller.

THE ROCK: If you were a publisher, what would be your niche? Why?
Wooden: I would love to be a publisher, which is one of my goals in the writing industry. For now, I want to help the up and coming authors. I believe in the adage, "Everyone has a story yet untold," and if I can help bring some of these stories to light, it will make me happy. But I want authors to put their hearts and souls into what they write and exceed their own expectations by leaps and bounds. So, that’s my niche… getting the best out of authors and transposing that best on paper!

THE ROCK: For an author, is having a publishing contract with a "traditional publisher" important
professionally? Why?
Wooden: For me, it’s very important! I want everyone to read the story I am telling or at least have access to my books. I honestly believe success is in the mind and book sales for many determine that success. I’m about people reading my creation. My egotism is about people reading, understanding, dissecting and feeling what I write, and relaying to others that yea, he came up with something different, interesting and worth reading.

THE ROCK: What are some of your professional and personal achievements?
Wooden: First and foremost, being a father to two beautiful kids, who one day will far exceed any and everything I ever accomplished. There is nothing like fatherhood! They can take you through a smile, a frown, happiness and sadness all within a 24 hour period, and still, at the end of the day, you are happy the Good Lord blessed you. That’s my ultimate and defining achievement! I thank the Good Lord for blessing me with my "two knuckleheads" and being born to a mom and dad, and siblings who love me. I hope what I have accomplished professionally is making those around me better employees and better people.

THE ROCK: Who are some of your favorite authors?
Wooden: Walter Mosley and James Patterson, hands down, especially since they write in the same genre I write and love. Also, my homeboy from Memphis, Eric Jerome Dickey, he has the gift of writing, Michael Baisden and Nathan McCall, who definitely knows how to keep it real.

THE ROCK: Where do you want to be in 5 years?
Wooden: I want to be a force in the writing industry as an author, publisher and editor. Hopefully, publishing two novels per year as an author and five to ten novels per year as a publisher.

THE ROCK: Where can readers find you?
Wooden: On my website, www.jwooden.com or via e-mail: jwooden61@yahoo.com or jwooden61@gmail.com. They can also order the book at any bookstore and online at Amazon.com, booksamillion.com and several other online sites. I am still working on getting the book in as many bookstores as I can. I will be doing book signings this year, just haven’t made out a complete schedule yet. I plan on being at the Bronner Brothers Hair Show in Atlanta in August, the Rawsistaz Book Conference in September, also in Atlanta and hopefully at two or three Black college football classics this year. I am also working on book signings with some book clubs, at several bookstores and possibly several professional organizations.

THE ROCK: Thank you, Mr. Wooden.

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