Conversation Archive

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Conversation #5

Jennifer of Detroit, via e-mail asked:

Jennifer
Well I was fortunate to get a copy of Karma directly from the author. I read the book and really enjoyed it, typos aside LOL
as an aspiring author i enjoyed talking to you about where you draw your inspiration
that being said, I know you've said that the main character isn't based on you
but really....seriously....about what percentage of the story is yours


Hashim
Well first let me say thank you for your support and I am happy about getting the opportunity to have this discussion with you today. With that being said I have to answer this question honestly there is no part of the book that is true to my life. But I am more than sure that there is someone out there who can see a bit of themselves in the characters in "Karma".

Jennifer
Okay so let's say that you were the main character....what would you have done differently to effect a different outcome?

Hashim
Great question! Well considering my current maturity level is so far above Christopher Alexander, I would've had a better understanding of the affect my decisions would have on the women of the book. In my opinion Chris only had two people who could have honestly and truly been upset by Christopher's actions. Other than that I feel he did a decent job of keeping his partners informed. He immediately eliminated the option of being serious about any of them, and made it clear that what happen was just what happen. Now the key point was when Chris made the same mistakes that the women had made before him by allowing his feelings to get the best of him.

Jennifer
The twist at the end of Karma leads readers to believe that she will make another appearance in the next book--is that true?

Hashim
Well to be honest, I am not completely sure about that one yet. She very well may end up in a future book. Only time will tell.

Jennifer
Which book was the hardest to write? Which book is your favorite?

Hashim
My favorite book is definitely Karma because it was my first, it will always be considered my baby. It was the first thing I ever created, and put my entire heart and soul into. However I think as far as published works go to date The Learning Curve is my best work. It has the ability to allow a broader audience. I think the hardest book that I have written so far is the book I am working on right now. The Congregation, simply because it makes me focus on more than one main character.

Jennifer
Did you include any of our conversations in that book? If so, when can I expect my royalty check LOLOL!!

Hashim
Well I don't think I have incorporated any of your ideas just yet I think I will wait until I get to The Escort to use some of your ideas. And we will work out the payment arrangements. LOL!!!

Jennifer
The Escort...sounds like a teaser...care to give us a quick synopsis

Hashim
Well I figured I would give my readers a different feel and let them see that I was capable of writing stories not based solely on one character. That's were The Congregation came in and like I said it has been my hardest task so far. Though I didn't want to be one of those authors that get completely away from the characters that his audience have come to love, so in The Escort Christopher is back and has evolved into a better person, but he is struggling to keep the problem that he seems not to have a problem with under control. He has had the opportunity to choose a new career path in The Escort.

Jennifer
Now I know that in the book Christopher was a teacher and I know that at one point, you were as well....draw any parallels from your experiences

Hashim
I didn't draw too much from my experiences as a teacher as much as I did from my experiences as a mentor. I tried to capture the problems that kids of this day and age go through and tried to stay away from the problems that my generation experienced. So with a lot of the scenes in The Learning Curve when Christopher had discussions with the students he talked to them about problems that they face in today's society.

Jennifer
What inspired you to want to write?

Hashim
I've been able to put a story together pretty well since I was very young. One of the first stories I wrote stands out to me because I can still remember getting in trouble for it. It was also the story that got me from a regular English class to Honors English in High school. I have had an interest in writing since that day. But to be totally honest I was inspired by the people who never could imagine me as an author. I have always been the type of person who likes to prove people wrong, and when a friend of mine told me that I couldn't do it that was all the motivation I needed to write my first novel. My inspiration is proving my doubters wrong.

Jennifer
if you could collaborate with any author, dead or alive, who would it be?

Hashim
Another great question honestly I have never thought about it, but I would probably have to say it would be between about three people. I'll start with Zane, and I know everybody maybe disappointed in me for this one because of all the exceptional authors I have to choose from but it would be a personal challenge for me. She has an unbelievable talent, she is able to write a sexual scene in such detail that I don't think anyone can touch her in that department. When it comes to that portion of a book she is the best that I have ever read. The second person would be Eric Jerome Dickey, and his is simple as well he is capable of writing a woman like no other man in the game. A lot of the time if you ignore the cover of the book you can get lost in his books and believe that it wasn't him writing. Last and but not least, I know this is clearly out of left field but I would absolutely love to write with William Shakespeare his work is timeless. It's hard to believe that you can have a story from him writing for his day and age that can translate into today's society.

Jennifer
okay last 2 questions:
lol nope 2 more

Hashim
Go ahead take your time I am enjoying the conversation.

Jennifer
Your book has been chosen for Oprah's book of the month--what is the title of that book? and Finally--you've won a Pulitzer prize: who do you thank in your speech

Hashim
Do I have to just pick one?

Jennifer
YUP! you only get one shot on Oprah!

Hashim
Okay well I have a book idea that I will be working on in the near future and the title is going to be: "The Price of Fame" It will be on Oprah's book club book of the month.

Jennifer
sounds intriguing, I so need to start writing again!

Hashim
The last question is a hard one, I would have to thank my Mother, Grandmother, and everyone who supported me throughout my writing. The people who were there through thick and thin not the fair weather friends who just wanted to be there during the good times. But the people who were down for the dream before it was idea. The ones that were down with the idea, before it was a hustle and the hustle before it was a way of life. Those are the people who I would have to thank.

Jennifer
Thank you Hashim...although you should have known I was going to ask 50-11ty questions
If nothing else CAC gave me an opportunity to meet a soon to be famous author before he got all high-society!

Hashim
No thank you Jennifer for asking some of the best questions so far. I have more than enjoyed this conversation.

Jennifer
Thanks! Hope that you don't forget the little people.


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My Book Information

KARMA
(Kar-ma - The sum of a person’s actions during the successive phases of his or her existence, regarded as determining his or her destiny in future incarnations.)
Karma is all around us, affecting our everyday lives, we’re absorbed by it. It’s as real as the air we breathe, and the love we share. Just like the love we feel and the air we breathe it’s going on without being seen. No one is more affected by this than Christopher. After years of sexual escapades, breaking hearts, and in the end ruining good women over and over again, he thought that he had finally found “the one”. There was something different about her, she was special. So special in fact that instead of her being head over heels for him like so many others before her, it was the complete opposite. It was she that had him wide open, and in the end it would be him that would have to pick up the pieces of his broken heart, and find a way to go on.

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THE LEARNING CURVE
Christopher Alexander is back and out for revenge. After being hurt in an unimaginable way he’s out to make them pay. The only problem is he plans on making all of women pay for the decision of one woman.
Author, Hashim Conner starts The Learning Curve exactly where Karma left off. Instead of attempting to put the pieces back together and heal, Christopher dives head first back into a life of sexual encounters turning his sex life into some kind of game with rules that only he’s privy to. Christopher runs from woman to woman, until he’s broadsided by Ariel who’s playing a game herself. With her indecisiveness she has an impossible task of choosing between Christopher and her ex who isn’t ready to let her go. Without much effort at all she has Christopher back in a position that he swore he would never be in again. From the classroom, to the bedroom, Christopher gives us a much deeper look into the exciting life he lives.

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