Slyce: Brothers and Sistah’s, please welcome our brother Jerome Summers (J. Summers) to “The Interrogation Room”!! Welcome my brother:-). Are you ready?
Slyce: What inspired you to become an author?
JS: The boredom of being a rapper inspired me to branch out and try my hand as an author. I wanted to be more detailed in the way I painted the picture for my audience and rap limited that so I turned a song into a novel and just kept the movement going. I’m a writer by nature so I feel as though being an author was just a part of my destiny.
Slyce: What is the name of your publishing company?
JS: The name of my company is City of Dreamz Publications. I came up with the name City of Dreams because where I’m from, the city is filled with dreamers yet most do nothing other than dream. So I use myself as an inspiration to the youth that if you put the same amount of hustle and drive behind your dream then you can make those same dreams your reality. But I just signed with Racquel Williams Publications last year. I can truly say they make you feel just like family here and definitely stand behind and support their authors and each other with no questions asked! This is definitely a company I don’t mind working for.
Slyce: In what genre do you write?
JS: I mainly write Street Lit and Urban Drama but I can write pretty much anything I put my mind to. I never try to limit myself with my writing or paint myself into a box of being just one particular genre writer. I always try to push myself by doing something that I may feel I can’t.
Slyce: Have you penned under another name?
JS: No other names. Ever since I dropped my first novel it has been J. Summers and it will remain that way. Although a lot of people that I have met along the way tend to call me JDot so I flow with it lol.
Slyce: You wrote a book titled “Secrecy And Deception”. What was this book about?
JS: “Secrecy And Deception” is about a husband and wife that goes above and beyond to get that money to live the lifestyle that they want but in the mist of them getting money, they also live separate secret lives, not realizing that their secrets link them and everyone they are associated with together. When they think that each of their secrets are secure and hidden, the secrets begin to take life and be exposed as they all end up in the same place together.
Slyce: Is the book a series or a standalone?
JS: This is a part of a series in which will be my last series. I’m going to do standalones after the second part comes out this year.
Slyce: How important are interviews?
JS: For the author that doesn’t want to be known for his/her work then I feel like interviews would be pointless and a waste of time. However, for the author that wants to be known for their work then interviews are great. Interviews give people a chance to see the personality of the one who writes as well as gives them a chance to form a relationship or bond with the writer by seeing their true personality and similar interests.
Slyce: How important are reviews?
JS: Reviews are a very important part of writing and being an author/writer. It gives other readers a glimpse at the quality of your work as well as makes them want to read it. It also gives the author/writer great insight on his/her skill in the art of storytelling as well as exposing how well you did in putting your project together. I noticed though that when you are a new author a lot of people will read your work and send you messages on what they thought about it but they won’t leave a review which kills an author’s success rate. So please leave reviews, good, bad, short or long.
Slyce: What does the term “Building a Brand” mean?
JS: To me building a brand is establishing yourself within your craft and making people aware of you and your work through different forms of networking and promoting. Social media networking and promoting yourself, as well as word of mouth, gifting or giving free copies etc. When it comes to branding, there shouldn’t be one avenue that you wouldn’t take in order to get your name and your work out there but it does take time, consistency and dedication to build a successful brand.
Slyce: What steps are you taking to build a brand?
JS: The steps I’ve taken for building my brand so far has been self promoting via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat. I’ve also have created a like page and have hired a promoter to help assist with promoting when I’m unavailable to do so. I try my best to interact with readers as much as I can by saying good morning and engaging in brief conversations. I’m a truck driver so it limits me sometimes. I also plan on creating a group for readers to join and kick it with me and have discussions on various topics plus I should have a web page in the next few months. I attend different book events nationwide plus I have done local television and radio interviews which I will continue to do in the near future.
Slyce: Do you feel a new author should have a “Team”?
JS: A new author should definitely have a team of two or more. This business can and will get hectic at times and to try and handle it all on your own will make you want to give up. My first team consisted of me and my brother who was a big help to me especially at my very first book event. He made sure I had everything I needed and went out and got what I didn’t have. Whenever we hit the streets to hustle books, he took a stack and worked one side of the street while I worked the opposite end. It’s an overwhelming business in which you do need a team.
Slyce: What was one of the biggest mistakes you made as a new author?
JS: One of the biggest mistakes I made as a new author was being so eager to sign and trusting everyone that smiled in my direction. Being new to the business, a lot of people will sell you a dream in a beautiful package and end up getting burned. I won’t go into details but if you feel like things aren’t right, nine out of ten times, it’s not.
Slyce: What advice would you offer to those aspiring to become an author?
JS: To all aspiring authors, I urge you to copyright all of your work and hustle your ass off. Just because you have written a book and have put it out doesn’t make you famous, getting a bunch of likes doesn’t make you rich and being signed doesn’t gain you readers or make your work easy. You still have to get out there and hustle and sell yourself. The dream is given but the hustle is sold separately. Never think that people are just going to buy your book because you have a book. EBook money is slow money but hustling that paperback gets you “fa’ sho’ money” lol. The grind never hurt no one.
Slyce: What goals would you like to achieve as an author?
JS: My goals as an author is to gain at least two new readers a day and to continue to write dope stories so I can one day be on the New York Times Best Sellers list as well as being in the Oprah Winfrey book club..
Slyce: Is there anything else cooking in the lab for Author J Summers?
JS: J. Summers always has something cooking in the lab lol. I won’t say what but there are a few more joints that will continue to drop in 2017 and beyond. I gotta few things that I may have pushed the envelope on but hey I’m a writer and I don’t believe in staying in my comfort zone. Besides I’ve never been good with confinements so be on the lookout for me in your near future.
Slyce: Name three authors you would love to work with.
JS: Three authors I would like to work with in the future would be my bestie Johnna Brown, the big homie Blacc Topp (Dean Swift) and my folk Author Cedric Lewis. I think each one of these authors display a form of writing that you have no choice but to love because their styles suck you in to the story. I admire their work so I could see myself working with them if the opportunity presented itself. Of course there are more people I would love to work with though.
Slyce: Do you write for the passion or the profit?
JS: I write for both passion and profit. Getting paid to do something you absolutely love doing is a win/win for me. I know a lot of authors say they only do it for the passion but if that was completely true, they would be giving their books away instead of charging for them. I love writing but to get a check for doing it makes me love it that much more.
Slyce: How can our viewers contact you?
JS: Facebook: Jerome Summers
Facebook Like: The J Summers Experience
Instagram: The J Summers Experience
Email: thejsummersexperience@gmail.com
Slyce: I’d like to thank guest J. Summers for joining us in “The Interrogation Room”!! Thank you my Brother. You were wonderful!!
Everyone please go purchase “Secrecy And Deception” by J. Summers. Also, remember to check out his page on Facebook at: 
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BOOKS:
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