>>> THE UPCOMING PROGRAM WAS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED.

>> THIS PROGRAM IS UNDERWRITTEN IN PART BY -- >> -- AND VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

>> THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ON THIS PROGRAM ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF WTJX.

♫♫ >>> WELCOME TO "THE BOOKCASE."

I´M YOUR HOST, SHAWNA RICHARDS.

I INVITE YOU TO JOIN ME AS WE CELEBRATE VIRGIN ISLANDS AUTHORS AND TALENT.

EVERY WEEK, WE´LL INTRODUCE YOU TO A LOCAL AUTHOR AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THEM AND THEIR WORK.

A STORYTELLER LIVES IN EACH OF US.

AND I´M SO EXCITED TO GIVE OUR HOMEGROWN STORYTELLERS A CHANCE TO TELL THEIR STORY.

TONIGHT´S SELECTION IS -- WELCOME TO "THE BOOKCASE."

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> TODAY WE´LL BE TALKING ABOUT YOUR BOOK "WHERE THE TREES COME ALIVE."

IS THIS YOUR FIRST BOOK?

>> YES.

YOUR FIRST BOOK IS ALWAYS A PRIZED POSSESSION, BECAUSE YOU LOOK AT IT AND YOU´RE LIKE, WOW, I DID IT.

WHEN YOU RE-READ IT YOU´RE LIKE, WOW, I´VE COME A LONG WAY.

>> WHEN YOU SAY YOU´VE COME A LONG WAY, HAVE YOU BEEN WRITING FOR A LONG TIME?

>> I´VE BEEN WRITING FROM HIGH SCHOOL.

I WANT TO SAY MY FIRST LOVE FOR WRITING CAME IN HIGH SCHOOL.

I WROTE MY FIRST QUOTE, AND I SHOWED MY MOM.

LOOK WHAT I DID?

AND IT WAS A BOOK OF POEMS AND POETRY.

THEN MY BROTHER PUBLISHED A BOOK WHEN I WAS IN JUNIOR HIGH, HIGH SCHOOL.

I SAID, IF HE CAN PUBLISH A BOOK, THEN I CAN.

THAT SPARKED MY INTEREST IN WRITING A BOOK.

>> HAVE YOU BEEN PUBLISHED IN ANY OTHER FORM?

>> NO, BUT EVERY GOOD WRITER HAS A BOOK STORED ON THEIR LAPTOP.

YOU JUST HAVEN´T GOTTEN TO THE FIFTH OR SIXTH DRAFT WHERE YOU SAY, LET´S GO AHEAD AND PUBLISH IT.

>> WHAT INSPIRES YOU TO WRITE?

>> I WANT TO SAY, WHATEVER IS GOING ON IN MY LIFE AT THE TIME.

HIGH SCHOOL, IT WAS POETRY, QUOTES, AND IN 2014, 2016, I STARTED MY OWN BLOG, CALLED RESILIENT THINKER.

WE GAINED THOUSANDS OF FOLLOWERS ON FACEBOOK.

IT WAS JUST ABOUT THE RIGHT TO EXPRESS YOURSELF.

PEOPLE WOULDN´T BELIEVE JUST WRITING THINGS OUT, I REMEMBER I WAS SO STRESSED, I JUST WROTE IT OUT.

AND IT WAS LIKE A WEIGHT JUST LIFTED FROM ME.

I WAS LIKE, WOW, THIS IS THERAPY.

JUST SHARING THAT WITH OTHERS, AND SEEING THEIR REACTION TO IT, MADE ME GROW EVEN BIGGER BOND TO WRITE.

[ INAUDIBLE ] >> AT THAT TIME, I WAS ABOUT 18, JUST GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL.

THEY HELD A SUMMER CAMP, AND I WAS A COUNSELOR.

WE WOULD TAKE KIDS UP THERE TO TEACH THEM ABOUT FARMING, PLANTS, AND SO FORTH.

AND WE HAD THE KIDS EAT A LEAF OFF A TREE.

AND IT WAS LIKE, WHY WOULD WE EVER EAT A LEAF?

WE TRIED TO BREAK IT DOWN, EVEN DOWN TO THE BASIL LEAF, THESE ARE THE SAME SPICES YOUR PARENTS COOK WITH.

SO I WAS LIKE, WOW.

I WAS THANKFUL BECAUSE OF MY GRANDMOTHER, GROWING UP IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS, AFTER SCHOOL, YOUR PARENTS WOULD BE AT WORK.

WHATEVER GRANDMA IS DOING, YOU´RE DOING.

IF SHE NEEDS HELP IN THE YARD, THAT´S WHAT YOU´RE DOING.

AT THAT MOMENT, I KNEW THAT IS WHAT HELPED ME TO UNDERSTAND THE HERBS YOU BUY IN THE SUPERMARKET ARE THE SAME THAT GROW UP IN THE GROUND, AND YOU CAN PUT IT IN YOUR MOUTH AND TASTE IT.

>> SO THE CONNECTION IN OUR FOOD CHAIN, BASICALLY.

>> DEFINITELY.

WHAT HELPED ME GET THROUGH THE TITLE AND MY FAVORITE PART OF "LORD OF THE RINGS" IS WHEN THE TREES ENTERED THE BATTLEFIELD.

I DON´T KNOW IF YOU´VE SEEN IT -- >> I HAVE.

>> THEY WERE UPROOTED AND WREAKING HAVOC.

>> WHEN I READ YOUR BOOK, WHICH I REALLY ENJOYED, I WOULD CERTAINLY THINK IT´S A BOOK FOR ALL AGES.

IT MADE ME THINK OF ALL OF THOSE CULTURES AND THEIR ANCESTORS, THEY´RE PART OF THESE TREES.

AND CARRIED IN THE TREES.

WHEN YOU MENTION "LORD OF THE RINGS," IT MADE ME THINK OF HOW TREES ARE VERY MUCH LIVING THINGS, AND I THINK THAT´S WHAT YOU WERE TRYING TO CONVEY IN THE BOOK.

>> DEFINITELY.

AND AS FOR THE LIVING THINGS PART, I DID A SCIENCE PROJECT IN HIGH SCHOOL.

I WAS TAKING OUT THE SEEDS, PUTTING THEM IN A MARACA, MAKING JEWELRY.

AND AT A YOUNG AGE, IT WAS NOT LIKE WE WERE TAKING THE TREES -- IT LITERALLY CAME FROM A TREE THAT WE USED.

AND YOU SEE IT ON INSTRUMENTS AND SO FORTH.

THAT CATAPULTED ME INTO WRITING A BOOK.

>> WHEN YOU WERE GROWING UP, WHAT SORTS OF LOCAL AUTHORS WERE YOU EXPOSED TO?

>> TO BE HONEST, I DON´T THINK I WAS EXPOSED TO LOCAL AUTHORS, BUT STORYTELLERS -- >> OKAY.

>> WHEN YOU HAD, IF YOU WERE GROWING UP IN OUR TIME, AND YOU NEVER HEARD AUNTY JANICE TELL A STORY, THOSE ARE THE THINGS I WAS MORE EXPOSED TO MORE THAN A LOCAL AUTHOR.

BUT WHEN I GOT OLDER, MISS BROWN, ONE OF MY MENTORS THAT I STILL LOOK UP TO.

SO THOSE ARE MY INFLUENCES, ESPECIALLY MY MOM.

MY MOM WRITES AS WELL.

>> RIGHT.

AND SO DO YOU THINK HAVING THAT EXPOSURE TO OUR STORYTELLERS REALLY INFORMED HOW YOU WRITE AND REALLY INFORMED YOUR WORK TODAY?

>> YES, DEFINITELY.

FROM MY ANANSI STORIES, IT GAVE THAT INTEREST.

AND FOR US -- IT WAS TOTALLY DIFFERENT THAN AUNTY JANICE WOULD COME IN AND TELL US A STORY.

SHE WAS SO ANIMATED, AND IT WOULD JUST CAPTIVATE US.

WHEN I READ MY WRITING, I WANT SOMEONE TO READ IT AND ACT IT OUT LIKE AUNTY JANICE WOULD READ AND TELL US STORIES AS KIDS.

>> ONE THING I ALWAYS ASK GUESTS ON "THE BOOKCASE" IS WHAT THEY´RE READING.

WE´RE INFLUENCED BY A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS.

WHAT TYPES OF BOOKS DO YOU LIKE TO READ?

>> SELF-IMPROVEMENT.

I´M BIG ON NON-FICTION.

>> OKAY.

>> AND ON MY PEAK, READING NON-FICTION FROM, I WANT TO SAY, PROBABLY SEVEN HABITS OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE PEOPLE.

BUT THE LARGEST AND LONGEST BOOK I´VE READ IS HAMILTON.

THE PLAY ROPED ME IN.

I WAS LIKE, IF I LOVED THE PLAY THIS MUCH, LET ME READ THE BOOK.

>> THAT ROPED ME IN AS WELL.

>> WE CAN GO ON TO FOUR-HOUR WORK WEEK, I´M JUST BIG ON SELF-IMPROVEMENT.

>> WHAT DOORS -- WHAT ARE YOU READING RIGHT NOW?

>> WHAT I´M READING RIGHT NOW -- >> OKAY.

>> THANK GOD I GOT THAT RIGHT.

>> WHAT DOORS HAS BEING A READER OPENED FOR YOU?

>> YOU KNOW WHAT, CONVERSATION.

ONCE YOU READ, IT´S KNOWLEDGE.

AND HAVING CONVERSATIONS AT DIFFERENT TABLES AND DIFFERENT SOCIAL EVENTS HAS OPENED THE DOOR.

BECAUSE NOW PEOPLE LOOK AT YOU DIFFERENT.

YOU CAN RELATE ON SPORTS.

I WANT TO SAY DIFFERENT FACTS IN A CONVERSATION.

WITH SPORTS, SPORTS LOVERS LOVE IT.

WITH THE TECHNOLOGY, THEY LOVE IT.

AND ANIME, STAR WARS, "STAR TREK," CERTAIN THINGS.

CERTAIN KNOWLEDGE, EVEN IF IT´S SELF-IMPROVEMENT, PEOPLE TEND TO LOOK AT YOURSELF.

AND THAT´S KIND OF THE REASON WHY I READ SELF-IMPROVEMENT BOOKS, SO THERE´S CONSTANT SELF-IMPROVEMENT.

>> ARE YOU A FULL-TIME WRITER?

>> NO, I WISH.

I WISH I WAS A FULL-TIME WRITER.

>> SO HOW DO YOU BALANCE YOUR CREATIVE INTERESTS, YOUR WRITING, WITH WORK?

>> AT THE HEIGHT OF MY -- MY DAY WOULD LOOK LIKE 4:00 A.M. -- ONE TEAMMATES, JAMAL, I HAD A VISION BOARD.

I USED TO BE LIKE, I KNOW JAMAL IS GRINDING RIGHT NOW.

I WOULD GO AND COME BACK, AND BE LIKE, ALL RIGHT.

HE´S GRINDING, I GOT TO WAKE UP AT 4:00 A.M.

IT GAVE ME MOTIVATION TO CRANK OUT AND DO WORK.

THAT IS WHAT PROPELLED ME TO KEEP WRITING, WAKING UP AT 4:00 A.M., GOING TO SLEEP LATE, PUTTING IN WORK.

>> FOR THIS STORY, YOU SAID IT COMES FROM YOUR CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES WITH YOUR GRANDMOTHER, CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR PROCESS FROM -- TO THE BOOK THAT WE HAVE NOW?

>> SO IT WASN´T A LAPTOP AT THE TIME.

IT WAS DEFINITELY A NOTEPAD.

>> OKAY.

>> I WAS LIKE, THAT GOES TOGETHER, THAT WORKS.

I REMEMBER I WOULD BE AT COMPLEX, AT THE FARM, AT THE BEACH, ANYWHERE THAT GAVE ME MOTIVATION.

AT FIRST, I PICKED OUT THE TREES I WANTED TO WRITE ABOUT.

AND THE BOOK YOU SEE HERE, IT´S MUCH DIFFERENT THAN THAT FIRST NOTEPAD BOOK.

>> SO YOU TALK IN THE BOOK ABOUT THE MAGHOGANY TREES, THE OTHERS, WHAT TREES DIDN´T MAKE THE CUT?

>> THE BAOBAB WAS A FINALIST.

IT´S ON THE BACK COVER, ME HUGGING IT.

I WANT TO SAY THE PINE.

I THINK IT HELPS CURE INSOMNIA.

RIGHT OUTSIDE OF THE OLD BOY SCOUTS HEADQUARTERS, ACROSS FROM NEIGHBORHOOD PHARMACY.

THOSE TWO DEFINITELY.

AND THERE WILL BE A SEQUEL AT SOME POINT CALLED "WHEN THE FRUIT TREES COME ALIVE."

WE ALL KNOW, WE ALL LOVE A MANGO.

I´M SAYING AVOCADO, ANYTHING WITH A SEED IS A FRUIT.

>> GUAVA.

>> GUAVA.

GUAVA, COCONUTS.

ALL THESE THINGS.

BUT WE DON´T ALWAYS GIVE ATTENTION TO THE OTHER TREES.

WHEN YOU LOOK UP, AND THE MAGHOGANY TREES ALWAYS HAVE SUCH A VIBRANT COLOR.

I DESCRIBE THE PODS AS LOOKING LIKE CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS.

>> THEY DO.

>> AND YOU CAN PAINT THEM AND DECORATE THEM AND HANG THEM ON YOUR TREE, DEFINITELY.

>> AND WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT IT BEING A CANOPY.

YOU CERTAINLY HAVE THE BENEFIT OF BEING EXPOSED TO A FAMILY OF STORYTELLERS IN OUR COMMUNITY, BUT WHAT DO YOU THINK THE LARGER COMMUNITY AND ESPECIALLY OUR STUDENTS CAN GAIN FROM GREATER EXPOSURE TO VIRGIN ISLANDS -- >> I THINK YOU GET TO SEE -- YOU PRETTY MUCH NORMALIZE THEM.

YOU SEE ME OUT, I´M A REGULAR GUY.

YOU KNOW?

I´M NOTE YOUR TIM FERRIS OR -- YOU PUT HIM ON A PEDESTAL SO HIGH.

I´M SURE IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD, THEY´RE JUST A REGULAR -- WE GREW UP WITH HIM DOWN THE STREET.

AND TO LOOK AT ME -- IF HE COULD DO IT, I CAN DO IT.

AND THAT´S WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO CONVEY TO KIDS.

IF I CAN DO IT, YOU CAN DO IT.

>> WHAT WAS YOUR PATHWAY TO GETTING PUBLISHED?

DID YOU WORK WITH A PUBLISHER, ARE YOU SELF-PUBLISHED?

DID YOU WORK WITH AN ARTIST?

I LOVE THE ILLUSTRATIONS IN YOUR BOOK, BY THE WAY.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO DO THIS, BUT IS FEELING INTIMIDATED?

>> IT WAS STEPS.

THIS BOOK WAS WRITTEN MAYBE 2009, I DON´T THINK I PUBLISHED UNTIL 2014.

>> OKAY.

>> I WROTE THE BOOK, GOT THE WRITING OF THE BOOK, HOW DO I GET THE ILLUSTRATIONS?

IT´S REALLY NEVER GIVING UP.

MY COUSIN WORKED AT A DESIGN COMPANY.

FOR HIM, HE WAS LIKE, LISTEN, I COULD DO IT.

BUT I HAVE A FRIEND WHO IS MUCH BETTER AT ILLUSTRATING THAN HIM.

HE PUT ME IN CONTACT, WE DREW UP A CONTRACT.

EVERY CHECK I TOOK OUT SOME MONEY, I PUT IT ASIDE.

IT WASN´T A LUMP SUM.

I´M A TEENAGER STILL.

OKAY, I GOT ENOUGH FOR THIS PAGE.

GOT ENOUGH FOR THIS PAGE.

IT WAS A STEP-BY-STEP PROCESS.

DON´T GIVE UP.

THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE, AND NOW THERE ARE SO MANY MORE RESOURCES.

>> RIGHT.

>> THAN IN 2010, 2011, ´12.

YOU CAN TYPE IT IN TO THE INTERNET, AND YOU HAVE FREELANCERS.

>> DID YOU WORK WITH AN EDITOR?

>> AT FIRST, LIKE ANY WRITER, YOU GO TO FRIENDS, YOU´RE A GOOD EDITOR, A GOOD WRITER?

I SENT IT TO A LOT OF MY ENGLISH TEACHERS AT FIRST.

SO FIND AN ENGLISH TEACHER, THEY´RE SO WILLING TO HELP YOU.

SHOUT OUT TO MS. JONES, ONE OF MY ENGLISH TEACHERS.

AND EVERYONE ELSE, THEN LATER ON, I GOT AN EDITOR.

>> WHAT WOULD YOU TELL THE YOUNG CREATIVES OUT THERE, ESPECIALLY OUR YOUNG MEN, WHO MAY NOT -- WHO MAY FEEL THEY HAVE A STORY TO TELL, BUT AS YOUNG MEN, THEY MAY FEEL THAT´S NOT QUITE THEIR PATH.

>> IF THEY HAVE A STORY TO TELL, HONESTLY, TELL IT.

DON´T LET ANYONE STOP YOU.

BECAUSE YOU´RE GOING TO GET CRITICISM, NO MATTER WHAT.

PUSH THE STORY.

SOMEONE IS GOING TO LIKE IT.

YOU MIGHT HAVE TO TWEAK IT.

LIKE I SAID, THIS IS A FINAL VERSION OF A BIGGER VERSION OF THE BOOK THAT IT CAME FROM.

KEEP GOING.

JUST LISTEN, LEARN TO LISTEN.

THAT´S ONE THING I HAD TO DO.

IT´S COME A LONG WAY.

YOU LOOK AT A BOOK, AND YOU SAY, I WOULD HAVE DONE THIS A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY WITH WHAT I KNOW NOW.

BUT THAT´S THE PATH.

FIND THE PATH, KEEP FOLLOWING IT, AND YOU´LL GET TO PUBLISH, I PROMISE.

>> AND THERE´S NO ONE PATH TO BECOMING A PUBLISHED AUTHOR.

>> AT ALL.

AT ALL.

YOU´LL FIND INSPIRATION FROM ALL OVER, YOU´RE GOING TO STOP WRITING.

BUT DON´T GIVE UP.

>> WHY DID YOU PICK A CHILDREN´S BOOK?

>> YOU KNOW, FOR ME, I GUESS AT THE TIME, THAT´S WHAT INFLUENCED ME.

I WAS WORKING AROUND CHILDREN.

SO IT WASN´T REALLY I PICKED THE CHILDREN´S BOOK, I THINK IT PICKED ME.

AND I COULDN´T IMAGINE WRITING AN ADULT BOOK ABOUT THIS, IT WAS MORE LIKE I WANTED TO LEAVE THIS FOR FUTURE KIDS.

AND YOU COME BACK, AND THERE´S A GLOSSARY, AND ONE OF MY FAVORITE PARTS WHERE YOU GET THE SCIENTIFIC NAMES OF THE TREES, FUN FACTS.

SO WHOEVER PICKS UP THE BOOK, YOU CAN GO FIND THESE TREES AND KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

>> RIGHT.

RIGHT.

BUT I´D LOVE TO SEE YOU DO -- PUT THAT ON YOUR LIST.

>> I WOULD PUT IT ON THE HERBS LIST.

>> DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE PASSAGE IN YOUR BOOK?

>> YES, I DO.

>> AND CAN YOU READ IT FOR US?

>> I GOT IT.

IT WOULD DEFINITELY BE ON THE LIGNUM VITAE TREE.

I STAND THERE AND WONDER -- I REMEMBER GRANDMA SAYING SOMETHING SPECIAL ABOUT THIS TREE.

SHE SAID DON´T YOU EVER FORGET THE LIGNUM VITAE TREE.

WHEN YOU GET SICK, YOU MAY NEED THIS TREE TO HEAL WHEN THE DOCTOR CAN´T DO IT.

I PRETENDED TO MAKE A TREE TO HEAL MY FRIENDS FROM A TERRIBLE FISH POISONING.

>> IS IT THIS TREE YOU´RE TALKING ABOUT THAT´S ENDANGERED?

>> YES, DEFINITELY.

>> ARE THERE FEWER TREES IN EXISTENCE NOW?

>> IT´S A BEAUTIFUL WOOD TO WORK WITH.

I GOT TO SEE LITTLE PIECES OF JEWELRY, BUT YOU CAN´T CUT IT DOWN.

>> OKAY.

>> JUST TO LET EVERYONE KNOW.

IF YOU GET A CHANCE, PICK ONE UP, PLANT ONE.

IT WILL HELP YOU.

BUT IT´S DEFINITELY A BEAUTIFUL TREE.

AND WHEN IT DOES BLOSSOM, IT´S SO BEAUTIFUL.

THE PURPLE FLOWER IT GIVES OFF.

AND IT HAS SO MANY HEALTH BENEFITS, IT´S AMAZING.

>> WHEN YOU´RE WRITING, IF YOU HAVE SOME THINGS ON YOUR LAPTOP, AND SOME THINGS -- ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS, DESCRIBE YOUR WRITING PROCESS.

>> FOR NOW, IT WOULD BE A QUOTE.

I COULD BE DOING SOMETHING THAT INSPIRED ME, OR SOMETHING I LEARNED A LESSON FROM.

A LOT OF MY INSPIRATION COMES FROM LESSONS.

IT´S LIKE A PUZZLE TO ME, AND I LOVE PUZZLES.

THAT BECOMES RELATABLE.

THAT´S MY DAY-TO-DAY WRITING PROCESS.

AFTER WE LEAVE HERE, I´M LIKE, WOW, THIS WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE.

WHAT DID I TAKE AWAY FROM IT, WHAT DID I GET A CHANCE TO LEARN?

WHAT CAN I TELL MY NIECES AND NEPHEW WHEN I COME HOME?

THEN I WOULD BE LIKE, WOW.

IT´S A GREAT PEACH DRESS, AND -- >> I THINK WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE WRITING PROCESS, THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE WHO THINK THERE´S JUST ONE PATHWAY TO BECOMING PUBLISHED.

A YOUNG MAN GROWING UP HERE ON ST. CROIX, GOING TO SCHOOL.

DID YOU SEE YOURSELF AS A WRITER, OR IS IT SOMETHING THAT PICKED YOU UP AS YOU GROW?

>> I WOULD HAVE NEVER THOUGHT THAT I COULD HAVE WRITTEN A BOOK.

MY MOM USED TO PUSH READING ON ME.

>> REALLY?

>> SHE WOULD HAVE TO FORCE -- I THINK SHE GAVE UP.

LISTEN, THIS KID IS NOT GOING TO LOVE READING LIKE I DO.

SHE HAPPENED TO OWN A BOOK STORE.

IT JUST WASN´T FOR ME, BUT IT CAME LATER ON.

WHEN IT CAME, I NEEDED TO EQUIP MYSELF WITH TOOLS.

AND IT´S LIKE, WOW, READING IS THE ONLY WAY TO LEARN.

AND AS I READ, I SAW WHAT IT DID FOR ME.

AND THAT´S HOW I GOT TO PUBLISH.

>> I ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE THAT´S REALLY NOT WHAT YOU´RE READING, AS LONG AS YOU´RE READING SOMETHING.

BUT A PERSON THAT PICKS UP THE NEWSPAPER EVERY DAY, READS THE SPORTS PAGES, OR GOES ONLINE AND READS A BLOG.

BUT AS LONG AS IT´S SOMETHING YOU´RE TAKING IN, AND THAT INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE DIGITALLY, PEOPLE AREN´T NECESSARILY PICKING UP A BOOK.

>> THE BOOK I´M READING RIGHT NOW IS ON A TABLET.

SO I SWITCH IT UP.

IT DOES MAKE HIGHLIGHTING -- I LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT WHEN I READ, THE TABLET MAKES IT A LOT EASIER TO HIGHLIGHT AND KEEP READING.

I HAVE TO STOP, I DON´T LOSE MY PAGE.

>> CAN YOU TELL, YOU SERVED IN THE MILITARY.

>> YEAH.

>> AND I JUST REALLY WANT TO KEEP HAMMERING THE POINT THAT THERE´S JUST NO ONE PATHWAY TO BECOMING A WRITER.

SO WHEN YOU WERE IN THE MILITARY, YOU WROTE AND THAT WAS A FORM OF JUST GETTING THROUGH YOUR DAY?

>> GETTING THROUGH MY DAY.

I WOULD HAVE A ROUGH DAY AT WORK, I WOULD GO AND WRITE A BLOG PIECE.

LET´S SAY I DIDN´T HANDLE SOMETHING RIGHT, I WOULD WRITE A QUOTE ABOUT IT.

AND THE JOB ITSELF PROVIDED THE FUNDS TO HELP ME PAY FOR THE ILLUSTRATIONS.

ONCE YOU FIND -- DO IT.

THERE´S NO, LIKE I SAID, THERE´S NO ONE PATH TO WRITING, TO BECOMING A PUBLISHED AUTHOR.

IT´S JUST DO IT, LIKE NIKE SAYS.

>> FOR YOUR NEXT BOOK, YOU PLAN ON WRITING ABOUT TREES.

DO YOU SEE YOURSELF DEVELOPING A SERIES ABOUT JUST LOCAL FLORA?

>> I WON´T SAY IT´S ON MY RADAR.

I WON´T COUNT IT OUT.

BUT MY NEXT BOOK, I´M MORE LOOKING TOWARDS A YOUNG ADULT READER.

>> OKAY.

>> SOMETHING THAT´S A LITTLE BIT MORE FUN TO WRITE, LIKE A CHAPTER BOOK, GOING THROUGH THE EXPERIENCES WITH THE MAIN CHARACTER, AND YOU SAY, I REMEMBER DOING THIS.

>> TALKING ABOUT "LORD OF THE RINGS," DO YOU SEE YOURSELF DELVING INTO SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY?

>> THE BAR IS TOO HIGH.

IF IT´S NOT COMING OUT LIKE STAR WARS OR "STAR TREK," IT WOULD BE TOUGH FOR ME.

I´LL STICK TO -- THINGS I KNOW I´LL HAVE A GREAT STORY TO TELL.

THAT, I´LL SAVE THAT FOR THAT UP AND COMING YOUNG MAN WHO KNOWS HE CAN WRITE ON THAT SUBJECT.

>> OKAY.

SO EVERYONE HAS A STORY TO TELL.

>> YES.

>> AND YOU´RE TELLING YOUR STORY.

>> YES.

>> BEFORE WE CLOSE, I JUST WANT YOU TO TELL A FEW WORDS ABOUT THE KEY MESSAGE OF YOUR BOOK, AND WHAT IS IT THAT YOU WANT TO COME ALIVE, WHAT DO YOU WANT THEM TO WALK AWAY WITH?

>> I WANT THEM TO WALK AWAY, PRIMARILY, I WANT THEM TO TAKE THE TIME TO TALK TO GRANDPARENTS.

MY GRANDMOTHER, FOR ME, WAS PHENOMENAL.

IT WAS THE TIME THAT SHE TOOK TO SPEND WITH ME OUT IN THE YARD, SPEND IN THE HOUSE, THE QUALITIES AND TRAITS THAT I LEARNED WERE PHENOMENAL.

ON HIS WAY, EVERY TIME HE SEES A TREE, HIS GRANDMOTHER POPS UP AND REMINDS HIM, THIS ISN´T JUST A REGULAR TREE.

ON THAT NOTE, GRANDMAS, PLEASE TAKE THE TIME AND HELP GROOM THE GRANDKIDS, WHO ARE THE NEXT GENERATION COMING UP.

AND KIDS, LISTEN TO THEM.

>> BECAUSE THERE ARE CERTAINLY A LOT OF THINGS, MY GRANDMA HAS BEEN GONE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, BUT I WISH I HAD PAID MORE ATTENTION TO.

AND THE READERS WHO PICK UP YOUR BOOK, THEY´LL START TALKING ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR LOCAL TREES AND WHAT THEY MEAN, CULTURALLY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY AND TALKING ABOUT YOUR BOOK, "WHEN THE TREES COME ALIVE."

I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING MORE WORK FROM YOU IN THE YEARS TO COME.

IT´S BEEN A PLEASURE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR LOCAL TALENT.

AND FOR MORE DETAILS ON WHERE TO FIND THE BOOK, GO TO WWW.WTJX.ORG.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT OF LOCAL AUTHORS.

AND WE´LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK ON "THE BOOKCASE."

>>> THIS PROGRAM WAS UNDERWRITTEN IN PART BY -- >> -- AND VIEWERS LIKE YOU.