Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, I always had an affinity for words but never envisioned myself being an author. I wanted to be a rapper, and would scribble bad raps on loose-leaf pages: my best effort at trying to emulate my favorite artists. Unbeknownst to me, the same power that lived in rap lyrics also lived in poems—syntax that bridged the gap of experiences and thoughts, long-form articles, and books. I was a curious boy who read the nutrient facts on all the boxes, cartons, and jugs in my house, obsessed with the materials that made up my world. I was exposed to the power of books when I was transported into the world of Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan. I learned that words in all forms, could open doors that couldn’t be closed. I dived headfirst into many other classic American novels after that.

 

But as much as I loved books like The Great Gatsby and The Giver, I always felt there was a lack of stories about people like me, i.e.—Black. It wasn't until early adulthood that I discovered the powerful voices in the literary nebulas of James Baldwin, Toni Morrison, and Ralph Ellison. They wrote unapologetically black-centered stories that filled me with hope that I, too, could pen majestic novels that reached out to the void. 

 

For the last decade, I've been refining my craft, attending writing workshops, and joining writing groups where I've been challenged to dig deeper, write with more clarity, and find my voice. Voice firmly stashed, I write stories that challenge the status quo, that pierces through the static while surveying the world around me like a fly on the wall. I write across several genres, unwilling to be pigeonholed into one discipline. I'm in the process of releasing my psychological espionage thriller: Trent Wright- A Place Called Sacred, the explosive debutant in my spy series. TWAPCS follows two spies, Trent and Jazmena as they attempt to complete their mission deep in the heart of Africa while confronting racism, colorism, exploitation, love, life, and death. It’s a harrowing novel played out across idyllic African landscapes, full of danger, biting wit, and palpable sexual tension. I’m currently crowdfunding my novel and hope you’d be willing to join in the journey. (Trent Wright Kickstarter)

 

When I'm not writing, I'm spending time with my eight-year-old son (who’s obsessed with cars), watching sports, (mostly basketball), and just trying to be a decent human.