Edward Snipes' "I Called Him Dancer"

Title: I Called Him Dancer
Publisher: GES Publishing

Cover blurb:I Called Him Dancer is about a boy growing up
in a broken home. His fragile world is shattered when his mother leaves him with a relative and walks out of his life. After seeing a man dancing with grace and acrobatics, he decides to imitate the man and discovers a natural talent for dance. His life's passion becomes dance and eventually the young man achieves his dream of Broadway. A drug addiction and his inner demons destroy his life and he eventually becomes homeless. His previous dance partner refuses to let go and reaches out to him, but he rejects her. Bitter at God and the world, the dancer embraces a solitary life on the streets. Though he lashes out at God, the Lord has other plans for the fallen dancer.

1) How did this story come to you?
In 2009, two song writers named Tralena Walker and Tom Webster visited the Atlanta Writers Club. They were scheduled to speak at the second hour of our meeting. I almost didn’t stay since I had no interest in song writing. I headed down the hall after the first session ended, but when I reached for the door, I had the strange urge to stay. At the end of their presentation, Tralena performed a song titled, Dancer, and then said, “I’ve been trying to find someone to write about this song. I think it would make a great novel.”

Until then, I was a passive spectator, but her words made my head explode. Embarrassed by the loud pop, I quickly scooped up the pieces and reassembled my head and discovered that the book was mixed into my brain matter. The whole story hit me at once. I met with them and we worked together shaping the story into what it is today.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
I never expected to become a writer, much less did I plan to get published. When I was a child, I got my first book. I flipped through the pages, then tore it apart. I didn't know it at the time, but that's exactly what you do when editing a manuscript.

I hated writing when I was younger. I only did what I had to do, and sometimes not even that. Writers block was more like writers dementia. My mind didn't return to me until after... hmmm. What were we talking about?

In 1998, I became active in prison ministry. Many of the men I ministered to were eager to learn. Someone asked me if I had my studies or notes on paper. I agreed to write out the next study and then my writing career was born. The problem wasn't that I couldn't write. It was that I didn't have something to say. Or didn't realize I had something to say. Over time writing transformed from a task to a passion.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
I’m dyslexic, but hey, slysdexics are teople poo.
I have 5 kids – all girls. I did get a male dog to get some testosterone in the house.
My favorite hobby is to tap dance on oatmeal while reciting Shakespear.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I have many project going. I’m working on my new release, Sound Mind. It’s a non-fiction book about how to deal with emotions in a healthy way. This was inspired by many discussions with my 5 girls. While working through a problem with my third daughter, I realized these same issues keep coming up. Maybe it’s time to put these things on paper.

5) Parting comments?
I try to make my books affordable. The ebook version of I Called Him Dancer is only .99 cents. The ebook version of my discipleship books are free downloads from my website. All are available in print as well.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
My website is http://www.eddiesnipes.com/
Twitter: @eddiesnipes
I’m also on Facebook and LinkedIn.

Register to win Eddie Snipes' "I Called Him Dancer"

We're happy to have Eddie Snipes with us today talking about his book, I Called Him Dancer. To learn more about Eddie and his book, read on!
Title: I Called Him Dancer

Cover blurb: For a moment, Michael danced on top of the world, but one bad choice turned his life upside down. The once promising Broadway star now washes windows for tips and lives among the homeless. When his former dance partner recognizes him behind the fray of whiskers, shame drives him away from her. Angry at God and the world, the Dancer refuses to allow anyone into his life. When everything is stripped away, three things remain: faith, hope, and love. The greatest of these is love.
I Called Him Dancer is a story about how one woman's enduring faith and unconditional love drives her to reach out to a homeless man who has given up on life.

1) How did this story come to you?
Tralena Walker and Tom Webster spoke at the Atlanta Writers Club in September of 2009 to talk about song writing. I almost didn’t stay for their segment. In fact, I was walking down the hall to leave and said to my wife, “Let’s go ahead and stick around. Maybe it will be interesting.”
I’ll spare you the details of their talk, but they performed a song titled, ‘I Always Called Him Dancer.’ At the end of the song one of them said, “I’ve always pictured this as a good idea for a book. We’ve been trying to get someone to turn it into a novel.”
My head exploded at those words and the plot of ‘I Called Him Dancer’ unfolded in an instant. I spoke with them after the meeting and we’ve been working together since 2009 to sharpen the manuscript and tell the story both of us envision for the song.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
My journey is part of the reason for starting my publishing company. Most agents and publishers liked the story, but don’t think this type of genre can sell in today’s market. I’ve been in contact with 43 agents and publishers. The ones who showed interest wanted to change the story are add things that go against my vision of having a Christian-friendly story. Plus, I wanted this to be a testimony that would appeal to non-Christians as well.
I came to the conclusion that my vision was not the same as our current market driven industry, so I researched the pros and cons of self-publishing. I finally decided that if done right, independent authoring was a good option. Time doesn’t permit me to give the reasons for and against, but in the end, I decided launching a business was the best platform for launching my book.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
I’m dyslexic. But remember, slysdexics are teeple poo.
I hated writing until I was in my thirties.
I never read fiction until I started writing it. I read over a hundred novels and a dozen books on the craft of writing to get a feel for fiction and good story telling.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I have another completed first draft manuscript. I actually wrote it before ‘I Called Him Dancer’, but put it aside until I finished this book. I have four more books outlined, and have started writing one of them. Plus I’ve published a technical book about designing a hosted WordPress site.

5) Parting comments?
A band of Contra Rebels kidnapped my dog. They said they would only release him if my book becomes a bestseller. I’m depending on you to help rescue my poor dog.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
http://www.eddiesnipes.com/
Twitter @eddiesnipes
Facebook – eddiesnipes
Linked in, you guessed it - http://www.linkedin.com/in/eddiesnipes