Tell us a little bit about you outside of being an author. I am a proud father of 4, I was born in Jamaica in the West Indies. I reside in New York City; I am a single dad raising my delightful teenage daughter. My son Mark is a nurse, my son Brandon is a graduate of Julliard, my son Damian is a budding chef, and my daughter Kaerissa is in her final year of high school.
Tell us a little bit about your work in progress and/or your upcoming release. “Why the hell can’t I find a good man?..(from a man’s point of view’) This book is inspired by my need to give my own teenage daughter a point of reference for her own journey, as she positions herself on the brink of womanhood, something she can refer to always for advice, and secondly to educate women on issues about men from a man’s point of view.
This book is written straight from the heart, it is honest and uncompromising. The unfaithfulness of men, in relationships, is at an epidemic level, and it is slowly creeping into the permanent mindset of women. The book addresses this disturbing phenomenon from a human interest perspective. After interviewing hundreds of men and women over a period of five years and harmed with my own lifetime of failed relationships, I have made some observations and formed certain opinions.
Men are to blame for a lot, but I have found women may be equally responsible in their inability to find and engage a good decent man for the long haul. This book is a study in the on going behavior which perpetuates this disharmony, and cries out for new solutions to reverse this disturbing trend.
How many years of professional writing experience do you have? What have you written? My professional writing experience has so far been channeled into writing speeches and proposals for business and business associates. I have avidly written and collected poetry since I was a teenager.
Do you have an occupation in addition to being a writer? I am a Real estate / Mortgage professional.
What credentials establish you as an expert in your field or have contributed to your success as an author? I hold a degree in Computer Science and minor in Psychology but my greatest attribute is my role as a big brother to six younger sisters whom I partially raised, and countless female cousins and nieces to whom I have had to play a role. My own lessons from my relationships and my desire to learn and to educate women, positions me on a unique platform to Big brother this information to my sisters at large. My female friends have constantly sought my advice on relationship issues and have constantly encouraged me to commit my advice to paper.
About the Book
What was your motivation for writing this book? My desire as a father to leave my daughter a working manual of the inner working of a man’s mind is the true reason that fueled my desire to write and publish this book.
Tell us some of the factors that make your book unique. This book tells all; it makes no apologies and most of all it suggests fundamental changes that women must make on an individual and collective level to begin to unravel the brainwashing that has so far crippled them mentally and emotionally.
What is the single most important thing that readers of your book will be able to do after reading your book that they could not do before? A woman will be able to say to herself “I do have the power to change my circumstances.” If she is ready to break out of the mold, then she will progress in leaps and bounds as she discovers empowerment in self actualization.
Is there local or regional relevance for your book? The premise is the African-American female but the application is universal in its application.
What emotions does your book evoke from readers? My readers will experience self denial, anger, humor but most of all they will experience simple basic truths that will bring them a sense of fulfillment.
Are there any controversial elements in your book? The subject is in itself controversial as it pits gender against gender and it challenges both men and women to look at themselves honestly form each others sexist point of view.
In researching your book, did you come across any surprising facts, figures or statistics? Yes, I discovered that married American women in general suffer poorer health than do unmarried African-American women.
If your book were for sale in a major bookstore, in what section would it be found? Relationships / Self Help
What did you learn while writing this book? I learned numerous things but the thing that stuck with me most was that men and women speak totally different languages and that if they do not learn to listen to each with the intention to learn what each other is saying nothing will change.
What one thing about writing do you wish other non-writers would understand? It is not the romantic getaway that it is reported to be; it is a marriage commitment to the end.
What are three things you wish you’d known before you reached where you are now? That I had it in me to see this commitment to the end or that it would take longer than I planned and that I would enjoy the journey so much.
How and why does your book differ from books of a similar topic? My perspective is unbiased and I have not side stepped the usual mind-fields in hope of avoiding “toes”.
What would you like your readers to take away from your book? The need to break out of the box, forget the past and its debilitating tentacles, andreach for new ways to solve a solvable problem.
If you could change one thing you did during your road to publication, what would it be and what would you have done different? I am still enjoying the process; I wish I had a sponsor so that I could have concentrated more on the writing and not so much on the technicalities.
What advice would you give an aspiring author? Fall in love with what you want to write about then dig in!
Where can readers learn more about you and your books?
www.michaelericmarkland.com
www.facebook.com
My book will be released on amazon.com, and will also be available at Cleopatrasjournal.com, or feel free to email me at michaelericmarkland@gmail.com
Identify five recent books that compete most directly with yours.
- Steve Harvey – Act like a lady Think like a man. ISBN: 978-00 6 172897-6
- Finesse Mitchell – Your girlfriends only know so much. ISBN : 13-978-14 169 3904-7
- Greg Behrendt – He’s just not that into you. ISBN: 0-689 87 47-4X
- Barbara Rose – Stop being the string along, a relationship guide to being The One. ISBN: 097-41 45742
- Romy Miller – Man Magnet. ISBN: 19-324 2452
A lthough I haven’tyet read your book, going through this interveiw tells me the book is interesting and informative.Can’t wait to have my own copy.