5 Minutes, 5 Questions With… K.L. Belvin, author of The Choice from The Soul of a Man.
Posted on June 20th, 2010
K.L. Belvin (AKA “Soul Brother #9), author of “The Choice”
(Peace In The Storm Publishing)
I am a writer of poetry, fictional and non-fictional stories. “A Man in Transition” is my first completed work and was the first book published by my company Bravin Publishing. Due to religious choices in the past five years, I’ve changed my focus from erotic based content to romance, spiritual inspirations, and social promotion.
I hope to offer the world-focused insight of a man who has completely changed his life to helping and supporting others. I believe my writing expresses my growth as a man who, now, attempts to offer counsel, entertainment, and guidance to all he meets.
Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write “The Choice”?
K.L. Belvin: “The Choice” was originally a deeply erotic story I was preparing for an anthology I was working on six years ago. It was supposed to be a collection of deeply erotic stories designed to put a sexual charge into the reader. However, when I turned my life over to the Lord, I realized it wouldn’t be right to continue on the path of erotica. I shelved the story and left it alone.
One day while on the Internet, I saw an ad requesting submissions for an upcoming Christian anthology. I knew I wanted to take part somehow. I wasn’t very confident since I was only doing poetry at the time. My wife who talked me into sending something in.
After trying to come up with an idea, I thought if my past stories were good enough to be loved by people who liked erotica maybe they will be good enough for others. I got “The Choice” out of the moth balls made the changes and sent it to Elissa Gabriel. Sure enough, I heard back from her congratulating me on being picked to be in The Soul of a Man Anthology. It turned out to be a true blessing.
JP: What has been your personal experience in being a part of The Soul of a Man Anthology?
KL: Being a part of this book has been a tremendous learning and fulfilling experience. Meeting many of the other authors has been helpful in learning more about my own writing and the craft of writing in general. Working with Elissa Gabriel has been thought-provoking and a God-sent since she gives so much of herself when she doesn’t have too.
The book has been so well received. When readers come up to me and say they loved the book, it reminds me I was a part of something great. This anthology sent a message that I belong with many of the other more established authors in the lineup.
I have turned that blessing in more personal motivation to do more and write more. I look forward to be a part of future anthologies because of the success of this one.
JP: What is your most memorable moment of The Soul of a Man Anthology in terms of what has been expressed of you by someone who has had a chance to read this book?
KL: Wow, there has been so many! One that stands out is a good friend bought my book to support me. When she read my story, she called and seemed so upset. I thought I had done something wrong to her. She mentioned she had just completed my story and she was touched and was crying from reading it a second time as well as the bible verse which is part of the story. I was overwhelmed because this was true, pure emotion created from my story. I was blown away.
Since that time, I have had a few more people read my story and feel the same way. I knew I had created a quality piece of literature. After reading The Soul of A Man Anthology, an ex-girlfriend called me and showered me with praise. She said I became the man she knew I would. She just knew it was going to take the Lord to show me the way to my true calling. She said she was so happy for my transition and my writing. Again, I was taken aback by the offer of praise. Inside, I knew I could do this writing thing. I have heard from others who truly like not just my story but the whole book and what it stands for.
JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take for you to start and finish “The Choice”?
KL: Since the story was already written, it only took me a few days to rework it to lay down the way I wanted it. The editing took a day, but my wife took care of that. It was done and ready to go in less than a week.
JP: What is your latest book, From Gigolo to Jesus, about? And what has been your journey with that book?
KL: From Gigolo to Jesus is a journey I am allowing the reader to take with me on my road from whore to man of God. I discuss how gaining access to pornography and having no male role models led me to a life of inward and outward destruction.
I am very candid on what my life was like including sleeping with over three hundred women, being a part of over twenty-five miscarriages and abortions, having six children with five different women, being married and cheating, hearing the Lord’s voice, changing my life, getting married to a woman I cheated on three times while we were dating, reconnecting all my children, reconnecting with my father after 39 years and being a man of God. I think I covered most of it.
I am sure anyone reading is shaking their head at all I just referenced, but I am writing From Gigolo to Jesus for me. If I can put it simply, I am writing this book to tell my story about me, to me, from me but allowing the reader to sit in the room. My poetry book A Man in Transition was only the introduction to this book.
I believe it’s time for the world to see who K.L. was and who I am right now. My journey with this book has been at times painful to go back into those areas of my past and pull them forward. I have been relieved to get the words out.
But in the end, what I have been feeling as I come to a close with my book is peace. A type of peace I felt the day I heard the Lord’s voice when I made the commitment to change and stop being the man I was to become the man I am.
In the book, people will read about the epiphany and ask themselves if it possible. Yes it is, and I am the proof you can go from self-absorbed pimp, whore, cheater and liar to a man whose wife says I am the best thing which ever happened to her. With God, all things are possible, and I am going to allow this book to be my written testimony to that fact.
My wife and I will be at numerous events and engagements coming over the coming year. Our information is on the Bravin Publishing website. We do public speaking at events, churches and businesses on the subjects of marriage, self-publishing and educational mentoring.
A few of the highlights from the past…
•Contributing author to: “THE SOUL OF A MAN” A TRIUMPH OF MY SOUL ANTHOLOGY, Awarded the 2009 Anthology of the Year award by “The African American Literary Awards Show.” Harlem , N.Y 2009
•Grand Prize winner in the June/2009 “Black Fathers Hall of Fame Father’s Day Essay Contest!” http://blackfathershalloffame.com/the-2009-fathers-day-essay-contest-winners.html
•1st place winner in Cheryl Robinson’s author of Sweet Georgia Brown writing contest
•3rd place winner in the http://apooo.org/ April 08 “Virtual Poetry Showcase”
Co-hosted poetry workshop with author/poet Vincent Alexandria @ the BLACK WRITERS REUNION & CONFERENCE 2008 Workshop: Creating the Poet: Exploring the Craft and Business of Poetry
http://www.bravinpublishing.com/
http://www.facebook.com/KeithKLBelvin
Twitter: @KL_Belvin
K. L. Belvin
Bravin Publishing LLC.
P.O. Box 340317
Rochdale Village, NY 11434
Email: info@BravinPublishing.com
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