# Please introduce yourself and your book(s)!
The below is from the “About The Author” section of my website;
booksbymarvinblake.com
In 1957, three years following the Supreme Court landmark decision, i.e., Brown v. Board of Education, ruling that state laws establishing racial segregation in public schools as being unconstitutional, following his graduation from Cherry Hill Jr. High, at the insistence of his mother and the urging of one of his Jr. High School English teachers, Marvin was enrolled at, and subsequently, graduated from Baltimore’s previously all-white, Southern High School. One of Marvin’s fondest memories of high school was that during his senior year at Southern High, Marvin was chosen for 2nd Tenor, section leader of what he and his fellow choir members proudly thought of as; “The World Famous, Southern High School Acapella Choir”. After high school, Marvin enlisted and served nearly six years in the U.S. Navy.
While stationed, serving as a Hospital Corpsman at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Saint Albans New York, Marvin met, wooed, and married his beautiful, brilliant wife, Linda. Marvin is a graduate of the United States Navy’s Hospital Corps School; the United States Navy’s School of Medical Technology; Long Island University (C.W. Post College); and the New School University.
His professional career has been spent as a Senior Hospital Administrator in several of New York City and Nassau County’s prestigious teaching Medical Centers.
In 2002, following the 9-11 terrorist attack on New York City, Marvin actively sought, and was subsequently offered, the position of Administrative Officer, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine for the New York and the Brooklyn VA Medical Centers.
Marvin retired from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs at the end of October, 2012. “It was at my wife Linda’s urging (she later confessed …because after my retirement, I was constantly underfoot), that I decided to attempt to write a novel.”
# What is/are the real-life story(ies) behind your book(s)?
The genre of my three novels…my 19th century “Trilogy”, of three distinctively different societies; That of the white-slave owner, Southern Planters; their black slave; and the Nomadic Plains Indians.
As a black man, born in the mid-20th century…, in the United States of America, in the then racially segregated city of Baltimore, Maryland, 100 years after the momentous, historical events, of the 19th century—I attempted to show through the eyes fictional characters (modeled after my family and contemporaries), the 19th century events, that shaped our country.
# What inspires/inspired your creativity?
During my life’s experiences…. as a black child; an adolescent; a young man; then a long fulfilling and successful career, I have always had a keen interest in history.
That being said, I have always been fascinated by in my lifetime, personally, and historically, as a society, we continue to make the same mistakes.
In the words often attributed to that great American Philosopher and “Yankee” catcher; Lawrence Peter “Yogi”, Berra. “Its dejavu…all over again”.
# Do you have tips on choosing titles and covers?
Make sure your cover is relating to and is consistent, with the tittles of your novel
# What were the best, worst and most surprising things you encountered during the entire process of completing your book(s)?
The best, worst and most surprising things that I encountered was the fact(s) that;
“Those who ignore the mistakes of History…Are doomed to repeat them.”
# Do you tend towards personal satisfaction or aim to serve your readers? Do you balance the two and how?
In my writing of “Historical-Fiction” novels, it is my intent “To Entertain…while Educating”.
booksbymarvinblake.com