JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Tylon L. Rodgers, author of Don Silk: The MACKnificient Playa
(Xlibris Corporation )

This book is about going through life and accepting the ups and downs in the path of life that you’ve chosen. Whether you like it, love it or hate it, life will deal you a certain deck of cards that will take you through certain types of events and situations.

It’s about going through the pain in life and actually knowing how great the gain is at the end of the road. It’s about coming to realize your purpose of living after the pain of death, or a near-death situation, or the pain of suffering and managing through your life, period, especially for black females.

Some of them having to raise little boys and girls by themselves using government aid and dealing with the streets and the niggas in the streets and their street stress attitudes. Therefore, they remain strong and aggressive in life and lifetime situations.

If it’s about going to get it, they go get it in an aggressive manner because they refuse to suffer anymore than they have to. That is what strong Black women do.

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write Don Silk?

Tylon L. Rodgers: The inspiration for Don Silk actually came from a situation in my life that led me to the hospital in a near-death situation that came from dealings in the street life. I was released from the hospital after eight days and went down south to Georgia to heal. That’s where the spark hit.

JP: What sets Don Silk apart from other autobiographies?

TR: For one, what sets it apart from other autobiographies is just the simple fact that it’s about me. God has a plan and path for each of us, and he gives us our own story to tell. So that in itself sets it apart and makes it unique in it’s own way. Same goes for any other writer or creative individual.

JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that lead to Don Silk getting out to the public?

TR: I have to keep pressing and pushing to make it happen. I have to network with the right group of people and learn more about the industry. As well, I have to continue to pray and write.

JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take for you to start and finish Don Silk?

TR: With Don Silk, being that I had started it soon after I was released from the hospital from a situation that resulted in head trauma, I was really in and out of the book. I had other things going on and situations to deal with.

When I started to write it, it was an idea. I wanted to find my niche and live a legal life and still get the same money as if I was still in the street. So came the book. I got the idea on 2004, and it got published in 2007 while I was on probation.

Believe me, there’s another story behind that question. I was going through some things at that time in my life. So there were many delays in the project as you can tell by the three year time span.

JP: What’s next for Tylon L. Rodgers?

TR: Prayerfully a book deal, agent, movie deal. Seriously though, a lot of praying and trying to stay focused on what I have to do in order to be successful in this industry as well as other ventures and ideas that have. Right now I’m working on my next book titled The Black Plague. It’s something that will touch America.

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