JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Maurice Thomas Williams, author of The Backyard Diplomat
(Butterscotch Memoirs)

Designed to highlight the critical role single mothers play in rearing their young sons, “The Backyard Diplomat” takes a snapshot of a day in the life of Eloise Jackson and her young son Thomas. The story emphasizes the importance of maintaining open communication channels between parent and child, while conveying honest feedback about real life situations.

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the inspiration to write “The Backyard Diplomat”?

Maurice Thomas Williams: I was inspired to write “The Backyard Diplomat” as a personal dedication to my son while at the same time paying homage to my mother and her steadfast dedication to my development at an early age.

JP: What sets “The Backyard Diplomat” apart from other books in the same genre?

MTW: “The Backyard Diplomat” separates itself from other books in the same genre by placing particular focus on the importance of open and candid feedback between parent and child.

Far too often, serious issues go unchecked as a result of a child choosing to omit certain details of an event that made them uncomfortable. With my story, I hope to change this.

JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that led to “The Backyard Diplomat” getting out to the public?

MTW: My keys to success included focus, focus and more focus! 🙂

I initially began “The Backyard Diplomat” a number of years ago. However, it sat on the shelf for some time. It wasn’t until I truly began to focus on the end product and the impact that it could have on children all over the world did I make it my priority on a daily basis. Once I made that conscious decision, everything else fell into place.

JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take you to start and finish “The Backyard Diplomat”?

MTW: Once I locked in to the process, it took 6 months to complete “The Backyard Diplomat”. While the story is fairly brief (25 pgs), the process of securing illustration, editing, layout, design, copyright and publication info can be time consuming.

At the same time, I was starting my own company, Butterscotch Memoirs, LLC, as my publishing imprint to handle future books as well as my screenwriting ventures.

In terms of writing, I make it a point to schedule writing time at least 5 days per week. With my taxing day job, it’s not always easy, but it is a necessity. It’s all about how badly you want to achieve your goal.

JP: What’s next for Maurice Thomas Williams?

MTW: I recently converted “The Backyard Diplomat” into a short script, and I am working on transitioning the original book into a book series.

I am also working on completing my fourth screenplay (three feature length, one short).

My goal is to share my vision of the world through my writing. Through books and films, my plans will come together, this I truly believe.

http://twitter.com/StorytellerMoe

Stand close. I’m gonna change the world!

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“The Backyard Diplomat”