JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Jacob “JB” Burrage, author of Caught Up
(J. Burrage Publications, LLC)

Jeremiah Blackwood is a young, dark and very eligible bachelor who is trying to defy the odds of the stereotypical black man in the dirty south and overcome the small-town mentality that constantly threatens his success. Through hard work and determination, he honed his craft as a writer and began making his mark in the community when he met a caramel complexioned girl who could make Buffy the Body look like Miss Celie in The Color Purple.

She seemed so innocent the first time they met. Her beautiful brown eyes beckoned him into her lonely soul. Her smile was enticing, yet friendly. He knew she was the woman of his dreams. Much to his surprise, he found that not only was she far from perfect, but soon realized that she was involved in some things bigger than he could wrap his small mind around.

Find out what happens when a man gets caught up in a tangled web of lust, lies, and unadulterated drama.

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write Caught Up?

Jacob “JB” Burrage: Caught Up actually came to me in a vision. It was before Thanksgiving 2006, and I was stationed at Fort Meade, MD. I was getting ready to go to bed for the night and it just popped up in my head. I felt the need to write the story out, and that’s what I did.

JP: What sets Caught Up apart from other novels in its genre?

JB: Well, much props to the my fellow authors. But my story stands out because of the way it is presented. It’s not just a story; it is a story that everybody can relate to. The storyline is crazy, but almost anybody knows somebody just like any of the characters in the book.

It is pretty much a real life, everyday story but in fiction form. It will make you laugh, and it will make you mad. But you will truly get caught up in the story.

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

JB: I don’t really have the keys to this. The best thing I can say is that I have just been trying to promote and get my voice heard and my words read. It is a learning process for me. So far, I have been blessed to have some of the right people hear me out and work with me, even when I have had people turn me away. It’s hard out here, and I am just trying to be the shark with the meanest bite.

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

JB: I wrote the first draft to Caught Up in less than a month. I started during Thanksgiving 2006 and finished it before Christmas 2006. Caught Up wasn’t actually released till almost a year later. In March 2007, I founded J. Burrage Publications (JBP) in order to publish and promote the book.

Caught Up has had three revisions, and this current revision has been out since July of this year. Caught Up has been an evolving process. As far as my writing process…well, sometimes I just wing it.

But I almost always write out my books the old fashioned way: in a good old notebook and with a pencil, not a pen. It helps me actually visualize what I am writing, compared to typing it on a computer. It is a slower process than what most people prefer, but it helps me.

JP: What’s next for Jacob “JB” Burrage?

JB: Well, I am currently writing The Forbidden Lounge, the sequel to Caught Up. The Forbidden Lounge will be juicier than Caught Up. I am also a science fiction writer, and my sci-fi novel, Secrets Revealed, will be published next year. Originally scheduled for January 2, it will probably be pushed back to allow for the promotion of The Forbidden Lounge, which I plan to release next summer.

I am also working with the up-and-coming author Roni on a joint project, which I can’t tell you what that is about yet. But just trust me when I say that it will be good. She is an extraordinary writer, and she is currently promoting her debut novel, The Best of Me, right now.

I will also be on a virtual tour sponsored by African Americans on the Move Book Club (AAMBC) starting on November 1 through November 30. Also, I have several local events planned, as well as planning events around the country for next year

I am also working on establishing JBP as the publishing company to come to and presenting the “3-B Dimension”. So, I have a lot on my plate, and I enjoy it. I love bringing my work out to everyone, and I am not ready to give that up.

About Jacob “JB” Burrage: Jacob “JB” Burrage was born in Jackson, Mississippi, and raised in Meridian, Mississippi. After leaving Mississippi, JB Burrage served in the US Army from 1999 until 2010. During his time in the Army, he has been to Hawaii, Egypt, Israel, New York State, Maryland, and Texas; as well many other states. While in the Army, he discovered himself and his true talents and decided to pursue that by founding J. Burrage Publications.

Normally a science fiction writer, Caught Up was written in an attempt to express himself through other genres. With the release of Caught Up, JB Burrage is now focused on the publication of Secrets Revealed by the beginning of 2011 and the development of The Forbidden Lounge. He also has a blog series, The Chronicles, at The JBP Chronicles blog at http://www.jbpublications.com/blog.

Jacob “JB” Burrage currently is the Publisher & CEO of J. Burrage Publications, LLC.

http://www.facebook.com/JBBurrage
http://www.twitter.com/JBBurrage
http://www.myspace.com/jb39301
http://www.jbpublications.com/

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