Why You Should Donate to the SJS DIRECT Cover Kickstarter

Why should you donate to the SJS DIRECT Cover Kickstarter? Well, SJS DIRECT titles feature positive images of African Americans that boys and girls can look up to as role models. And Most SJS DIRECT titles feature family friendly content that is easy to read and easy to follow. Readers from 8 to 80 can enjoy SJS DIRECT titles and parents can feel comfortable giving the books in the 2016 SJS DIRECT catalog to their children.

The fantasy titles in this year’s catalog are designed to inspire, uplift and make readers think.

Concept Art NOT FINAL

Isis: Imitation of Life is a story inspired by the 1934 Cinematic classic Imitation of Life and 1930s Pulp fiction like Doc Savage and The Shadow. And in this Isis series story set in the 1930s I tell a tale about the strength of character Black women had to show during the tense period of Jim Crow. In the era many White people consider the golden age of Superheroes and pulp fiction I show how heroic Black women were during that time as they made efforts to teach the next generation of men and women the values that would help them overcome the challenges they would face in the Civil Rights movement.

Isis: Imitation of Life is a powerful story that teaches Black history to today’s generation of kids. Many kids growing up today don’t understand the struggles and sacrifices past generations have made for Black people to enjoy the freedoms they take for granted today. With this story, I wanted to show what people from those past generations did to get the Black community to this point in history.

The dedication page of Isis: Imitation of Life will feature the old African Proverb “A nation can rise no higher than the moral position of its women.” If it weren’t for Black women in the 1930s and 1940s having that strong moral position to teach a culture of character to their children wouldn’t have the courage to fight during the Civil Rights movement.

Many readers have been asking me to write stories for young Black boys featuring a strong positive male hero. This year I’m publishing two stories for young Black boys featuring that strong, positive Black male hero. In Isis: Bride of Dracula and John Haynes: The Man Who Rules the World I present that strong positive Black male hero in two fantastic fantasy adventures.

In Isis: Bride of Dracula a follow up to last year’s Isis: Night of the Vampires readers will see a Black man showing strength, courage and character as he helps Isis takes the fight to the dark vampire Lord.

And In John Haynes: The Man Who rules the World readers will see a Black man as a leader who brings people together. In John Haynes: The Man Who Rules The World readers will see John using his intelligence, diplomacy, creativity, resourcefulness and organizational skills bring together humans gods, and demons to stand against a major crisis that threatens the world.

In today’s media we rarely see stories featuring Black males in leadership roles or showing strong masculine traits. Oftentimes when there are Black males in a story they’re usually presented as stereotypes like thugs and criminals in TV shows like Empire or feminized like the recent images of Jayden Smith in Louis’ Vuitton’s Women’s line or like Taye Diggs in Hedwig and the Angry Inch. However, in SJS DIRECT publications I make every effort to present a balanced image of a masculine Black man who presents Black men in a positive light.

And E’steem: The Witches of Eastland is a humorous story featuring an African-American heroine in a fantasy horror comedy similar to Buffy The Vampire Slayer. While there are plenty of tween and Young Adult fantasy titles featuring White fantasy heroines, the E’steem series features a Black woman as the main character and is written to present African-American women in a positive light while giving the reader lots of laughs.

 E’steem: The Witches of Eastland is great reading for tweens and teens who like YA fantasy like Harry Potter and Twilight.

E’steem: The Witches of Eastland has a major plot twist at the end of the story that will impact future E’steem series stories.

FUN FACT: The E’steem character is inspired by actress Salli Richardson Whitfield who was the Voice of Elisa Maza in Disney’s Gargoyles. And whenever I’m writing the E’steem character’s narrative and dialogue I always hear her voice.

I have a great selection of fun fantasy titles to share with readers this year. And all four titles have their stories completed, have their pages laid out and are in their final stages of editing. All I need is a series of covers from a professional artist like Bill Walko to make that powerful first impression on readers. With me being out of work the only way I can afford to pay for those professional covers is with your help. Every dollar donated will be used towards the publication of books featuring covers like those featured on last years’ books Isis: Night of the Vampires and E’steem: Undercover which were paid for when last year’s Isis/E’steem Crossover Kickstarter was successfully funded. This year I need everyone’s help to get this years’ books published. So please donate!