Today we’d like to introduce you to Akili Hight
Hi Akili, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’m a writer at heart, with a lifelong passion for crafting authentic and memorable stories. My journey began with poetry and screenplays, and over the years, journaling became both a creative outlet and a form of therapy. Through this process, a recurring theme emerged—a story that needed to be told.
Then one night I had a lucid dream that sparked the idea for LUCID, a novel that follows Evan Wheat, a young man whose life is upended by the sudden death of his father. His path of self-discovery begins when he finds a powerful Lemurian quartz crystal left by his father, along with a vintage bookmark, leading him to a mysterious bookstore that unlocks the door to alternate realities.
Evan experiences vivid dreams that blur the line between reality and fantasy, serving as a gateway to other worlds. Despite receiving messages from higher dimensions, he initially ignores them, straying from his predestined path.
Then one fateful evening, lightning strikes Evan, knocking him into a coma and propelling his consciousness into an alternate reality. In this new world, he must join an underground group of insurgents and undergo rigorous training to fight against a powerful enemy intent on capturing his crystal and dominating humanity.
Evan faces otherworldly obstacles and supernatural trials, emerging triumphant and forever changed. Through this journey, armed with the quartz crystal, he uncovers his true identity and the hero within.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
From a young Black kid growing up in LA in the 1980s to a tech professional navigating corporate America in the 2020s, it’s safe to say that my journey has had a few roadblocks along the way.
Raised by a single mother, I was what they called a “latchkey kid” growing up in the Crenshaw district and later Inglewood, during the height of gang violence and the crack cocaine epidemic. It was an environment where it was easy to become a statistic. I was fortunate to be shielded by my mother’s watchful eye and structured upbringing. Unfortunately, most male members of my family, including several first cousins, were not so lucky.
I would become the first person on my mother’s side of the family to graduate from college. I would also go on to earn an advanced degree. However, despite my education and professional certifications, these credentials were suddenly not as valuable in the corporate world as they once were. Discrimination was both subtle and blatant at the same time and grew increasingly condescending.
On the personal side of life, my marriage grew tumultuous during much of this time and would inevitably fall apart, thrusting me back onto the dating scene at the age of 40. Life became filled with distractions and I often lost sight of my true purpose. I would sometimes go weeks or months without writing. Eventually, this forced me to look inward and confront my biggest challenges— my self-sabotaging behavior and self-limiting beliefs.
Through meditation and writing, I rediscovered my true self and got my swag back. By mixing words with imagination, like brick and mortar, I can construct new worlds and develop interesting characters that tell intriguing stories. Writing is my therapy. It helps me reconnect with my true north and make progress toward my destiny.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
As a student of life, I’ve navigated a diverse range of careers, accumulating a wealth of experiences through various opportunities. From working as a music intern and production assistant right after college to teaching fifth grade, and later transitioning into the tech industry—starting with desktop support and network technician roles and advancing to business analyst, project manager, and tech consultant positions—I’ve documented key insights and anecdotes in dozens of journals along the way. These experiences have fueled my work as a writer.
What sets my novel, LUCID, apart? It’s an Afrofuturistic action-adventure that intertwines metaphysics with Hip Hop, exploring self-discovery through lucid dreams. Designed as a franchise, LUCID unfolds in layers, revealing a rich multiverse filled with interconnected stories that can expand over generations.
What am I most proud of? Inspiring young people as both a teacher and a published author, helping them realize their untapped potential. Aimed at young adults and fans of superhero stories, comics, sci-fi, and Marvel, LUCID introduces a new superhero with apex predator skills and the ability to adapt to any environment. It serves as a reminder that they can transform themselves through the power of their minds, manifest their dreams, and become their own superheroes.
What are your plans for the future?
So far, I have six spinoffs planned for the LUCID franchise, with a graphic novel as my top priority. I’m currently working on a Kickstarter campaign and plan to launch it soon. The second book on the roadmap will be a prequel exploring the origin story of a female character with superhuman abilities known as Jade the Dream Jumper. Book three will delve deeper into Dr. Ama and Solar City.
In the meantime, I’m scouting venues for my next book signing and speaking event, and promoting LUCID—both the book and the brand—at the LUCID Futurism store, which you can visit at https://lucidfuturism.myshopify.com/.
Pricing:
- $18.99 – LUCID Paperback on Amazon.com and at https://store.bookbaby.com/book/lucidfuturism
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lucidfuturism.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lucidfuturism
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LUCIDFuturism
- Twitter: https://x.com/lucidfuturism
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@lucidfuturism
- Other: https://akilidamone.com/
