Charles L. Chatmon shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Charles L., a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What is a normal day like for you right now?
My day begins with sitting at my desk, writing an article, working on a book, or doing anything to keep my mind engaged. An hour later, I take my daily walk through the neighborhood to relax and enjoy the day. The rest of the day is spent either catching up on research, taking care of work-related tasks, or browsing the web. If I don’t get called for a work assignment, this is how my day goes.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m an author who has produced several books. My recent novel, It’s All About Fate, is a tale of a crime lord who suffered a nasty accident, which resulted in severe burns across his face, along with a personal loss he suffered on the same evening during a police raid in a flashback. He is focused on a police detective he feels is responsible for his ruined face and personal loss of someone very close to the crime lord named Fate. The novel is about Fate’s plan of revenge and how the detective’s family suffers as a result. It’s All About Fate is my second novel, but sixth book (as of now) that I’m happy to release for the reading public. RELAY was the first novel I wrote with the storyline of a high school varsity track team filled with seniors who try one last time to win the state championship. Tragedy strikes one of the members, so the rest of the team has to add another runner from a different team who doesn’t share the same bond as the rest of the team. The novel focuses on how they work as a team with the same goal in mind. A book after RELAY is Strange Tales of Science Fiction. There are four stories for fans of the genre that I hope they’ll like. An alien invasion turned tragic; secrets inside a movie studio with consequences for everyone on Earth; a couple traveling the California coast are unaware the stranger in the back seat is an important figure in an intergalactic battle in the far reaches of the galaxy; a man accidently turns invisible, discovering the difficulties of his new life and individuals who will do nothing to obtain his power. The next book I plan to write will be a drama set in South Los Angeles in the early 1970s about a troubled young man and the people in his life. It’s based on a short story from a cousin of mine. As you can see, I have shared a lot of ideas, and I plan to keep going and share a few more.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
If it weren’t for my teachers in what we used to call junior high (now middle school), I would never have become the author and writer I am today. They took time with me, helping my creativity to flourish and grow. My ninth-grade homeroom teacher’s husband was a television writer. When I told him I planned to write for TV, he discouraged me from pursuing that idea. Based on what I’ve seen (along with everyone else) of the struggles TV writers go through, I’m sure he had a point, lol. It wasn’t just teachers in junior high who helped influence me. I would say supportive teachers in high school encouraged me when I was the sports editor for my high school newspaper. Their helpful comments inspired me to keep going, and I felt I was on the right track. I believe this is the reason why I’m involved with teaching now. I think back on my past and feel that if I can help a young person the same way these teachers and college instructors believed in me, I feel I’ve done my job, and shared my wisdom with the next great writer or author.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
Stay on the path and never take your eyes off the road. I would tell my younger self that the sacrifices you make today will be the rewards of tomorrow. I would say that if you stop with your goals, it will be harder for you to return to the love you once had working on a story, writing a piece that you created. I would also share a cautionary warning that this happened to me for a number of years. I literally questioned myself whether this dream was real. I decided to keep writing, no matter if I was published or not. The dream is always worth it, I would tell myself. Once you’re focused, you have to continue working on that dream to make the reward so much sweeter in the end. I would share this with my younger self, and hope they understand what the older man shared with them.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
Our industry believes it’s who a character represents that is the story, instead of what the character does that makes the story. Don’t get me wrong, I know we live in a different era where we would like to see ourselves represented in a positive light, but I think it’s a character’s actions that will define for the readers what principles this character has. For example, we would recognize this hero if they were different in some way, but would that difference stop Bad Bart from taking over the town of Summerville, or would Bad Bart take over the town with his ruthless posse? The character has to solve a difficult problem using their wits, presence, or something else that makes them a larger-than-life legend. I know some critics despise the changes in the industry where different voices are demanding to be heard, and I agree – they should. I fear that with these characters, you have to build antagonists large enough that the character not only faces that challenge head-on, but leaves no doubt, their actions are what saved the day. Their differences on a cultural, alternative level, etc., are an added plus.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
As a two-stroke survivor, this is a personal question for me. I would say I plan to write as many books as I can before my time on this side of life is up. I feel I would stop letting doubt enter my mind. I’ve always felt I sold myself short because of a case of low self-esteem, that I did not use the gifts I was blessed to use. I would take time to live for myself, not listen to others who want to steer my life’s direction into a destination they choose, not the one I chose for myself. Instead of listening to other people, I would decide to live for myself.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://charleslchatmon.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charleslchatmon
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charleslchatmon
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/charleslchatmon
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@chatwrites
- Other: https://substack.com/@charleslchatmon
https://linktr.ee/charleslchatmon
