When did you know that writing was something you wanted to do?

I’ve always known that I wanted to tell stories since I was a young reader.  I’ve always loved reading and the more something stretched my imagination, the better.  I didn’t decide to take writing seriously until around 1998.

What is your writing process?  Do you jump in and just write, or do you like to outline and do character sketches?

The physical writing is usually the last part.  Whether I’m writing a short story or a novel, I’ve got to picture it in my mind first.  I’ve got to see the characters live and breathe and I’ve got to have a reason to care about them because if I don’t care, then the reader won’t care either.

You have three novels in your arsenal:  TRIPLE TAKE, THE APOSTLES, and SLIPPING.  What three adjectives would you use to describe each of your works?

TRIPLE TAKE:  Vengeful
THE APOSTLES:  Truthful
SLIPPING: Sickening

I checked out your MYSPACE PAGE (http://www.myspace.com/yblakmoore) and read that before you published fiction you self-published poetry; in fact, as a spoken word artist, you have represented yourself alongside some very talented artists and within some major universities.  I give big ups to poets because every WORD, every sound of every syllable of a word is important to a piece.  What connected you to poetry, and how important is "the word" to your poetic and literary works?

Hip-hop was one of my first loves and for years I would write rap songs.  The only problem with the songs would be that they would be five pages long.  A bit much for a song.  I continued to write about things I was going through and a friend of mine would come over my house and find the pages scattered all over my apartment.  She said the stuff was pretty good and that I should take a chance reading some of the stuff at one of the spoken word venues she attended.  I went to a spot where they were performing spoken word poetry with her and the rest is history.

Every good writer wants his or her latest work to be better than the last.  In your career as a writer, how do you think you have grown with each novel written?

All I can say is that I can’t wait for readers to check out my new stuff.  I’ve grown by leaps and bounds and I’m almost ashamed of my earlier works.

Also on your MYSPACE PAGE, I learned about your early childhood experiences, to include witnessing the tragic murder of your mother and your being caught up in life on the streets.  How does your childhood, your street life experiences help or hinder you as a writer of street fiction?  Do you find that life often imitates art...or vice versa?

The problem with me really being a street dude is that I got to kinda give it to you straight—no chaser.  It’s also funny that writers that haven’t really lived the lifestyle seem to represent the urban literature culture.  I’m not saying that I was the roughest dude you would meet out there in the streets, but I will say that real recognize real.  My life and experience really do have a huge, irreplaceable influence on my work and I wouldn’t trade in my pen’s voice for the world.

Because you were able to help yourself get out of your situation and better your life, you now mentor disadvantaged youth who are growing up in the same cultural climate to which you grew up.  How do you mentor them?  Are there any groups in particular that you mentor in which volunteers and/or donations are needed?

I was working with the juvenile detainees charged with serious crimes at the Cook County Juvenile Detention Center located here in Chicago .  Those little dudes were facing some heavy charges and I would go in a talk to them straightforward about the path they were living.  The problem with a lot of them was, they were guessing how things would turn out for them, but I’m a real living example of how that lifestyle turns out.

Who or what inspires you as a writer?

It depends on what I’m writing.  Everything inspires me, but I would have to say human nature and our tendencies intrigue and inspire me the most.

Do you foresee yourself staying within the street lit genre, or do you plan to branch into other genres in the future?

I see myself now as what I am: an urban writer.  I’m a street dude and I have a certain perspective on life because of that, but I’m a writer and wherever my mind takes me I’m going to go, but you’re definitely going to hear my voice in whatever I’m writing.

What projects are you working on now? Are there any conferences or book signings in the near future?

I’ve got several novels finished right now, but they’re not coming out for awhile.  I’m currently devoting my energy to my clothing line Elemental, but don’t worry because I’ll be back in the book game coming real soon.  Readers are gonna have to watch out because I’ve been working on my pen game and some stuff is gonna blow your minds.  The first thing to expect is Triple Take 2: Champagne ’s Kiss.  That should be out about six months from now.  Thanks for your interest in my career.  It’s greatly appreciated.  Peace.

Want to learn more about Y. Blak Moore?  Check him out on MySpace!