Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi, my name is Darrell. I recently just published my first book Letters to the Unchained: A true story of the streets, gangs, prison and mass incarceration. I enjoy writing nonfiction books and sharing with readers my own past personal experiences and the things that I have been through and experienced in life as a way to help others overcome similar situations.
So far this is the first book that I have wrote.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Letters to the Unchained: A true story of the streets, gangs, prison and mass incarceration was inspired by true events. This is a book that is a collection of conversational essays the reflect the bad choices and decisions I made as an adolescent growing up in Indiana without a father in the household. Because of unfortunate circumstances and events, I was sent to prison at the age of twenty four years old. While incarcerated I started reflecting on my choices, decisions that had put me here in this unpleasant predicament. I immediately began working on myself and changing the way I think in order to not only free myself physically but also to free my old ways of thinking and reframe from making these repeated mistakes.
I wanted to share this knowledge with the youth of our communities as a way to inspire them from following down the same destructive pathways that I myself had tripped over and that lead to my incarceration. I wanted to share with them the truth about the streets, gangs, and prison. But present it to them from the point of view of a person who has actually been involved with these destructive behavior choices and knows where they lead to. And show them that there is also a different direction, a different alternative there as well if they choose to take it.
And from there is how Letters to the Unchained was born.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
It’s funny because I do. I actually wrote this book while incacerated. Prison is the place where I discovered that I have a passion for writing. I usually do my best writing early in the morning while nursing a nice hot cup of coffee.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
As A Man Thinketh by James Allen.
The Autobiography of Malcolm X
The New Jim Crow by Michelle
Alexander
Atomic Habits by James Clear
Just to name a few.
What are you working on now?
Currently I am working on bringing awareness to my new book and promoting it. I have a few books brewing on the horizon but for the time being I am going to remain hush hush about them lol.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Honestly I am new at promoting. Especially since I am self published. I have been getting a lot of good tips on promoting and just the self publishing game in general from Dave Chesson website over at kindlepreneur.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Get your story out there. The most important part about publishing a book or any story is writing it first. Don’t worry about the process just start writing. You have something to say and the world wants to hear it. Focus on actually writing it and everything else will come together.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Life is On-the-job training which means everyday is a learning experience.
What are you reading now?
Atomic Habits by James Clear. Great book about how to create good habits to replace bad ones and how to maintain your good habits process.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Currently, I am working on rewriting a fiction book I started writing a while back. I also have a nonfiction book up my sleeve as well. Those are my next two projects.
What is your favorite book of all time?
Honestly, that is going to be a hard one. There are so many great books out there. My favorite book I would say probably is going to be Mastery by Robert Greene. That is a great book full of information and it teaches you how to be the Master of yourself.
Author Websites and Profiles
Darrell L Myricks II Amazon Profile
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