Lisa Winkler is the author of On the Trail of the Ancestors: A Black Cowboy's Ride Across America - Today she stops by to have a chat with us!
Thanks for joining us today Lisa! Tell us about about your novel
"A Black Cowboy's Ride Across America"
It’s non-fiction, about a teacher I
met who rode his horse from New York to California to celebrate the
contributions of African Americans to US history. Growing up black in Brooklyn,
Miles Dean wanted to be a cowboy. He galloped through the streets on his
bicycle, ambushing outlaws on street corners, imitating the heroes he watched
in television westerns. More than three decades later, Dean, a Newark, NJ
schoolteacher, rode Sankofa, his 11-year-old Arabian stallion, from the African
Burial Grounds in lower Manhattan, to the California African American Museum in
Los Angeles. Dean used an unpaid leave
of absence to follow his childhood dream: his 5,000 mile- journey through 12
states took six months.
Conceived to celebrate the
contributions of African Americans in US history, this inspirational story
brings the reader into large cities and small towns, connecting with the
horseback ride and the many people Dean met. Through his daily regimen of
riding his horse, the reader witnesses the physical and emotional discipline
required to complete such a journey.
It’s a story about an ordinary man who accomplishes something
extraordinary.
Sounds like an exciting tale! What was it about Miles Dean's
tale that made you want to write about it and share it with the world?
As a teacher,
I’ve witnessed how young people know little of history. In urban areas, youth
learn about slavery and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and a few more facts during
February, Black History Month. Yet they have little if any connection with
these historical figures. When I began my own reading after meeting Miles, I
became fascinated with these people whose contributions to the development of
the US are largely unknown. Most adults haven’t heard of these people. American
history needs to include all races and genders to truly demonstrate who built
this nation, their struggles and sacrifices and stories. From my research, I couldn’t find any records
of other African Americans who have ridden a horse across the country in modern
day, with this purpose in mind. A cross country journey in itself is a story. I
loved the idea of this young boy growing up watching western movies and
television shows and dreaming that he too could become a cowboy.
Were there any road bumps in the
story process?
Of
course! I nearly quit a few times. I submitted to about 100 agents before
deciding to self-publish. I switched from a first person narrative to third,
which made the writing flow easier. And sometimes Miles wasn’t so easy to deal
with- I felt I was more passionate about the story than he was—well, I’m the
author, so I guess that’s how it is. But it was worth it, and I learned from
every step of the process.
Is this story completely
based on fact or have you mixed a bit of fiction into it?
It’s non-fiction. It tells a true story. I
interviewed many of the people that Miles met or accompanied him in addition to
interviewing him and doing my own research. Since I didn’t go on the journey, I
created some scenes to bring the story to life. All the people and places are
real.
How long did it take you to
write?
I started interviewing Miles in 2009 and
published the book in Februrary, 2012. So 3 years.
Wow! A long time! Any future books in the works?
Yes!
But I don’t know what. I enrolled in a memoir class to keep the writing juices
flowing, I might revisit some picture book drafts that have sunk to the bottom
of the desk drawer, and I’m always looking for the next project to engage me
like this one did! Open to suggestions!
Random Q's
Hobbies?
I love yoga, road cycling, reading, cooking,
knitting and theater. I have three grandchildren under 3 so that keeps me busy
too.
Special Writing Habits?
I
try to write first thing in the morning, from about 5:45 to 7. Then I have to
eat breakfast and usually go to yoga, do errands, etc. I try to get back to
writing in the afternoon or evening but that varies.
Favourite Book Of All Time?
So
hard, because books influenced me at different ages. But I think Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird is my stand-out
above all else favorite.
On the Trail of the Ancestors: A Black Cowboy's Ride Across America
Check out the trailer here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SL7XlEaD6Q&feature=youtu.be
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