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D'Mtri Bibbs
"Author of Note"
Summer/Fall 2005
Name, Gender, and Birthplace:
D'mitri Bibbs, Male, Chicago, IL (southeast side)
Current or Recent Project:
"Soul Cries" is a collection of short stories and poems that range from romantic "Love Game", anguish and erotic "The Dark Place" to horrific torment which is "UnSeen Beings". When I began this project last year it was written with the intent to get over a breakup and some stressful situations at home. At first I had no intentions on writing any short stories to compliment the poems, that is until my nephew gave me an idea. He said, "Uncle, people would rather read something that's more personal than poems, that takes them somewhere else". So with that in mind I decided to add some stories to the mix. Then I went through some slight anxiety over whether the material was too graphic, but I felt I should just tell it like it is. Maybe someone whose going through one of these situations will read this book and know they're not alone. I'm really hoping that someone out there will read "Soul Cries" and get the deep message at the end. My wish is this it will help and/or touch someone is some way.

"Soul Cries" is not a book about sexual interludes although it contains some explicit material. It's not about paranormal activity even though that's mentioned too. "Soul Cries" is more like a journey into different parts of the spirit. Some of it is dark, seductive, erotic, painful, and sometimes just plain odd. One thing for sure is it will keep you tuned in and will be hard to put down.

What is your earliest memory of being a writer?
Well when I was about 9 years old I had a bad habit of going to book sales at school when several books could be bought for 10-25cent. Then when I was about 14 years old my english teacher at Near North Career Magnet named Ms. Krull helped me to find my niche. She helped me to realize I had a talent for writing horror and sci-fi. This in turn led to me to start writing when I got my first computer. At that time I was using an Amstrad PCW8256 with WordStar. Yes that was old. Later I ended up doing a paper route when I lived in Racine, WI while I was attending Washington Park high school. I wanted so much for my work to get read that I typed 30 booklets with 25 pages of poems and inserted them into customers' newspapers. When I did my route the next day, some of the clients gave me some praise on my poems and told me they were pretty good. Anyway after a few weeks past one of my poems ended up in the Racine Journal Times. Now for a teenager that was a big thing to me.
When were you first published?
My book was published through iUniverse.com on April in 2005. I went through several changes trying to get the book to publication, because I had no artist to do the cover art. So I had to do it myself with a picture I had created to be used on an album cover that never made it to DiscMakers {which is a music publishing company}.
How do you identify and nurture ideas for new projects?
I either listen to some smooth jazz, go out to meet and talk to different people, or get some quiet time to myself.
Who are your influences?
Edgar Allan Poe is one of my favorites because I love the way his poems draw you into a scary dark descriptive story without using sentences.

William Shakespeare to me is a master of words. I love the way he uses them as a canvas and the way he paints a vivid image.

Maya Angelo is the poet who strikes me as one the greatest philosphers of our time.

Name 2 books and or CDs that you believe should be part of everyone's book collection.
Dictionary and the holy bible
Prince Hits/ B Sides
Beautifully Human: Words and Sounds, Vol. 2, by Jill Scott
Do you believe LGBT authors have an obligation to the LGBT community?
Yes, There is such a big stigma behind being gay in the black community that I believe we have a duty to help knock that down.
What advice would you give aspiring writers?
I don't won't to sound corny and say you should never give up. So what I will say is this. When everyone else beats you down and makes you feel like there's no reason to go on just take some time to yourself and pray, meditate, or whatever it is you need to do and write. Write about whatever it is you're feeling even if you feel it isn't important, because to someone else it is.
Can you share some thoughts on your upcoming project(s)?
Not at the moment, but I'm currently working one another book. I just can't quote a title right now.
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City: 
D'Mitri's Favorites
Color
Black
Food
Chinese
Gadget
DSL
Drink
Lipton Ice Tea
Movie
End of Days or X-Men 2
Singer/performer
Janet Jackson