Ra i mo n e B. ( Co n t i u e d )
7.What ot her t alent s do you possess?
I'm actually a pretty decent artist as well. I do graphic design and graffiti art in my spare time.
I also make my own mix CD's for sale and download online. I design all my own album
covers. If anybody out there has ever seen a mix CD with artwork on it, I did it. It 's at least
1500 CD's floating around the Bay Area, New York, Tampa, Las Vegas, Seattle, Minnesota, New
Jersey, Houston, Oklahoma City and Los Angeles.
6.Many people don't always f ollow t heir dr eam s, what keeps you going?
Leaving a legacy. When the day comes God calls me home I want a part of me to be here.
Something my kids, grandchildren, family and friends can say "he did that ". My father was a
painter. He painted houses, buildings, businesses etc. and when he passed, he left all these
places he painted as a memory to those who knew him. I can still go to Seattle and see these
places and smile to myself knowing he painted those places. I want that for me.
7.Ar e you at a place wher e you f eel com f or t able in your craf t or is t her e m or e you'd
like t o lear n?
I don't think I could ever be comfortable in the place I'm at right now. You're never too old to
stop learning. I'd really like to do movie scripts and eventually have a film based off of one of
my works. I'm nowhere close to that but I know this is all a learning process. Right now my
feet are wet and I'm crawling before I walk. All I can do is be humble, take advantage of every
opportunity forwarded to me and just learn.
8.What has been t he best par t of your lif e so f ar ?
The best part of my life so far was watching my son I raised alone, walk the stage and
graduate high school in 2013. Being a single parent is tough, but being a single father is
insanity. I never knew how much work it took to raise a child alone. Women aren't
congratulated enough for doing this. I actually cried that day. Tears of joy for him, but for me,
tears of thankfulness to God for guiding me on the right path to be able to make better
choices for my son's sake. I wasn't the most positive influence and person when I was in the
streets, but having that responsibility changed me over time.
9.What challenges do you f ace when wr it ing or t r ying t o get exposur e?
Fake interest. I've had people tell me they could help with my stories, put me in contact with
the right people, get me off the ground blah blah blah and it always ends the same. E-mails
and phone calls not returned. Getting lost in the shuffle of other projects they may be
working on and its frustrating to say the least. I will say this to anybody that may read this:
Stay determined. Doors will shut just as quick as they open. Don't let that discourage your
dream. If it takes you knocking on 1,000 doors for the right one to open, be prepared to have
some sore knuckles. Someone will share your vision. Don't compromise your work to be
accepted.
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