I started part of my series back in the year 2000, when I was still in the sixth grade. It was at that time that the lead character was a menace to society and lived somewhere in Philadelphia. He was kind of like an African American Dennis the menace. Don’t remember why, but for a short time I stopped thinking of my unnamed character. A few years later when I joined up with the North Philly Metropolis I wrote for its second issue “The Book,” and for its fourth issue “The Book 2.”  Now these two stories are in no way linked to my present story line, this could change, but they were the reason for jumping off my fiction writing career. The characters are Davon, his mother, a book, elves, and this girl whose last name is Fudge. 

Many readers who read these stories enjoyed them, though I have not revisited Davon for a good while now. Once I was in the 8th grade I remember saying to my friends in the lunchroom that “I think I’m going to write a story based on my life, do you want to be in it.” I think I was talking to Deandre, who said “Yeah, put me in your story.” This is how I started developing my characters. My lead character who was a menace was given the name Zach and his last name, Taylor,  I borrowed from a friend of mine in 6th grade. So no I did not get the name from the actual president Zachary Taylor. I actually liked the name Zach and got it from watching so many power ranger episodes, I love those guys.

A few stories where Zach and a few of his friends make their first appearance can be found below. Book 1 and 2 also. The Bundle Thus far is where I finally begin to explore my characters more and give them the roles of teenagers other than children. The reader wouldn’t know, but this is where I started giving them and developing their background story and making sure certain things play out correctly.

The Bundle Thus far are all of the stories that have appeared in the Metropolis, just tweaked a bit. Meaning that they have some things that I may have been unable to put in, say if a character were cursing. The Bundle also starts off with The Girl Who Clould Fly  which is the first appearance of Shanika Maywood. So in reading, I hope you find them enjoyable.  If you have any questions about the stories just contact me, I’ll make it my mission to get back with ya

Check out, The Girl Who Could Fly on teen ink by clicking this link