Author Interview with Ceasar Mason
by Elizabeth R. (esjro)
Elizabeth: Thank you for agreeing to discuss your new book, On Call: Escorting In Atlanta, with the members of PaperBackSwap. I began reading your book during the first night of a 6 day power outage, and was so engrossed that I finished the book the same night by candlelight! Have you always been interested in writing, or was it your unique experience in the escort business that inspired you to write?
Ceasar: Wow, I take the candlelight statement as such a compliment, thank you. I’m humbled. I’ve always written. The thing is, growing up in Brooklyn, you did not run around and telling your peers that you wrote poetry, short stories, etc…. It would have been the quickest way to get beat up!
Elizabeth: You mention in your introduction that the female characters in the book are composites of people you have known and their experiences. The similarity of your narrator’s name to yours implies that Czar’s character is based closely on you. Is Czar’s story yours, or is he also a product of various other people you have known? Is the personality of Czar and the changes he undergoes as a result of his experiences in the escort industry close to who you are and your life?
Ceasar: You’re not the first to ask that. Yes, Czar is based on my first hand account. And to answer the second part of your question, running the service shaped my approach and perspective on love and relationships. It’s has made me a lot more open minded and non-judgmental. I’m really clear that there grey areas in life, everything is not black or white.
Elizabeth: One of the scenes I found most disturbing in the book was Tamika’s interview and “courtesy call.” Is that type of initiation typical in the industry, or was it Czar’s way of trying to change Tamkia’s mind about working for the service?
Ceasar: That practice was common across the board with most agencies. It was understood before hand by potential “Models”. Tamikia’s initiation was used as another tool to deter her, but unfortunately, to no avail.
Elizabeth: With the exception of some of the johns, the characters in “On Call” are primarily African American and the story takes place in the urban environment of Atlanta. As you wrote, were you concerned about reaching a wider audience? What do you hope that readers who are not familiar with the world you describe will take away from your book?
Ceasar: At the time I was writing the book, I wanted to reach the girls who were victims of poor impulsive decisions. I was not really thinking of a readership. I wanted to paint a dark picture for any young woman white or black that was face with these choices. I hope that readers who are far removed from this lifestyle now have a heart for these girls that are living like this on a daily basis.
Elizabeth: What authors do you enjoy? What people, authors or otherwise, inspire you?
Ceasar: My list of authors is long, but some of my favorites are James Redfield, Robert Greene, George Pelecanos, Maya Angelou and Walter Mosley. I’m inspired by my mother Carol Mason, Bob Marley, Curtis Jackson aka 50 Cent.
Elizabeth: You chose to self-publish OnCall. Do you have any advice for other authors who are interested in going that route?
Ceasar: My advice would be to keep total creative control over your project and go directly to your readers. Build your base one reader at a time versus waiting for a publishing company to green light you.
Elizabeth: OnCall features some of your works of poetry. Do you have any new poems that you would be willing to share with our readers?
Ceasar: All of my works of poetry are based on actual experiences. So I’ll share my heartbreak in the following piece below. I was really in LOVE with my ex girlfriend. We were best friends. She wanted to get married and I was not ready 🙁
My pain is your entertainment.
X
My ex my ex for no reason, woke up one morning said
We’ve past our season.
Visions of marriage monopolize her mind.
False security of matrimony now reside.
Unwed black Sista in her thirties
Society views her as dirty.
No children but great career
Where’s the pride with no one to share.
Tick, Tock her Biological clock just stuck
An emergency hoping to cause
Me to act with urgency
I bow out gracefully, nonconformist
Will not be dictated to by society.
I offered you the here and now
Respect, quality time, care & Love
You opted for a title and empty vows
My ex, my ex for a reason she brought
Into the whole cow, getting milk and
I was drinking.
Ceasar Mason
Elizabeth: What can readers expect next from you? Will your next book also be semi-autobiographical?
Ceasar: My next book will be more along the lines of relationships and some of the obstacles that we face in contemporary dating.
Elizabeth: How long did it take you to write “On Call?” Since you have a day job, was it something that you worked on as time allowed, or do you have a fixed writing schedule?
Ceasar: It took me a little over a year to complete it. Tthen a few months to edit and shoot the cover photograph. I typically write in the wee hours of the morning, 2am-5am. It just feels natural. The writing actually takes place in my head; sitting at a keyboard is a matter of just putting the thoughts on paper.
Elizabeth: Are you handling the publicity for On Call yourself? Do you have any advice based on your experiences for how to find the audience for your book?
Ceasar: I am doing the marketing myself. My advice is to connect with one reader at a time. Let that person provide their own word of mouth promotion. People love when a friend refers a book to them.
Elizabeth: Are you distributing your book as an eBook as well? If so, are you finding that many readers are interested in the ebook version versus the paper version?
Ceasar: Yes, my book is available now on Kindle. I’ve found that most die-hard readers love to have that tangible copy in hand. On the flip side, I’ve found that someone won’t think twice about the lesser cost on Kindle and they will do an on the spot purchase. I’ve also allowed the ebook edition to be shared up to 7 times when purchased in the Kindle format.
Thank you Ceasar Mason and Elizabeth for a great interview!
You can read more about this book on Ceasar’s website, CeasarMason.com.
Ceasar has generously offered a signed copy of OnCall: Escorting In Atlanta to a member who leaves a comment. A winner will be chosen at random. Good Luck!
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Awesome interview!! Makes me want to check out this book!!
Enjoyed the interview. Sounds like a interesting book.
Enjoyed the interview. This book is not familiar to me which is why I love these blog posts. Looks like a very unique take on the service works, with some poetry thrown in, another genre I am not familiar with. And I guess your pain is our entertainment…sorry : )
Like Issa, these blog posts introduce me to new material that I probably would not necessarily run across… and new books to add to Mt. TBR! *grin*
Thank you for sharing, Mr. Mason, your pain really -is- showing for our enjoyment. I-did- enjoy your poem, and am sorry for the circumstances that you experienced to be able to write it and share it with us.
excellent piece of material ceasar continue to keep striving for excellent and remember whatever you do all ways give de almighty thanks and praises cause with out him nothing is possible
Terrific interview! I always love the insights into the craft provided by the authors kind enough to share with us here. As a writer, I too find the ‘wee hours’ to be the most fruitful. For all I hear and read about writing first thing in the morning, it’s never gone nearly so well for me as preparing after midnight and sitting at the keyboard around 1am or so. It’s encouraging to find I’m not alone in this!
Thank you Ceasar and Elizabeth of a great interview! Another new author to check out.
Great interview! Job well done, I enjoyed every bit of “On Call” and has been recommending it to others. It’s a “must read”.
Ditto! Great interview and now I wanna read the book!
Love the interview . I must say if you have not read the book you must get a copy and read the book. It is a page turner like interviewer I could not put the book down.
Yolanda
Really enjoyed this interview! Definitely going on the TBR pile, whether I win a copy or not!
Great interview, just enough information to stir our curiosity. I’m looking forward to reading it…
Awesome book!!! Awesome interview!!! After reading the book in one day, I had questions for this author. This interview has provided me with more insight on this book as well as this author!!! I can’t wait for the book signing and the question and answer session!!!
Wow, I’m really in awe of the love that I’ve seem on the above post. More importantly then the book being entertaining I will hope that the ovearall message reaches it’s intended audience.
Thanks to all that took time to comment and check out my work
BIG thanks to Elizabeth & Cheryle, you guys are the best.
Good job on the interview, The questions asked were some I wondered my self. The book was great and I can easily see it as a movie! Ceasar if you keep writing from your life experience and your heart I know you will go far! Stay focused you are doing a great job!!!!
This book is an eye opener to a world that society has painted as glamorous. I feel and pray that this book will help women in that field of work. I have recommended this book to several people and will continue to support Mr. Mason on his writing journey. BRAVO my friend!!!
This was a really interesting interview, I feel like I know a bit more about Ceasar now. It is difficult to relate to this kind of book if you’ve never experienced it but at the same time, thoroughly exciting to delve into another person’s life, especially when the narrator and protagonist knows and is sympathetic towards this not always glamorous lifestyle.
I haven’t yet read the book, I intend to in the near future but this interview has given me some insight into what Ceasar is all about.
I love the fact that Ceasar opened up about his ex girlfriend, ‘my pain is your entertainment’, that is touching and just goes to show how much the lady meant to him. I love poetry, especially if it is about true life, emotions from the heart. At present Ceasar is a bit of a ‘closed book’ to me, he appears to be a v private person so, I am very much looking forward to reading his book and getting to know what goes on in that head of his. Excellent interview!
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