We were lucky to catch up with Raafeke recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Raafeke thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

The most meaningful project I have ever worked on is my debut novel, Radiance Lost. Although it’s been a year and a half since it was published, the journey from the first draft to the final product was highly emotional. I wrote the story for myself and my siblings, but realized that this story was for every black person that wanted to live in a fantasy world with meaning. I had to start over from scratch at one point, and when my heart was ready to publish I had to wait year after year so that I could use my money to get through school. Now, my book has sold over 200 copies. That may not be that much online, but imagining a room filled with 200 people who believed in my dream and enjoy my story is still mind-blowing to me.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Raafeke, and I am a creative writer and Afro-Caribbean spiritualist. A lot of my informal education has been focused on the religious traditions and creole languages of the Caribbean, particularly the British West Indies. At the age of 15, I decided to combine my interest in my heritage with my love for writing and storytelling, and it was then that I came up with the idea for my novel, Radiance Lost.

No one taught me how to write, and I didn’t know anyone who published a book, so I had to figure it out by myself. I ended up self-publishing with the help of a Canadian company, and got a physical copy of my story that I am fairly proud of. Since then I have been featured in several media outlets, including two in Ghana, albeit virtually.

Since the publication of Radiance Lost, I have created a short film, called System, in partnership with Georgia State University. I have also written about numerous topics on a website known as Medium. Most of my lengthy projects are still unfinished, but are in similar lanes as Radiance Lost, highlighting Afro-Caribbean and African cultures.

As a writer, I want to be known as a cultural storyteller, someone who preserves the stories of old and creates new ones to be remembered. My stories will continue to highlight black and queer issues, the culture of the African diaspora, and more.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

When it comes to self-publishing, I wish I had known about Amazon’s program for self-published authors. Unlike the company I used, which will remain unnamed, Amazon puts the publishing process in your hands. It is a lot of work, but is much cheaper than self-publishing through a third-party, and gives you the ability to distribute your book from their website without any additional fees.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

When I sit down and write, I write with the goal of telling a story that people will connect with. Obviously, my audience is the African diaspora, whether they’re in the U.S., Europe, the Caribbean, or any where else. While my work displays a lot of West Indian culture via dialect, I hope that will make people within the African diaspora and beyond see just how similar we all are.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://medium.com/@raafeke
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-perry-9a4a7b1ba/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/raafeke

Image Credits
Nico Visbal