Today we’d like to introduce you to Gary Moore

Hi Gary, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.

Professionally, I chose to embark on my current path, this pursuit of art, soon after the pandemic shut down the school district that I was teaching in.

I then wrote the children’s book series featuring What Daddy Do and What Mommy Do*, debuted my first published work from CreativeOnion Press, the poetry collection Songs For The Cleveland Avenue Warriors: Poetry from the Past, Present and Future, self-published the second edition of Songs For The Cleveland Avenue Warriors: Reality and Fame*, an Afrofuturist short story collection, The Wayward Home For Retired Superheroes and More Astonishing Tales From The Hood*, and Portfolio and Poetry*, an eclectic mix of my original art, in various stages of completion, and poetry.

I also curated a writing workshop, Poetry with a Purpose, that was presented throughout the South Suburban area, particularly in conjunction with the Chicago Heights Park District and Public library as well as with several elementary schools.

I then adapted the workshop to coincide with an afterschool program sponsored by Three Brothers Theater which led to a collaboration with the Waukegan Park District, where my workshop is set to be presented at the Jack Benny Center this summer.

Over the course of the last year I’ve had two manuscripts optioned for publication, the first, Three Plays for Classroom and Stage, from Kith Books, serves as classroom supplemental material, and Bealz, The Prince of the Southside, a novel recently optioned by Nightmare Press.

*available for purchase @Amazon.com

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?

Absolutely not! Personal travails and struggles continue to plague me. I have been forced to embark on a completely divergent journey at a relatively late stage in my life. While most of my peers have settled down into domestic bliss and simplicity, I’ve had to face the prospects of starting all over again. The issues that I’ve had with my relationships and, admittedly, my defiant and rebellious attitude towards systemic societal injustices and how that has manifested in my decision making processes have made these things even more difficult to navigate.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?

I am a poet, first and foremost. My first published work was a collection of poetry, and, although I just recently signed with two different publishers, one for an Afrofuuturist novel, Bealz, The Prince of the Southside, the other for a trio of plays, 3Plays for Classroom and Stage, a teacher’s resource book/classroom supplemental, I am still most comfortable in identifying myself as a poet.
I also like to paint, typically utilizing acrylics. My artwork, along with my writiing is, in my way of thinking, all an extension of my poetry.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?

I am excited for what lies next in my artistic journey. There are a number of projects that I am working on, many of which have not moved forward simply for lack of funding. There are several projects that I am really proud to be collaborating with other amazing artists on, including the many projects that I have planned with my partner, the fabulous Essence Wiluve, with whom I have curated online and in person spoken word events and showcases, and one of the most amazing artists I have ever had the pleasure of knowing, Denise Williams, who is currently illustrating my graphic novel, Sista Gold.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @gemoore71
• Facebook: G. E. Moore