We were lucky to catch up with A.V. Smith recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, A.V. thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. One of the most important things small businesses can do, in our view, is to serve underserved communities that are ignored by giant corporations who often are just creating mass-market, one-size-fits-all solutions. Talk to us about how you serve an underserved community.
The underrepresented segments of society whose voice is often muzzled in spaces designed to keep them silent is part of my reason to intertwine the mission to give them spaces where their stories can be known, while building bridges between us in whatever walk of life we choose.
Our unique life experiences are shaped in brief moments in time. The distinctive ways we perceive our reality can often seem singular, but it isn’t. We are connected in the small filaments woven into a never-ending fabric. I use that web to pull the threads closer in order for the stories I share to feel more authentic and real.
Perspective shapes the paradigm, the language- the essence of our human collective, and thus writing is submission to the energy reflected in Creation. Fiction is a vast landscape with as much variety as the mind can imagine. This is my canvas.
A.V., before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
In a nutshell, write books, scripts, screenplays- Story-tell with deliberate character and world building in three separate genres. (Crime Fiction, Romantic Suspense, Fantasy Fiction) The template of life experience is the foundation of course, but that is limited to my unique perspective so I aim to use concepts from others; for example Neely Fuller Jr talked about 9 areas of people activity (economics, education, entertainment, labor, law, politics, religion, sex, war). My goal is to use these in combination with each other as I create stories for consumption regardless of the genre. One objective is to help the reader bridge the emotion of the words on the page or the character they connect with most, with something they are familiar with. Something that helps the reader see deeper into their own “expression” while making sure they are thoroughly entertained in the process.
An inner-city kid with a love for sports at an early age, coupled with a thirst for knowledge I believe wired me a little differently while helping maintain as each year passed. When I look back at my life, it feels as if each step taken prepared me for both the good and bad times. Playing sports in front of 80k people or performing on stage in front of thousands, I’ve always felt more introverted even though I was comfortable on those stages. Writing is a combination of both for me. The macro and the micro. They depend on each other, and this is where the balance in the character or world-building often grows.
My hope is that my readers find a bit of themselves in a character or combination of a few. Fiction of course embellishes at times, but the circumstances in which the protagonist’s and antagonists must adapt to are situations we face daily.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
It’s taken some time to find an answer that is reflective and honors each pivotal moment, especially when knowing this interview dives more deeply than the Voyage Magazine interview. By looking honestly into our past, we’re able to see how it has shaped us in the present.
Growing up in East Cleveland, Ohio we moved a lot and I thought that was simply normal. Every school year we were in a new house. Fourth grade year we moved into the Glenville area in Cleveland, Ohio. I was home, sick, and I heard my parents arguing in the kitchen and as it escalated, I managed to make my way into the kitchen and saw what domestic abuse looks like firsthand. What I took away in that moment was the strength my mother had to take me and my younger brother out of that situation; she taught me what it looked like to make a huge change in your life when you have to. It was my aunt’s family that took us in and provided a roof over our heads. Not too long after, the absolute best male role model come into my life in disguise as my little league football coach. Since age 11 he’s been my dad, and I’m thankful that my mom made the choices she did to lead us to that point in our lives.
My mom’s strength was in my heart when I had to pivot for my own children by filing for divorce. Being completely transparent, the weight of my family changing and the possibility of losing my children pushed me into depression. I got help and the tools I learned allowed me to navigate that portion of my life as I gained custody of my two youngest children. I had to become more than I was for my two youngest, especially when their mother moved out of state and didn’t seem interested in the success of my parenting. I made sure to attend every one of their schools/sporting events, tutoring sessions, and school functions. I knew I wasn’t perfect, but I strove to be the best I could for them. I had to learn to leave so many expectations behind and deal in the present to avoid disappointments that we often find measuring ourselves.
Life is a pivot when we are striving to be the most authentic versions of ourselves. Being authentic and intimate in the expression of storytelling is one of my goals. I attempt to write intimately with vulnerability in my characters.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
Resilience — Oxford dictionary defines resiliency as “the capacity to withstand or to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness”.
About six years ago, life changed drastically. I found myself on the opposite side of the law, which in turn led to me losing custody of my two youngest children after raising them for five years as a single dad. Employment opportunities became minimal at best and non-existent at worse. It was definitely a different space to operate in, forcing me to be completely honest with myself, about myself and my situation. Four years of waking up at 2:30am to deliver newspapers, seven days a week was brutal but necessary. Climbing twenty-four-foot ladders to paint houses and any other odd jobs to keep a roof over my head…definitely necessary. Hustling to survive and humbling myself to ask for help like so many do daily, took a toll on me physically. But in the lowest moments of my life, I found balance in being brutally honest with myself and peace in writing stories to help others in their process as well.
After having six books published in three different genres, all becoming #1 Best Sellers per Amazon Ranking in their respective genres (Crime Fiction, Fantasy Fiction, and Romance Suspense), I came to see that the ups and downs we push through lead us to a place of Purpose. If we are willing to listen and to humble ourselves. I realized God, The Universe, will course correct each of us, especially if we get out of our own way. Now I understand that losing what I believed was important was exactly what was required for growth and purpose. Today you may not know why your struggle seems so challenging and at times downright disrespectful, but as we open up, it becomes clearer that it’s preparation for greater gains in life. “If you’re going through hell, don’t stop.” There is something powerful, beautiful and unknown on the other side. There is power in the unknown. I believe this is where we find our authentic selves. In this framework, I have learned to express and open my thoughts to be written into stories for the world to consume. Hopefully by late Spring 2024, our OHIO 10 Pilot project will be completed and ready for streaming/film/network shows to reach a larger audience.
Until then, check out my book series.
Romantic Suspense
Madison: God’s Fingerprint 1.618.*
Madison: In the Presence of God*
Madison: Vengeance is Mine
Police-Procedural/Crime Fiction
OHIO 10 (I)*
OHIO 10 (II)
Fantasy Fiction
Normal Chaos*.
(* denotes also on Audible)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.avsmithbooks.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ohio10tvshow?mibextid=LQQJ4d
- Other: https://www.amazon.com/stores/A.%20V.%20Smith/author/B07RLBMYX9/about https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0CFW24L3D/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?ie=UTF8&qid=&sr= https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0C78N7GFW/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?ie=UTF8&qid=&sr= https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B092YCLD4P/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?ie=UTF8&qid=&sr= https://www.amazon.com/Madison-Presence-V-Smith-ebook/dp/B08F7B1WT5?ref_=ast_author_dp
Image Credits
Peyton Peyton