Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Edward Grant. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Edward, thanks for taking the time to share your stories 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 worked on was my self-published novella, “The Lost Forest.” The Lost Forest was a horror fantasy I started in my senior year of high school and finished it during my freshman year of college. During that time the story was inspired by my love of East Asian Horror Movies and Japanese Anime. Once I was finished with it. I never went back to it and just put it away.

In 2015, I was indeed looking for a new job opportunities. I stumbled upon this ad of a publisher accepting submissions for science fiction and fantasy short stories. During this time I was in a writers block and have not wrote anything since my time in college. I decided to submit a sample of the first chapter of a novel I was working on at the that time. A year later I heard back from them saying they wanted to publish my short story. This was my the first time being published by a publisher. It was sold as an ebook on Amazon and part of the Alfar Anthology: Science Fiction and Fantasy Short Stories as a hardcopy.

Another year passed by, and the publisher reached out to me for another story. I didn’t have one finished until I remember the one I wrote in highshool. After searching aimlessly for it, it was finally discovered. I realize I needed to work on it more and improve on it. When I try to take a shortcut by making it shorter than it was and giving it an ambiguous ending. The publisher didn’t accept it. So I decided to take my time and flesh it out which took about four years.

I believe my contract was over and I remember during the pandemic I joined several author groups on facebook. There was one particular Author I became acquaintance with and talked about writing. When I was telling him about my writing, he asked me “How serious I was about writing and publishing my work?” And in that moment I decided I was going to self-publish my story.

This was a two year process of editing over and over again; researching on self-publishing, formatting, cover design, categorizing my book, having a rollout, creating a short film to promote my book, and planning the Book Launch Party.

This project and process was meaningful to me because ever since I was little I wanted to become an author. I remember the days of me stapling paper together and writing in them to make it look like a book. What I did was I took this project into my own hands and executed the vision. This taught me making a dream come true is an art form.

Edward, 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?

I am a writer, author and photographer based in New Jersey. I love coffee shops, anime, and have unhealthy obsession with Mike and Ikes.

I have been creative writing ever since I was little. By the time I was in sixth grade, I already knew I wanted to become a writer and an author. My writing consist of Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror.

When I got into photography it was a latent interest I had for it. I got my first digital camera as a teenager and started documenting my life. Once I got to college I started diving more into photography. I took a film photography course where we had to shoot and develop our own photography. When I borrowed my camera from my RA to use for a fun short film. I also used it to take photos around the school. It started to get some attention around the school to the point where someone who works in administration sent me an internship to apply for product photography.

After college, I got involved into more photography, such as lifestyle, street, landscape, event and portrait. After some time, Portrait photography was something I favored. I started doing test shoots with friends, acquaintances, co workers, and even reach out to aspiring models. Once people start seeing my work on social media and loving my portraits and started reaching out to me to shoot.

When I was in transitional period between jobs I decided to take my creative services to another level by creating a new website, business cards and a pricing package. I was offering Portraits and Headshots for people for Influencers, Actors, Business Owners, Musicians and Professionals.

The problem I solved for my clients and collaborators is thinking creative ideas on the spot. Sometimes they love my suggestions than their original ideas.

I believe what sets me apart from others is offering a commercial style photos at reasonable prices. For my own personal photo work is the ideas I come up with.

I think what I’m proud of is how far I came. How I operate my business and professionalism is different. My photography style and skill has improved, to the point I’m able to execute a session a lot quicker from my clients satisfaction. I like when it comes to my own personal photo projects is the ideas and themes I come up with. I feel they’re so unique because so inspired from many elements of my environment.

What I want everyone to know when it comes to photo projects, visuals, and short films. These are many years of collecting ideas and then storing them in my psyche until its time to open it back up. My latest project “Coffee and Cream” is an example of that. I had that idea pre pandemic. Started the project in the fall of 2023. Completed in the summer 2024. Published it later on Rollup Magazine in the fall 2024.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being creative is seeing something you envision in your head. Going through obstacles to pull it out, and birth it into the real world. Then sharing with the audience, and seeing what they get to see.

The cherry top of this aspect is not only you like it but the audience does too.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

I think drive comes from knowing the fact I have something to offer and share with the world, just like the artist and writers who became before me, who inspired me, who helped shaped my childhood. I would like to do that for the next generation of kids. We’re only on the this earth one time. It’s best to share your purpose and ideas with everyone while you still can.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.Edwardlgrant.com
• Instagram: Eddieakoi
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edward-grant-075a393b
• Youtube: Eddie Double D

Image Credits

Valerie Pugh
Ramon Nunez
Freakquencee
George Arnaldo
Tatyana Harris
Christopher Gallardo
Omar Ledesma