We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Lamar Neal. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Lamar below.

Alright, Lamar thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

In 2015, I published my first book, A Misc. Eden (pronounced A Miscellaneous Eden), a coming-of-age contemporary fantasy about a ten-year old boy who believes his mother is a Goddess who created him and the world around him. Bar none, publishing A Misc. Eden is the biggest risk I’ve ever taken.

The book is weird, and in many ways unpolished. I’ve grown so much as an author and person that sometimes it’s difficult not to critique many of the creative liberties I took throughout the novel. But I will forever love the novel if for no other reason than I bet on myself. I dared to dream. More than that, I pursued that dream and put myself out there to the world. I decided to forgo the traditional publishing route, to take destiny in my own hands, which allowed me to tell the story I wanted to tell.

When I took that leap of faith, my mind immediately weighed all of the possibilities of being a published author: notoriety, wealth, infamy. For every positive review, I imagined a negative one, where the reader urged me to quit for the sake of the literary world. It would be an understatement to say I regretted my decision instantly. But it was something I needed to do to remain true to myself—to break free from mundanity by pursuing a lifelong passion. If I never pursued my creative dreams, I don’t think I would have been able to experience happiness.

Since then, I’ve published a romance novel (Stages) and three poetry collections (We All Need Therapy, Charm Bracelet, and Pale), had several poems featured in literary magazines, had my first and only short story be a part of an anthology, had teachers incorporate my poetry into their curriculum and most importantly, entertained readers.

It’s vital to take risks as a creative. Before 2015, I struggled to putting myself and work out there for the consumption of others. This reluctance was almost a safe haven for me until one day I threw caution to the wind. Best decision I ever made.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m an author and poet born and raised in the Inland Empire region of Southern California. At a young age, I participated in typical kid activities, such as playing with toys or playing “house.” But I always took it a step further. I would spend what felt like hours at a time creating plots and character backstories to incorporate into my next play sessions. Eventually, I took a more formal approach to creating by writing poetry as a teenager and venturing into novels as an adult.

Like I mentioned earlier, I published my first novel in 2015. I went the self-publishing route because I loathed the idea of convincing someone my book was worth their time. I modeled my approach after independent musicians (JPEGMAFIA, Charles Hamilton, MF DOOM, Curren$y, and Blu). They circumvented the industry. They didn’t wait for gatekeepers to appraise their work; they took control of their destiny. That stuck with me, and I wanted to do the same with my poetry and creative writing.

To write a poem or a novel is to make sense of my emotions and the world. Without a figurative pen and paper, I don’t know if I would be able to function.

Poetry is a means of self-therapy and social commentary. It provides the opportunity for me to look at myself or the world and say “wait a minute, hol’ up, let’s unpack that.” If you pick up my one of poetry collections, expect raw, unadulterated emotions covering a plethora of topics. My second poetry collection, “We All Need Therapy” makes that very argument by exploring often taboo or polarizing conversations. Conversations I desperately wanted to have as a kid. Conversations like “why is God sometimes presented in this vengeful, spiteful, and sometimes indifferent light when he is loving and caring,” “Why isn’t okay for boys to cry when they are sad?” or “Why, as a Black man in America, do I feel unloved and unwanted?” While “We All Need Therapy” explores heavy topics like racism, police brutality, religion, and toxic masculinity, my other collections “Pale” and “Charm Bracelet” centers around love and relationships. Poetry is my colorful community of society and my life, and like the two aspects I pull inspiration form, my poems are the dichotomy of melancholy and joy.

My creative writing, on the other hand, is on the opposite end of the spectrum. Less abrasive and somber, and more optimistic, fun-loving and digestible. I describe my creative writings as explorations of life through offbeat, whimsical storytelling. Whether that’s falling for someone when the entire world says it won’t work (Stages) or trying to find happiness through perennial tragedy (A Misc. Eden), my stories explore the human condition and internal struggle, but mostly through an offbeat, lighthearted tone. It’s my way of acknowledging the pitfalls of life while also saying “everything is going to be alright.”

I’m far from a serious and dour person. My default always has and always will be finding humor in everything, even through distressing times. My novels are intrinsically the same. Humor is a staple of my work.

I magine I take readers on scenic ride along the coast on a summer day. Clear skies. A perfect view of the ocean. You might see some roadkill every few miles to remind you of the fragility and uncertainty of life, but when it’s all said and done, you enjoyed the ride. I don’t know if that make sense. I guess I belabored my point with that drawn out allegory.

Another staple of my work is black representation in a contemporary or speculative setting. Blackness isn’t monolithic. My stories put black characters of different backgrounds and experiences to the forefront because we’ve traditionally been in the back. I plan on publishing a lot more novels in the future. Expect to see black characters in an array of spaces from Gods living in the afterlife to bored Uber drivers to a young pop group traveling to mysterious world. I try to normalize blackness. We occupy so many different spaces and roles, and I like to show and celebrate that. We aren’t a one-size fits all beanie.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

It’s a toss-up between entertaining readers or inspiring creatives to tell their story. Very few things feel better than a reader raving about my work or a fellow creative sharing how my creative journey has inspired them. I always thought of writing “the end” or holding my book in my hands as peak euphoria. Don’t get me wrong, both of those things are great, but knowing your work made a lasting impression on someone is the best part of being a creative. Writing a book isn’t glamorous. You spend countless hours plotting, writing, editing, battling writer’s block, and staring into the abyss in attempt to tell the perfect story. Along the way, you contemplate quitting thousands time and question your desire and/or ability to create. A reader’s validation makes the grueling creative process worth it. A few months ago, a reader told me one for the main characters in my novel, Stages, connected with them on a personal level. Around the same time, a poet called me one of their biggest inspirations. Both compliments have stayed with me. They push me to keep going.

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

Ask me that question last year, I would’ve said, “The goal is to be Oprah rich and Beyoncé famous.” Now hear me out, I’m not turning my nose up at financial security, but I’ve since redefined success. My main goal is to of course entertain readers, but I hope to inspire young creatives—especially those who look like me—to tell their stories. I grew up seeing people who looked like me pigeonholed in very specific roles. I want to help usher in a reinvention of what black stories can be, and if I could inspire at least one young creative to continue the marathon, then mission accomplished.

Other than that, I plan to start an indie publishing house with the goal of celebrating imaginative, endearing, and authentic stories of young and marginalized voices. That’s ultimately the end goal: to give back to the writing community by giving creatives a platform, a chance to tell their story.

Contact Info:

• Website: Lamar Neal.com
• Instagram: Instagram.com/theghostcharades
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/Ghostcharades
• TikTok: tiktok.com/@theghostcharades

Image Credits
Nathan Goodwin (for the professional picture) Ashley Neal