The following is an interview from Sonic EBooks with digital
media and hip hop producer, Zo “the Magnificent” Slater , who wrote the e-book “Zo Slater's Book of Short Stories” published by his
company Domination Empire Productions. The book is a collection of short
stories written by Zo Slater. Its release has become an underground cult
classic and has caught the attention of underground and internet media outlets.
Sonic EBooks met up with Zo Slater in Beverly Hills
promoting his book “Zo Slater’s Book of Short Stories”. We were able to
interview him in his lavish studio apartment that’s worth $1.4 million.
Sonic EBooks: Where are you from?
Zo Slater: Chi-Town. Chicago
Sonic EBooks: Tell us your latest news. What’s
been going on with you lately?
Zo Slater: I’m working on a few projects. I’m currently
working on my new instrumixtape “The
Chi-Town Chronicles”. It’s a double album. Nothing but instrumentals
produced by me. I also just signed a new hip hop artist to my label “Kidd
Animator”.
Sonics EBooks: When did you begin writing?
Zo Slater: I’ve always been a writer. Ever since I was real
young. I wrote my first book at like seven years old. It was a book about me
growing up in the projects. I created the cover and everything.
Sonic EBooks: When did you first consider yourself a writer?
Zo Slater: Well I've got several books written that I haven’t
published yet, but “The Book of Short Stories”
is the first I put into the market.
Sonic EBooks: What inspired you to write the book?
Zo Slater: I wrote “The
Book of Short Stories” in college. I had written a bunch of stories in
class and decided to select the best ones to compile into a book. The stories
in “The Book of Short Stories” were
the best that I thought should be put into the book.
Sonic EBooks: Do you
have a specific writing style?
Zo Slater: I have an unorthodox way of creating things anyway,
whether its writing a book, creating music, making a video, you know, whatever.
I don’t like to do things the traditional way. I’m different. The stories in the book are
like various situations or events someone out there has experienced or heard
about. There’s only one science fiction story in it. The rest is reality based
type stuff. I put the reader right in it. Right in the situation. Up close and
personal. Even though the stories are short, you still walk away as if you read
a whole book or even wishing it was more to read, hoping for a whole book.
Sonic EBooks: Is there a message in your stories that you want readers to get?
Zo Slater: There’s a message in each story. I mean there’s
nothing wrong with writing for entertainment purposes, because that’s what I do,
but I want to write fiction stories with a message. Real stuff. I’m influenced
by Donald Goines’ books and other black authors. I like that gritty, real type
stuff. That’s my style also. In your face realness.
Sonic EBook: Is the book based on your own experiences or
based on someone you know, or events in your own life?
Zo Slater: In a way. I’m sure most people know people
similar to characters in the book. I know a few people that you can say some
characters in my book were based on.
SonicBooks: What books have most influenced your writing
career?
Zo Slater: I would
say Iceberg
Slim’s Pimp, Richard Wright’s Black Boy,
The Hardy Boys, and honestly in a crazy way, comic books. So as you see, my
work is influenced from books and genres across the board. I try to combine
many elements in my work to create something new.
Sonic EBooks: What books are you reading now?
Zo Slater: None at the present time. I’m too busy writing my
own (laughing).
Sonic EBooks: What are your current projects?
Zo Slater: I’m soon about
to release my book “Start Your Own Digital Label” and after that I’m looking to
release “How to Become a Self Made C.E.O”. Both are self improvement books,
teaching the reader how to achieve success. Start
Your Own Digital Label deals with the future of the music industry and
starting an internet based label and “How
to Become a Self Made C.E.O.”deals with how to think and make the moves of
a fortune 500 C.E.O. Both interesting subjects if you ask me.
Sonic EBooks: Name some entities that you feel supported you.
Zo Slater: I have to thank the staff at my company, Domination
Empire Productions. We’re very much like
family over there and they’ve been
great in building the company and helping getting projects out to the people. I
also would like to thank Warner Music Group. They’ve been very supportive and I
got a deal and a few projects I’m working on over there. So stay tuned.
Sonic EBooks: Do you see writing as a career? Very much
so. It’s what I do. It’s what I’m good at. I love to write. I love to create. I
got a lot of books I’m planning to release real soon.
Sonic EBooks: If you had to do it all over again, would you
change anything in your life?
Zo Slater: Yes and no. Yes, because I’m always trying to top
myself and of course we all feel as if we can change the past we would’ve done
some things differently. But I also believe in working with the hand that God
deals you. So I have mixed feelings. But I’m kind of content. But I think my
future is brighter.
Sonic EBooks: Is there anything you find particularly
challenging in your life?
Zo Slater: Time management (laughing).I’m working on so many
projects. Not just my own but for others. I been working behind the scenes for
years and if people knew what it takes to produce stars, complete projects or
to simply run a business it’s grueling. It’s liberating but grueling. I love
it, but the work is intense. You got to go out and make stuff happen. It’s not
like sitting back waiting on a paycheck. When you run your own company or try
to earn a living in ways other than working a 9 to 5, you have to put in the
work, energy and time or you won’t be successful. You won’t eat.
Sonic Ebooks: Who designed your cover?
Zo Slater: I did everything. From writing to design. I’m a
true artist. I’m involved 95% in my projects. The other 5% is the others I have
to do business with(laughing).
Sonic EBooks: Did you learn anything from being in the
entertainment industry or business world and what was it?
Zo Slater: Yeah, I learned that there are not too many
friends in the entertainment business and sometimes in business period. That’s
why I learned how to do most things myself. Either people want to charge you
extreme prices to get something done or people pretend to be your friends and
make a bunch of empty promises or whatever.
Sonic EBooks: Do you have any advice for others?
Zo Slater: Believe in yourself because no one is going to
believe in you like yourself. No one is going to pay you like you pay yourself.
You determine your worth. You have to go out here and get it. Be self reliant
and make your moves happen.
Sonic EBooks: Do you have anything specific that you want to
say to the people?
Zo Slater: Yeah, to all my supporters, thanks. I really
appreciate you all. To purchase “The Book of Short Stories” you can go to scribd.com.
Don’t forget to check out my blog at www. zothemagnificent.blogspot
and go to my website Zo the Magnificent's Digital Biz for
cool digital products like eBooks, software, music, just check it out. And oh
yeah, be on the lookout for that new instrumixtape Chi town Chronicles. Hitting you sometime this year. Be on the
lookout.
End of Interview
To purchase Zo Slater’s
Book of Short Stories click here.
