| Interview with Dwayne Murray, Sr. Author of "The | | | | the title. |
| Mouse That Roared" (ISBN 0976985500) | | | | Dwayne: There's always the short skinny kid in an |
| Hello Dwayne. It's a pleasure to have you with us. | | | | Army platoon that nobody ever pays attention to. |
| Dwayne Murray, Sr. is the author of "The Mouse | | | | The person that everybody feels is weak and not to |
| That Roared," novel that is a compelling drama about | | | | be concerned about, but when this person is pushed |
| a young woman who defied her religious father's | | | | into a corner he or she will rise to the occasion. Not |
| wishes and entered a beauty contest in her home | | | | only surprise the average person, but the same |
| town. | | | | person who judged them to be weak and not too |
| Irene: What inspired you to write a fictional drama | | | | bright. That is who Sandra is, the mouse amongst |
| about a young woman defying her religious father's | | | | the cats that in the end will stand up and roar the |
| wishes and entering a beauty contest? | | | | loudest. That is why I was so intrigued with the title |
| Dwayne: I just wanted to break the mold on the | | | | because it fits Sandra's personality and story |
| subject matter concerning an African American | | | | perfectly. |
| woman. Instead of having her inside a common | | | | Irene: What do you believe causes people perceive |
| situation starting off living the rough urban life, I | | | | that the "short skinny kid" is actually weak? |
| wanted to show the effects of bad decisions by a | | | | Dwayne: Truthfully we live in a society that is |
| young woman who was surrounded by a peaceful | | | | prejudice and we all make the mistake of "judging a |
| environment in a "down-home" country life and what | | | | book by its cover." Most people will see a short |
| could happen by her bad choices causing her to be | | | | skinny person and believe they are weak. Very few |
| thrown out of her comfort zone. | | | | can hold judgment until they actually get to know a |
| Irene: Are you saying that most books about African | | | | person. In my book, The Mouse that Roared Doug |
| American women stereotype them as living a rough | | | | Gunner made the mistake of believing Sandra was |
| urban life? If so, why do you believe this? | | | | weak, and for a time she believed that about herself. |
| Dwayne: No not at all, I am just stating that the | | | | Often it takes a tragedy or very unfortunate |
| storyline of African American women living a rough | | | | circumstances to bring out the mite of a person. |
| urban lives, has been touched before in other novels | | | | Remember the saying, "Never corner a mouse, they |
| and I wanted to start Sandra's life in a different | | | | will come out fighting?" This holds true to my |
| setting. I know first hand many women who lived | | | | character Sandra so derived the title of the book |
| and accomplished many positive things in a rough | | | | The Mouse That Roared. |
| urban atmosphere including my wife, mother and late | | | | Irene: In most books, whether they are fiction or |
| grandmother. | | | | nonfiction, there is some type of underlying message. |
| Irene: This is your first time to write a book. How | | | | What is the main message in your story? |
| long have you been thinking of writing this novel? | | | | Dwayne: Life is defined by the decisions we make. |
| Dwayne: I have been thinking about this novel for | | | | These decisions not only affect us as individuals but |
| the past year since it's creation as a screen play first. | | | | many times those that we care and love also. With |
| With the competition of getting this screen play off | | | | life bad decisions are sometimes made that will, in |
| the ground being very difficult, I found it necessary | | | | essence, determine our destiny and fate. Other |
| to turn it into a novel simply because I felt it was a | | | | messages my book conveys is the importance of |
| story that needed to be read by the general reading | | | | friendship and solidarity, that was magnified in the |
| public. My closeness with all the characters, it was | | | | relationship of Sandra, Pamela and Rose. Finally, in life |
| imperative that they be released and not held back | | | | at least once we as individuals will lose something we |
| because they all had a story to tell. | | | | care for and love deeply and will be forced to make |
| Irene: How did you come up with the characters and | | | | a choice to either crumble in the face of adversity or |
| their nuances? | | | | find the strength, courage, and determination to |
| Dwayne: The characters all came from my | | | | stand up eight times after being knocked down |
| imagination. For example in creating the character | | | | seven and fight for what you believe to be right. |
| Sandra Lyte I knew I wanted a beautiful African | | | | Irene: Would you share with your reading audience |
| American woman who is naïve but a very kind | | | | how some of the decisions you made defined your |
| person. A woman who has no insight on the | | | | personal life. |
| mysteries and dangers of the urban city, but | | | | Dwayne: Deciding never to blame anyone for my |
| because she is forced in a corner she only has two | | | | mistakes. Realizing that I can do nothing without the |
| choices: learn fast or become a statistic. In meeting | | | | power of God, and recognizing that my destiny is |
| the antagonist Doug Gunner, Sandra is taken to | | | | what I make it. Sometimes you have to stick your |
| deep-dark waters where she has never been before, | | | | hand in the fire to get what you want in life. I always |
| and because of her personality I allowed her to make | | | | seize the day as if it was my last and try to |
| life defying decisions. | | | | accomplish what I set forth to do. |
| Irene: Why did you choose an African American | | | | Irene: I'm told that you are being interviewed on |
| woman as your main character rather than an Asian | | | | WTLC AM1310, Indianapolis, Indiana on the "Around 2 |
| or Caucasian woman? | | | | It Talk Show" on February 7th. Please tell us more |
| Dwayne: Because I lived and experienced their | | | | about the show and what time they will be able to |
| struggle being raised and reared by the African | | | | hear you. |
| American women. Their struggle is one I know of | | | | Dwayne: Yes, the live radio interview is going to be |
| and can confidently put on paper as I can identify | | | | anchored by Ms. Delores Thorn at 6PM EST. Ms. |
| with it and lived it first hand. Not saying that women | | | | Thorn is a columnist of the Indiana Herald Newspaper |
| of other nationalities have not faced their own | | | | and hosts two radio talk shows, "Around 2 It & |
| struggles, it's easier for me to identify with African | | | | Book Nook", that features up and coming new |
| American women as they were an intricate part of | | | | authors by giving them the opportunity to talk about |
| molding the man I am today. | | | | their new novels. Ms. Thorn will ask me various |
| Irene: What research did you do for the characters | | | | questions about myself and the novel "The Mouse |
| or setting of the plot? | | | | That Roared." I am really looking forward to it and |
| Dwayne: In creating my characters as I stated | | | | hoping many people throughout the country will be |
| before they all came from my imagination. Basically I | | | | able to listen in. |
| sat down and applied a personality trait to all | | | | Irene: What are your hopes for the future of "The |
| characters in the novel. We as individuals fit different | | | | Mouse That Roared?" |
| mold. Some of us are brave, conceited, leaders, | | | | Dwayne: Most importantly is getting it inside the |
| followers, go-getters, and devious. It was just a | | | | hands of all the readers who enjoy a good book. It's |
| process with me sitting down and deciding what | | | | difficult to put in words the good feeling I get when I |
| characters would fit which traits. | | | | get emails about how much a person enjoyed The |
| Irene: Is there any part of the book that reflects on | | | | Mouse That Roared. I met many people who have |
| your personal life? | | | | already read the book and told me how much they |
| Dwayne: As far as the events that affect Sandra | | | | loved reading it. It is such a good feeling to hear |
| and her friends, I would have to say no. I will say | | | | readers told me "I couldn't put it down" or "I almost |
| having to dig deep inside myself in different situations | | | | missed my stop on the train because I was so into |
| in my life to continue to strive for the things I believe | | | | your book" Another aspiration I have for "The Mouse |
| in, that I can relate to when it comes down to | | | | That Roared" is to someday see it on the big screen, |
| Sandra. | | | | because I really feel the book has that kind of feel. |
| Irene: And those are? | | | | The book is action packed and reads like you are |
| Dwayne: My childhood friendships were reflective of | | | | watching a movie. |
| the friendship that Sandra, Pamela and Rose shared. | | | | Irene: Is there anything else that you would like your |
| Also there was Officer Williams of the Community | | | | reading audience to know about your and your |
| Affairs Office at the 46th Precinct who was very | | | | book? |
| involved with kids and families in the community. My | | | | Dwayne: Just that from the first word I typed inside |
| character Ms. Carla, all though female, her dedication | | | | my basement until this day has been one of the |
| and commitment to those less fortunate in the book, | | | | most exuberant rides of my life that has impacted |
| reminds me of Officer Williams back in the day who | | | | me in so many positive ways. "The Mouse That |
| inspired me and solicit my help to give back to others | | | | Roared" comes from my heart and soul, for anyone |
| in the community. When I really think about it, there | | | | who spends their hard earned money to purchase it |
| are many aspects of my book that are reflective of | | | | please understand I truly thank you and please don't |
| my life. | | | | hesitate to tell me how it made you feel. To the |
| Irene: When I look at the title, and read your story | | | | readers, you all will hear from Dwayne Murray, Sr. |
| line, it just doesn't seem to fit. Tell us about choosing | | | | soon! |