A National Merit Scholar in journalism, Slaughter was challenged by his life of juggling college, two jobs, and parental issues. Darius Slaughter is a Houston, TX native who started writing while he was in elementary school. At an early age, he won short story contests and poetry contests. When he was in high school, he won state in journalism.
Some of his favorite authors are Malcolm X and Isaac Asimov. Writing has always been his passion and was something that came naturally to him. Eventually, Darius landed in prison, which led him to write his first book. He has turned his life around to become an Amazon bestselling author and the founder of Beauty & Brains. His aim is to fight against illiteracy.
The overall message presented and reinforced time and again throughout “HOSTILE” is simply to be aware of the consequences and repercussions of your life decisions. No one is beyond karma, and everything costs – nothing is free – and whether paid for upfront or on the backside, the devil will always collect his due. With that being said, I’m hoping to let my mistakes and the mistakes of my peers be their mistakes (today’s youth and young adults).
What were the top three mistakes you made publishing your book and what did you learn from it?
My greatest mistake initially was not doing enough research into the process of publishing as a whole, specifically self-publishing, and properly assessing the pros and cons.
Secondly, I should have spent more time identifying my target markets and creating specific marketing plans for each one.
Finally, building on the above, I should have enlisted the help of a publicist/marketing specialist entrenched in said areas to help me gain the national spotlight and navigate media and social appearances.
When will you consider your book a success?
Honestly, I already consider my book a success. I am constantly awed, stunned, and humbled at the emails\texts\calls I receive from young adults, parents, and even ex-convicts who write saying how deeply “HOSTILE” has affected them. I have individuals in their 30’s and 40’s who tell me that they haven’t read a book since middle school but have read “HOSTILE” multiple times. If my testimony can save one child/young adult from making the mistakes I made, then I will forever consider HOSTILE a success.
My advice is simple: First and foremost, write a great book. Secondly, do your research on your target market and use all the social media, public appearances, etc. you can to present your book to the masses. Finally, have FAITH and BELIEVE in your product. It may take hours, weeks, days, or years – in my case – but stay focused and never give up.
What is the one thing you wished you knew before publishing your first book?
I wish I had been more aware of the difficulties of marketing and getting my book noticed by mainstream media and the masses. Self-publishing, at times, seems like a repeat of David and Goliath as you chip away at the edges of the fraternity while the big publishing companies rule with the power of their marketing machine and sheer dollar power.
My main marketing tool is me, myself and I. Unlike many authors, I am front and center, easily accessible, and always open for questions and discussion. My image is simply my life, and I enjoy being out in the public with the masses, especially in the community service role.
14 Steps to Self-Publishing by Mike Kowis, Let’s Get Digital by David Gaughran, and A Detailed Guide to Self-Publishing with Amazon and Other Online Booksellers by Chris McMullen.
If you only had $100 dollars to write, publish then promote a new book, knowing everything you know now, how would you spend it?
Copyrights and editing. I would go directly to KDP and Amazon in order to maximize my airtime and visibility. I would engage in a huge marketing push via social media – most of which is free- and engage all my friends, family, and acquaintances to help build a base following.
Tell us about the “Beauty and Brains” Challenge.
In an era where bad behavior is not only glorified but rewarded -sometimes even idolized – the educated, gainfully employed ladies are often overlooked. Seeking to set a new bar and lead the youth towards a more enlightened and positive future. I created the Beauty and Brains Challenge to combat illiteracy. Participants are asked to read a paragraph out loud, tape it, tag whatever organization, sorority, business they represent, and then post it and tag @hostilebook on IG or FB. I will repost – effectively raising the bar for today’s youth and actively combatting illiteracy.
How can we get in touch with you?
You can follow the BEAUTY AND BRAINS CHALLENGE and the HOSTILE MOVEMENT via my IG and Facebook @hostilebook or on my website hostilebook.com. Feel free to message me with any questions, ideas, concerns as I’m highly active on all social media platforms.
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