~ Author of the Month: Carl Weber ~

by Jennifer Coates

A bit about Carl:

Occupation:  Bookseller- Carl Weber owns and operates his three bookstores in New York City.  The three stores bear the name, African-American Bookstore, and can be found in either Queens, Brooklyn, or Long Island.

Dream Job:  Weber always wanted to own his own business, but didn’t know that it would be books.  In fact, beyond being his own boss he didn’t know what type of business he’d end up owning, “I thought I’d end up owning a McDonald’s.” 

Home:  He says NYC was his home for a while, but that the place that he hopes to call home has yet to be discovered

Most romantic song: Endless Love…the Diana Ross and Lionel Ritchie version, of course.

The Man behind the writer…

With his first novel, LOOKIN' FOR LUV, in its sixth printing, and his latest novel, MARRIED MEN, being warmly received by fans and critics alike, it is hard to believe that Carl Weber has only been writing for a little over three years.  “I am a life-long reader and wanted to write, but I wasn’t the best English student.”  Well, that may be, but I think that it’s fair to say that his early academic experiences weren’t a true gauge of what he could accomplish.   Carl Weber was, and always has been determined to write.

I could say that it all became clear to him one day; that his pen was destined to decorate leaves of paper, but…that would be dramatic (even for me), and its actually not true.  He just sat down one day and began to write.  Spontaneous?  I’d say so, but I must point out that his subject was determined a little more strategically, “As a bookseller, I realized that African-American commercial fiction is an upcoming market,” Weber says.  In hopes of becoming part of that movement Weber decided that he too would write a relationship novel from a male perspective, one that told the other side of the story for ordinary brothers out there searching for love.  “I wanted to write a book about ordinary people who have crazy things happen in their lives.”  Weber took his task to heart, and in one-year accomplished what many people only dream about:  his first novel, LOOKIN' FOR LUV, a book he describes as literally a labor of love, was completed. A successful novel, it has only been out one year and has managed to have several printings.  As if that wasn’t enough good fortune, lady luck handed him another gift.   Using his connections within the publishing industry Weber managed to have his book picked up by Kensington in less than three months.   “I was surprised,” he says of his book’s speedy acceptance into a publishing house.   Well, I would have been surprised too, but then, you should read his first novel, and then perhaps you’ll understand.  It, like Weber’s latest novel MARRIED MEN, is a relationship novel written from the perspective of an African-American male searching for love in untraditional places.  (“Sister-Girl” novels he calls them) Crafted with honorable intent, LOOKIN' FOR LUV is a humorous novel which details all of the trials and tribulations all of us who have dated have had to face in searching for true love.  The novel is written with in a masculine tone and contains a perspective on love that is quite refreshing and insightful. 

But I digress….

Basking in the glow of lady luck, Weber had no doubt that he would write another book, “Once you get one under your belt, once you get that first break, life is easier.”  Sticking to his formula for success (one book per year) Weber’s latest novel, MARRIED MEN (September 2001) attempts to strengthen his statement.  In this second novel, Weber chose a story and story line that hit very close to home.  “MARRIED MEN is my version of the movie The Best Man.  I took my four best friends, their personalities, their traits and, their spouses, and I just went fiction with their lives.”  Though not reflective of real life scenarios, Weber does admit that he envisioned his best friends in his mind while he wrote, “I just added a little more spice.”  Thoroughly enjoying creating this novel, Weber says that he and his friends got a kick out of reading it.  He did add that “their wives didn’t like it.”   I won’t touch that, but I will say that what you will like is the message and its delivery, “Marriage is not easy.  I’ve been there and done that, and it is not easy,” Weber says.  In this novel, he wanted to show that marriage is not something that just happens, but something that requires work and commitment.  Additionally, Weber wanted readers to see the camaraderie of men and the importance of male friendships. A theme that is often muted.

Having completed a project so close to his heart and life, Carl is now moving into uncharted territories.  His next book BIG MAMA DRAMA is his first novel written primarily from a woman’s point of view, a perspective that Weber found both interesting and challenging to write.   The story is about two sisters, the men in their lives, and the children that come from those relationships.  Based on that description, I would say that drama is definitely in order with this book, but before you get ready to gear up against the perceived trifling brother, I must tell you that you may not get the opportunity.  Though not the central focus of the book, one of Weber’s intents with this novel was to show that what goes wrong in a relationship is not always the man’s fault.  A two-sided story…I can’t wait.

In the meantime, check out Carl’s website at www.carlweberonline.com.  You can sign up for his mailing list, and check out all of his titles.  In parting, Carl told me to tell any of you looking to write to “Keep going.  With all of the new imprints, there is a lot of opportunity to get book deals.”   We all hope to have a tenth of the success of this author.  Congratulations on bringing a respectable, relatable, male perspective to the forefront.  RIC looks forward to your future creations. 

November 2001