Our surprise February guests are Jarnell Stokes & Howard Flamm. We were excited not just to talk about this awesome book, but also to highlight Jarnell & Howard for National Children’s Authors & Illustrators Week!

Jarnell Stokes grew up in the inner city of Memphis. He experienced many failures before changing his mindset to achieve the success he has since high school and becoming a professional basketball player. In his personal life, he focuses on developing healthy habits for his mind, body, and soul. He has expanded his athletic success and this philosophy into building a health and consciousness-based business he named Stoked.

Howard Flamm has been engaged in the creative arts for many years. He has worked as a stand-up comedian, commercial & television actor, screenwriter, and film producer. He is known for his feature film release Shut Up and Kiss Me. As a natural health practitioner, Howard also operates wellness centers in the West where he’s helped transform many lives. He is most gratified by this opportunity to light the path for patients to reverse chronic disease. Howard believes that life is a journey, not a destination.4

Jarnell & Howard share a dream of helping kids find success in sports and life.

If you would like to purchase Jarnell & Howard’s book, Wings to Fly, you can find a copy here.

Tell us a little about your writing journey. Have you always wanted to be a writer?

Jarnell (J): It started in the NBA as a blog writer. My mom always told me that I had the imagination of a writer, but the engine of an athlete.

Howard (H): I’ve been writing for 20 years. I wrote the screenplay for the feature film Shut Up & Kiss Me in 2005. Jarnell brought a championship mentality as a professional athlete to the book project and we’ve started writing several more future projects.

Was there a certain point you remember where you felt empowered to call yourself a writer? Or have you always felt like you were a writer?

J: Personally, I think everyone has the ability to be a writer at any level and create content that could positively impact and last for lifetimes. Storytelling is a skill that brings fulfillment.

H: It has ALWAYS been either a wish, or an active pursuit dating back to childhood.

Your book, Wings to Fly, has an amazing message and does a great job of speaking to children who may not be confident in themselves. What inspired you to write the book?

J: As a kid, I did not have much charisma and skill. No one could’ve convinced me that I would be where I am today. I believe I owe many guardian angels for this.

H: The initial impetus was a quote from Michael Jordan- in his autobiography- showing humility and not being afraid of failure.

Since there are two of you, what was it like to collaborate on Wings to Fly? How did you work together to create the uplifting tone & message throughout the book?

J: Working with Howard has brought tremendous joy. He’s such a brilliant and open mind! He was my health advisor before business partner, so we were already used to hanging out often.

H: Well, it actually came very naturally with the chemistry that we had. We started by just bouncing ideas off each other.

Describe your writing and/or creative processes.

J: I like to go places where I can escape reality and enter a new world full of positive outcomes.

H: Well, we first came up with an overall concept. After we have the concept, we develop smaller scenes that help to build the story. Sometimes they’re even done out of order, as inspiration occurs. By storyboarding the pages - often on notecards - we start to get the beginnings of a completed “book idea.” Then it becomes almost ready for the illustrator!

Never, ever let anybody tell you that you can’t do something.
- Howard Flamm

The book won a Purple Dragonfly Book Award and is going to be adapted into a movie and a TV serial – that’s incredible! Could you speak to how that came about and what it means that your message will be so widely shared and accessible?

J: Keeping this disclosed for confidentiality purposes. We can let you know when we’re able to share news.

H: From the beginning, we thought that the message was very much universal and that we would be able to pursue other platforms. We really do feel quite blessed to expand the media presence surrounding this story.

What was your biggest writing obstacle and how did you overcome it?

J: Improving for God, and not personal gain. No one sees the hours spent on the craft.

What is the part of your published work or writing process you are most proud of?

J: My first blog “A Painstaking Transformation” that received over 100k+ views and “Wings to Fly”.

H: The opportunity to positively impact kids.

What motivates you to keep writing?

J: My best guess is that tingly feeling within.

H: It becomes such a great way to express yourself and winds up becoming a necessary outlet to feel that “creative buzz.”

What is the biggest piece of advice you would give to aspiring writers?

J: Life is simple. Input = Output. Grow your mind, body, soul, and skills and let the chips fall where they may. In the game of life, you train your hardest for that chance, but nothing’s guaranteed except that tingly feeling within.

H: Never, ever let anybody tell you that you can’t do something. Writing & creating should first come from the heart, from pure passion.

Grow your mind, body, soul, and skills and let the chips fall where they may. - Jarnell Stokes

If you would like to purchase Jarnell Stokes’s & Howard Flamm’s book, Wings to Fly, you can find a copy here.

If you know an author (or of an author) you would love to read an interview with, email me at rachel@capturingyourconfidence.com or submit a suggestion through the contact page!

Interview with an Author: Jarnell Stokes & Howard Flamm