DeLeon DeMicoli
DELEON DEMICOLI
I receive frequent friend requests from people on Myspace who have probably never looked at my page. Most of the time it’s from a crappy screamo band or some
friendless wannabe-Myspace-whore looking to have a million friends. Two years ago I received one of these requests from DeLeon DeMicoli. At the time his Myspace name was Lick Me, after his self-published novel.
Instead of ignoring the many friend requests I receive, or simply clicking “Add” and forgetting about them, I actually take time to look over people’s pages. I find them to be humorous at times. After looking at Lick Me’s and reading what the book was about I decided to purchase it. I enjoyed Lick Me enough to send DeLeon a comment telling him I read the book and thought it was awesome. Then, believe it or not, Deleon actually responded. That was two years ago. We’ve been friends over the internet ever since. With his next novel White Belts out in November, I felt it was time to conduct an interview.
ATS: You just re-released your first novel Lick Me. What was the purpose of re-releasing that novel?
DD: When I started putting together the model for my publishing company, I knew I needed a
great intro piece that would set the tone for the company, give readers the expectations on
what kind of material would be published. Since Lick Me was the book that helped gain a little recognition for me, I hoped by re-releasing the title I would reach a wider audience and launch P’NK Books as a cool little press.
ATS: The Velvet just wrote a review for Lick Me. First they wanted to bash you, and then they turned around and said it was a pretty damn good book. I think that approach will get people more interested than if they had said how it was just ok. What do you think about the review? Have you gotten any responses?
DD: I agree with you Jesse. If it was just a basic review that said “Good book. Fun read,” it
would’ve just set a mediocre tone, meaning Lick Me was simply like a bunch of other titles. But since FergHova actually stated his opinion and said he’s glad he waited a day or two to write his review, to me that meant he takes his job as a book reviewer very seriously and is a
professional. In the end it seemed like he couldn’t fault me for writing in a style similar to other writers and is widely enjoyed. As long as the book is solid, there shouldn’t be any problems.
As for the responses, they have all been positive and have helped me expand my audience.
ATS: White Belts is your upcoming novel and my favorite of yours so far. After
talking about it with you, you said most of the people you gave a draft to had similar reactions. How do you feel about the responses? Did you know it was going to get a positive reaction while writing it? (Note: DeLeon sent me an early draft of White Belts.)
DD: Deep down inside I knew it was a good book. But it didn’t start off that way. The first initial draft was 90,000 words. It had a different title and was very explicit. It seemed like the initial drafts were built more out of anger. I felt I was ranting to prove a point that diluted the plot. So after much frustration, I put the novel away for awhile and wrote Lick Me. Then, I pulled it back out and started chopping it up and re-writing it. I decided to concentrate on the storyline and made sure to keep the book constantly moving with one action scene after the next. Then when I was finished with a draft I began passing it along to friends, like yourself, to provide feedback. I gave it to my wife to read and she chopped it up even more. She’s a harsh line-by-line editor. I would get so mad at what she wanted to cut out, but the end result was she was right. The book reads as smooth as granite. Thank goodness I have a wife who does this for a living.
ATS: Lick Me and White Belts both seem to have been written by someone who has
participated in the various activities throughout these stories, whether it’s throwing
illegal raves or working in retail. How much was based on personal experience?
DD: When I was in high school I used to do a lot of drugs. I don’t indulge anymore, but when I did I would think of ways to make money to support the habit. One time I convinced friends to wash cars in a fast food parking lot. I told the manager of the establishment we were the high school volleyball team and wanted to wash cars to earn money for equipment. The manager bought my bullshit and let us. That day we made over two hundred dollars washing cars. People would be handing us twenty dollar bills and wishing is luck on our next game. The fact of the matter is there was no high school Men’s volleyball team.
That night I spent all my earnings on dope and liquor and woke up in a bathtub.
The point I’m trying to make is the majority of experiences in my books are based on personal ones. Obviously not ever experience can be a homerun, so it may be “punched up” or embellished to fit into the plot, give the main character substance.
In Lick Me I was recalling a part of my life in the Detroit rave scene. I loved the culture, the
music, and the parties. I actually didn’t even go to college right away because I couldn’t afford it. I had to get a job that lead to another job that lead to another, all dead ends. That first year after high school I would work and then go to raves. I would stay up for days partying and dancing. Me and my friends would find a party out of state and drive to it: Chicago , Philadelphia , Toronto , Wisconsin.
I met a lot of great people, some I still talk to today like Mike Servito, who is a Ghostly International DJ in New York or SP, a Los Angeles MC in the Starving Artist Crew. There were at least two years in my life that I rarely slept. Then I received grants for college and gave it all up. Studied Art History and continued with the dead end jobs for a few more years. The most accomplished part of the whole experience, I was sober the entire time I
was partying. Not one sip of liquor, not one eaten pill, or a snort of dust. I was able to really
take in every moment of those nights without them being diluted with hallucinations. That really helped me write Lick Me several years later, being able to remember every detail of a rave party, which is showcased in chapter three.
As for White Belts, I worked at a clothing store and met my first retail terrorist who actually
became Lewis in the novel Lick Me. How it relates to the book is I caught a couple screwing in the fitting rooms. When they were done, they left a mountain of clothes on the ground for me and Lewis to fold. We were so scared to touch the clothing because who knows if the dude left his DNA on a pair of khakis. We grabbed the emergency spill kit equipment and folded the clothes wearing face masks, rubber gloves, and aprons. We made a lot of customers nervous.
ATS: When will White Belts be released?
DD: White Belts will be released on November 1st 2009. A SNEAK chapter is available now at The Velvet: The Official Discussion Forum For Will Christopher Baer, Chris Clevenger, &
Stephen Graham Jones until April 19th.
ATS: What are you reading these days?
DD: Right now I’ve been reading the work of Charlie Huston. I also just finished The Black
Lizard Big Book of Pulps. I’m a huge fan of crime fiction. The next book I plan on releasing is a crime book called The Long & Hard Goodbye. I already wrote a novella entitled On Tha Flip Side of Tha Coin. The Long & Hard… will be a sequel, based on the main character Shelly Stone.
Also, I gotta say the best book I’ve read this year is James Frey’s Bright Shiny Morning. I know the dude has come into heavy criticism, but he’s such a good writer. Bright Shiny Morning is a badass piece of work. He’s a cool guy as well. Got a chance to meet him at City Lights Bookstore.
As for future releases, I’m excited for Godspeed by Will Christopher Baer. I would
have to say he’s my favorite author right now.
I’m also a huge fan of The Maxx graphic novels.
ATS: Your press P’NK Books started at the beginning of this year. What are you hoping to achieve with that? Is it a way for you to independently release your own work, or are you looking to achieve something else?
DD: P’NK Books was created as an outlet to release my work. I started out doing the whole POD thing and felt I was being robbed. I had a book that was selling well and I thought the royalties I was receiving were a bit light handed. I thought I deserved better. That’s when I started to put the company together. I always dreamed of doing something like this, but never thought it was a possibility. It was much easier than I anticipated. The hard part is running the company and writing. It takes a lot of work. But the end result is very gratifying.
Also, with P’NK Books I feel I can be taken as a serious writer, kind of my way of “Putting my
money where my mouth is” type of thing. Plus I have the comfort of having a say in all aspects of each book I produce. Whether it’s the creation of the cover or the layout of the book block, I have final say because I’m the one building each element of the book. Also there’s no greater accomplishment than actually putting an entire book together from scratch and seeing the end result; better yet, receiving a positive review for your hard work. Seriously, every page, every ink stain, or color produced in each title, I put there, no one else. Then I receive comments from others on Facebook, Myspace, and Twitter saying they loved the book, when’s the next one coming out? I can only guess the feeling matches what it must feel like to rebuild a classic muscle car and receive compliments when you’re driving along the road.
As for signing other writers, I hope to start after White Belts is released. I’m still learning the
business, so I don’t want to rush anything.
ATS: Where does the name P’NK come from?
DD: P’NK stands for the cosmetic line Norah created in the book Lick Me.
ATS: Why did you choose to start your own publishing company and self release your
work instead of seeking a mainstream publisher?
DD: The reason I self-publish is because the literary industry wasn’t interested in my work. I’ve had some interested parties, but nothing solid. The end result was the same from agents and editors: I wasn’t mainstream enough. At first I was upset. Then when I went to look for a new book at the bookstore and took it as a compliment when I scanned the shelves. They weren’t a whole lot of books like mine available. The books I was interested in could only be found online through other indie publishers. That’s when I decided it was time to do my own thing.
Now just like my food I try to only purchase locally or independent. Trust me when I say you won’t be disappointed. There are so many books out there not getting proper attention, there are so many writers that publish non-traditionally that should be known. One press that comes to mind is Another Sky Press. They’re doing some very cool things.
ATS: What advice can you give to someone looking to start their own publishing
company?
DD: Just do it. If you really believe in your work and feel the publishing industry isn’t being
receptive to your work, f#@! ‘em and go for it. What do you have to lose? Seriously there are
more ways to get your work out there than the traditional methods. DIY is better than sitting
around and getting rejected or sending out more query letters to agents and publishers. The
means are out there to ensure your work is top notch and ready for the world. You can post
your work on forums, on blog sites, or on your own website. Like I said before, if you
feel your work isn’t getting the attention you feel its due, do-it-yourself. Screw the bureaucrats.
Also, if you have questions about starting you own press, email me at questions@pnkbooks.com and I’ll do my best to help you out. You can also friend me at: Twitter, Facebook or Myspace.
ATS: What are your thoughts on the transgressional fiction scene?
DD: The term is allusive. I know it’s a sub genre, but I would hate to classify myself into a
category. It puts a limit on things. That’s why on the P’NK website I have two novellas and a
short story available for free, all of which have been written in a different genre to not be placed in a specific class system.
ATS: How would you classify your work then?
DD: I would say more work is simply fiction. Keep it simple, right? Yeah it’s dark, funny, and
sometimes horrific, but it’s still just fiction. Pure entertainment. I want readers to know my novels move full speed. The story can never be dull. There’s always action and you’ll never find a self-centered monologue on the connection between nature and the main character’s emotions. Save that fluff for a chick flick book.
ATS: As an up and coming author do you find other writers help each other out?
DD: I really can’t speak on other writers helping each other out. I’m definitely a lone gunman.
Like I said before, every inch of the book is produced by me. My editorial needs are in the
hands of my wife, who does similar work as her main profession. Also, I have a small group of friends I trust with my final drafts to ensure the work is ready for the printers. I’m not part of
writers groups and don’t think I want to be.
ATS: What do you do with your time not spent writing?
DD: My wife and I train in Krav Maga and Grappling. I fight and train three – four days a week at the Krav Maga Berkeley Center. I’m constantly bruised and beat up, but it’s so addicting. Grappling is like a human chess game. Krav is all about street fighting and keeping yourself safe. Both disciplines push you hard. I’ve also met some very cool people. If there’s a UFC event on pay-per-view, you’ll bet I’m at home watching it with friends and the wife, eating pizza and drinking green tea ginger ale.
Also, I don’t have cable television. I’ve never bothered to purchase dog ear antennas. It helps me concentrate when I write. My wife and I never have the TV on for white noise. We both feel living in California there is so much more to do than to sit in front of the television and let your life pass you by. I also see no need in having a monthly cable bill when a majority of the content is on the internet. When I moved out to California a year ago, the first thing I did was hook up my computer to my TV. I also purchased an Apple TV because I enjoy watching podcasts like Diggnation and the Totally Rad Show. I also watch a lot of movies. I love movies. I have this book titled 1001 Movies You Must see Before You Die. I took the title literally and loaded up the Netflix Queue. I’ve seen over 700 movies in the book. Obviously, I’ll see the rest before I die.
ATS: When we first began corresponding, I had left a comment on your Myspace page. I don’t remember what I said, but I do remember you actually responded. As for running my own website, it requires me to contact lots of artists and I find most of them never respond. You are obviously not one of these people. What do you think about artists or authors who use social networks, but don’t connect with their fans?
DD: I feel with social networks like myspace, facebook, and twitter there isn’t a reason for a
writer to be locked away and not available to friends and fans. The best part of the Internet is
being accessible to the whole world at any given moment. Also, being an indie writer it would be difficult for me to gain an audience without these outlets. Obviously, I don’t have the advertising money of a big publisher or the networking to get reviewed in the NY times. Everything is solely based on word of mouth. I don’t have the convenience of being a brand name, knowing whatever I push out people will buy. My work has to kick ass or no one will care. Also, writing can be so lonely at times and it’s nice there is a way to connect with people without having to shake hands. (Bit of a germ-a-phobe) Plus, it’s so fun to reconnect with an old schoolmate you haven’t spoken to in years.
If you tweet, text, email, wall write, or blog me, I will respond.
ATS: Have you thought about doing book signings/readings?
DD: I would like to do book signings just don’t know which city to start in. That’s part of the
learning process of having your own publishing company. If you would like for
me to appear in your city, contact your local bookstore to contact me and we can set something up. I’m also thinking about trying an experiment by doing a book reading on the internet. Then when I post the video online, I would make myself accessible to answer questions through a forum. That experiment will be slated for this summer. I hope you’ll help me out with that Jesse.
ATS: What advice can you give to other writers?
DD: Read and write every single day. Be patient, finding your voice won’t happen overnight. Learn your craft. Let people read your work. Put it out there and gain insightful feedback to make the necessary edits. Then, edit, edit, rewrite, and edit until the manuscript is perfect and you’re sick of reading it.
Deleon’s next book White Belts will be released on November 1st. Stay tuned to
PNKbooks.com for more info on what’s going on with DeLeon.
Jesse Narens
ATS 2009
