Is the book based on life experiences?
Explain. Blaine: I drew the inspiration for my current novel from a mix of my various life experiences, the experiences of others and my dreams. I drew the fight between J, Eric, and Nick and a young hustler from an actual physical encounter. I can’t deny that a few memorable movies played a part in it as well, like the car chase through Riverside Drive; I tried to visualize a Harlem version of the car chase in Bullitt with Steve McQueen. And since it’s a character-driven story, I drew much inspiration from those I felt would fill roles nicely; Sid the Great could be played by Willem Dafoe. Once I had him in mind, I geared situations toward what he’d do if he was a millionaire through gambling profits. Likewise, how he’d react if his expensive home were under invasion by masked men with automatic weapons. Seth: Have you done any book signings, author appearances? What were they like? Explain. Blaine: I’ve had a number of outdoor book signings on 125th Street, Third Avenue, in Westchest
