Flipping The Script: The Reporter Becomes The Story

I've been a journalist my entire adult life, and the entertainment beat has been my specialty. Over the past 20 years, I've conducted dozens of interviews with actors, musicians and authors. "Flipping the script," so to speak, and being interviewed is a bit surreal.

I was recently interviewed for articles published in the Call and Post Newspaper and Columbus Alive about my participation in the Local Author Showcase on Wednesday, Jan. 24, at 7 p.m. at the Lincoln Theatre Columbus, 769 E. Long St. I started out writing for both of these newspapers at the beginning of my journalism career in the early '90s.

To read the Columbus Alive article, click here.

When I take the stage of the Lincoln Theatre, I'll read from my novel, "The Chloe Chronicles." The story centers on a beautiful young mixed-race woman named Chloe Bareaux who is raised in Paris by her African-American single mother. As the plot progresses, Chloe embarks on a quest to piece together her complex identity.

I'm going to publish an updated, revised edition of "The Chloe Chronicles" this summer. During the Local Author Showcase, I'll read from a scene that reveals a shocking new plot twist about Chloe's father — a white Frenchman she never knew.

I'll also share anecdotes from "All Jokes Aside: Standup Comedy Is a Phunny Business," the book I co-authored with his Raymond Lambert about his legendary Chicago comedy. All Jokes Aside was a "star factory" that helped launch the careers of Steve Harvey, Dave Chappelle, Oscar winner Mo'Nique, Chris Rock, Carlos Mencia and many other  comedy superstars. 

At the Local Author Showcase, I'll be featured alongside my fellow writers Alexis Wilson (“Not So Black and White”), Kim Brazwell (“Browning Pleasantville”), and Vada Azeem (“The Boy Who Tried to Touched the Sun”). The event is part of the "Backstage at the Lincoln" Series, which seats the audience alongside the featured artists in an intimate setting. For tickets and more information, visit Lincolntheatrecolumbus.com/backstage.  

I'm really excited about the Local Author Showcase. When I showed my mom, Shelly, the articles in the Call and Post and Columbus Alive, she aptly observed, "The reporter has become the story."

I added that it's like a line from the song "Maniac" by Michael Sembello from the soundtrack of "Flashdance," one of my favorite movies of all time: "The dancer becomes the dance."