When authors attempt to cover too many themes in a single story, they often struggle to do justice to each one. However, on rare occasions, it comes together perfectly, resulting in a masterpiece. Wayne L. Wilson’s The New Frontier is one such rare success.
With the release of The New Frontier, we had the chance to have an honest conversation with author Wayne Wilson. He shared insights into his personal life, his writing journey, and the exciting details behind his books.
But before we dive into our lively discussion, let’s take a moment to get to know Wayne a little better.
About the Author: Wayne L. Wilson
Wayne Wilson is a prolific author and screenwriter from Los Angeles, California. The publisher nominated his debut novel Soul Eyes for an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work. His recent book ‘The New Frontier’ was released in 2024 and won the Moonbeam Children’s Book Award 2024.
With a diverse portfolio that includes novels, memoirs, biographies, and educational texts, Wilson has contributed to various projects, showcasing his ability to engage with various audiences.
He holds a Master’s degree in Education from UCLA and a Bachelor’s in Sociology from UCSB. Being a member of the Writer’s Guild of America, Wayne’s works often explore themes of identity, community, and social issues, resonating with readers of all ages.
Wayne is the only child and so is his daughter. She works as a television staff writer. His parents were born and raised in Coffeyville, Kansas. Aside from its rich history, Coffeyville’s main claim to fame involved the Dalton Raid of 1892. It was known across the country as the town that stopped the Dalton Gang from robbing the Condon Bank.
His father was a policeman and later a homicide detective. His mother was an executive right-hand assistant for the Los Angeles Country Supervisors.
What were you like at school? Any childhood memory you would like to share.
I suppose a byproduct of being an only child is that I lived a lot inside my head. I had a wild imagination and at time showcased it by acting out and being a class clown. And, I loved to make my classmates laugh and when I wasn’t being scolded, sometimes the teachers laughed as well. Other times I would be shy, quiet, and introspective.
There is a scene in The New Frontier where Samuel falls into a manhole and it ends up “Breaking News” among Samuel and his buddies that he fought the molemen to escape from this hellhole.
This actually happened to me as a kid, not the molemen part, but I remember shuffling along a fence on my way to school lost deeply in my thoughts. I didn’t notice the open manhole and the next step I took I found myself falling straight down a black hole.
Fortunately, I was caught by a worker on a ladder who helped me back up to the top. I was so embarrassed. Luckily, no one saw me fall down the manhole and this time, at least, I wouldn’t be ridiculed for the remainder of the school year!
What are your educational/professional qualifications?
I received a BA in Sociology from UCSB and an MA in Education from UCLA. I am also a member of the Writer’s Guild of America.
What is your biggest achievement till today?
One of my greatest achievements after a series of phone calls and meetings was convincing the legendary actor, Mr. Sidney Poitier, to invest in my startup greeting card business. He later brought Mr. Berry Gordy, founder and record producer of the Motown record label.
As a result of this initial help, I owned and operated a manufacturing company that pioneered and published innovative multicultural greeting cards and related gift items for over 16 years. The time I spent working with and being mentored by the charismatic and sagacious Mr. Poitier will always be cherished. It had a tremendous impact on my life.
Which writers inspire you?
There are many who have greatly influenced me. The ones that immediately come to mind are Ray Bradbury, James Baldwin, Thomas Paine, Nadine Gordimer, Frederick Douglass, Playwright August Wilson, Pat Conroy, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Harper Lee, Richard Wright, Octavia Butler, and James Michener.
Writing is stressful at times. How do you relax your mind?
Walking, exercise, sports activity, reading, meditation… But above all – Music. I have a huge and eclectic collection of music that I sometimes spend hours listening to.
It caters satisfyingly and cathartically to all my moods. Moreover, I often play it to set up the atmosphere and mood to accompany whatever vein I’m writing in.
What is your favorite motivational phrase?
“The key to immortality is first living a life worth remembering.”
~ Bruce Lee
What advice would you give to your younger self?
Embrace learning. Don’t be afraid to be who you are just because of what others may think. As a child, I loved spending endless hours in the library. However, once I grew older and more athletically gifted playing football and basketball and earning trophies and awards I began to play down my intelligence. It wasn’t cool to come off as being too smart with my peers.
In seventh grade, I came in second in the school spelling bee and was invited with the first-place winner to compete in the city spelling bee. None of the boys complimented or congratulated me. The only subjects they talked to me about were girls, sports, and fast cars. It didn’t rate in their minds.
I can still recall an incident in high school ( I don’t remember what class it was – but I think it was based on an essay I wrote in which I got an A+. One of the smartest guys in the school who used to love to compare his grades to everyone else in the school passed by my desk and peeked over my shoulder to see what grade I got.
When he saw that I got an A+ on my paper, mystified, he furiously shouted out to the teacher, “How did he get an A+ when I only got an A-???” Meaning – How could you give some football player a higher grade than me? What kind of anomaly is this?
It wasn’t until I attended college and associated and competed with fellow students (as well as to maintain my scholarship) that I felt comfortable pushing myself academically and eventually unleashing my creative self.
What books do you like to read personally? What are you reading currently?
That’s tough to say. I’m all over the map in terms of books I enjoy reading. If I have to narrow it down I’d say I’d lean toward biographies, history, and speculative fiction.
I’m finishing up reading Hang Time: My Life In Basketball – Elgin Baylor. The next in line is The Contender: The Story Of Marlon Brando.
If you could have been the original author of any book, what would it have been and why?
To Kill A Mockingbird. I’ve read and reread that book about 10 times since childhood. It had a significant impact on my psyche and how I began to make sense of my life growing up during the Civil Rights movement during the 60’s.
I immediately related to the narrator ‘Scout” Finch’s humor and pathos. Her observations I heavily related to even though it took place in the South. Her father Atticus Finch’s quiet dignity really moved me. He was a model of integrity, diplomacy, and a compassionate attorney and father.
The serious and dramatic issues covered in that novel concerning racial inequality and injustice, rape, and gender roles in the Deep South and nation profoundly affected me.
What made you decide to sit down and actually start writing?
I’ve always wanted to write. During my childhood and beyond, I was an avid comic book reader. Sometimes when I couldn’t wait for a new edition of my favorite books, I’d often take the same character from these comics, draw them, write and develop entirely new stories.
Being an only child, I learned to master the art of self-entertainment. After seeing a movie I loved, I’d frequently sit in my bedroom, rewrite the movie, and then try to act out all the actors’ parts. When I reflect on it, it was all about creating my own universe.
I came from an environment of hardworking people who emphasized the necessity of stability in life, finding a great job and profession making money.
Working as a writer was like a foreign concept. Creativity was not encouraged. Writing was viewed more as a hobby.
After earning my MA in Education I decided to take a year off before returning to college to pursue my Ph.D. During that time, on a fluke, I ended up carving out a career for sixteen years as an entrepreneur co-owning and operating a publishing company specializing in greeting cards and related gift items. When I had to close the business due to an economic depression I had reached a crossroads in my life.
I had to reach a decision as to whether enter the corporate world with the wisdom I gained or to finally pursue the career of becoming a professional writer. I might never have that chance again. And that’s what I did.
During the transition, I had to take quite a few steps backward to move forward, but it was my passion, and I’m happy I made that decision.
Do you have a special time to write or how is your day structured?
I’ve always been a night owl, so I like to start writing in the afternoon leading into the evening. Yet, if I’m on a roll I’ll get up early in the morning to continue the flow.
What is the reason you write for; is it for the readers or your own self or some other thing?
Both. I write what I find most interesting to me; a thought, dream and/or idea I can’t get off my mind that continuously needles me to make a story out of it.
After that, I weigh in on which story I think a reader will find most intriguing and hopefully a page-turner. Even so, the story may take off on its own unique path when I allow a stream of consciousness to take control. So I suppose in many ways it ends up being for me.
About your Book – The New Frontier
The New Frontier by Wayne L. Wilson is a heartfelt coming-of-age novel that explores the complexities of childhood, friendship, and the challenges of growing up in a racially divided society. The book was published in 2024 and has received numerous good reviews from critics.
The story unfolds in 1961, focusing on a young Black boy named Samuel who, along with his family, moves from a familiar neighborhood to an all-White community in Los Angeles. This book is not just a coming-of-age story; it’s a poignant reminder of the struggles many face in their search for acceptance.
Read Full Review of The New FrontierWhat genre is your book? What draws you to this genre?
Young Adult Historical Fiction. What draws me to this genre is my love of history, imagining the dialogue that goes on during a specific period of time, and subtly sorting out elements of the story’s plot that people can relate to in these contemporary times.
What makes ‘The New Frontier’ stand out in this genre?
The New Frontier is a coming-of-age drama centering on the Coles, a Black family who move into an exclusively White Los Angeles neighborhood in 1961. The story is narrated by 12-year-old Samuel Cole whose imaginative, innocent, humorous, and sensitive observations describe the daily hurdles they encounter as a family trying to live a normal life.
This young adult historical fiction novel is based on the true and untold stories of the African American urban pioneers of the twentieth century who moved into all-White neighborhoods. These courageous souls shattered color barriers, but not without being subjected to bigotry and some of the most dire repercussions like racial profiling and prejudice.
What/Who was the inspiration behind the characters of Samuel, Patsy, and Billy?
The novel was inspired by my experiences as a Black family moving into an all-White neighborhood. The character of Samuel is similar to me as a child, but he is not me. He is more a composition of many kids I grew up with. Likewise, both Patsy and Billy are an amalgamation of many of the children in that same neighborhood.
What should a reader expect from ‘The New Frontier’?
It’s a story rich with emotional and historical layers. Samuel Cole through his poignant, yet at times humorous narration invites the reader to traverse with him across the societal lines of segregation; a journey in which he faces the many challenges of racism, experiences a loss of innocence, embarks on mysterious adventures, and unexpectedly forms a bond of cross-cultural friendship with his next door neighbor.
The story explores complex themes of racial tension & identity crisis from the innocent eyes of 12-year-old kid. What was the hardest & the easiest thing while writing this book?
The most difficult part was depicting the bigoted slurs, violence, and psychological harm caused as a consequence of racial tension. The easiest part was writing about a kid whose vivid and often funny imagination often saw life a little differently than his peers.
Any special experience about ‘The New Frontier’ that you would like to share.
I enjoyed researching and delving into the musical history of that era
Future Plans
What are your ambitions for your writing career?
I would love to see movie adaptations of my books. The great part about writing books is that there is no such thing as retirement if you love what you’re doing – and I do.
Are you working on your new project? What will be your next book about?
I have a new book entitled One Shining Soul that will be released on October 8, 2024. The story is about a young woman who has the extraordinary ability to heal the sick and injured.
Her well-kept secret for so many years is finally exposed to the world when she is filmed by a reporter as she heals a youth who has been fatally stabbed. The book revolves around the impact on her and her family. Now she is forced to wrestle with her true calling.
What does success mean to you as an Author?
Seeing my book on the Best Sellers list would certainly be rewarding. Mainly I’d say, the phone keeps ringing and the texts and emails keep coming from publishers and people insistently asking to see more of my work.
What are your views on self-publishing and traditional publishing?
It really comes down to what works best for you as a writer. I’ve seen success on both fronts from my fellow authors. The dozens of books I have written have all been through traditional publishers.
My upcoming book, One Shining Soul, will be the first time I have self-published. In this case I didn’t want to shop the book around to publishers, negotiate a deal, and possibly wait 1-2 years for the book to be published.
This particular book is very dear to my heart and I wanted to exert full control over the book even though it is obviously a more expensive endeavor.
One learning that you’d like to pass on to young debut authors.
When you start writing a book, don’t stop to spend time perfecting it as you’re moving along in the work. Focus on getting the entire idea and story of the work out in the first draft.
Otherwise, you may lose your thought process and momentum in trying to perfect and correct words and sentences in the process. Moreover, you may find yourself getting stuck and unable to proceed forward. Before you know it you’ve spent a year on two chapters and forgotten where you were going in the first place, and now lost your steam.
Ignore how bad and absurd it may look while you’re writing your first draft. Do not let your ego rule you – get all your ideas and thoughts out and finish the story!
Revision is the “real” writing. Now that you’ve laid out the whole narrative, you can truly work with it. Revising and reconstructing your work is where you’ll find your buried gems and treasures that will provide you with the impetus and motivation to advance your work and pursue your vision.
Your opinion about Vowelor.
A great conduit for beginning and established writers!
