R.L. Byrd is known for writing realistic fiction with memorable characters and vivid scenes of confronting personal and social issues; taking readers on an emotional joyride with his work. Byrd’s debut novel, “Looking For Sweet Love,” a story of seven women (The Love Forum Divas) pursuing love and happiness (and telling it all on a radio program called The Love Forum) was followed by the lovers, boyfriends, and husbands of The Divas telling their side of the relationship dilemmas in the novel “Black Coffee.” A workaholic (relaxing in the great outdoors when given a chance), Byrd balances his day-to-day work life in the finance industry and as an author writing enlightening stories of the trials and tribulations faced during one’s journey through life. He’s preparing his third and fourth novels, “The Art of Scandal” (a story inspired by true events and “6%” (a personal memoir), for an
upcoming release.

Your writing often explores relationships and emotional truth: what does it mean to you to be a man who writes about love, vulnerability, and personal growth?

First, thank you for the opportunity to participate in the Pretty Women Hustle’s “Men Who Hustle” June Spotlight. To answer—going off on a tangent here—a lot of interviewers ask the same question with the intent or underlying “What I really want to know is:” How can a “man” write for both sexes (especially in the female voice) expectation?

My answer: Female and male authors have been writing about “human “interaction, love, relationships (romantic and platonic), and experiences (in both male and female voices) for forever. Some modern-day examples include author J.K. Rowling (despite the backlash against her) writing about a young Harry Potter and his group of friends as 1) a female writing in both male and female voices, and 2) an adult writing for children and teens. Now, think about popular male authors whose work catered to a female audience, the late Eric Jerome Dickey for instance, who focused on Black life and the lives of Black women from their point of view. So, writing in both male and female perspectives (for children, teens, and adults) is not that uncommon.

As an author who writes in both voices, I open readers to experiences from both sides of the coin (or sex), but what I think readers really want to know is why should they invest in a “R.L. Byrd” book and will they be able to relate to the characters and experiences, but most importantly, the message.

I’m going to digress here (again) because when “Looking for Sweet Love” (told from the female perspective) hit the shelves, the book blurb asked:

First, Jessie tries searching for love within the bars, then the clubs, then everyone said if you’re looking for a good man, the only place you’re going to find him is where the lord puts every good man eventually . . . be it in a christening gown or in a casket, the church is where you gotta go!

“Well I tried that, Lord, what’s next?”

Some readers thought that “Sweet Love” was Christian-based—it is not. Which goes back to “why should I invest in a R.L. Byrd book, and will I relate to the characters, experiences, and the message?” Well, I write in a raw style: The way you would talk to your BFF or BMF in private conversations. The storylines are more complex and nuanced than your typical romance novel narratives; the characters confront issues (social, economic, marginalization, disenfranchisement) which impact their relationships (platonic or romantic). I strip each character down to the raw bones and build them back up (or show a decline) as the storyline develops. Some characters have good endings; and as life dictates, some characters don’t grow (or stay in toxic ways) and have less-desirable outcomes.

In a world where men are often told to hide their emotions, how have you personally embraced emotional intelligence and reflection in your life and work?

Mmmm, this is an unexpected question. (Wow! I need to process this one.) Tell you the truth, I was raised by a village (grandparents, mom, aunts, uncles, cousins, and neighbors). All the men were expected (and told you emphatically) to suck it up and you better not cry. They didn’t want to see any type of vulnerability or “sissified” (as the old folks called it) tendencies. “The world is going to eat you up and spit you out” is what they always told me if I did.

Fast forward to adulthood, exploring a world outside of the city limits the village that raised me knew, I veered off their one-and-only-road thinking by exploring spirituality (aside from the church environment I was raised in); embracing psychiatrists and psychotherapists to help get through some rough times (against the village’s idea that seeking help was a sign of weakness); and adopting a holistic approach to expressing myself both verbally and in written format—all of which I explore in my creative works.

Your novels like Looking for Sweet Love and Black Coffee offer multiple sides of relationship dynamics. What inspired you to write from both women’s and men’s perspectives?

Good question: One in which I get asked quite often. And for some reason (don’t ask me why), I’m guided to give a more in-depth answer to Pretty Women Hustle about how I truly got started—and inspired—in writing.

So (I’m shaking my head because I’ve never really revealed this in-depth), when I returned to the States from doing a Master’s program residency in Asia (China and Vietnam), I just happened to be listening to V-103 (Atlanta’s People Station) one morning and heard this voice—it was kind of mysterious but motherly—and a whole lot of commotion and laughter which caused me to pause. A lady on the radio was giving advice (more like personal readings) to the station’s listening audience as the listeners called in for insight into their lives, causing me to stop dead in my tracks to listen in.

“Well, if the radio is promoting her, and entrusting her with their listening audience, she must be legit,” I told myself.

Intrigued, I contemplated calling in myself but chickened out. For one, it went against everything I had been taught (they were evil and did the Devil’s work); two, I battled reaching out (being a man) because it appeared most of the callers were female and it just felt strange; and three, did I really want to know something bad that was destined to happen to me or a love one? But, as part of the saying goes, curiosity got the cat and there was this nagging tug to reach out (intuition)—and I love an adventure—so, I reached out a couple of days later for a private session.

Pretty Women Hustle, it was the best decision I ever made. That face-to-face session changed the direction of my life; and more importantly, how I framed my novels “Looking for Sweet Love” and “Black Coffee.” Both book’s storyline and character’s relationships play out in “reality radio” style format; broadcasted from a radio program in Dallas, Texas called The Love Forum.

Paying homage to V-103 (because they unknowingly put me on this path), I named the radio station in the books K-103. (Radio stations west of the Mississippi River have the letter designation “K” in their call signs instead of “V.”) Also, one of the side characters in both “Looking for Swee Love” and “Black Coffee” is named Dorothea (the clairvoyant that helped put me on this path, and yes, she knows her name is utilized in the book). Art truly imitates life sometimes.

You’re working on The Art of Scandal and 6%. What message will these books explore, and how are they different from your previous work?

First, I’ll start by saying that I’m always writing about life. “The Art of Scandal” and “6%” are upcoming books based on (or inspired by) real-life experiences and events. Both deal with relationships in the workplace (romantic and platonic).

In “6%,” I ask what happens when a supervisor reports a teammate allegedly harassing a female worker, the company fails to address the harassment, and the Supervisor is targeted by the company? 6% (a personal Memoir) centers around workplace sexual harassment (and a possible coverup) and chronicles the challenges, obstacles, and up-hill legal battle to obtain justice—a page turner for sure.

“The Art of Scandal” follows workplace friends of 20+ years (one a vindictive narcissist) who turn into bitter enemies and plot to destroy each other after one is betrayed. Pitted against each other (with coworkers forced to take sides), the two stop at nothing to seek revenge on the other; destroying everyone and everything in their path to do so—including the company that initiated the betrayal.

What does success look like for you, not just professionally, but personally as a man living a purpose-driven life?

This is really a thought-provoking question. One which I never, really, gave much consideration to until now. And as mentioned in my earlier responses, a clairvoyant once told me (and I’ll never forget when she looked up from the cards sprawled out on the table and dead into my eyes), “You’re not doing what you’re supposed to be doing.” And asked, “are you working on something?”

When I answered (telling her I was working on my first book), she chuckled, “The one you’ve been working on for the past ten years?” And I remember asking myself: How did she know? “You’re a writer Mr. Byrd,” she told me. “You need to write. Now let’s talk about this second book—Black Coffee—because, honey, that’s the one.”

Concerning living a “purpose-driven life,” if I was placed on this earth to be a writer as the clairvoyant expressed to me, success (at least for me), is to be able to continue to provide thought-provoking work that takes the reader on a joy ride through enlightening stories about the trials and tribulations faced during one’s journey through life. Everything else that ensues is only for the Creator to determine.

To find out more about R.L. Byrd, his novels, and his social justice initiatives, visit his website at http://www.richardleonbyrd.com.