Tell us a little about yourself
I am a Puerto Rican-American author who grew up in the Bronx, New York. I attended Lehman College where I received both my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and my Master of Science in Education.
I went on to teach at an inner-city school in the Bronx, shortly after receiving my Masters, for five years before joining the New York City Police Department, wherein I attained the rank of Sergeant. My two books, ‘Moving On’ and ‘Butterflies in Production; Five Short Stories,’ were published in 2020 and 2021.
Why Do you write?
The reason I write, much the same reason that I read, is to escape reality.
Life is filled with much personal strife; therefore, I choose to remove myself from the harsh realities of my world. I, instead of dwelling on the ‘real,’ focus on my character’s struggles; these, at least, I can somewhat control.
What genre do you write and Why did you pick this genre?
I choose to write fiction because it takes me away from my personal reality. If I weren’t penning my character’s plots, then I’d wind up sitting and ruminating on my own struggles and worries; so, I pick up my pen and put ink to paper… this serves as the perfect escape from the grim and cumbersome world.
Tell us about your book
I have written and published two books, ‘Moving On’ and ‘Butterflies in Production; Five Short Stories.’
‘Moving On is a coming-of-age, first-person, tale about an eighteen-year-old young man who is escaping a world of drugs and alcohol, but having a rough time in doing so; however, with the help of friends and family, he struggles to find his path to clarity.
‘Butterflies in Production; Five Short Stories’ is, as part of the title suggests, a book of short vignettes that pulls some characters from the first book to chronicle certain events at different time periods of their lives. These events touch on some social and moral issues that we, as a society, deal with on a daily basis (such as biracial relationships, the plights of women in a male-dominated workplace, domestic violence, &c.).
How much time do you dedicate to your author career?
I try to dedicate at least an hour a day to my work; but, working a full-time job, that sometimes proves to be a bit difficult. Also, there are times that I just don’t feel the passion, the desire, to write.
Artists are highly emotional creatures, we ride these sort of proverbial waves of highs and lows, the slightest thing sending us flailing uncontrollably one way or the other. Something that serves as a great source of inspiration to me is music, specifically the music of Lauren Mia and Elif; these two are to me what Erato was to the Greek artists of yore… tremendously uplifting.
How long on average does it take you to write your books?
Moving On’ took me over twenty-five years to complete. The reason for that is, I began that particular project when I was about eighteen years old. Somewhere along the road the book was abandoned, lying dormant inside of a desk drawer for decades until it was rescued and finished. ‘Butterflies in Production’ took me a little under a year to write; I sort of flew through that one!
What is the best money you have ever spent on your author career?
*The best money I ever spent on my author career was a keyboard attachment for my tablet. It truly has come in clutch for me, not having, as of yet, to spend money on a real laptop! Pretty humorous, I have to admit.
What is the most difficult part of being an author?
The most difficult thing about being an author is coming up with stories that people are interested in; especially nowadays where people are more captivated by movies and shows with all kinds of special effects… the age of instant gratification. Not many want to invest their time curling up with a good book anymore, unfortunately.
What is the best piece of advice you have for other authors?
The best piece of advice I have for other authors is not to give up. Continue writing… see your projects through to the end. Don’t let your negative energy defeat you or deter your dream. We all, every one of us in every artistic realm, have our doubts about our own work… it’s a natural phenomenon. Just keep at it and never lose sight of your vision.
What is your favorite book?
*My favorite book of all time is ‘The Catcher in the Rye,’ by JD Salinger. I first read this book as an adolescent and felt an immediate connection to the protagonist, Holden Caulfield. I always wanted to grab a cup of coffee with Mr. Salinger and talk about absolutely nothing. Just to sit with him and “chew the fat,” as he words it, would have been an amazing experience for me as a Puerto Rican-American author.
Provide direct book link for purchase
Moving On
Butterflies in Production: Five Short Stories https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09GSYFP2J/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_2B059R3YEXVY3GN1ZQRM
Social media sites
Facebook: @JLCaban1972
Instagram: JLCaban
If you need help completing your book, don’t hesitate to reach out to The Authors’ Porch
