Today, Norm Goldman Publisher & Editor of Bookpleasures.com is pleased to have as our guest, Gerald A. Archambeau author of A Struggle to Walk with Dignity: The True story of a Jamaican-born Canadian.

Norm: 

What motivated you to write A Struggle to Walk with Dignity: The True story of a Jamaican-born Canadian?

Gerald:

My wife Marion encouraged me to do my life story based on my experiences in general.  Also, I always had a desire to write that were based on my grandfather's books that were given to me by my mother.  She always wanted me to tell the whole family story about the Thomas and Archambeau connection.  My grandfather never revealed his family life in his writings.

Norm: 

Whom do you believe will benefit from your book and why?

Gerald: 

I felt  having such a turbulent life, after arriving in Canada, it was time for me to give something  back to this great country which gave me an opportunity to survive.  My story, I hope, will be of benefit to the youth of Canada who are trying to see a way to improve their lives by having a good attitude when meeting people of any race or culture. 

Norm: 

What was the time-line between the time you decided to write your book and publication?  What were the major events along the way?

Gerald: 

It too me and  my wife with her typing skills over ten years to put my thoughts and experiences on paper.  The events were some bad memories and bad moods that would come over me in bearing my soul to the world.  After starting in 1994, I decided that the easiest way to commence was to self publish, which I did in 2004.

Norm: 

Did you have a set plan when you began writing your book?

Gerald: 

I wanted to write a historically informative book of the plight of black men starting a new life in Canada, whether they were from the Caribbean, USA or other parts of Canada.  I also wanted to make it an easy to read book with some humour about the silliness of human behaviour based on race. 

Norm: 

Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?

Gerald: 

I learned a lot from a personal prospective as to how I grew as a person and developed my abilities to survive when dealing with hostility of many kinds.

Norm:

Can you tell us how you found representation for your book?  Did you pitch it to an agent, or query publishers who would most likely publish this type of book.  Any rejections? Did you self-publish?

Gerald: 

After having to pay to have my book self-published, I could not afford to hire an agent or advertise my book through the media.  I felt that if the book had any merit it should be able to carry itself.  However, by self-publishing my book, I was able to catch the eye of a few small publishers, and this opened the door for me.

Norm: 

What did your family and friends think about your book?  As follow up, how has the feedback been so far?

Gerald:

Unfortunately, my mother had died by then, but I know she would have been very pleased that the family truth was revealed.  A few friends were quite surprised and pleased that I took the time to document the life of many black people and individuals that helped me along the way.  Over all the feedback has been positive from the average Canadian, but in the case of some black friends they felt I had revealed too much about some black attitudes.

Norm: 

How and to what extent do you believe that race relations have improved in Canada since the time of your arrival from Jamaica in 1947?

Gerald: 

After being exposed to some of the bad racial attitudes that were being exported by the American media to Canada, I realized that I would have to take a strong position in defending my own human integrity based on my family background.  I knew it was going to be a long hard struggle where race was concerned in Canada, and I was content to use my work on the railways in a positive manner to see this country and it's people from coast to coast.  I fully realized that I was not the worst off, compared to many immigrants who also came to improve their life and I learned the lesson of "never to bite the hand that feeds me."  Canada, I am proud to say has improved in my lifetime depending on each individuals attitude. 

Norm: 

Are you working on any books/projects that you would like to share with us?  (We would love to hear all about them!)

Gerald: 

Thankfully I have a comfortable retirement lifestyle, and have no desire to cause any stress in my life at this late stage.  I will only do things that are fulfilling and meaningful and one of them is finding out about my family's genealogy which I have been successful in doing.  It is now available to all in my signature. 

Norm: 

Where can our readers find out more about you and your book?

Gerald: 

By putting my name ; Author Gerald A. Archambeau or my book title on the web, the info. will come quite easily to anyone who wants to know about my writings and book.

Norm: 

Is there anything else you with to add that we have not covered?

Gerald:

My publisher Dr. J.Patrick Boyer, Q.C., of Blue Butterfly Books which has now merged with Dundurn Press, has been most helpful to me as a new author, because had he not seen my self-published work I would not be in the position I am in as a Canadian writer today.  I feel that Canada has recognized the black contribution to the development of our country.

Thanks for the opportunity to express my views in an honest and straightforward manner.  

Norm:

Thanks once again and good luck with all of your future endeavors

Click Here To Read Norm's Review of a Struggle To Walk With Dignity

Click HereTo Purchase A Struggle to Walk with Dignity