This episode explores the rich themes of love, trauma, and personal growth depicted in Christian Cashelle's book 'Loving You Blind.' With discussions on character development, the writing process, and the publishing journey, listeners gain insight into how real-life experiences shape fictional narratives.
• Christian introduces herself and discusses her accomplishments
• Trigger warnings regarding adult language and emotional topics
• The importance of Google Alerts for authors and engagement
• Nicole's character journey and the lessons from her relationships
• The impact of music on character development
• Insights into Dynamic Image Publications and its mission
• Christian shares her writing process and handling heavy emotional themes
• Preview of her upcoming literary project, ‘What Keeps Us Up at Night’
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:05):
I don't know why I get so nervous when I'm getting
ready to start and do like theintro all righty hey y'all.
Hey, I am Lex and you arewatching and listening to lakes
between the lines before we goahead and get into it.
(00:26):
For the most part, I always tryto stay in between the lines,
but I feel like today we'regonna cross a few because this
right here.
So let's go ahead and give youthe trigger warnings.
(00:46):
Number one I already know thereit's going to be some adult
language, strong, strong adultlanguage.
Um.
Number two I don't think wetalk about too much trauma, so
not too much.
I just want to warn you aboutthe language.
(01:08):
The more emotional I get, themore the words just seem to kind
of spill out of their own wheel.
So, without further ado, I amgoing to let my co-host of today
introduce herself.
I am so excited that she tookthe time to come and talk to us.
Speaker 2 (01:31):
No problem, thank you for having me, girl.
So hi Lex's audience.
My name is Christian Cashel.
I am the owner of Dynamic ImagePublications.
We have been in business since2009, so we are getting a little
old, but Loving you Blind is my13th book, so I'm also an
(01:52):
author as well as a publisher.
I have a few accolades, I guessyou know.
Last year, I was actuallyawarded the Emerging
Entrepreneur Award for the JoyTudor Awards up in New York.
I was also the nominator forauthor of the year for the
Midwest Black Best of BlackAwards in 2023, but I won the
(02:16):
award in 2022.
Come through, okay, okay.
And then I also won best authorin 2023 at the Heels and Hustle
Awards in Houston, and I am oneof the top 10 editors in St
Louis.
So I'm very appreciative andhonored to have all of those
(02:36):
accolades as well.
As I have published I think wehave 16 titles so far on dynamic
image.
Most of them are mine but youhave other authors as well, so
I'm excited for our company togrow and just to talk about
books it's our favorite thing totalk about.
Speaker 1 (02:56):
Look, I'm trying to take notes so I can ask what you
said.
Top 10.
I did not know that Me neither.
Speaker 2 (03:02):
I found out by Googling myself a couple months
ago, and that's what popped up.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
Wait a minute.
They didn't send you.
I feel like you should have gotan award.
Speaker 2 (03:13):
Nobody told me anything, honey.
I was just randomly Googlingmyself and I was like what is
this?
And I was on the list.
Speaker 1 (03:20):
So, note to self, we need to start Googling ourselves
and see what pops up.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
Because we never know what we want.
Put an alert on your name.
Put a Google alert on your name.
That's what you got to do.
How?
Speaker 1 (03:30):
do you put a Google alert?
Speaker 2 (03:34):
If you go in like the settings on Google, I believe
it's in there.
Let me make sure I'm tellingyou the truth.
Speaker 1 (03:41):
Look, teach us something.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
Yes, I do them on my publishing company and on me and
, like my authors, so wheneversomebody does like a review of
your book or anything ormentions your name yep, so it'll
send you an email I think Ikind of I set it to where it
just comes like once a week, andit'll send you like a list of
(04:04):
where, like the links, thatwhere your name is mentioned.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
So, like on TikTok, if somebody leaves you a review
or says your name on TikTok orInstagram, it automatically
alerts you.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
Yep, it'll send you an email if it pops up on Google
.
So if you actually GoogleGoogle alerts, it'll pop up and
then you can add whatever youwant to create an alert about I
feel like we need to get thatout there so that more authors
are aware of that.
Speaker 1 (04:32):
So I'm going to do a little bit more on that.
Yes, we definitely need that.
We want to be a resource rightall the way around, like and
then I got a business too, sonow I'm kind of thinking, like
my mind I might stay focused.
Yeah, that's not what we herefor.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
We here for book talk today no, I will put an alert
on your industry, on your, yourbusiness name, anything that
people might google that'srelated to your business.
Speaker 1 (05:02):
Put all that on there , miss cashel, you better help
us out now.
Look, I always ask how the helldid you come up with these
characters?
Like is these people like youknow?
And you made this into like afictional, non-fictional type
situation because this it isjust too good, like this is just
(05:26):
did the characters just come toyou?
How did we start?
Speaker 2 (05:33):
so I actually.
So this is the thirdinstallment of this series, so
the first one is called move theneedle and it's very
lovey-dovey, very.
I was like lacking romance inmy real life, so I was like I
want to write something realsweet.
But you know, we got supportingcharacters and these supporting
characters took a life of theirown, and so this book, loving
(05:56):
you blind, follows one of thesupporting characters from the
beginning, and you knoweverything isn't peachy.
So I was like somebody got togo through some drama and that's
just how we got to Nicole.
So Nicole was done wrong.
Well, she wasn't really donewrong.
So I think from just TikTok andsocial media, we see a lot of
(06:17):
situations where women miss thesigns.
Right, he wasn't committing toher, but he was doing everything
else and she was falling intothat, and so Loving you Blind is
just kind of her trying to comeout of that trauma space that
she was in with Julian, but shecan't, obviously, because you
(06:38):
know.
So just her growing from that.
So I don't, I didn't base theseoff of anybody.
I actually just got inspirationfrom the playlist that I
included in the book.
So listen to those songs andkind of just from there.
Speaker 1 (06:52):
Look, you missed the song.
Let me make sure.
Let me go back through the songto make sure.
Mm.
Hmm, you got Jasmine Sullivanon there, but you forgot.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
Bust the windows out your car she didn't do that,
though she wasn't about thatlife.
Speaker 1 (07:16):
I wanted her to bust the windows, so bad his office
would have been a wreck child,do you hear me?
So wait, because I got thisbook and I did not know it was
through.
It was other books ahead of it,because I got it in a pr box
and I said so the book two?
(07:39):
Does it talk about her andjulian?
Do we get more?
Speaker 2 (07:41):
in the book two is actually about julian's love
triangle.
So in the beginning of the booktwo he's dating nicole.
She's actually their assistant,so it's a workplace romance.
But then his ex comes back andhis ex is the reason he won't
commit to anybody and the ex isfighting for him and he ends up
(08:02):
choosing the ex over Nicole.
So we get to see the actualfight in book, the actual fight
and all of everything that goeson before we get to this book,
that's, in book two.
Speaker 1 (08:14):
Because I kept on saying I'm missing.
I kept on saying who the hellis this helpful?
Speaker 2 (08:19):
Like no, you didn't.
Jessica came back, got her manand dipped off.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
I need a warning, like in the box, like girl, this
is this book but it's got otherones that you should read
before because I was like okay,so I feel bad for judging her
now that I don't really knowtheir situation you're still
going to judge her because it'sobvious in book two that he's
never going to pick her likethat tiktok sign say it's never
gonna be.
You like it was never gonna beher wait, there were signs in
(08:56):
book two that show that shedefinitely should have been
paying attention to my mind islike on 10 right now, because,
okay, nicole, sweetheart youweren't thinking clearly and
(09:17):
then here I go, was upsetbecause raina, when it first
started I was tired.
I ain't right now, but then asit go, and I'm like girl, she,
your voice of reason, like she'strying to tell the reason, like
because you tripping, like yeahand then we finally meet
somebody and don't know how toact and then look, I think
(09:39):
that's another um.
Who's saying she's a runner,she's a track star.
Who's saying she's a?
Speaker 2 (09:48):
runner.
She's a track star.
We needed that.
She was.
She was ready to go.
Any sign.
That wasn't right.
Speaker 1 (09:52):
She was like it was one instance where I felt like
she had the right to to kind ofrun or at least, um, make his
ass wait.
Because how dare you propose tome and even though it is, but
it ain't your daughter, it is,but it ain't your baby right why
that I find out like these?
(10:14):
we've been together and rockingall of this time and to find out
at that party I wanted her.
I said, oh why she ain't makeNicole about that life.
I wanted her to knock.
So I don't give a damn if it'smom was there.
Speaker 2 (10:29):
Girl, knock all that shit off the table and the
cousin would make her like that,because I feel like all those
strong female characters arevery good.
I don't feel like thatrepresents everybody it don't
even though that's what we bewanting to do everybody.
(10:53):
So I couldn't.
I couldn't have her act outlike that.
I understand, I understand Iain't gonna.
Speaker 1 (10:56):
It was hard to write, though I will tell that I was
like this is like sitting rightwith me what was going through
your mind when you were writingthat part like this heifer was
sitting smug at the birthdayparty yeah do we get like a
backstory into that, like uh,extended into that relationship,
(11:19):
do we?
Speaker 2 (11:20):
get to see that.
I was thinking about that whenyou said that I was like I could
do a little extended, but Ithink the reason I didn't was
because at the beginning rashadcame off like almost too good to
be true, it's like why, are youlying with her?
To come back after she did whatshe did and ghosted him, and so
I had to give him a little dirt.
Speaker 1 (11:40):
I couldn't just it's funny that you said Cause I
literally was like I'm waitingon the other.
I was like this shit going toogood, I was waiting On the other
.
Shit like, what's like, what'sabout to like, what is he about
to do?
That's gone.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (12:00):
And then when you put when they came, I about tossed
that book, the cousin was somessy, cause why.
And then, when they came, Iabout tossed that book.
Speaker 2 (12:11):
The cousin was so messy, because why?
Why did you invite her?
Why you invite her?
Speaker 1 (12:14):
But you know, that's how people are in real life.
That's why it was crazy,because it was so relatable.
Speaker 2 (12:23):
Like we've actually seen this.
That's why it was so relatable.
Speaker 1 (12:30):
Like oh, I just wanted him to see the this other
woman and she didn't even knowabout you.
I, yeah.
And then it was crazy becauseeverybody and that was dude that
be pissing me off wheneverybody know- that's like a
(12:51):
slap in the face.
Speaker 2 (12:52):
Now everybody got to die.
Speaker 1 (12:55):
And I said now Christian then gave us at this
end, at the end of the book Isaid I don't got a few more
pages, like when the baby why?
You gave us that little snippetof the conversation that we
weren't privy to argument, thatwe were not privy to say I had
(13:16):
to go back to the book like didI miss?
Speaker 2 (13:18):
something.
I think that's what I would ifI did the extended version.
I would definitely put that inthere because we need to know.
Speaker 1 (13:26):
Like julian said, he wanted his family back and he
went and told him and we didn'tknow.
Speaker 2 (13:31):
Like what kind of conversation went, what you
think I don't know.
Speaker 1 (13:36):
And first of all, what the hell did it happen
there?
Did he?
He go to the gym, because whereyou corner him at At the house,
what?
I guess it happened at the gym.
Yes, everything be happening atthe damn gym, everything
happening at the gym.
So I'm just picturing Julianwalking into the gym looking for
(13:58):
him because I read book two,but it ain't sound like you'd be
working out.
Speaker 2 (14:05):
No, well, Julian does work out, but not so in the
second part.
Nicole had a little bit of aninsecurity with her weight.
So that was where the gym kindof came in in this one, because
she was, you know.
So Julian has been to the gym,but he probably wasn't going as
much as Rashad in the cohort.
Speaker 1 (14:26):
So he made it a point to go to the gym that they work
out at.
Yeah, to go and find him, tolet him know that Now was this
before or after he had proposed.
Speaker 2 (14:38):
This was after.
So this happened after theybroke up.
But see, in rashad's mindthat's still his woman, because
you see what he said to her atthe gym like I know you tripping
right now, but so this happenedin between that time okay, so
this happened in between thetime when she was with fuck boy
who was fucking everybody at thegym yeah this a lot, this a lot
(15:04):
, this is a lot.
Speaker 1 (15:05):
Hang on.
Hang on to that.
Thought we gonna finish thisright after this commercial
break because I got now.
I got so many more questionsthat I need answers.
Yeah, we will be right back.
Do not go anywhere.
Speaker 3 (15:21):
It's about tradition, value and community.
We're Creed and Creed and we'reproud to call Northeast
Louisiana home.
Catherine and I raised ourfamily here, we worship here and
we serve here.
It's an honor to support thecommunity that has given us so
much Tradition, value andcommunity.
(15:42):
That's creed and creed.
If you've been injured in anaccident, call creed and creed
today, proudly serving thisgreat community for over 25
years okay, we are back fromcommercial.
Speaker 1 (15:53):
Thank you guys, so much for hanging in there with
us.
Let's go ahead and dive rightback into it.
So this was after rashadengaged, I mean proposed, they
got engaged and she found outabout the ex-wife so this was
after she found out about thebaby and the ex-wife.
But while this was going on,this is during the break now.
(16:17):
So now she is entertainingfuckboy at the gym.
Yeah, so Julian took it uponhimself to take his bald
peed-a-head ass to the gym to goconfront somebody.
Speaker 2 (16:29):
Because, you know, Julian never knew about the
breakup.
So even when he would takelittle shots like go stay with
your man or something, she wouldnever say anything because she
didn't want him to know thatthey were broken up.
So he's still assuming thatthey're together.
Speaker 1 (16:43):
So yeah, I want, I, I need, I need the back, like I
need the back and forth, andthen, like the boy, passed
through and know who they wastalking about and did he listen
to him?
I feel like he was listening,like maybe he was listening in
and be like she ain't withneither one of you, little
buggers, cause I'm with her nowand she entertaining me.
(17:04):
That would be funny, though,for him to just walk up and be
like, well, technically, sheain't with neither one of you.
Speaker 2 (17:12):
You would have made me, he don't care, he's just
there for a good time not a longtime.
Speaker 1 (17:18):
He put in a lot of effort, though for somebody that
just want to hit it and quit it.
That's what they do and whathis baby mama is, because how
dare you use my fucking baby toget women at the gym?
I don't do it at the gym.
In the nursery I said what hisbaby mama is.
Is that even his baby?
(17:38):
That's probably his nephew.
It's his baby, because whatthat's so trifling?
Speaker 2 (17:48):
Yeah, I know quite a few of them, so his character
was easy to write.
Speaker 1 (17:57):
So, when writing these characters, how do you
disconnect from them?
Speaker 2 (18:03):
I usually disconnect once I feel like their story is
done.
If I feel like their story isnot done, then they're going to
stay in my head.
So that's just the honest truth.
Even if I'm done with the book,it's just a matter of time.
I'm not going to be able towrite a book.
That's going to be.
If I find myself still thinkingabout them, I'm like dang.
That means I got to writeanother part or something else
(18:23):
happens, and I think, because alot of them are inspired by
music, is one of my biggestinspirations.
It kind of just helps once Iget the story out where I'm like
all right, what's next.
So I'm usually writing like oneor two books at the same time.
I know that sounds horrible,but it's not.
Speaker 1 (18:42):
I wanted to ask about the relationship between nicole
and her mama.
When I tell you you put so muchrelatable, like I was, like I
said what, what did she get?
I said I hate to.
I said I want to ask her thesequestions but I feel like I said
, but she can always tell mewe're not going to talk about
this, we could just move on tothe next question Because I was
(19:04):
like it's just so relatable.
So I wonder if this likepersonal experience or is it
just?
But like how did her and hermom like okay, let me back it up
, because like we've all seenthe mama's mad because the man
that they want don't want to bewith them, because they got a
kid and they don't want to raisethem and stuff.
So the mama feel like theydidn't miss out on a good thing.
(19:26):
I was like I wanted to.
I don't really have a lot ofdrama and mess going on in my
like real life, so I get itthrough my like books and stuff,
so I ate that up.
When she told, when she toldher mama off, but then it was
(19:46):
like she told her mama all, shesaid her peace and she left and
then they got back together andthe mama apologized to her.
I wanted some more in-betweens,some more run-ins, like.
I needed some more run-ins withher and the mama, like how did
that scenario, like how did thattrauma come up?
Speaker 2 (20:05):
yeah, fortunately my mama is my girl like we are we
locked in.
I don't have none of theseissues with my mama at all, um,
so it wasn't personal experience, um, but I think a lot of times
books we tend to see more ofthe daddy issues when it comes
to women and I wanted adifferent perspective on that
(20:27):
because a lot of times as womenwe learn a lot of things
unconsciously from our mothers.
So I know I knew her dad wasn'taround but I wanted her issue
to be with her mom and it justkind of manifested that way.
Honestly, it was just kind oflike what am I gonna make that
issue?
And then that just kind offlowed with.
(20:50):
I felt like it flowed with hownicole was presenting herself in
relationships it definitely.
Speaker 1 (20:56):
And then to know that your daddy was dead close and
he didn't even like your dad isliterally yeah, that could
definitely be another look.
Speaker 2 (21:10):
It definitely could.
So this series was actuallysupposed to be five books long,
so there's still two potentialstories, um, but there were
going to be other characters, um, but it just depends on how
this one is received, on whathappens next did we get it?
Speaker 1 (21:27):
so, while the dad left the mom in the first place,
was he just not ready to be adad?
Speaker 2 (21:31):
we didn't get it, I never touched on that because I
so I'm a stepchild.
My stepdad's been around sinceI was very, very young, um, so I
know that that can always goone or two ways, you know, um,
so I always wanted one or twoways, you know, so I always
wanted that to be the story withthe mom.
Speaker 1 (21:48):
So it was kind of just like he just out the way,
okay Cause I kept on saying likeI said.
Speaker 2 (21:55):
I felt like I wanted it to be so much more longer.
I could have did this one, sothe other two were about the
same length and to me it'sreally weird when it's like two
books are short and then it'slike a big, big one.
So I kind of want to kind ofkeep it around the same time.
But before I like what happened, I'm like dang, I really could
(22:16):
have wrote more, but especiallywith that.
Speaker 1 (22:19):
And then I said she had to put the spades game up in
here.
You know, all black peopledon't know how to play no damn
spades, and I'm one of them, soI was salty about that little
scene it would have been spadesand dominoes.
Speaker 2 (22:36):
It had to be one of them too, and I can't play
neither.
Speaker 1 (22:40):
I said why she couldn't put Uno up in there,
because I had to tell somebodyit's up and uno you're so funny
she's childish man.
Nobody, don't let me sit at thegrown-up table.
I want to know more about yourpublishing company and the other
authors that you've publishedcompany and the other authors
(23:04):
that you've published.
Speaker 2 (23:06):
It's so random, right ?
I started, so my first book iscalled Ava's Story.
It came out the same year thatI started my publishing company,
which was 09, I believe andaround that time a lot of the
vanity presses started poppingup.
Self-publishing was juststarting to get popular and I
was looking for a publishingcompany.
I wanted to go the traditionalroute, but at that time so
(23:28):
wahida, clark and triple crownand all them were popping, like
the hood books was popping, andthen it was like the christian
fiction books.
And here I am in the middle andI couldn't find any publishing
company that I thought wouldactually cater to this type of
book and I was like I'm going todo it myself.
It was horrible.
(23:49):
Wait the first time publishing,doing it yourself.
Speaker 1 (23:51):
It was rough.
Speaker 2 (23:53):
So it was definitely a learning experience.
The book was black with whiteletters no, typographic design
wasn't formatted right.
I went with the press where Ihad to buy in bulk, so I had
like 200 books sitting in thehouse.
Letters no, typographic designwasn't formatted right.
I went with the press where Ihad to buy in bulk, so I had
like 200 books sitting in thehouse because I didn't really
know I had to market a book.
I just thought I had to put itout.
It was a lot.
(24:14):
It was a learning experiencefor sure.
After that first one, I startedto get deep into the research
of it.
What set us apart?
Some of the stigmas aroundself-publishing, like editing,
formatting, all the things thatthe big publishing houses do
that self-publishers don't.
I learned and put out two moreof my own books.
(24:35):
I was like, okay, I can do thisfor other people now.
So right now we have three,four authors, so three including
myself.
We have nonfiction books.
We have a really gooddevotional.
It's called Save Top Mess and,yes, it is how it sounds.
Sounds like me, it sounds likeme right and that's exactly what
(24:57):
it is.
She talks about a lot of topicsthat are taboo in church today
but need to be talked about.
So we have poetry collections,we have romance drama, we have a
lot of different ones.
Right now I'm looking to get acouple more romance authors.
So we are getting submissionsfor next year, but it just kind
(25:18):
of snowballs.
So over the years I've justbeen deep in learning what
editing looks like, whatformatting looks like, things
like that, and there aren't alot of black publishers, indie
publishers, or black editors orexecs in the industry.
So I just think it's reallyimportant to have that space to
where it's authentic and it'snot being watered down or
(25:40):
changed.
Speaker 1 (25:40):
But how do?
Professional so how do you find, how do they find you like, do
agents reach out to you, or howdoes that process work, or what
does that process look like?
Speaker 2 (25:50):
most of it's actually been word of mouth.
It's uh, I mean notunfortunately, but I've been
very fortunate where people havereached out to me just based
off of my work and they find outI'm a publisher, and then
they'll just be like, hey,because we also do a lot of
freelance.
So even if we're not publishingunder dynamic image, there's a
lot of business owners who maywant like to put a book out, a
(26:12):
self-published book.
I help them do that as well.
So even if you aren't one of myauthors but you don't know none
of that process, we do that too.
So a lot of it comes throughword of mouth.
So is this your full-time jobor not yet?
But we're gonna thank god inadvance we claiming it already
yes, I actually work.
(26:32):
Um well, I started a new job asa in the non-profit in the uh
metro east area.
I'm in st louis, okay, prettysoon, so I'm doing
communications for them.
Speaker 1 (26:42):
So my um corporate title is communication it's
communicate, so it kind of goesalong with like your publishing
and stuff too.
So everything kind of ties intogether, um, which are a
publishing company.
So do you offer like themarketing or just the publishing
?
Do you offer like the printingof the books and everything too?
Speaker 2 (27:04):
I knew, I knew my daddy was gonna do that.
Um, so right now, um, we don'thave a full marketing department
, but that is something that I'mlooking to hire for this year
or next year, uh, so right now,basically it's just the life
cycle of the book.
(27:24):
So coaching, editing,formatting, design, print and
distribution is what we offer atthe moment okay, that's not bad
at all.
Speaker 1 (27:34):
And then like is there a price?
Um, like, where can people cometo find you?
Can you give us any information?
Speaker 2 (27:45):
to find you.
Can you give us any informationlike what?
Yes, so the price range is howbig the book is, but our website
is di publications calm and weare on all social medias under
dip.
Speaker 1 (27:54):
Thank, you come through?
It was another thing I wanted,that wanted to egg.
So do you do a consultationbefore they come on, like, do
you actually look at themanuscript or you just take on
anybody you know, as long asthey can?
Speaker 2 (28:14):
No, no, thank God I'm in a place to where I can be a
little picky now, but I doconsultations.
I think what sets us apart isbecause I am an author as well,
so I know the importance ofkeeping that voice authentic and
making sure it's what you'rewanting to present to the world.
So I always do consultationsfirst, to get to know the author
(28:35):
, get to know what they may ormay not know, and kind of go
from there before I recommendservices to them.
Speaker 1 (28:42):
Okay, okay, that makes sense.
I was just wondering.
I was like I wonder if anybodycan just come and drop off a
manuscript, and but I understandif it doesn't match with the
brand or if it's not.
Speaker 2 (28:54):
A lot of times that's kind of what happens.
So if I get a submission whereI'm like it doesn't really fit
with us, but I can help youself-publish it or I can help
you get it ready for you toquery to a traditional publisher
, so I always have options.
I'm never just gonna turnsomebody down because I know how
that feels, um, but sometimesit's just which option works
best.
Speaker 1 (29:15):
I like that.
Um, there's an alternative tothat.
So, instead of just no, andthen they have to figure it out
on their own, you at least offerthem help on how they can fix
it and get it done.
Come on, miss christian.
So what's next?
What should we expect next fromwho of next?
Speaker 2 (29:37):
I was thinking about Raina, but the actual, the
outline in the original fiveseries.
In the first book the male, thefemale main character has a
sister and I kind of wanted todo like a fake marriage type of
situation with her.
So I'm still thinking aboutthat one.
We're going to add in a billion.
It's going to be a fakemarriage, billionaire.
(29:59):
I was thinking.
So I feel like I like them.
Speaker 1 (30:12):
I eat up a billionaire fake.
Oh, that's so obsessed and inlove and I love it.
Oh, it's so good and it's likeyou know they're gonna fall for
each other.
Speaker 2 (30:15):
It's just the details , it's like you gotta see that
chemistry on the page, yes, andthen like it, man, oh my god.
But I'm actually working on abig novel called what keeps us
up at night, um, and it'sactually I'm hoping to have it
done by next year, but it's.
It's a little bit more literaryfiction than romance, but it's
(30:37):
going to be kind of tied into it, but it's basically um a family
story about how black traumahas materialized in different
ways I should say that soundlike a thriller.
Speaker 1 (30:50):
What keeps?
Speaker 2 (30:51):
us, I mean.
So it starts out with thepolice brutality situation okay
um, and then it kind of unveilsthe issues in this family based
on black trauma.
Like the grandmother had abrother who was lynched when she
was younger.
The son doesn't like blackwomen.
One of them is a littlecolorist.
(31:13):
All of these aspects of blacktrauma and how they materialize
are going to be in this onefamily.
Speaker 1 (31:20):
Wait, the son, who don't like black women is black.
Yes, oh man materialized.
Speaker 2 (31:23):
are going to be in this one family wait, the son,
who don't like black women, isblack.
Yes, oh man, and he's the onewho is going to be the victim of
the police brutality.
And, of course, we know whathappens when that happens is
that the black women show up,and so these women that he don't
like I was just going to say.
Speaker 1 (31:37):
The same women that you don't like show up and to
come and tell you your writingis so diverse, like your catalog
what do you write?
Speaker 2 (31:53):
uh, whatever comes out today, I can't tell you.
Whatever comes out today iswhat I'm writing so is that what
you're working on now?
Yes, I actually started itbefore I even started this one,
but I took a break from itbecause it got a little heavy
and I need to write something alittle bit more easy.
Speaker 1 (32:14):
When it does get heavy like that.
So is that how you disconnectfrom it?
You just start writing onsomething.
Speaker 2 (32:20):
I'll either write something a little bit more soft
or do like a diy project.
So I've been making these notes, the resin notebooks.
I added them to my site.
They're called forevernotebooks now, so I usually kind
of do a batch of those or dosomething else creative to kind
of disconnect from the charactergot you.
Speaker 1 (32:37):
Oh my god, I can just imagine how heavy this book is
yeah oh my goodness.
Speaker 2 (32:44):
I'm excited about it, though it's been on my heart
for a very long time and I thinkbecause it is a little
different from most of mywriting that it was kind of like
I didn't want to do it, but I'mlike it's time to do it now.
Speaker 1 (32:55):
Do you think it'll be in by like the end of the year?
Speaker 2 (33:00):
For sure the the end of the year.
For sure.
The first draft will definitelybe done by the end of the year.
Speaker 1 (33:05):
I'm probably about halfway done.
Okay, because I was like oh, ifthis come out around like
election time, okay, I was gonnasay, baby, it ain't gonna be
ready by then.
Okay I was looking for.
Speaker 2 (33:20):
You know, I was here for it I was here, for I'm I'm
not even a reader, though, sowe're gonna.
Speaker 1 (33:25):
We're gonna talk about that and I'm here, look
cause I ain't too proud to be,ain't too proud to beg at all.
Lordy, miss cashel, I thank youso much for joining us to, for
joining us today when I say mymind is just like.
I'll like, I wanted to, like Isaid I wanted to ask so many
(33:49):
things but I was like I didn'twant to delve and um dive into
it and do and be too much,because sometimes people like
girl, you do the most, you dotoo much I'm all over the place,
so we right together, you knowbut I thank you for answering
and not giving me the.
We're not going to talk aboutthat, or I can't talk about that
.
I appreciate you, and so thatmeans we're going to have to
(34:14):
come back for another episode,because do you have the name for
this?
Do you have a name already forthe book?
You have a name already For thebook?
Well, you just gave it to us.
Speaker 2 (34:23):
I'm like just give us what keeps us up at night.
Speaker 1 (34:26):
What keeps us up at night.
And then it won't be by the endof the year.
We won't have a hard copy, so2025.
Speaker 2 (34:35):
Absolutely.
That's not this far away.
It's already at Christmas.
Speaker 1 (34:41):
It's going to be Christmas next week.
Speaker 2 (34:44):
my mind it's already at christmas it's gonna be
christmas next week, it is.
But I'm just, my mind is likeon this book now it's really
good if I say that, say somyself.
Speaker 1 (34:49):
I think it's gonna be good and your writing is
phenomenal, so I can justimagine oh my god.
Again, thank you for takingtime with us today.
I really appreciate it.
So until next time, can you letus know where we can follow you
on Facebook and Instagram?
Speaker 2 (35:08):
Yeah, I am on Christian Cashel on TikTok,
facebook and Instagram.
The business is DIP D-I-Punderscore books or Dynamic
Image Publications.
Speaker 1 (35:19):
Thank you, and thank you guys for tuning in, until
next time.
I don't know why I get so nervous when I'm getting
ready to start and do like theintro all righty hey y'all.
Hey, I am Lex and you arewatching and listening to lakes
between the lines before we goahead and get into it.
(00:26):
For the most part, I always tryto stay in between the lines,
but I feel like today we'regonna cross a few because this
right here.
So let's go ahead and give youthe trigger warnings.
(00:46):
Number one I already know thereit's going to be some adult
language, strong, strong adultlanguage.
Um.
Number two I don't think wetalk about too much trauma, so
not too much.
I just want to warn you aboutthe language.
(01:08):
The more emotional I get, themore the words just seem to kind
of spill out of their own wheel.
So, without further ado, I amgoing to let my co-host of today
introduce herself.
I am so excited that she tookthe time to come and talk to us.
Speaker 2 (01:31):
No problem, thank you for having me, girl.
So hi Lex's audience.
My name is Christian Cashel.
I am the owner of Dynamic ImagePublications.
We have been in business since2009, so we are getting a little
old, but Loving you Blind is my13th book, so I'm also an
(01:52):
author as well as a publisher.
I have a few accolades, I guessyou know.
Last year, I was actuallyawarded the Emerging
Entrepreneur Award for the JoyTudor Awards up in New York.
I was also the nominator forauthor of the year for the
Midwest Black Best of BlackAwards in 2023, but I won the
(02:16):
award in 2022.
Come through, okay, okay.
And then I also won best authorin 2023 at the Heels and Hustle
Awards in Houston, and I am oneof the top 10 editors in St
Louis.
So I'm very appreciative andhonored to have all of those
(02:36):
accolades as well.
As I have published I think wehave 16 titles so far on dynamic
image.
Most of them are mine but youhave other authors as well, so
I'm excited for our company togrow and just to talk about
books it's our favorite thing totalk about.
Speaker 1 (02:56):
Look, I'm trying to take notes so I can ask what you
said.
Top 10.
I did not know that Me neither.
Speaker 2 (03:02):
I found out by Googling myself a couple months
ago, and that's what popped up.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
Wait a minute.
They didn't send you.
I feel like you should have gotan award.
Speaker 2 (03:13):
Nobody told me anything, honey.
I was just randomly Googlingmyself and I was like what is
this?
And I was on the list.
Speaker 1 (03:20):
So, note to self, we need to start Googling ourselves
and see what pops up.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
Because we never know what we want.
Put an alert on your name.
Put a Google alert on your name.
That's what you got to do.
How?
Speaker 1 (03:30):
do you put a Google alert?
Speaker 2 (03:34):
If you go in like the settings on Google, I believe
it's in there.
Let me make sure I'm tellingyou the truth.
Speaker 1 (03:41):
Look, teach us something.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
Yes, I do them on my publishing company and on me and
, like my authors, so wheneversomebody does like a review of
your book or anything ormentions your name yep, so it'll
send you an email I think Ikind of I set it to where it
just comes like once a week, andit'll send you like a list of
(04:04):
where, like the links, thatwhere your name is mentioned.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
So, like on TikTok, if somebody leaves you a review
or says your name on TikTok orInstagram, it automatically
alerts you.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
Yep, it'll send you an email if it pops up on Google
.
So if you actually GoogleGoogle alerts, it'll pop up and
then you can add whatever youwant to create an alert about I
feel like we need to get thatout there so that more authors
are aware of that.
Speaker 1 (04:32):
So I'm going to do a little bit more on that.
Yes, we definitely need that.
We want to be a resource rightall the way around, like and
then I got a business too, sonow I'm kind of thinking, like
my mind I might stay focused.
Yeah, that's not what we herefor.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
We here for book talk today no, I will put an alert
on your industry, on your, yourbusiness name, anything that
people might google that'srelated to your business.
Speaker 1 (05:02):
Put all that on there , miss cashel, you better help
us out now.
Look, I always ask how the helldid you come up with these
characters?
Like is these people like youknow?
And you made this into like afictional, non-fictional type
situation because this it isjust too good, like this is just
(05:26):
did the characters just come toyou?
How did we start?
Speaker 2 (05:33):
so I actually.
So this is the thirdinstallment of this series, so
the first one is called move theneedle and it's very
lovey-dovey, very.
I was like lacking romance inmy real life, so I was like I
want to write something realsweet.
But you know, we got supportingcharacters and these supporting
characters took a life of theirown, and so this book, loving
(05:56):
you blind, follows one of thesupporting characters from the
beginning, and you knoweverything isn't peachy.
So I was like somebody got togo through some drama and that's
just how we got to Nicole.
So Nicole was done wrong.
Well, she wasn't really donewrong.
So I think from just TikTok andsocial media, we see a lot of
(06:17):
situations where women miss thesigns.
Right, he wasn't committing toher, but he was doing everything
else and she was falling intothat, and so Loving you Blind is
just kind of her trying to comeout of that trauma space that
she was in with Julian, but shecan't, obviously, because you
(06:38):
know.
So just her growing from that.
So I don't, I didn't base theseoff of anybody.
I actually just got inspirationfrom the playlist that I
included in the book.
So listen to those songs andkind of just from there.
Speaker 1 (06:52):
Look, you missed the song.
Let me make sure.
Let me go back through the songto make sure.
Mm.
Hmm, you got Jasmine Sullivanon there, but you forgot.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
Bust the windows out your car she didn't do that,
though she wasn't about thatlife.
Speaker 1 (07:16):
I wanted her to bust the windows, so bad his office
would have been a wreck child,do you hear me?
So wait, because I got thisbook and I did not know it was
through.
It was other books ahead of it,because I got it in a pr box
and I said so the book two?
(07:39):
Does it talk about her andjulian?
Do we get more?
Speaker 2 (07:41):
in the book two is actually about julian's love
triangle.
So in the beginning of the booktwo he's dating nicole.
She's actually their assistant,so it's a workplace romance.
But then his ex comes back andhis ex is the reason he won't
commit to anybody and the ex isfighting for him and he ends up
(08:02):
choosing the ex over Nicole.
So we get to see the actualfight in book, the actual fight
and all of everything that goeson before we get to this book,
that's, in book two.
Speaker 1 (08:14):
Because I kept on saying I'm missing.
I kept on saying who the hellis this helpful?
Speaker 2 (08:19):
Like no, you didn't.
Jessica came back, got her manand dipped off.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
I need a warning, like in the box, like girl, this
is this book but it's got otherones that you should read
before because I was like okay,so I feel bad for judging her
now that I don't really knowtheir situation you're still
going to judge her because it'sobvious in book two that he's
never going to pick her likethat tiktok sign say it's never
gonna be.
You like it was never gonna beher wait, there were signs in
(08:56):
book two that show that shedefinitely should have been
paying attention to my mind islike on 10 right now, because,
okay, nicole, sweetheart youweren't thinking clearly and
(09:17):
then here I go, was upsetbecause raina, when it first
started I was tired.
I ain't right now, but then asit go, and I'm like girl, she,
your voice of reason, like she'strying to tell the reason, like
because you tripping, like yeahand then we finally meet
somebody and don't know how toact and then look, I think
(09:39):
that's another um.
Who's saying she's a runner,she's a track star.
Who's saying she's a?
Speaker 2 (09:48):
runner.
She's a track star.
We needed that.
She was.
She was ready to go.
Any sign.
That wasn't right.
Speaker 1 (09:52):
She was like it was one instance where I felt like
she had the right to to kind ofrun or at least, um, make his
ass wait.
Because how dare you propose tome and even though it is, but
it ain't your daughter, it is,but it ain't your baby right why
that I find out like these?
(10:14):
we've been together and rockingall of this time and to find out
at that party I wanted her.
I said, oh why she ain't makeNicole about that life.
I wanted her to knock.
So I don't give a damn if it'smom was there.
Speaker 2 (10:29):
Girl, knock all that shit off the table and the
cousin would make her like that,because I feel like all those
strong female characters arevery good.
I don't feel like thatrepresents everybody it don't
even though that's what we bewanting to do everybody.
(10:53):
So I couldn't.
I couldn't have her act outlike that.
I understand, I understand Iain't gonna.
Speaker 1 (10:56):
It was hard to write, though I will tell that I was
like this is like sitting rightwith me what was going through
your mind when you were writingthat part like this heifer was
sitting smug at the birthdayparty yeah do we get like a
backstory into that, like uh,extended into that relationship,
(11:19):
do we?
Speaker 2 (11:20):
get to see that.
I was thinking about that whenyou said that I was like I could
do a little extended, but Ithink the reason I didn't was
because at the beginning rashadcame off like almost too good to
be true, it's like why, are youlying with her?
To come back after she did whatshe did and ghosted him, and so
I had to give him a little dirt.
Speaker 1 (11:40):
I couldn't just it's funny that you said Cause I
literally was like I'm waitingon the other.
I was like this shit going toogood, I was waiting On the other
.
Shit like, what's like, what'sabout to like, what is he about
to do?
That's gone.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (12:00):
And then when you put when they came, I about tossed
that book, the cousin was somessy, cause why.
And then, when they came, Iabout tossed that book.
Speaker 2 (12:11):
The cousin was so messy, because why?
Why did you invite her?
Why you invite her?
Speaker 1 (12:14):
But you know, that's how people are in real life.
That's why it was crazy,because it was so relatable.
Speaker 2 (12:23):
Like we've actually seen this.
That's why it was so relatable.
Speaker 1 (12:30):
Like oh, I just wanted him to see the this other
woman and she didn't even knowabout you.
I, yeah.
And then it was crazy becauseeverybody and that was dude that
be pissing me off wheneverybody know- that's like a
(12:51):
slap in the face.
Speaker 2 (12:52):
Now everybody got to die.
Speaker 1 (12:55):
And I said now Christian then gave us at this
end, at the end of the book Isaid I don't got a few more
pages, like when the baby why?
You gave us that little snippetof the conversation that we
weren't privy to argument, thatwe were not privy to say I had
(13:16):
to go back to the book like didI miss?
Speaker 2 (13:18):
something.
I think that's what I would ifI did the extended version.
I would definitely put that inthere because we need to know.
Speaker 1 (13:26):
Like julian said, he wanted his family back and he
went and told him and we didn'tknow.
Speaker 2 (13:31):
Like what kind of conversation went, what you
think I don't know.
Speaker 1 (13:36):
And first of all, what the hell did it happen
there?
Did he?
He go to the gym, because whereyou corner him at At the house,
what?
I guess it happened at the gym.
Yes, everything be happening atthe damn gym, everything
happening at the gym.
So I'm just picturing Julianwalking into the gym looking for
(13:58):
him because I read book two,but it ain't sound like you'd be
working out.
Speaker 2 (14:05):
No, well, Julian does work out, but not so in the
second part.
Nicole had a little bit of aninsecurity with her weight.
So that was where the gym kindof came in in this one, because
she was, you know.
So Julian has been to the gym,but he probably wasn't going as
much as Rashad in the cohort.
Speaker 1 (14:26):
So he made it a point to go to the gym that they work
out at.
Yeah, to go and find him, tolet him know that Now was this
before or after he had proposed.
Speaker 2 (14:38):
This was after.
So this happened after theybroke up.
But see, in rashad's mindthat's still his woman, because
you see what he said to her atthe gym like I know you tripping
right now, but so this happenedin between that time okay, so
this happened in between thetime when she was with fuck boy
who was fucking everybody at thegym yeah this a lot, this a lot
(15:04):
, this is a lot.
Speaker 1 (15:05):
Hang on.
Hang on to that.
Thought we gonna finish thisright after this commercial
break because I got now.
I got so many more questionsthat I need answers.
Yeah, we will be right back.
Do not go anywhere.
Speaker 3 (15:21):
It's about tradition, value and community.
We're Creed and Creed and we'reproud to call Northeast
Louisiana home.
Catherine and I raised ourfamily here, we worship here and
we serve here.
It's an honor to support thecommunity that has given us so
much Tradition, value andcommunity.
(15:42):
That's creed and creed.
If you've been injured in anaccident, call creed and creed
today, proudly serving thisgreat community for over 25
years okay, we are back fromcommercial.
Speaker 1 (15:53):
Thank you guys, so much for hanging in there with
us.
Let's go ahead and dive rightback into it.
So this was after rashadengaged, I mean proposed, they
got engaged and she found outabout the ex-wife so this was
after she found out about thebaby and the ex-wife.
But while this was going on,this is during the break now.
(16:17):
So now she is entertainingfuckboy at the gym.
Yeah, so Julian took it uponhimself to take his bald
peed-a-head ass to the gym to goconfront somebody.
Speaker 2 (16:29):
Because, you know, Julian never knew about the
breakup.
So even when he would takelittle shots like go stay with
your man or something, she wouldnever say anything because she
didn't want him to know thatthey were broken up.
So he's still assuming thatthey're together.
Speaker 1 (16:43):
So yeah, I want, I, I need, I need the back, like I
need the back and forth, andthen, like the boy, passed
through and know who they wastalking about and did he listen
to him?
I feel like he was listening,like maybe he was listening in
and be like she ain't withneither one of you, little
buggers, cause I'm with her nowand she entertaining me.
(17:04):
That would be funny, though,for him to just walk up and be
like, well, technically, sheain't with neither one of you.
Speaker 2 (17:12):
You would have made me, he don't care, he's just
there for a good time not a longtime.
Speaker 1 (17:18):
He put in a lot of effort, though for somebody that
just want to hit it and quit it.
That's what they do and whathis baby mama is, because how
dare you use my fucking baby toget women at the gym?
I don't do it at the gym.
In the nursery I said what hisbaby mama is.
Is that even his baby?
(17:38):
That's probably his nephew.
It's his baby, because whatthat's so trifling?
Speaker 2 (17:48):
Yeah, I know quite a few of them, so his character
was easy to write.
Speaker 1 (17:57):
So, when writing these characters, how do you
disconnect from them?
Speaker 2 (18:03):
I usually disconnect once I feel like their story is
done.
If I feel like their story isnot done, then they're going to
stay in my head.
So that's just the honest truth.
Even if I'm done with the book,it's just a matter of time.
I'm not going to be able towrite a book.
That's going to be.
If I find myself still thinkingabout them, I'm like dang.
That means I got to writeanother part or something else
(18:23):
happens, and I think, because alot of them are inspired by
music, is one of my biggestinspirations.
It kind of just helps once Iget the story out where I'm like
all right, what's next.
So I'm usually writing like oneor two books at the same time.
I know that sounds horrible,but it's not.
Speaker 1 (18:42):
I wanted to ask about the relationship between nicole
and her mama.
When I tell you you put so muchrelatable, like I was, like I
said what, what did she get?
I said I hate to.
I said I want to ask her thesequestions but I feel like I said
, but she can always tell mewe're not going to talk about
this, we could just move on tothe next question Because I was
(19:04):
like it's just so relatable.
So I wonder if this likepersonal experience or is it
just?
But like how did her and hermom like okay, let me back it up
, because like we've all seenthe mama's mad because the man
that they want don't want to bewith them, because they got a
kid and they don't want to raisethem and stuff.
So the mama feel like theydidn't miss out on a good thing.
(19:26):
I was like I wanted to.
I don't really have a lot ofdrama and mess going on in my
like real life, so I get itthrough my like books and stuff,
so I ate that up.
When she told, when she toldher mama off, but then it was
(19:46):
like she told her mama all, shesaid her peace and she left and
then they got back together andthe mama apologized to her.
I wanted some more in-betweens,some more run-ins, like.
I needed some more run-ins withher and the mama, like how did
that scenario, like how did thattrauma come up?
Speaker 2 (20:05):
yeah, fortunately my mama is my girl like we are we
locked in.
I don't have none of theseissues with my mama at all, um,
so it wasn't personal experience, um, but I think a lot of times
books we tend to see more ofthe daddy issues when it comes
to women and I wanted adifferent perspective on that
(20:27):
because a lot of times as womenwe learn a lot of things
unconsciously from our mothers.
So I know I knew her dad wasn'taround but I wanted her issue
to be with her mom and it justkind of manifested that way.
Honestly, it was just kind oflike what am I gonna make that
issue?
And then that just kind offlowed with.
(20:50):
I felt like it flowed with hownicole was presenting herself in
relationships it definitely.
Speaker 1 (20:56):
And then to know that your daddy was dead close and
he didn't even like your dad isliterally yeah, that could
definitely be another look.
Speaker 2 (21:10):
It definitely could.
So this series was actuallysupposed to be five books long,
so there's still two potentialstories, um, but there were
going to be other characters, um, but it just depends on how
this one is received, on whathappens next did we get it?
Speaker 1 (21:27):
so, while the dad left the mom in the first place,
was he just not ready to be adad?
Speaker 2 (21:31):
we didn't get it, I never touched on that because I
so I'm a stepchild.
My stepdad's been around sinceI was very, very young, um, so I
know that that can always goone or two ways, you know, um,
so I always wanted one or twoways, you know, so I always
wanted that to be the story withthe mom.
Speaker 1 (21:48):
So it was kind of just like he just out the way,
okay Cause I kept on saying likeI said.
Speaker 2 (21:55):
I felt like I wanted it to be so much more longer.
I could have did this one, sothe other two were about the
same length and to me it'sreally weird when it's like two
books are short and then it'slike a big, big one.
So I kind of want to kind ofkeep it around the same time.
But before I like what happened, I'm like dang, I really could
(22:16):
have wrote more, but especiallywith that.
Speaker 1 (22:19):
And then I said she had to put the spades game up in
here.
You know, all black peopledon't know how to play no damn
spades, and I'm one of them, soI was salty about that little
scene it would have been spadesand dominoes.
Speaker 2 (22:36):
It had to be one of them too, and I can't play
neither.
Speaker 1 (22:40):
I said why she couldn't put Uno up in there,
because I had to tell somebodyit's up and uno you're so funny
she's childish man.
Nobody, don't let me sit at thegrown-up table.
I want to know more about yourpublishing company and the other
authors that you've publishedcompany and the other authors
(23:04):
that you've published.
Speaker 2 (23:06):
It's so random, right ?
I started, so my first book iscalled Ava's Story.
It came out the same year thatI started my publishing company,
which was 09, I believe andaround that time a lot of the
vanity presses started poppingup.
Self-publishing was juststarting to get popular and I
was looking for a publishingcompany.
I wanted to go the traditionalroute, but at that time so
(23:28):
wahida, clark and triple crownand all them were popping, like
the hood books was popping, andthen it was like the christian
fiction books.
And here I am in the middle andI couldn't find any publishing
company that I thought wouldactually cater to this type of
book and I was like I'm going todo it myself.
It was horrible.
(23:49):
Wait the first time publishing,doing it yourself.
Speaker 1 (23:51):
It was rough.
Speaker 2 (23:53):
So it was definitely a learning experience.
The book was black with whiteletters no, typographic design
wasn't formatted right.
I went with the press where Ihad to buy in bulk, so I had
like 200 books sitting in thehouse.
Letters no, typographic designwasn't formatted right.
I went with the press where Ihad to buy in bulk, so I had
like 200 books sitting in thehouse because I didn't really
know I had to market a book.
I just thought I had to put itout.
It was a lot.
(24:14):
It was a learning experiencefor sure.
After that first one, I startedto get deep into the research
of it.
What set us apart?
Some of the stigmas aroundself-publishing, like editing,
formatting, all the things thatthe big publishing houses do
that self-publishers don't.
I learned and put out two moreof my own books.
(24:35):
I was like, okay, I can do thisfor other people now.
So right now we have three,four authors, so three including
myself.
We have nonfiction books.
We have a really gooddevotional.
It's called Save Top Mess and,yes, it is how it sounds.
Sounds like me, it sounds likeme right and that's exactly what
(24:57):
it is.
She talks about a lot of topicsthat are taboo in church today
but need to be talked about.
So we have poetry collections,we have romance drama, we have a
lot of different ones.
Right now I'm looking to get acouple more romance authors.
So we are getting submissionsfor next year, but it just kind
(25:18):
of snowballs.
So over the years I've justbeen deep in learning what
editing looks like, whatformatting looks like, things
like that, and there aren't alot of black publishers, indie
publishers, or black editors orexecs in the industry.
So I just think it's reallyimportant to have that space to
where it's authentic and it'snot being watered down or
(25:40):
changed.
Speaker 1 (25:40):
But how do?
Professional so how do you find, how do they find you like, do
agents reach out to you, or howdoes that process work, or what
does that process look like?
Speaker 2 (25:50):
most of it's actually been word of mouth.
It's uh, I mean notunfortunately, but I've been
very fortunate where people havereached out to me just based
off of my work and they find outI'm a publisher, and then
they'll just be like, hey,because we also do a lot of
freelance.
So even if we're not publishingunder dynamic image, there's a
lot of business owners who maywant like to put a book out, a
(26:12):
self-published book.
I help them do that as well.
So even if you aren't one of myauthors but you don't know none
of that process, we do that too.
So a lot of it comes throughword of mouth.
So is this your full-time jobor not yet?
But we're gonna thank god inadvance we claiming it already
yes, I actually work.
(26:32):
Um well, I started a new job asa in the non-profit in the uh
metro east area.
I'm in st louis, okay, prettysoon, so I'm doing
communications for them.
Speaker 1 (26:42):
So my um corporate title is communication it's
communicate, so it kind of goesalong with like your publishing
and stuff too.
So everything kind of ties intogether, um, which are a
publishing company.
So do you offer like themarketing or just the publishing
?
Do you offer like the printingof the books and everything too?
Speaker 2 (27:04):
I knew, I knew my daddy was gonna do that.
Um, so right now, um, we don'thave a full marketing department
, but that is something that I'mlooking to hire for this year
or next year, uh, so right now,basically it's just the life
cycle of the book.
(27:24):
So coaching, editing,formatting, design, print and
distribution is what we offer atthe moment okay, that's not bad
at all.
Speaker 1 (27:34):
And then like is there a price?
Um, like, where can people cometo find you?
Can you give us any information?
Speaker 2 (27:45):
to find you.
Can you give us any informationlike what?
Yes, so the price range is howbig the book is, but our website
is di publications calm and weare on all social medias under
dip.
Speaker 1 (27:54):
Thank, you come through?
It was another thing I wanted,that wanted to egg.
So do you do a consultationbefore they come on, like, do
you actually look at themanuscript or you just take on
anybody you know, as long asthey can?
Speaker 2 (28:14):
No, no, thank God I'm in a place to where I can be a
little picky now, but I doconsultations.
I think what sets us apart isbecause I am an author as well,
so I know the importance ofkeeping that voice authentic and
making sure it's what you'rewanting to present to the world.
So I always do consultationsfirst, to get to know the author
(28:35):
, get to know what they may ormay not know, and kind of go
from there before I recommendservices to them.
Speaker 1 (28:42):
Okay, okay, that makes sense.
I was just wondering.
I was like I wonder if anybodycan just come and drop off a
manuscript, and but I understandif it doesn't match with the
brand or if it's not.
Speaker 2 (28:54):
A lot of times that's kind of what happens.
So if I get a submission whereI'm like it doesn't really fit
with us, but I can help youself-publish it or I can help
you get it ready for you toquery to a traditional publisher
, so I always have options.
I'm never just gonna turnsomebody down because I know how
that feels, um, but sometimesit's just which option works
best.
Speaker 1 (29:15):
I like that.
Um, there's an alternative tothat.
So, instead of just no, andthen they have to figure it out
on their own, you at least offerthem help on how they can fix
it and get it done.
Come on, miss christian.
So what's next?
What should we expect next fromwho of next?
Speaker 2 (29:37):
I was thinking about Raina, but the actual, the
outline in the original fiveseries.
In the first book the male, thefemale main character has a
sister and I kind of wanted todo like a fake marriage type of
situation with her.
So I'm still thinking aboutthat one.
We're going to add in a billion.
It's going to be a fakemarriage, billionaire.
(29:59):
I was thinking.
So I feel like I like them.
Speaker 1 (30:12):
I eat up a billionaire fake.
Oh, that's so obsessed and inlove and I love it.
Oh, it's so good and it's likeyou know they're gonna fall for
each other.
Speaker 2 (30:15):
It's just the details , it's like you gotta see that
chemistry on the page, yes, andthen like it, man, oh my god.
But I'm actually working on abig novel called what keeps us
up at night, um, and it'sactually I'm hoping to have it
done by next year, but it's.
It's a little bit more literaryfiction than romance, but it's
(30:37):
going to be kind of tied into it, but it's basically um a family
story about how black traumahas materialized in different
ways I should say that soundlike a thriller.
Speaker 1 (30:50):
What keeps?
Speaker 2 (30:51):
us, I mean.
So it starts out with thepolice brutality situation okay
um, and then it kind of unveilsthe issues in this family based
on black trauma.
Like the grandmother had abrother who was lynched when she
was younger.
The son doesn't like blackwomen.
One of them is a littlecolorist.
(31:13):
All of these aspects of blacktrauma and how they materialize
are going to be in this onefamily.
Speaker 1 (31:20):
Wait, the son, who don't like black women is black.
Yes, oh man materialized.
Speaker 2 (31:23):
are going to be in this one family wait, the son,
who don't like black women, isblack.
Yes, oh man, and he's the onewho is going to be the victim of
the police brutality.
And, of course, we know whathappens when that happens is
that the black women show up,and so these women that he don't
like I was just going to say.
Speaker 1 (31:37):
The same women that you don't like show up and to
come and tell you your writingis so diverse, like your catalog
what do you write?
Speaker 2 (31:53):
uh, whatever comes out today, I can't tell you.
Whatever comes out today iswhat I'm writing so is that what
you're working on now?
Yes, I actually started itbefore I even started this one,
but I took a break from itbecause it got a little heavy
and I need to write something alittle bit more easy.
Speaker 1 (32:14):
When it does get heavy like that.
So is that how you disconnectfrom it?
You just start writing onsomething.
Speaker 2 (32:20):
I'll either write something a little bit more soft
or do like a diy project.
So I've been making these notes, the resin notebooks.
I added them to my site.
They're called forevernotebooks now, so I usually kind
of do a batch of those or dosomething else creative to kind
of disconnect from the charactergot you.
Speaker 1 (32:37):
Oh my god, I can just imagine how heavy this book is
yeah oh my goodness.
Speaker 2 (32:44):
I'm excited about it, though it's been on my heart
for a very long time and I thinkbecause it is a little
different from most of mywriting that it was kind of like
I didn't want to do it, but I'mlike it's time to do it now.
Speaker 1 (32:55):
Do you think it'll be in by like the end of the year?
Speaker 2 (33:00):
For sure the the end of the year.
For sure.
The first draft will definitelybe done by the end of the year.
Speaker 1 (33:05):
I'm probably about halfway done.
Okay, because I was like oh, ifthis come out around like
election time, okay, I was gonnasay, baby, it ain't gonna be
ready by then.
Okay I was looking for.
Speaker 2 (33:20):
You know, I was here for it I was here, for I'm I'm
not even a reader, though, sowe're gonna.
Speaker 1 (33:25):
We're gonna talk about that and I'm here, look
cause I ain't too proud to be,ain't too proud to beg at all.
Lordy, miss cashel, I thank youso much for joining us to, for
joining us today when I say mymind is just like.
I'll like, I wanted to, like Isaid I wanted to ask so many
(33:49):
things but I was like I didn'twant to delve and um dive into
it and do and be too much,because sometimes people like
girl, you do the most, you dotoo much I'm all over the place,
so we right together, you knowbut I thank you for answering
and not giving me the.
We're not going to talk aboutthat, or I can't talk about that
.
I appreciate you, and so thatmeans we're going to have to
(34:14):
come back for another episode,because do you have the name for
this?
Do you have a name already forthe book?
You have a name already For thebook?
Well, you just gave it to us.
Speaker 2 (34:23):
I'm like just give us what keeps us up at night.
Speaker 1 (34:26):
What keeps us up at night.
And then it won't be by the endof the year.
We won't have a hard copy, so2025.
Speaker 2 (34:35):
Absolutely.
That's not this far away.
It's already at Christmas.
Speaker 1 (34:41):
It's going to be Christmas next week.
Speaker 2 (34:44):
my mind it's already at christmas it's gonna be
christmas next week, it is.
But I'm just, my mind is likeon this book now it's really
good if I say that, say somyself.
Speaker 1 (34:49):
I think it's gonna be good and your writing is
phenomenal, so I can justimagine oh my god.
Again, thank you for takingtime with us today.
I really appreciate it.
So until next time, can you letus know where we can follow you
on Facebook and Instagram?
Speaker 2 (35:08):
Yeah, I am on Christian Cashel on TikTok,
facebook and Instagram.
The business is DIP D-I-Punderscore books or Dynamic
Image Publications.
Speaker 1 (35:19):
Thank you, and thank you guys for tuning in, until
next time.
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