“Where I sit in the future, shows where I stood in the past.”

Sleepless Nights | Apollo Q.

Sleepless Nights is about a humble guy with a good heart. A guy who has been surrounded by real life problems and lies. A guy named, Apollo Q. Who is Apollo Q. really? Some people disregard the author itself and focus on the juicy details the book entails. We spoke with Apollo Q. to get a sense of his background and how his book, Sleepless Nights, is a reality within his everyday life.

What is your name?

RaShawn (Apollo Q) Jackson

Where are you from?

Milwaukee, WI

What’s an average day like for you?

Wake up, start my day, think of a game plan and take action behind it. That’s literally an everyday thing for me.

What’s your go-to outfit?

Suit and tie is always a great go to for me.  

Tell us all about your bookish or reader life! Are there books that changed your life? Are there books that will stick with you, and that you’d want your great-great-great-great grandkids to read?

I believe novels are great reads, it helps the mind stay up beat. I would want my book, Sleepless Nights, to be a foundation of creativity that runs through their blood for my great grandkids to be proud about.

Are there authors that remind you of yourself?

Me being a poet, I have many people that motivated me over the years. Those people are the late Maya Angelou and the up and coming Motivational speaker, Muhibb Dyer.

Whose author success story are you most inspired by?

Langston Hughes

Do you add trigger warnings to your reviews? Why or why not? When do you decide to add a certain trigger warning?

I prefer not to because I feel like my book of poems is all about my experiences throughout life.

How did you come up with your book title? What is the meaning behind it?

Sleepless Nights came to me one night while I was just laying in bed. I sometimes overthink and I usually can’t sleep at nights if something is on my mind. I know that I’m not the only one that has sleepless nights. So sharing that with others was always my goal.

How did you come up with your cover? What is the meaning behind it?

My cover has so many stories inside it. One of the poems in my book is called “Daddy” which explains the relationship with my real father.

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

When I was 16 years old.

How long did it take you to write this book?

5 months to get everything squared away, but I had been planning this time for years.

What is your work schedule like when you’re writing?

Late nights and early mornings are the only times I write. Late nights because after a long day and experiencing new things through the day helps me reflect my day in a creative way. Also, early mornings because that’s when my mind is fresh and I can get the best of myself.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I would say listening to early 2000’s R&B music before writing.

Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?

Everyday life.

When did you write your first book and how old were you?

2018, and I was 24 years old.

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

I love eating, listening to music, and I love the hookah bar.

What does your family think of your writing?

They support it 100 percent. My family is some of my biggest fans and supporters.

What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your book?

Just how big the power and creative authors are with words. It’s a lot of great talent out here.

What is your favorite thing about your book? Favorite chapter?

I love everything about my book, and my favorite chapters are the first one and the very last one.

Do you plan to write a sequel?

With this being a book of poems, yes I am working on my next project.

What is your next book about?

It’s about changing and happiness.

Do you hear from your readers much? What kinds of things do they say?

Yes, everyday I hear something new. I get a lot of great feedback.  

What do you think makes a good story?

A creative mind makes a good story.

We hope you enjoyed our book interview with Apollo Q. as much as we did. You can find Sleepless Nights either on Amazon or Barnes & Nobles for purchase. To learn more about Apollo Q. visit their social media handle: @rashawn_t_jackson

What questions you wish we asked? Post a comment below and let us know!

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