Writer Lorenzo Louden joins me today to chat about his autobiography, A Soldier’s Redemption: Life of a Gangster (Shorty G).
During his virtual book tour, Lorenzo will be giving away a $10 Amazon or Barnes and Noble (winner’s choice) gift card. To be entered for a chance to win, use the form below. To increase your chances of winning, feel free to visit his other tour stops and enter there, too!
Bio:
Lorenzo Louden was born in Little Rock Arkansas but grew up on the west side of Chicago, Illinois. He was raised in the foster care system until he was 14yrs old. Lorenzo grew up on the streets and endured a lot of hardship as a young teenager. As an adult, he believed that his past did not have to dictate his future, so he strived to be the best he could be. During a 17-year stay, courtesy of the Illinois prison system, he gained 4 degrees, including a bachelor’s degree in business. In 2005 Lorenzo started a non-profit organization called Tower of Refuge, dedicated to aiding, and assisting returning citizens. For the 10 years following, he and his team worked diligently to ensure that these individuals had the services and support they needed to make a smooth transition back to society. The organization had a 96% success rating over that 10-year period. Lorenzo, a noted motivational speaker, that had positively influenced the lives of hundreds of detainees, is also the published author of A Soldier’s Redemption, an autobiographical account of his life as a gangster.
With a string of hugely successful entrepreneurial ventures in his wake, Lorenzo is currently the owner and CEO of Illini Construction & Waterproofing LLC and will provide governance and oversight to the Foundation as Chairman of the Board. Until Chris Evans passed away, Lorenzo was his highly respected, long-standing friend and mentor.
Welcome, Lorenzo. Please tell us about your current release.
It’s an autobiography about my life from childhood to manhood.
What inspired you to write this book?
When I was teaching in the correctional center, there were a few inmates who had talked to me about writing a book based on my life. “Why should I do that?” was my response. One of them told me that it wasn’t about the crime and punishment, or the glorifying of gang life, but about change and making a difference in other’s lives as a means of giving back.
Excerpt from A Soldier’s Redemption:
A few days later, we had visitors again. This time, a couple of official looking people showed up at the apartment—a man and a lady. They were around my mom’s age, and they were white. That was an unusual sight in our neighborhood. I didn’t get a good feeling from the way Mom was interacting with these people. I knew that whatever was going down, it wasn’t good, and I was scared.
Mom was holding Jan tightly to her chest, and she had me tucked back behind her. She was saying, “NO!”
There were also two police officers standing by. One stepped in and tried to grab us kids. Mom was crying and yelling and trying to keep us away from them, so the other one grabbed Mom. It was terrible, having those people pull us away from Mom.
They took Jan and me to a big place—some kind of house. There were other kids there, too. Suddenly I didn’t see my infant sister. They had separated us. I wanted to know, “Where’s my sister?”
All they said was, “Go back over there!”
I cried, “But, I want to see her!”
They didn’t pay me any attention.
It seemed like I was in that place forever, but it was probably only a couple of months. That’s when an older couple came and got me. This time, the people were black. I was told that someone else had come and taken Jan away.
What exciting project are you working on next?
I currently have a completed screenplay of the book and am shopping for a possible movie deal.
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I really don’t consider myself a writer.
Do you write full-time? If so, what’s your workday like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?
I am a business owner.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be an architect.
Links:
Website | YouTube | Instagram
Thank you for hosting “A Soldier’s Redemption” today!