Two recent self-publications — one by a seasoned published writer and another by a radio DJ — are more than just the stories offered.
They provide a glimpse into the personal motivations of the authors and the brave new world of publishing without gatekeepers.
First, Ewing-based historian and writer William “Larry” Kidder has released a book that tackles area history during the Revolutionary War and joins a well-regarded series that includes “Revolutionary Princeton” and “Ten Crucial Days.”
“The Revolutionary World of a Free Black Man: Jacob Francis: 1754-1836” is the true story that follows Francis’ life as an indentured servant, Revolutionary War soldier, and farmer.
In the following excerpt, Kidder reflects on the creation of the book, touted as a story of grit and determination combined with kindness and friendship:
In thinking about doing this book, at my current advanced stage of life, I had to choose between learning about Jacob Francis just to satisfy my curiosity or to write a book to introduce Jacob to a broad audience.
My final decision to research and write this book came first from my deep interest in the life of Jacob Francis. This interest grew deeper due to the inspiration of two sets of my friends. Sharon Elaine Buck and Beverly Mills have done incredible work to bring out and make known the lives of Black people who have lived in the Sourland Mountain region of New Jersey. Their wonderful book, “If These Stones Could Talk,” immediately came to mind when I discovered the tombstones for Jacob and Mary Francis. I wanted to help make those stones “talk.” At that time, I was also working with Jason Huza and John Allen Watts as they wrote a stage musical based on (Kidder’s 2018 book) “The Crossing and the Ten Crucial Days.” In their work, they highlighted ‘Ordinary’ people who experienced and contributed to the historic, not just the usual already famous people. They enthusiastically welcomed my suggestion to include Jacob Francis as a character in the production.
I wanted to help people remember the name Jacob Francis and the life story associated with it that helps us to better understand what it means to be a human being in a continuously revolutionary world.
I never write in order to prove something, but rather to explore and uncover a human story. Nor, did I write this story to justify anything or crate feelings of guilt for past events and attitudes, but rather to shed light on the longstanding revolution in expanding human rights that continues to this day. The only guilt people today should feel is for actions they make that perpetuate the problems of the past rather than continue to move forward the revolution towards equality for all.
The Revolutionary World of a Free Black Man: Jacob Francis: 1754-1836 by William “Larry” Kidder, 398 pages, $20 on Amazon.
Next up, “The DJ Chronicles: Love, Life, and Beyond the Booth” is area radio personality JD Domino’s self-published series of entries the about his 30 years being a DJ on the air waves, club rooms, and now the internet.
The tone may be best summed up by Domino’s cover recommendation that “it’s fast reading” and “take it to the bathroom; I guarantee you’ll finish it in one sitting.”
The host — easily found on the web and YouTube shows — also thanks the “editor that took my money and made me edit and format this book.”
Here, in his own unadulterated words, is how he opens his book:
Did you ever think to yourself, “Why am I don’t this, and how did I get here?” All I was doing was evolving to extend my mother’s ideal world of education equals a career. I just skated through in high school without much effort, and I did what I needed to do. I was becoming a zombie walking the path my mother has set forth. She asked what college and career path I was looking for, and I thought COLLEGE, WTF. So I played the game, said I want to be a cameraman, was at an event one day, saw a shooter, and thought that job seemed relaxed and comfortable, but I didn’t know what it took to become one.
The day finally came, and my high school educational experimental journey has ended. The only college that would take was the local community college, and I needed to jump through some hoops to be accepted. I got lucky to be enrolled with the county college for communications. The production classes excited me, but the studies sucked. I gravitated to the radio side. I felt this was easy; all I need is two turntables and a microphone to make some money. There go my studies, and all my time was spent at the college radio station.
Through mutual friends, I met a dude (Turntable Tom) from Trenton state Radio, who had a show on Saturday nights. I couldn’t get into the alternative music scene and the musicians that created it, but that is where I cut my teeth in ’radio’ Every Saturday, I would do the news and started getting the production bug by recording show promos.
Anyway, working at TSR, I learned the radio inside hanging, interviewing, and what it takes to develop a show for the masses. Tom would let me pick a song a week (of course, it was something with a beat), this would land me my significant 30-minute dance segment on his show. We would have mixed reviews, but every week the listeners wanted to know if I was on.
I was learning my ear for the masses. I remember one week Tom changed the speed of a turntable (if which was my lead for the show), all of a sudden, I yelled, ‘What the Fuck,’ Tom started to laugh and said, ‘Let it go,’ so we decided to let it go; whatever the record’s speed was, we would use the opposite (45 rpm to 33 rpm). That show was the fastest because of the speed change, and we got oodles of phone calls in the positive and wanted to hear this again. College radio is what one can get away with, but one can hone their skills for the next level.
Between working at both college radio stations and not showing up to class, one would come up with, “Maybe college isn’t for me.” Mom suggested, “Why don’t you try broadcasting school.” I met the living legend of local radio, Bill/Singer. Bill was Trenton’s voice during the glory days of AM radio; he was a DJ, newscaster, and the voice of (Flemington) speedway on the weekends. Bill had blooming voice that any broadcaster would be envious of. I leaned my love for production and plan for a radio show, which helped me out when I started to produce shows. I also learned what it takes to become a good broadcaster from some of the legends of their time. Bill would shop around with some of his contacts in Philly and local radio stations to see what was open in the market.
I got a job starting as remote crew engineer, then rolled into a production assistant and then a morning show producer.
I graduated and worked at a radio station in production and had my own DJ company, and was even invited to teach at the school. So, I never really left the school because I was there about three nights a week teaching and helping Bill out. I didn’t realize this would become the foundation of my rock jock days and my pool of DJs I would use during these days. Life is good; I am working part-time in radio and hanging at the school for a carefree 20-year-old; things are about to accelerate in a direction I didn’t think I’m ready for. Let’s buck up. This is where I got my education and grew up fast.
The DJ Chronicles: Love, Life, and Beyond the Booth by JD Domino, 222 pages, $9.99 on Amazon, Hard Knocks Publishing.
