With its explosive and disturbing first chapter, Merging With Monsters captures your attention with a brutal scene that lays the foundation of Anita Powers, one of the main charters of the story. As she endures an attack, the reader is swept into her life and the framework of a captivating story is laid. Joseph Green, the author, has written a revealing story that deals with issues of race in the workplace, and general attitudes toward race and sex. Each of the characters has some personal demon that they are grappling with, and these experiences mold how they interact with each other. The emotions and feeling of the characters leap off the page into your subconscious as you slowly begin to learn more about them.
From the ambitious African American executives Grayson Malone and Anita Powers, who find themselves pitted against each other, to the lovable character of Phoebe Jackson, a young woman whose life is tragically altered and is left dealing with bouts of depression and suicidal thoughts. All the central players in this drama add to the compelling and relentless story, helping make Merging with Monsters a very engaging novel. The story of work achievement married with personal and inter-office conflicts is the backbone of Merging with Monsters, solidifying the book as a must read.
Joseph E. Green, the self-published author of Merging, recently took the time to answer a few questions for me regarding the book and his life. Read on for the full interview below.
Cue: Thanks for taking the time to answer a few questions for me. First off, why don’t you tell me a bit about yourself? How did you start writing?
Green: I was born in El Paso, Texas, and grew up in Colorado Springs, Colorado. My dad served in the Army for 20 years; and as the oldest of three brothers, I was accustomed to assuming a leadership role within the family. Now that my father has passed away from bone cancer, I work even harder at appreciating the gift of each new day; and creating and maintaining productive and beneficial relationships.
My love of writing was born out of a childhood habit of escaping into the fantasy worlds offered by books. I always enjoyed reading and recognized very early in my life the power of the written word. As a freshman at Stanford University, I became pretty much obsessed with writing and getting my first novel, Pseudo Cool, published. And this proved a very exciting and rewarding endeavor since the book was sold by Stanford University's bookstore and I had the pleasure of witnessing strangers actually spend money on something that I wrote.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - audrey thomas
This one is a keeper. John Grisham has nothing on you. Lol.
2 - Pastor Angie
In response to your question about who should play the leading role in your new book/movie, Merging with Monsters, I would have to say Angela Basset or Alphee Woodard. Those are two of my personal favorites and have dislayed an ability to portray an array of roles and make any writer proud.
3 - Jim Forston
It is nice to see someone put out with honesty and grit, what really happens to some people in this world. And the everyday struggle to overcome adversity in any form.
4 - M.Yvette
THE QUESTION WAS HAVE I EVER SUFFERED FROM A BROKEN HEART. YES! I THINK MOST FEMALES HAVE. IT'S NOT THAT I DON'T FEEL MEN DO AS WELL, I JUST FEEL THAT WOMEN CONTINUOSLY PUT THEMSELVES OUT THERE (NOT LEARNING FROM MISTAKES AND REPEATING THE SAME PATH OF MAKING DECISIONS TOTALLY WITH THIER HEARTS RATHER THAN THIER BRAIN). THERE'S A DIFFERENCE IN A SMALL INJURY TO THE HEART AND MULTIPLE INJURIES TO THE HEART. ONCE AGAIN... YES I'VE SUFFERED WITH A BROKEN HEART AND THIS TIME I'M PLANNING TO HEAL PROPERLY BEFORE JUMPING BACK INTO THE DANGEROUS GAME... I NEED TO HEAL, THINK, AND CHANGE MY STRATEGY.
5 - Traci
You gave an example of how people of color/background tend to gather with their like. Why do you think that happens? At the end of the day, was it really a color thing? Were all conversations going on in each group color based? Did they look around and say 'you cannot talk among us; your tongue is pink like ours but your skin is not'? I like to include myself in groups of conversations of educated conversations. When a person opens their mouth, you can tell whether or not the conversation will become 'trash' or 'ghetto'.
The Receptionist. Impressions are forever and unfortunately receptionist are paying the price for it.... You have special visitors due in next week. You have met with everyone in the company to make sure all is well. The last stop, the first person they will meet when they enter the building once the limo drops them off, the receptionist. You stop, look, say to yourself, "oh no she is overweight". So what! Does she come to work? Does she represent the company properly? When she opens her mouth, is she understood? Is she pleasant to the eye? Thats what needs to be asked. The bad news is companies want a size 4, 38dd, blonde bombshell, with or without educated verbiage. This happens every day and this is where image comes into play. I run a business and would not want certain people (regardless of color/size) to help me. The nature of my business is touchy as it is, and to conduct myself or have someone represent me on a negative level would not go over well with me. The questions I stated above are what I look for.
Let me ask you something. Don't you feel that times have changed? Is race at all the way it used to be? Granted I am from the DC area so it is hard for me to say what it is like to live in an all white or all black area. I cannot deny that race issue still exist because they do but I honestly do not feel that are on the same scale they were 20 or even 10 years ago.
6 - Monee'
Have I ever suffered from a broken heart? Yes and quite a few times may I add. I agree with M Yvette's comment. I know men do suffer broken hearts but I don't think it's on the same scale that women suffer. Especially when there are children involved, men are usually the ones who walk out on the woman and the child. Also, women are known to nurturers and compassionate so that kind of leads us into getting involved in the same negative relationships over and over again. Although I've been hurt numerous times, I have learned not give up on men because I do believe there are some good men left out there. The trouble is, they are very VERY hard to find.
7 - Steph
I believe everyone suffers from a broken heart many times throughout their life. I have and its the hardest thing to heal from especially if ur still in love with that person. I had 3 relationships throughout my life and only fell in love with someone once who turned out broke my heart. Women love to communicate because we see it as a nessecity in making a relationship work and progress because not only are we gettin things on the table but we are gettin feed back from that perosn we love. If two people are in a relationship and both arent on the same page of the book its bound to fall apart. But men dont see it as a nessecity but a annoyance. They dont understand how important it is to communicate as well talk on the phone until they actually fall in love with someone and their partner doesnt want to communicate n talk on the phone. The problem with love is that its a game. One has to be well equiped to play and well prepared to fail as well conquer. When u worry too much about gettin ur partner to love u or fall for u, u miss out on the fun of the relationship and life. It has to happen u cant make it happen. Thats y its a game.
8 - ms nika
hey im from louisiana and i still get the treatment eventhough im in texas i got hired to work at wal mart and guess what in the bakery it six u count em 1,2,3,4,5,6, mexicans to two black females now aint that sumthin some of them dont even like to communicate with us they give us strange looks like were poison and what pisses me off they all get into a huddle a talk spanish but just 10 minutes ago u were talkin perfect and i mean perfect english now tell me who's crazy
9 - Jai
Should black women date white men.
I think a black woman should date whom ever she wish to date. As long as she does not have a problemn with his race why should it be a question of concern who she dates?
10 - MsKeara
Is there any significance to asking if Black women should date White men rather than should Black people date White people, period? I ask because I still get "the look" from many black men that see me with my white boyfriend. Even if they are with a white woman! Somethings wrong with that picture. But to answer the question. As a black woman, I date whomever I want to date, black or white.
11 - Katt Rodgers
I believe Black Women or any woman for that matter, should date any race, creed or color that treats them like the guardians of life and nurturers of spirits that they are. No matter what color you are if you treat me wrong and disrespectfully.... I DON'T WANT YOU!!!!!
12 - Jonathan
Should black men date white women?
Only if the white women beg LOL!
(I am a gay white man)
13 - Merri
Excellent, excellent book and great presentation of it too. A spiritual (not overtly religious)vision infuses this book and endears the reader to Green's characters and plot as they unfold. The ending is fantastic!!! If the world had just a bit more of Green's generosity of vision, the world would be a much better place for us all.
14 - Renee Cryer
No it shouldn't be enough to end a marriage because if they truly loved each other then they can work things out. She needs to find out what he is getting from the other woman that she is not offering him. That way they can both work on the problem not just the blame game. Also, with the interracial relationships... in my personal opinion it don't matter if someone is black, white, or purple if you love one another it is what is inside that counts. I guess one can say I am color blind when it comes to people, I think that you need to find out who they are are and what bangagge they carry before getting into a full time relationship with the person.
Renee
15 - LaTanya blair
RE: Why do so many Black Celeberties Marry White Women??!
Black or African American celeberties marry white women because of financial, ratio, and mental reasons. There are 10 White women to about 1 or 2 Black African American women in the same economic bracket as a Black Celeberty. The white woman has an advantange because she is somewhere in his celeberty environment, on his job, at his bank, at the restuarant where he eats, where he shops, golf course, spa, etc. But the sista is oppressed mentally because she is either going to feel I am not good enough or have the "I need to get on this" attitude which will turn the brother off. However, the Black woman also has somewhere to go: to the bathroom, to get ready for work, to the kitchen to cook a meal, to work to pay her rent, and to church to praise her Lord. And if that sister is on the financial level of the celeberty she forgets how to bond or hold a relationship with the brotha and truly she may not even want to be bothered. The sista have struggled and she has been told that she is a bitch because she has a mind, a hore because of past relationships and mentally she is tired and her mentality is ignorant to the Black celeberty and the white woman is chosen because she is used to the money the status and ready for the transition for her live. But love should have no color bounderies: whether the Black celeberty marries a white woman or not it should be strictly out of LOVE and what makes him or her happy.
16 - Thagurl4rmBigD
Can't wait to read this book
17 - T. Floyd
Re: Discriminated against at work? Sure; wrote a poem about it. Wanna hear it? Here it goes:
It’s Alive
Every time I come to work here, I witness your blatant disrespect.
Forget policy and EEO provisions; I know who they’re really meant to protect.
It’s a law that you have to hire me without regard to sex or race,
But that same law protects the employer, if I wait too long to file a case.
You have forty-five days from the date of the alleged incident,
To speak to a counselor, file an EEO complaint, and actually sign the affidavit.
Doesn’t that seem like a pretty weak statute of limitations,
When we’re talking about people’s career situations?
You think I haven’t noticed how some of us work for all our dollars,
While that chick makes the same money for printing documents in pretty colors?
You delegate tasks supposedly based on directives you are given,
Where I get to do all the grunt work, and that broad gets top billing?
Please; you must give me all my credit where credit is due.
Otherwise, what good is it to me to make things easier for you?
Personal satisfaction is supposed to be my reward for a job well done?
Maybe in some arenas, but around here, I need compensation from someone.
I will not play the game, bide my time, or let it go.
Slavery was abolished a long time ago.
Well, one kind was, anyway.
I say it still exists to this day.
It looks a lot different; in theory, I can do what I choose.
Yet people are still giving Affirmative Action the blues.
The thing that bothers me is the pretending some people do.
When I call you what you are, you turn red because that’s taboo.
I do realize that it’s not all people who are so wicked and primitive.
But there are always some in power whose intent is discriminative.
Then there are some who ask no questions, and do as they are told.
It takes all kinds to make a world; even those whose honor can be sold.
Into battle I go daily within this bureaucratic lion’s den,
Armed with my brain, education, communication skills, and a pen.
My struggle pales in comparison to those who have gone on before,
But like their accomplishments, it is my hope that I can open a door.
Though it angers me to know that I am judged by my exterior,
I am strengthened from within to know that in many ways I am superior.
It’s not about being haughty; it’s about having confidence, which I should.
That’s the key to unlock the greatness within, and begin using your powers for good.
18 - L. Cue
Well said T Floyd, thank you!
19 - Miss Lady
Personally, I am only a yr into the workplace outside of school. My first job was mainly a female environment (black women) so there wasn't much controvery. I did have problems with the older women because I was young and making the same amount if not more than them. But that was the on ly issue with that job.
The job I have now, I don't work with my co-wokers. I am an investigator so I mainly work alone on various cases. Now I have dealt with some people in corporate america who have been total jerks and this is from black and white people but then I have also run into plenty more people who are nice and willing to help advance my career.
I am def aware of the glass ceiling phenomenon in the workplace for women as a monirity and also for black women which is a double minority, but I have not really had a problem with it. I majored in Communication so I am very conscious of non verbal aspects and verbal. I know that some of my friends have had problems, but truth is black women are on the rise to success. Statistics even prove that more are going to college and making more money than that of our counterparts.
20 - john d. krull
The idea of including african american characters in MWM - DUH!!!
The idea of including gay characters in MWM - DUH!!
The idea of having a character who's (at least NOW) in a wheelchair, though was 'able-bodied' to start,
NOW THAT'S COOL!!!!!!!
I'm the one who's in a wheelchair, and a volunteer for a GLBT resource center in Madison, Wi.
So including a character who may not have 'started out in life' in a chair, but is NOW in a chair, AND is an employee in a rather successful company, this all actually gives me FAITH, that there may be a company out there that could look past the wheels, and AT the brain "using" the wheels.
This is a winner, Joseph! Keep up the GREAT qork, and CAN'T WAIT for your NEXT literary creation!
21 - LaTanya Blair
RE: What do you think? Is it harder for you to find GOOD love in these morden times?? And is it a good idea to look for love in the workplace?
Yes, it is very much harder in these mordern times to find good love. I would not look for love in the workplace but there are chances that it can happen. Most men down here where I live mostly want relations and not the relationship that leads to marriage. I am 34 and I am not looking for relations but a marriage. The men here that are attracted to me seem to have a hussling mentality and I want a man with a good paying job and a good education. But I look at my parent's generation and they believe in LOVE and MARRIAGE. Most of them have been together for over 30 years or more.
22 - Shelia
What do you think? Is it harder for to find GOOD love in these modern times??
It can be difficult to find someone you can trust. I do think the possibilities of finding love is the same as before...in fact probably better because we have more choices. We don't have to settle for just anyone - for the sake of having someone.
And is it a good idea to look for love in the workplace? I don't think a person should ever go looking for love whether its in the workplace, at the store, etc. If it's meant to be, it will happen. I can see love happening in the workplace because that's where folks spend at least 8 hours a day. Personally, I wouldn't date someone I worked with because there are too many "what ifs."
23 - miss
Regarding dating in the workplace. From my previous observations, many romances are sparked in the workplace. It would seem to be the perfect place, after all, you have a job, they have a job, you know when they get paid. No seriously, therEs a lot more going on in the office other than business, and many people use the workplace lunch break for more than eating.. However, my observations have also been that lots of people have affairs. Ongoing work affairs while they are married to someone else that goes on for years, and years. Business trips, and also rideshare programs is another avenue that people use to keep their romance ongoing. The only problem with work place romance, is that as we all know, people are very complex creatures, and the person you meet at work, may be a very different person outside of the job. Also when it comes to work, it is always best to keep healthy boundaries. The man you date may be the hottest brother at the office, but when the romance fizzles, you may find yourself with all your business in the street, and your feelings even more hurt when its all over. When you start to mess with people in the arena of their money, and emotions, it can get very ugly, and you might not only get your feelings hurt, but you may also be hurting your next career move with an offcie romance,,,Just be careful...
24 - jennifer
the reason is not just one thing due to different people personal situations. my first marriage ended due to my ex was a alcholic and a bisexual. that caused problems by its self besides he was very abusive.
25 - jennifer
no really, if you are not looking for it. true love happens. i find my true love after a 15 years of a friendship with a mommoy's boy who could not grow up. my husband now is older than myself but, is more patience,experience with childreN(has five grown and eight grandchildren besides two exs(who like me which is strange in inself))my sons totally love him so does my four grandchildren. so when you do not look for it true love comes to you -- lot of prayer does help neither.