Turner’s Notebook
Don Turner Jr. is a young writer from San Diego, California, USA. In this interview he talks about his latest book projects, inspiration, on being creative, spirituality, and humanity.
When did you realize you wanted to become a writer?
As I briefly explained in my “Love Stories” book, at an early age I quickly identified with “Turner’s Notebook” as my name also. I always knew that within the word “Notebook” is the word “book” and that someday I would “write a book” let alone “several books”. I just did not know how or when this would manifest but I was holding on to an excuse as to why I was not writing yet. I was waiting for a woman to come into my life to whom I could open my heart up to and then afterwards, she would help me tell my remarkable story’s (personal experiences).
There is a story in itself leading up to “when did I realize I wanted to be a writer?” but what actually propelled me finally into action and actually writing was that I was watching a broadcast on television of The Emmy Awards (writing awards) one night and as it concluded I said to myself “that could be me receiving an actual award”. I was so inspired that after the Emmy Awards program concluded I picked up (interestingly) a “Notebook” and pen. I knew I was going to become “a writer” (an award winning writer, we’ll see as “time will tell”)! Being a guest at “The Emmy Awards” with my editor, etc. would be a nice start though. I honestly believe that will happen “one sweet day” (if it’s meant to be).
The Emmy Awards are what finally pushed all of my marvelous works into actions. “Love Stories” is worthy of a nomination. Please… I invite you to read it and you will see. This marvelous work has so much “spiritual potency” starting with the outside cover that soon carries over into “the spiritual love stories” inside.
How is your writing influenced by your life events and experiences?
All of my publications (books) are actually true stories (events and personal experiences) that occurred in my lifetime (Auto Biographies and Non-Fiction). I know my own story the best obviously but telling my stories in a way where people (the reader) could identify and take something from it was my challenge. Ultimately I am sharing some of my many significant lessons that I’ve personally passed through during my life. I hope readers will find each of my books remarkably interesting and that some form of valuable information resonates with them (directly or indirectly) so they can learn as well from my experience or understand better their own.
Your first book, Turner’s Notebook “Love Stories” (BooksMango, 2016) deals with your own inner feelings and doubts. How is it to finally see it published?
This first book is “my creative baby” (and all of my future books as well). For those of us that do not actually have children (yet) in this world, I feel our creative expression is manifested in “our work”. “Our work” becomes “our baby”. We give birth to an idea and put so much time and energy into what we are doing that not only is it (a project) but it is our individual “creative expression” (whether by ourselves or with a team).
For me personally, to manifest this “first creative baby” was the greatest creative accomplishment that I have ever participated in during my lifetime. It was like becoming “a father” as I repeatedly balled and cried out tears of joy out from within my heart. In some ways too it was like taking a piano off my back as the closure of the pregnancy finally occurred so to speak and “my creative baby was born” (it was a long labor of love as the first book was the most difficult for me).
Creatively, it doesn’t get any better! I was so happy balling and crying on and on… It was the happiest day of my life!!! Not too many people will know though how much energy and hours of work I put into it… How this first “creative baby” came to be manifested was a story in itself and ‘Another Marvelous Work and a Wonder 2’ literally as I gave my life to see it through…
Because this “creative baby was a labor of love”, I love and appreciate “my baby” so much more because off what I went through (let alone the stories) to finally one day “deliver it” to the readers. I still look at the books cover with a great appreciation as I reflect on my own journey to see it through to the destination. I am so proud of my first published book (with tears of joy I will always be so grateful)!
Love Stories
Soon after your first book, you published a second one in the same series, “Messengers” (BooksMango, 2016). Why the subtitle Another Marvelous Work and a Wonder 2?
Inside my “creative babies or books” I use this phrase often that I created. The subtitle is “my creative baby” also… and it’s what “Turner’s Notebook” is… ‘Turner’s Notebook is Another Marvelous Work and a Wonder 2’. They go together and are inseparable as both ‘Turner’s Notebook’ and ‘Another Marvelous Work and a Wonder 2’ are (infinite possibilities). I am…’Another Marvelous Work and a Wonder 2’ (Turner’s Notebook) either way you look at it.
You tackle many spiritual issues in this second book. Do you think you’ve found your voice and preferred topic?
After deep soul searching for my own answers within, it would be safe to call them “spiritual issues”. That is what soul searching is… searching way down deep inside. Because of this I feel that “my voice” will always have “roots” that go deep into spirituality. I have to follow “my own inner voice” first and it’s to “lead myself and others back to God” and to remind myself and others to “eat healthier”. Both of these are my preferred topics, though I love sports too!!!
Anyone readying your books realizes that you’re spiritually inclined. What future do you see for the world’s humanity?
“I see the future as bright” and I believe that “a higher power will prevail as a Divine plan manifests”… Right now there are many worldly (humanity) issues that are at the forefront today, but in the future I see “water” as our biggest concern for humanity. There will be “a time” when we will all need to come together as one “one humanity- The Oneness movement” to survive (this will not be an option).
Great beings will be “Called” to come to this earth and they will help to create a collective union of the masses of people to co-exist together peacefully (for humanity’s sake for God’s sake). “I see the future as bright”. Negative thinking is not going to help but rational peaceful positive thinking is critical. We have to believe in “humanity” and in our children who will lead the way as they get older with their hearts and intelligence (intelligence of the heart). Out with the old and in with the new age…
What are you working on right now?
My 3rd Book … Turner’s Notebook (In the Beginning) should be published soon (2016) as the final polishing touches are occurring now. I am very pleased with “my creative baby” and readers will find many of the chapters (if not all) remarkable too. Soon I will be working on ‘Another Marvelous Work and a Wonder 2’ (The Middle Ages). This is my final publication (book 4) of “the 4 book series”. Quadruplets finally… Every chapter of every book ultimately leads up to “the final highly anticipated chapter” that many people have been waiting for (in Book 4).
I’ve been pregnant with abundance for a while so I am eager to “deliver this creative baby” into the world including that final highly anticipated chapter “The Burning Mother Teresa” (then, if I’m not painting or an actual father… I hope to travel the world as much as possible doing book shows while accepting invitations, giving speeches, etc. before I unveil… ‘Another Marvelous Work and a Wonder 2’. It’s a surprise and a major undertaking!!!
Thank you so much, I am blessed you be included in your section of question and answers with authors… Don Jr. (Turner’s Notebook)