Today we’d like to introduce you to Sabin Prentis Duncan.
Hi Sabin Prentis, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Fielding Books is the current manifestation of my entrepreneurial experience. Initially, I ran an educational consulting business that provided workshops for beginning teachers. At some point, I had the idea to compile the blog posts I had written into a small book. Back then, consulting was primary, and writing was secondary.
But soon those priorities swapped positions.
Eventually, I grew into writing fiction, and in response to artists who have historically shared how record companies shortchanged them or failed to pay royalties, I chose to launch Fielding Books as a vehicle to release my own art. In addition to the ten titles I have authored or co-authored, I also help writers become published authors under their own companies. In many ways, my company has come to reflect some of the best parts of who I am.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The professional and entrepreneurial journey has been far from smooth.
But always a valuable character-developing process.
The most significant struggle has been letting go of how I think things should be and allowing situations to unfold. That requires faith, and each time the unfolding has been more beautiful than my early expectations.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
As a novelist or an artist who creates with words, I craft stories that depict overlooked facets of African American life. Particularly those of Black men who genuinely love Black women, their families, and serve communities.
Popular media seldom features these men. And when they do, it leans toward shallow, marginalizing depictions.
The legendary Toni Morrison challenged us when she said, “If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.” I demonstrate my response to her challenge through my art that features these parts of our culture.
Although I am a creative, I have been a professional educator for nearly thirty years. From teaching kindergarten to being a college professor, from being an elementary school principal to being a higher education administrator, the life purpose of developing others through education has been a gift I have consistently exercised.
I also exercise that gift in developing writers toward publication. Without a doubt, the majority of the skills I use in serving clients were honed in classrooms, schools, and universities throughout my career.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
Detroit is my hometown.
My desire to work at Historically Black Colleges and Universities facilitated my relocation. But at no point did my love for home diminish.
There is an adage that some cannot see the forest for the trees. Relocating has allowed me to see Detroit and its very real renaissance from the outside. And baby, it’s beautiful.
Yet, the persistent poverty is what I like least about my hometown. My outside view does not allow me to ignore the discrepancy between the redevelopment of Midtown and Downtown and the underwhelming education provided for too many citizens.
Is Detroit coming back? Yes, it is.
Are all Detroiters benefiting from this comeback? No, they are not.
There is still work to do.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://fieldingbooks.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sabinprentis/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SabinPrentis/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sabinduncanphd/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Sabin+Prentis
- Other: https://share.google/tm5rXR62TZBJyJyp9
