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| Not What I Wanted But What I Needed: A Conversation with Marquette Carney by: Herndon L. Davis |
“Experience is a good teacher. It takes someone like me to know.” Those words flowed beautifully from the lips of singer
Miki Howard in her 1997 hit “Love Under New Management.” What’s unique about the lyric is that it holds true not just
for the world of romance but also in every area of a person’s life. Hence, the statement is true, experience is indeed a good
teacher.
Meet Marquette Carney, a corporate level healthcare professional who also happens to be poet, songwriter, and novelist.
His sophomore book, “Not What I Wanted But What I Needed,” is an inspirational piece, written in the format of a journal
and drawn from collective experiences and events to bring readers into the vibrant light of joy.
Miki Howard in her 1997 hit “Love Under New Management.” What’s unique about the lyric is that it holds true not just
for the world of romance but also in every area of a person’s life. Hence, the statement is true, experience is indeed a good
teacher.
Meet Marquette Carney, a corporate level healthcare professional who also happens to be poet, songwriter, and novelist.
His sophomore book, “Not What I Wanted But What I Needed,” is an inspirational piece, written in the format of a journal
and drawn from collective experiences and events to bring readers into the vibrant light of joy.
| Who is Marquette Carney? |
He was born and raised in West Tennessee to a religious household and the son of a church pastor. Marquette admits that
through his life he has found spiritual affirmation paradise, not just by attending a church service, but also through soul stirring
gospel music.
“I have found my refuge in praise and worship music. Judith Christie-McCallister and Prophetess Juanita Bynum have been
very instrumental in my keeping it together, if you will. I meditate on the music. I get my strength from the words and apply
them to my life. Sis. McCallister has a song where she says ‘Worship is a lifestyle.’ It's not just something that you do on
Sunday morning to wake up the congregation.”
Marquette found his passion for writing at an early age and later felt compelled to share his passion with the release of his
first book, titled “Swallow The Moon.” He explains that “It is loosely referred to as my life in rhyme. It's about experiences
with family, friends, ‘pieces’ (or ‘trade’). It's something that every gay man and straight woman can relate to. I wrote it as
my own personal therapy. After some time, I realized that it was quite comical and I wanted to share.”
So now with the release of a biblically based inspirational journal, this most definitely is a far cry from his freshman literary
foray. But Marquette explains that it was truly a powerful force of divinity which led him to write and release “Not What I
Wanted But What I Needed” as his follow-up sophomore answer.
“Book 2 was intended to be book 3, but He [God] was giving me book 3 so quickly that I had to release it second. I
couldn't keep up with all of the things that He wanted me to say. It's geared to mainstream audiences. God is not in a box so
I couldn't try to tailor my book to ‘the family’ [gays]. God is needed in gay life, straight life, the world over,” he explains.
The book is written as a journal and contains daily inspirations and devotions. Those seeking read, hear and experience a
clear, concise, and affirming word from the Creator/God.
through his life he has found spiritual affirmation paradise, not just by attending a church service, but also through soul stirring
gospel music.
“I have found my refuge in praise and worship music. Judith Christie-McCallister and Prophetess Juanita Bynum have been
very instrumental in my keeping it together, if you will. I meditate on the music. I get my strength from the words and apply
them to my life. Sis. McCallister has a song where she says ‘Worship is a lifestyle.’ It's not just something that you do on
Sunday morning to wake up the congregation.”
Marquette found his passion for writing at an early age and later felt compelled to share his passion with the release of his
first book, titled “Swallow The Moon.” He explains that “It is loosely referred to as my life in rhyme. It's about experiences
with family, friends, ‘pieces’ (or ‘trade’). It's something that every gay man and straight woman can relate to. I wrote it as
my own personal therapy. After some time, I realized that it was quite comical and I wanted to share.”
So now with the release of a biblically based inspirational journal, this most definitely is a far cry from his freshman literary
foray. But Marquette explains that it was truly a powerful force of divinity which led him to write and release “Not What I
Wanted But What I Needed” as his follow-up sophomore answer.
“Book 2 was intended to be book 3, but He [God] was giving me book 3 so quickly that I had to release it second. I
couldn't keep up with all of the things that He wanted me to say. It's geared to mainstream audiences. God is not in a box so
I couldn't try to tailor my book to ‘the family’ [gays]. God is needed in gay life, straight life, the world over,” he explains.
The book is written as a journal and contains daily inspirations and devotions. Those seeking read, hear and experience a
clear, concise, and affirming word from the Creator/God.
| Giving Back To The Literary World |
In addition to his ministry of inspiration, Marquette Carney has also found great joy in opening doors for others seeking to
find their own niche and pathway inside the often nebulous and perilous world of the publishing industry. In fact he is the
founder/CEO of Soul Write Publishing, www.soulwritepublishing.com, his very own publishing house focusing on the needs
of independent writers.
“As a writer myself, I found it difficult to get into the business of being an author. The major publishers generally do not
accept unsolicited manuscripts and want to sign known authors. Where does that leave the hundreds of thousands of us
that are not known? There are a lot of subsidy publishing companies out there if you wish to choose that route. The
average writer does not have that type of money to pay someone to publish their life’s work. And they should not have to.”
Hence, the door opened up for Marquette to walk through in order to become the bridge that closes the gap, the life that
fills a dark void, and the mentoring force which carefully guides freshmen writers through the knotty ropes which he had to
learn for himself. So, by paving the road for his select clients, he’s also helping to pave the road for many others who will
be positively impacted through his actions.
find their own niche and pathway inside the often nebulous and perilous world of the publishing industry. In fact he is the
founder/CEO of Soul Write Publishing, www.soulwritepublishing.com, his very own publishing house focusing on the needs
of independent writers.
“As a writer myself, I found it difficult to get into the business of being an author. The major publishers generally do not
accept unsolicited manuscripts and want to sign known authors. Where does that leave the hundreds of thousands of us
that are not known? There are a lot of subsidy publishing companies out there if you wish to choose that route. The
average writer does not have that type of money to pay someone to publish their life’s work. And they should not have to.”
Hence, the door opened up for Marquette to walk through in order to become the bridge that closes the gap, the life that
fills a dark void, and the mentoring force which carefully guides freshmen writers through the knotty ropes which he had to
learn for himself. So, by paving the road for his select clients, he’s also helping to pave the road for many others who will
be positively impacted through his actions.
| Advice to Those Needing To Be Uplifted |
As we continue to endure high gas prices, a televised war, neighborhood crime, and the relentless media which reports it, it
could potentially lead many down a spiral of depression and apathy.
But flip through Marquette’s inspirational journal, and you’ll only find peace, comfort, and a never-ending joy realizing that
what we see and experience isn’t all there is. There is an invisible force of divinity which leads us and guides us into a realm
of tranquility despite what the television news might represent.
Marquette’s advice to anyone seeking to be uplifted, inspired and motivated out of the muck and mire of what they see on
the evening news is to “Pray. I have realized that a lot of people don't know how to pray. In prayers that I hear at church,
they are too general. Prayer is the time for you to be specific with the Lord. Make yourself available to people. Everyone
needs someone sometimes. A hug, a smile, a pat on the back to say everything will be okay. The little things are
mammoth.”
could potentially lead many down a spiral of depression and apathy.
But flip through Marquette’s inspirational journal, and you’ll only find peace, comfort, and a never-ending joy realizing that
what we see and experience isn’t all there is. There is an invisible force of divinity which leads us and guides us into a realm
of tranquility despite what the television news might represent.
Marquette’s advice to anyone seeking to be uplifted, inspired and motivated out of the muck and mire of what they see on
the evening news is to “Pray. I have realized that a lot of people don't know how to pray. In prayers that I hear at church,
they are too general. Prayer is the time for you to be specific with the Lord. Make yourself available to people. Everyone
needs someone sometimes. A hug, a smile, a pat on the back to say everything will be okay. The little things are
mammoth.”
Copyrighted 2006
Herndon Davis is an author, lecturer, and TV/Radio Host of The Herndon Davis Reports. He can be reached directly at
http://herndondavis.com
Herndon Davis is an author, lecturer, and TV/Radio Host of The Herndon Davis Reports. He can be reached directly at
http://herndondavis.com
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