Travis Hunter & Nea Simone: Philanthropic Authors
Words by Mashaun
D. Simon
Photo by Creighton Bryan
Our anniversary issue
spotlights two authors who entertain us with their words and inspire us with
their actions. Contributing writer Mashaun Simon
interviews Nea Anna Simone and Travis Hunter, authors
in action.
Travis Hunter, 36, has never
truly wanted for
He has never been in jail and
has never gone hungry
But the author/single father
has a soft spot in his heart for young people who have had a hard youth.
“I gravitate to the
underdogs,” he said. “This is just how God made me.” Hunter is a best selling author of five
“Being that we live in
a very negative society, I wanted to do something to give back,” he said.
Founded in 1999, Hunter said
he wanted to show young people that there are other ways to be successful
outside of entertainment and sports.
“We are not here to
baby sit the young people, but to change their mentalities,” he said.
Hunter plans to grow the foundation states; at least one in every 50 states.
Hunter is not the only author
with a philanthropic side.
Nea Anna Simone, 49, has committed herself to helping
victims of domestic abuse overcome and live healthier lives.
She has also tied those
themes into her work.
The author of Reaching Back
and Reborn, Simone is a survivor of domestic abuse herself.
Her writing career began not
too long after she made the choice to take her three, young
children and leave her husband. That was 10 years ago.
“Abuse is prevalent in
the African American community,” Simone said. “I offer another way
of looking at the issue.”
Simone said the problem today
is that we grow up to believe that violence is a part of love.
“We are attached to the
idea of attachment,” she said. “The ability to change our lives is
no more than a thought.”
When she is not writing, Nea is spending her time
volunteering with places like the Women’s Resource Center.
Although they both started
writing as a means to express themselves, for Hunter it was to fill a void in
literature.
“I read a lot but did
not see myself represented in the novels I was reading,” he said.
“I decided to tell my own stories and show positive Black male
images.”
Simone always yearned to
write, but never took the time to take the desire serious. That was until a
friend of hers relayed a personal message.
“My good friend and
prayer partner, Dana Nelson, called me saying that while she had
She knew that it had to be
God, and so she sat down and wrote 30-plus pages that would be used,
untouched/unedited, in Reaching Back.
This summer both of her
novels will be reprinted, she said adding that this will be the 14th time
Reaching Back will be reprinted. She has a third novel slated for release in
the fall. In addition to Hunter’s five (The Hearts of Men, Married But
Still Looking, Trouble Man, A One Woman Man, and Something to Die For), he has
two more novels being released this year.
“One is a young adult
novel that touches upon the theme of choices,” he
said. “The other will be another adult novel where
the main character is haunted by some choices he made in his past and the
allowance of his
Simone believes she is a true
testament.
“It is never too late
to do what needs to be done,” she said. “People sometimes find
themselves in situations they did not bargain for, but God gives us the power
to make decisions and will stay true to His word.”
Hunter plans to stay humble.
“I do not need a big
ole house and an expensive car,” he said. “I can have a fairly
comfortable house and nice car and put 10 young people through school. That is
what is most important.”