Author Bio
Josiah J. Starr established Spirit of 1811 Publishing in 2019 in order to promote an agenda of empowerment within the Black Community through black-owned and controlled media. He is a staunch proponent of black ownership and economic empowerment. Born to a military family in Erlangon Germany, Josiah was well-traveled as a young child before ultimately settling down in the small town of Homer, Louisiana.
Upon graduating High School, Josiah earned an athletic scholarship and attended Southern University in Shreveport for two years. After moving to Baton Rouge he earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Southern A&M University. After college, Josiah served in the United States Coast Guard as a Commissioned Officer. In the Coast Guard stationed aboard several USCG cutters and served in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Iraqi during Operation Enduring Freedom.
After his military service, Josiah decided to continue to follow his passion for traveling the world’s oceans and earned his Merchant Mariner’s license. He currently operates vessels in the Bering Sea, Gulf of Alaska, Pacific Ocean, Caribbean, and the Gulf of Mexico. Josiah is the husband to the lovely Brittani Starr and the father of his young son Azariah J. Starr. Josiah is the son of John Henry and Naomi Starr and the brother of Johnnie, Marcus, Jeremiah, and Jedidiah Starr.
How long have you been writing?
I have been writing for about three years now. Since I was a child, I have always wanted to write a book. A few years back I toyed with the idea, but fairly recently I made the decision to put all my chips in and just do it.
What motivated you to start riding?
When I look around the media spectrum, I didn’t see enough voices that spoke to the truth of Black Americans in an unapologetic and uncompromising way. There are plenty of black authors and content creators with absolutely fantastic material…but I personally wanted to deliver black narratives from a different standpoint. I have started my own company, Spirit of 1811 Publishing, to give a black voice to empowering issues within the black community. My goal is to build dominant narratives that will better inform Black Intelligent Thought. We must have black conversations, outside of the harmful filter of white media corporations.
What is your preferred genre?
I love mysteries and thrillers. Ever since I was a young child, my thirst to find the truth has always guided me. You can say that I’m more than a bit curious about the world surrounding me and that my desire to learn drives me.
How many books do you have published?
Only one so far, but standby. There will certainly be more to come. I promise you that…I’m coming. No stopping me now.
What are you currently working on?
I’m working on a new novel, to be titled “Nothing Will Come Between Us”. It will be a thriller, mystery, Sci-fi mix wrapped around struggles to maintain fidelity and trust in marriage.
Where can readers find your books?
My novels can be found on Amazon, Google Play, Barnes & Nobles, Apple, local bookstores, libraries, etc… My distribution for my Ebooks, Paperbacks, and Audiobooks are very wide.
Which authors inspire you to write?
Neely Fuller Jr. and Dr. Claude Anderson
What are your future works in progress?
As mentioned before, I’m working on my new novel “Nothing Will Come Between Us.” I hope to have it published in the summer of 2021. After that, I will start putting together a sequel for my Achim Jeffers series since I have gotten tons of rave reviews about my first novel.
What inspired you to become an author?
New Black Media inspired me to pick up my pen and create our own narratives that speak towards black issues that are systemically denied/ignored. If we want better media, we must create it ourselves and not wait for the dominant society to speak for us.
Who has the greatest influence on your writing style?
Honestly, I often read the bible. The way the bible is worded and put together is beautiful.
Tell us about your writing style?
It is simple and straight forward. My goal is to effectively communicate complex ideas and emotions in a concise manner.
What is your greatest challenge as an author?
Time. Time is always a challenge since I have a demanding day job as a merchant marine. Being the operator of my own small business, I have a host of other responsibilities to worry about besides just the creative stuff. Marketing and advertising, budget management, and the mundane aspects of publishing are also demanding of my time and attention. It’s a lot for sure, but I have a passion for this, and the entire challenge itself, drives me.
Tell us something that people may not know about you that they might find interesting.
Well, I love to cook. Cooking a meal or baking a cake always relaxes me. The act of creating something out of nothing, even a mere home-cooked meal, satisfies me.
Is there anything you would like for readers to know?
Yes, please visit my website at www.spiritof1811publishing.com and sign up for my newsletter. Join the Spirit of the 1811 family as we build our own media. Books are going to be the start. We intend to move on to other forms of media including films. All black-owned. All speaking our truth and following our motto….” Our Story. Our Family”. Thank you and God Bless.
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