The Trifling Times Of Nathan Jones
Moses Miller
Mind Candy, LLC
ISBN: 097869290X
Reviewed By Daria Miles
Official Apex Reviews Rating: 
The world of urban fiction has just seen the arrival of its latest greatest...
The Trifling Times Of Nathan Jones
is all at once arresting, compelling, and incredibly entertaining. At
break-neck speed, Miller recounts the exploits of Nathan "Nan" Jones,
orphaned at the age of thirteen by a drug-addled petty thief, as he
wends his way through the chaotic sea of the New York drug game. Also
orphaned by the same drug fiend, his friend Joseph forms an early bond
with Nan that anchors them both through all the trials and tribulations
soon to befall them.
On the night of their parents' tragic
murders, both boys are befriended by Mark Carson, a dedicated NYPD
officer who soon takes them under his protective wing. As the months
and years go by, Carson gains the boys' trust by teaching them valuable
life lessons that prove useful in their daily dealings, even having
them trained by his friend & martial arts mentor, Thaddeus. Little
do they know, he will ultimately bear full responsibility for the
greatest challenge either will ever face...
Beneath his noble
façade, Carson harbors many dark secrets, the worst of which is a
gambling addiction that soon threatens his own life. Caught in the
middle of a botched drug deal orchestrated by Carson to satisfy his
debts, Nan soon finds himself inexorably trapped in the dark criminal
underworld, with none other than corrupt cops as his greatest
benefactors. Relying on the lessons taught to him by both Carson and
Thaddeus, Nan finds his wits constantly put to the test as he weaves in
and out of danger in search of only one thing: retribution.
Moses Miller is a superb storyteller with a great literary voice and even greater imagination. The Trifling Times Of Nathan Jones
is superbly crafted, and filled with such indelible characters that you
find yourself going back and reading full passages over and over again
just for the sheer enjoyment of it. Alternating between expository
flashbacks and real-time action, Miller's narrative impresses most with
its effortless ability to hold the reader completely rapt at attention,
silently begging to see what happens next. All this, of course, leading
to an ending that gives new meaning to the concept of a true
cliffhanger...
The Trifling Times Of Nathan Jones is a highly recommended read from a true literary master. Be on the lookout for more instant classics from this gifted scribe.
Official Apex Reviews Interview: Moses Miller (The Trifling Times Of Nathan Jones)
Apex Reviews: Moses, thanks for joining us for this interview. We greatly appreciate having this opportunity to learn more about your books.
Our reviewer commented on how the power of your imagination shines through in your storytelling. How long have you written?
Moses Miller: I've been writing for as long as I can remember. The first story I can recall doing in a chapter book format was back when I was like seven years old though. A teacher read it and was very impressed by my ability to articulate my thoughts in written form.
AR: Who are some of your chief writing influences?
MM: I can't say anybody has ever influenced me. When I was growing up I read thousands of books from Alex Haley, Richard Wright, Ralph Ellison and Donald Goines. But, I've also read Mary Higgins Clark, Valerie Wilson Wesley, Michael Crichton, Nelson Demille and several other authors. And that's not even including my non-fiction reading. I've always loved to learn new things, so books were always by my side growing up.
AR: What's the story behind the title of The Trifling Times Of Nathan Jones?
MM: Good question. I've had people read that book and say, "I loved Nan. He wasn't trifling. Why'd you call Nan trifling? " Then I have to correct them and say, I never said that he was trifling, but his life and times that he experienced most definitely were. So if I titled the book, Nan: The Life and Times of Nathan Jones, I don't think I would have completely captured the essence of this compelling story. Nan went through some things during his life.
AR: Among other things, Nan is most certainly a survivor. Where does he get his incredible internal strength from?
MM: That's just something that inherently exists within him. What's important to realize is that the event doesn't define you, it's your resiliency or lack there of that truly defines your character. Nan was a survivor, but unfortunately he had demons that haunted him daily, which he never dealt with.
AR: Are elements of the NYPD really involved in the drug game, as you depict in the book?
MM: Visit TriflingtTimes.Org for the answer to that question. I'd like to think that there are more good cops than bad cops out there. But, I know that they're human so there are going to be bad apples amongst the bunch. There are going to be thieves and killers amongst them. People that live in any inner city have their own Nan stories.
AR: We noticed that you're a native New Yorker, and your books include many references to notable New York sites & structures. What about New York life do you find most appealing?
MM: I could sit on a subway train or in any park in New York and write a book in a day. There's no place on this earth where you can be amongst a group of so many diverse individuals. He city literally never sleeps. Some times I'll just look at people and imagine what they're thinking…write down what I think their stories are. I've been to places more beautiful than New York, but no place quite like it.
AR: Please share more with our readers about your company, Mind Candy, LLC.
MM: Mind Candy, LLC is a multimedia company primarily focused on book publishing and the development of thought provoking screenplays. We're also advocates of literacy and would like to play a significant role in helping to decrease the dropout rates amongst African American and Hispanic teens.
AR: What's next for you?
MM: Definitely check out MindCandyMedia.com for future events. Nan: The Game of Trife will be the next book I publish. I have several books finished, but I'm real excited about a project I'm in the process of writing right now…more to follow. Going forward, I just want to continue to establish my brand and make my mark in the literary game.
AR: Any final thoughts you'd like to share with our readers?
MM: I just want my readers both present and future to know that I'll never do them wrong. I respect my readership too much to ever publish a book that would be deemed anything less than compelling. I ask that they keep challenging themselves by reading books in all genres, and also that they challenge their favorite authors to continuously challenge them with thought provoking works.
AR: Thanks again, Moses, and best of continued success to you in all your endeavors!