Meet Vince Dixon: Writer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Vince Dixon and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Vince, can you tell us about a book that has had a meaningful impact on you?
One of the best books I’ve ever read is titled Vast Fields of Ordinary. It’s a coming of age novel about a boy named Dade and his last few months before going away to college. That book really resonated with me because it was the first time I ever saw myself reflected on a page. A lot of what Dade was going through; coming out, losing friends, gaining friends, and trying to figure out what he wanted to do for the rest of his life resonated with me because I was going through the same thing at the time. The prose, the story, the plot, the characters- it all felt incredibly real. It is the book that started my journey as a writer. I wanted to create stories just like that one that people who felt and looked like me could relate to.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I write young adult short stories and novels featuring protagonists of color. Diversity and representation are a huge part of my brand and what I do because not being able to see yourself reflected in a certain medium creates a feeling of irrelevance. I think that is exactly what sets my stories apart-because they go against the societal norm of who main characters traditionally are and can be. My journey to becoming a writer has been a long one and honestly, it’s still only the beginning, but the most recent opportunities (a film that’s going into production later this year and a short story collection) I’ve been presented with have been through networking. So I’d say getting to where I am hasn’t been as difficult as most because of the relationships I have formed, but I am nowhere near where I want to be. Ask this question again ten years from now and I’ll have a better answer!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
We would definitely hit up Roosters, a dive bar in West Palm Beach. The best day to go is on a Thursday because the drinks are a dollar. We’d also spend a lot of time loitering Clematis and people watching. We’d go to the Norton Museum of Art, and we would most likely end our nights at a local coffee shop reading and reminiscing about the good old days!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
First and foremost. I would like to dedicate my shoutout to my parents Kevin and Tracey Huggins. Without their support and encouragement, I would never have had the bravery to pursue a creative career. I’d also like to thank my wonderful friends that have uplifted and supported me through everything, and for not being afraid to hurt my writer ego when they tell me they don’t like something.

Website: vincedixonwrites.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vincedixwrites/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/vincedixwrites

Image Credits
Michelle Malek