Former Daytona Times reporter and columnist Karsceal Turner is releasing his autobiography, “Manifestationz Uv 1 Man..1.244 Miles From Oklahoma City” at an authors expo event on Sunday in Deland.
Turner, who will share the stage with Rep. Dwayne L. Taylor, was a standout reporter for the Daytona Times from his days as an undergraduate at Bethune-Cookman College. He also was an inaugural member of the Florida Courier staff.
No stranger to the world of mass communications, Turner graduated from Bethune-Cookman and has experience as a radio personality at WBCC 830AM) and WPUL 1590 AM. He also has worked as media relations manager for the Daytona Beach Thunderbirds and is editor of B-CU’s alumni magazine.
Now Turner has added author to his list of personal accomplishments with two poetry books – “Manifestationz Uv 1 Man” and “Kross Roadz.”
A spoken-word artist, Turner took passages from his extensive lists of poetic works to put together two books.
“Manifestationz is basically my autobiography, written in poetry. My dad laughed when I told him I was writing an autobiography because I’m only 38. He laughed at me and said I haven’t lived yet. I had to agree with him to an extent,” Turner said.
“However, I have been able to fit an entire lifetime for someone else into my short time on earth. The book is meant to inspire others to explore the limits of their abilities, just as I did.”
He added: “A man who is able to express himself poetically is a force to be reckoned with. I’m able to say things with my poetry that can’t be judged by the population. These are things you can’t necessarily print in the newspaper. The rap music our young people listen to today has its humble beginnings in the poetry. It is self-expression at its very finest.’’
Rep. Dwayne L. Taylor will showcase his fictional novel titled “Forced to Defend”.
Florida resident Tracy L. Darity also will be presenting her latest book, “He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not!’’
The event begins at 5 p.m. at the Mainstreet Grill, 100 E. New York Ave, in Deland.