oining us for an interview is the fantastic Dan ‘Tito’ Davis.
You are launching an audiobook for your bestselling novel Gringo: My Life on the Edge as an International Fugitive, what was the process of creating this book like?
While doing the audiobook and rethinking the major points of my life I had to reflect on how I really messed up all the opportunities that I had several times. Also, how incredibly lucky I was under very adverse circumstances, and it was emotional. It made me think of how and what my life could’ve been like or how I could’ve changed it.
It made me take a close look at my life, but everything is clear in the rearview mirror. When you’re out there on the front lines trying to achieve something you really don’t have a clear mind at times. That’s why most professional athletes and teams have managers, coaches or advisers even Tom Brady has a coach. I had no coach, I was solo, and I made a lot of foolish mistakes and bad decisions.
The process of creating this book was looking back on my life. I had to live it to write it. I believe that’s why people have been giving me such good reviews, and have been so helpful and supportive. They can relate but they certainly never took the path that I did. It’s much more fun talking about it than living it.
Your book is all about your life. Now that you are no longer on the run what is life like for you?
Promoting this book is literally all I’ve been doing since I was released from federal supervision about 18 months ago. Before that, I spent about three or four years writing it, most of the time not under the best writing conditions. Where I was, there were no word processors, so I used old antique typewriters. If you want to know where all of the old typewriters went, check out the law libraries of the Federal Prisons.
As you said this book is about my life, and my life now is about my book. All I’ve been doing is Book Pimping, or in other words, promoting my book. There are probably around 1 million books published each month, so there is plenty of competition out there. It is a full-time job promoting your book.
What sets you apart from the other books out there in the market?
Not many authors have the option of putting their personal international wanted poster on the cover of their book. That tends to get the attention of potential readers. I have been incredibly blessed ever since I left prison with $50, a story and a Greyhound bus ticket.
How did your experience as a fugitive change how you see the world?
As a fugitive nothing, I mean nothing is easy. You are always looking over your shoulder. You have to remember which passport you are using, what country it is from, what your mother’s maiden name is, your date of birth, where are you were born, and under what zodiac sign. You have to be able to recite all that while being interrogated. Sometimes bent over naked with your butt cheeks spread. One mess up and they have you!
After experiences like that book promoting is a cakewalk. You can use your own name, your own passport, and your own credit cards. You can make reservations in advance, and have people there to meet you, do press conferences, shake hands and take pictures. All of which is the exact opposite of sitting in the corner trying not to be noticed like when I was a fugitive. At that time if I heard people speaking English, I tried just to slide away unnoticed.
Are you going to write another book, make a film, or write a series?
I have seriously thought about writing another book about my life after leaving prison with a $50 bill, a Grey HOUND Bus ticket, and a story. What I have done and accomplished since then, I think would be an inspiration to anyone that has been down and out. The problem is I am now in the fourth quarter, each day, each week, and each month is precious.
Right now I’m healthy, but that can change at any time. I have several friends that were healthy a month ago and now have cancer – knock on wood I have been very, very fortunate. I don’t know if I want to spend the next four years involved in another book. It’s a job, a serious job, and it takes a lot of time.
Currently, I believe I am going to put all of my energy, after I promote the audiobook, into putting together either a major motion picture based on my life or a mini-series.
Please Google me “Dan Tito Davis” or check me out at www.gringobook.com -now I am a Book Pimp!! Thank you so much for taking the time to read this and to listen to my audiobook. Have a great day!
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