Would Jesus Do Time? is a satirical drama that reimagines Jesus in present-day America, discovering the faults with the modern-day justice system. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

The inspiration comes from firsthand experience. I’m currently incarcerated, been locked up 22 years. But what inspired me most was how a lot of people don’t know what goes on in here. Like, how slavery has NOT been completely abolished. It’s thick in the penal system. In the 13th Amendment, it says slavery’s been abolished “except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted.”     

Some people may say, “Good. Teach prisoners the value of a hard day’s work.” There’s a bit of sophistry at play with that line. We’re literally “paid” pennies for an entire eight-hour day of labor that our blood, sweat, and (sometimes) tears provide. People who’ve never held a legitimate job in their lives will never understand the value of an honest dollar.

Being forced to work against your will when you’d rather educate yourself demonstrates the lack of value they place on our lives. Do you think this makes us respect authority? Slavery dramatically decreases our self-worth and has far-reaching effects. 85% of prisoners will be released one day, and the recidivism rate is currently at 75%. Who do those recidivists’ crimes hurt more? You. They hurt you, the average everyday citizen.

These are merely some of the thoughts that went into Would Jesus Do Time? I also knew the visceral reactions that’d bubble to the surface for people upon seeing Jesus behind bars. When you wear prison scrubs, you feel you’re no longer perceived as human, but. . . “expendable,” “judged,” “condemned.” They’re not a factor in polite society, the rational-minded say to themselves. People forget how Jesus was tried, found guilty, and sentenced just like every other prisoner. So, not much has changed with the biblical version of events. I simply wrapped Jesus in a story that happens every single day in America.

Writing Jesus as a dramatic character is a bold undertaking. What were the biggest challenges in approaching that task?

The biggest challenge was trying to be as respectful as possible of this religious figure while also giving Jesus a sense of humor. As you can see from my answer to your first question, we’re dealing with heavy subject matter here. You can’t have purchasers wanting to freaking kill themselves while reading your work. My job is to entertain. I’m an award-winning writer, and I better act like it by giving readers their money’s worth. If I don’t, I’ll stop selling books.

I want people to laugh, feel their adrenaline pump, and experience a rollercoaster ride through my writing. That’s what a professional word entertainer is supposed to do in my humble opinion, and if they take something deeper with them after they set my book down in this process? Even better. = )

What do you think satire can accomplish that a more straightforward drama cannot?

Comedy and drama go hand in hand. The best comedies are draped in dramatic clothing. Satire merely allows a writer to cut deep into a reader’s soul, because you let down your guard when you’re laughing, right? So, as those walls are lowered, the exceptional author can get surgical without the reader being aware that they’re being implanted with a knowledge they’ll carry with them throughout the rest of their lives.

What spiritual question do you hope readers and audiences continue wrestling with after the curtain falls? 

The spiritual question I want people to grapple with is, Now that I’ve brought you into a world that’s deliberately hidden away from prying eyes, what are you going to do with this newfound insight? Do you enjoy giving back to your community? Do you realize the smallest of loving gestures can make a great impact on the world, similar to the butterfly effect? Does doing something positive for someone even appeal to you? If so, there is tremendous beauty in you. Show the world what you’re capable of.

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