His first book received positive reviews from readers who praised his “unique blend of deft storytelling and medical know-how.” In 2017, Dr. Parris published a novella, Unbitten: A Vampire Dream, followed by his second novel, Dragon’s Heir: The Archeologist’s Tale, in 2018. In Dragon’s Heir, Dr. Parris takes a turn into the world of science fiction/fantasy, exploring what might have transpired if humanoid dinosaurs returned to Earth only to find it inhabited by humans.
Afrofuturism
Dr. Parris is considered an expert in Afrofuturism, a cultural movement that combines science fiction and fantasy, reflecting the experiences of the African diaspora. One of the most recent examples of Afrofuturism is the Black Panther movie, featuring the late actor Chadwick Boseman and based on the popular Marvel comic series set in the fictional kingdom of Wakanda.
When Dr. Parris learned Marvel was publishing an anthology of stories from the African diaspora, titled Black Panther: Tales of Wakanda, he submitted a story for consideration. The anthology, released in 2021, includes Dr. Parris’ story, The Underside of Darkness.
“My earliest memories of reading science fiction began with comic books when I was around 8 years old,” Dr. Parris says. “I had a preference for Marvel comics because they had a more intriguing story structure.”
Dr. Parris’ most recent novel, Dragon’s Heir (The Efilu Legacy), a blend of science fiction and fantasy, was published in May 2022.
“When I write, I like to cast the characters in my head as if I were casting a movie,” he says. “I want them to be three-dimensional and relatable to readers.”
Dr. Parris is currently working on a sequel to The Renaissance of Aspirin. He says that over the years, his writing style has matured and it now takes him six months to a year to finish writing a novel.
“I don’t have a degree in literature, so I stumbled a little early on in my writing career,” he admits. “The stories were good, but I had an awkward writing style.”
He also learned that although he can’t be an expert in everything, he can tap into the expertise of others.
“I have a former employee who went to work with the state department, and their vetting process included an interview with me. The person who interviewed me knew I was a writer, which told me that he had investigated my background before he interviewed me. He was very helpful in answering some questions about espionage and told me if I ever needed a consultant for a future novel he would be happy to offer his experience,” Dr. Parris says. “That agent was one of the most interesting characters I’ve ever met.
