Interview with Hans Lindor, author of “I Am Going Where I Belong”

About Hans Lindor

Hans Lindor, novelist, screenwriter and playwright, has a singularly unique perspective on life and has earned many accolades for his fiction and poetry.

Hans Lindor has used his extraordinary life experiences to inspire young people, and has given motivational speeches and workshops to students in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and Florida, advocating against guns, drugs and violence and giving students hope for rising above hardship and social struggles.

For more information about Hans, you can visit his website at www.hanslindor.org

The Interview

Could you please tell us a little about your book?

I am Going Where I Belong is a story of unimaginable strength and grace. Hans Leger is growing up in a privileged lifestyle in Haiti. Residing with his diplomat father, and his beautiful mother, he and his younger brother live their early childhoods untouched by the poverty and degradation experienced by the majority of the Haitian population.
One afternoon, a detour by the family chauffeur has Hans and his younger brother seeing a part of Haiti that was hidden from him. He is intrigued by a girl he sees watching a ballet show on a television in a store window while braiding her hair. At her side is a young child that shows all the signs of hunger. Hans skips school the next day to go back and find this girl. What he finds opens his eyes to the unequal conditions in his country, and he promises the girl and her son that he will do his best to return the next day. But later that evening, a coup occurs and Hans’ father is gunned down before his family. Hans, his brother and mother are able to escape and allowed to be evacuated to the United States to live with his maternal grandmother in Miami. Thinking that they are escaping to a safe place, little do they know that this is just the beginning of the tragedies they will face.

Did something specific happen to prompt you to write this book?

Yes, Marie, the girl I wrote about in the book. At 15, she considered her life to be worthless. She never went to school. She didn’t know how to read or write. Her parents were dead. She was forced to sell her body as a way to save her life, or she would have faced death if she refused to comply. When hunger became unbearable, Marie begged, hoping to get some change to be able to feed her son, whom she had after she was raped. She was a young woman in despair, buried in the human meanness of society. There are several young girls like Marie around the world. I wanted the readers to hear their voices. It hurts me that these young girls are being unnoticed, despite their agony.

Who or what is the inspiration behind this book?

Again, I am speaking of Marie. Her story inspired me to write this book. Also, those millions of children whose lives are neglected while dying daily of hunger. And finally, my mother’s killing.

Who is your biggest supporter?

My family and editor are my biggest supporters as of right now. I hope more supporters will grow eventually with this book.

Your biggest critic?

I am my own antagonist. I criticize myself when things do not go the way they should. However, I do not let them detour me from achieving my goals or going where I belong.

What cause are you most passionate about and why?

I deeply believe every child has the right to live. I believe women are the beauty of life and face of nature. They should never be abused whether it is in the mental or physical sense. I believe every human being should have the right to freedom. These are causes that I am very passionate about.

Do you have any rituals you follow when finishing a piece of work?

Yes, once I am done writing a book with an editor, I do not re-read it. I would ask someone else to examine it. The reason for this is simple; I do not want to be too attached to the book. This allows me to deal with other criticism.

What is the most important thing in your life right now?

Besides my family, I am trying to promote the awareness of child poverty and prostitution.

What are you currently working on?

I am currently working on promoting “I am Going Where I Belong” and my children’s career.

Do you have any advice for writers or readers?

Who am I to give advice to others? But, I will only tell them to never give up. When life seems to be unpromising and callous, just stay focused and do not ever be discouraged. Instead, keep on smiling. This book will show them how to do just that. Things will get easier someday if you keep reaching for your destiny. You do not have to be rich to be happy, but you should be happy to be alive. And always be courteous and respectful to others.

Is there an author that inspired you to write?

It is sad to say, but no. My writing inspiration only comes from the life of regular people.

What are some of your long term goals?

Making sure my family stays healthy and we are always helpful to others.

What do you feel sets this book apart from others in the same genre?

I would consider this kind of like a new genre which I call multiculturalism drama.

If you could go back and change one day, what would it be?

The day when my mother was killed, I wished that day never came. When I was younger I used to tell my mother, “I want to die before you.” She would ask, “Why?” and my answer was always, “My life would be meaningless without you.” Sure enough, after her loss, my life had changed ever since. Several times in the past, I had thought about committing suicide, but each time I thought about my family.

What is the most important lesson you have learned from life so far?

That life is what you make of it. Also life is precious beyond all means.

Is there anything you regret doing/not doing?

Yes. Let me answer “doing” first, I regret that I dated several women at once while I was in a serious relationship. I should have never done that. Every woman is a precious art created by God and should always be extolled. Now for “not doing”, I regret that I did not do enough to protect my mother.

Is there anything else you would like to share with us?

Yes. Please find an organization of your choice to make a donation, whether it is to help fight children hunger, trafficking, abuse, or prostitution, and violent acts against women.

About I Am Going to Where I Belong

Hans Lindor’s I Am Going Where I Belong is a stirring coming-of-age tale set amidst the backdrop of Haitian history. The main character, Hans Leger hails from a privileged family in Haiti, knowing only the wealth and luxury. When his chauffeur makes a stop in downtown, Leger sees the harsh realities of life: poverty, hunger, despair, piles of waste mounting, infested with flies, and an overall sense of chaos. Unfortunately, many of these realities still exist in Haiti today. In the midst of a democratic presidential election, the victor will inherit a torn country which is battling a cholera epidemic—that has already killed thousands living in remote areas— and is still in the recovery and reconstruction stage after the devastating earthquake. Described in more vivid and grim terms in the book, Hans Lindor sums up Haiti’s existence in one sentence: “The existence of the Haitian people seems based on despair, vicissitudes, and destitution.”

I am Going Where I Belong revolves around the cold-blooded murder of Hans Leger’s father and gang rape of his mother. Removed from their wealthy status, Hans and his family move to Florida where they are essentially the same people that Hans Leger watched from the car in downtown Haiti—destined to poverty. Surrounded by violence, poverty, and racism, Hans manages to launch his writing career and lift his family out of poverty.

Written masterfully by Hans Lindor, one of the moving images of the book—at the beginning—describes Hans Leger looking on as a fifteen-year-old girl is forced into prostitution. Though this is a fictional tale, it is not far from reality. The Miami Herald reports that earthquake survivors are being smuggled into the Dominican Republic and used as prostitutes, drug peddlers, and beggars. It is astonishing to see innocent individuals at the mercy of their grim circumstances. The question arises, however, that if the Haitian Diaspora continues, who will be left to save the nation and restore peace and order?

Despite the tragedy-filled events of the book, I Am Going Where I Belong sends the message of hope, positive thinking, and overcoming adversity and hardship. The fact is that many Haitians have fled the country in fear for their lives. Democracy is practically invisible while the state of nation has been unchanged for decades. To this day, it remains vulnerable, treacherous, and violent.

Ultimately, I Am Going Where I Belong demonstrates that one can overcome social hardships. An award-winning novelist, screenwriter and playwright, Hans Lindor uses his extenuating life experiences to advocate against violence—both in the book as well as public speaking stints in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and Florida. His message is clear and simple: never let racial barriers, poverty, or hopelessness rob you of your dreams and prevent you from achieving greatness.

Book Excerpt

The main cemetery is often used as a motel and restroom, shelter and shortcut route to get to the next street; beyond that it is the main haven for streetwalkers and thieves.
“You know what,” she paused and sighed, “sometimes, I think about killing myself.” She was expressionless. “Don’t say that!” I replied in shock. “People look at me as if I am non-existent.” “They must be ignorant. I don’t see you like that. To me you are a wonderful girl.” I avoided making her blush. “I got my son because I was raped by two men. It hurts me a lot when he keeps asking about his father and I do not know what to tell him.” Her voice cracked and softened, as she turned her head away from me to hide her face. “It’s…it’s not your fault if you got raped and you did the right thing to give him birth.” I was sad and speechless. I felt the ache in her voice. I slowly took her hand into mine and said, “Listen, God is here for you.” “How could you say that God loves me, when he allowed these men to rape me in the middle of the afternoon that day, when I was only eleven? Now my son and I live in the streets. We spend days drinking salted water to survive because we can’t nourish ourselves. Nobody cares about us!” By then, a river of tears avalanched her face. She bent her head down to her knees so that I couldn’t witness her crying. My heart was aching once again. I was silent as I thought to myself, Sometimes you have to question what God is doing. I was upset with God for the first time in my young life. Why would he let this young woman become a rape victim at eleven years old without striking to death her aggressors? Why does he let so many die from hunger when people like me have lavish lives? Doesn’t the Bible say that God loves all of us the same? If he truly does, why are there so many people like Marie around the world dying daily from poverty? I never meant to question The Almighty’s competence and supremacy, but pain and fury overpowered me. Perhaps this was the devil’s astuteness to get to me, knowing my weakness. Regardless of how much I felt Marie’s soreness, I couldn’t ever completely identify with her grief.

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