Baltimore author beats path to inboxes of the stars

Karl B. Hille, The Examiner
Sep 2, 2006 5:00 AM (13 days ago)

BALTIMORE - If Valdez V. Fisher Jr. doesn’t go platinum on the talk circuit it won’t be for lack of persistence.

Fisher, the native Baltimorean and author of the motivational memoir, “I Ain’t Bitin’ My Tongue,” has scored letters from State Superintendent of Schools Nancy Grasmick and Norma Foerderer, assistant to the “The Donald” himself, president of The Trump Organization.

“Dear Mr. Fisher: Mr. Trump has received your letter of October 22, 2005. He appreciates your thoughts and the fact that he has been a source of inspiration to you. We wish you much success with your new motivational book,” Foerderer writes.

Fisher called the letter a polite “brush-off,” but his persistence scored him a relationship and introduction by Lance Warlock, who had a child role in the movie “Halloween II.” He also got a glowing letter from Grasmick.

Fisher said he is going after the big fish because he has seen too many young underprivileged kids from Baltimore come through the bail-bond office where he works nights. “For the past 10 years, I’ve seen a revolving door of young African American men, 18 to 25. I’m on a first-name basis with some of them.”

He is building up to be a motivational speaker, and says he hopes his book and his message will help young men make the right choices in life.

“You don’t have to be a drug dealer to drive a nice car. I drive a Mercedes and I’m not a drug dealer.”

Fisher said he has made the wrong decisions, including losing his wife of six years through a brief affair, which he writes candidly about in his book.

“The bond you have with a person over a lot of years can’t even compare with a fling that you have over a two- to three-week period, even if it feels like love at the time.”

The book, by Fisher’s account, has sold 30,000 copies and is available in bookstores and online for $13.95. It runs just under 120 pages, including notes on celebrities he has run into or sought out in writing his book.

Fisher boasts writing “a staggering 1,200 e-mails” in promoting his book.

Apparently his persistence is paying off.

“You should be proud of the success you have garnered thus far, and I look forward to hearing more of you in the future,” Grasmick wrote in a letter dated Aug. 8.

Buying the book

“I Ain’t Bitin’ My Tongue” sells for $13.95 new and is available online at www.walmert.com