Mobile Author Jermaine Brookins Returns Home for Signing of Memoir ‘5 Convictions Later: The 6-Figure Turnaround’

MOBILE, Ala. — Mobile author Jermaine Brookins came home to Mobile over the weekend to share a story he hopes will help others turn their lives around. Brookins signed copies of his memoir, 5 Convictions Later: The 6-Figure Turnaround, at the new Barnes & Noble on Airport Boulevard from 5 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 7.

The book traces Brookins’ path from legal trouble and time behind bars to a successful career working offshore and a commercial cleaning business he runs with his wife, Kychia Brookins. He describes it as a personal account of mistakes, redemption, discipline and success, and he said the signing was a chance to reconnect with the community where he spent most of his life.

A memoir about second chances

Brookins said he wrote the book with readers in mind who may see their own lives in his.

Brookins said the book is basically a learning experience and living proof that you cannot let your past define your future or give up because of a stumble. He said some people can relate to his story, so he wrote it to reach others.

The title refers to the convictions in Brookins’ past and the financial turnaround he says followed once he changed direction. Rather than hiding that history, the memoir puts it front and center, using it as the starting point for a story about rebuilding a life through hard work and the support of the people around him.

Lessons for the next generation

Beyond reaching readers who are looking for encouragement, Brookins said he especially hopes young people will learn from his experiences. According to his author biography, growing up with an abusive father shaped his determination to be a present father to his own children and a positive example for the generation coming up behind him.

He said guidance matters at every stage of life.

Brookins said communication, mentorship, and leadership are essential because everyone needs guidance regardless of age, from babies to adults. He said nothing is done alone; you need a team, communication, leadership, and positive people in your circle to grow.

That message echoes a theme often heard from people who have rebuilt their lives after incarceration: that mentors, family support and a positive circle of friends can make the difference between returning to old patterns and moving forward. Brookins credits a team approach, including his partnership with his wife in business, as part of how he found stability.

Bringing the story home

Brookins now lives in Texas with his wife and children, but he spent the majority of his life in Mobile. He said returning to hold the signing in his hometown felt like the right way to share the book.

Brookins said he is at Barnes & Noble back in his roots in Mobile to bring it home, speak to people, uplift them, and give them motivational speaking that he didn’t have growing up in Mobile.

The event gave local readers a chance to meet the author, have their copies signed and hear directly from him about the experiences behind the book. For Brookins, it was also a chance to offer the kind of encouragement he said he did not have access to as a young man in the city.

More books on the way

5 Convictions Later: The 6-Figure Turnaround is the first in a planned series about Brookins’ struggles and successes. He said the next installment, 5 Convictions Later: The Broken Home, will focus on his childhood. It is expected to be released around May or June of 2027.

The second book appears set to explore in more depth the family circumstances his biography describes, including the difficult relationship with his father that he says motivated him to break the cycle with his own children.

Why stories of reentry resonate

Memoirs by people who have been through the criminal justice system have found a wide audience in recent years, in part because so many families are touched by it. Hundreds of thousands of people are released from state and federal prisons across the United States every year, and many face barriers to finding work, housing and stable relationships once they return home.

Personal accounts like Brookins’ can show readers in similar situations that a different outcome is possible, while giving others a closer look at the challenges of starting over. Brookins’ own path, from incarceration to offshore work and business ownership, is the kind of story advocates point to when they talk about the value of second chances, steady employment and mentorship.

How to find the book

Readers interested in 5 Convictions Later: The 6-Figure Turnaround can check with booksellers, including the Airport Boulevard Barnes & Noble that hosted Saturday’s signing, for availability. Those who missed Saturday’s signing can watch for news about the release of The Broken Home next year.