Black Pearls
Magazine
Urban Lit Interviews and Book Previews
Life Changing
Books
2011 Urban Literature Sensations
Life Changing Books, better known as LCB, established in 2003 has become one of the most respected Independent Trade Publishers in the book industry. LCB offers a variety of African-American literature including Contemporary Fiction, Women's Fiction, Urban/Street Literature, Teen Fiction, and a host of other categories.
CEO, Azarel
Smallwood, launched the company with the release of her self-published title, A Life to Remember, and from there has continued to sign and promote best-selling authors such as
J. Tremble, Tiphani Montgomery, and Danette Majette. A leader amongst small press publishers, Azarel Smallwood was awarded the EDC
Creations' Publisher of the Year Award at the 2011 Atlanta Chocolate
Social.
In 2008, Life Changing Books restructured its relationships with wholesale establishments across the United States and abroad; because of
that, in 2011 the company has celebrated many successes. Most recently, Miss KP was honored for her debut novel, The Dirty Divorce as
Urban Book of the Year by AAMBC.
LCB has gained notoriety for producing four best-selling sequels over the past five years; Bruised 1and 2, The Millionaire Mistress Series, the Dirty Divorce Series, and the One Night Stand series. In addition, the company announced in late 2010 that it secured a deal to have The Millionaire Mistress books and Secrets of a Housewife re-published with Kensington Books for sale to
Wal-Mart for a limited time. Life Changing Books has soared in the literary world and continues to build relationships both in and out of the community.
Currently, LCB has nineteen authors and offers outside distribution to selective projects. To date, the company has published
fifty-three books. The success of LCB is a team effort starting with outgoing authors, and a progressive management team.
Connect with Azarel
Azarel, CEO of Life Changing Books
Follow Azarel on Twitter: @CEOAzarel
Website: http://lifechangingbooks.net
Meet Author and
Publisher Wahida Clark
Wahida Clark was born and raised in Trenton, New Jersey. She is no stranger to the hard work and the sacrifices that
breed success. This Trenton native once owned and operated L.M. Clark Printers & Publishers Inc., a printing and publishing
company in Trenton.
She is crowned the Queen of Thug Love Fiction by Nikki Turner, the Queen of Hip Hop Fiction. Wahida's style of writing
is the "TEMPLATE" for Urban literature. When you read her novels, they are so real you are convinced of one of three
things: you know the characters; you want to know the characters; or you are one of the characters.
Her Essence and Black Issues Book Reviews bestselling novels include Thugs and The Women Who Love Them,
Payback Is A Mutha, Payback With Ya Life, and her latest anthology with Kiki Swinson titled "Sleeping With The Enemy."
[Listen to an awesome interview with Wahida
and Linda Duggins of Hatchette Book Group, here]
Wahida started her career writing fiction while incarcerated at a women's federal prison camp in Lexington,
Kentucky. After serving a nine year prison sentence, Wahida was released on June 13, 2007, from the federal prison camp in Alderson, West Virginia. She
had just completed Part 4 of her Thug Series, the highly anticipated Thug Lovin'.
Life has been good since this unfortunate incident in her life, she is now vice president of the
non-profit
organization based out of East Orange, New Jersey, Prodigal Sons and Daughters Redirection Services, a re-entry
program for convicts and ex-convicts. The organization also provides support groups and mentors for at-risk youth.
Today, Wahida operates her printing & publishing company out of East Orange, New Jersey, Wahida Clark Presents
Publishing. Her first releases include: Trust No Man by Cash, Thirsty by Mike Sanders, Cheetah by Missy Jackson, and
King of Times Square by Zach Tate. You can also visit her at:http://www.wclarkpublishing.com
Lorton Legends by Eyone Williams
An Epic Story of Struggle, Adversity and Accomplishment
DC Bookdiva Publications
presents the much anticipated novel "Lorton Legends", an epic
story of struggle, adversity and accomplishment by Eyone Williams. Eyone
is not new to the street fiction genre. He's given urban readers Fast Lane, Hell Razor Honeys 1 and 2, and the short story The Cross. Now, with his fourth novel, Lorton Legends, Eyone brings readers an epic story like no other. With a historical background of the notorious Lorton Correctional Complex, this novel is packed with a strong story line as well as many little known facts.
In Lorton Legends,
Ronald Mays and three of his comrades enter the D.C. Department of Corrections as teenagers and grow into men as they face a number of struggles. Their lives change in ways that will amaze readers and give them a completely different outlook on young men that enter prison as
teenagers. "This book shows my writing skills in its true form," says Eyone. "Lorton Legends shows what the struggle is all about and how a man can obtain his goals in life, no matter what he faces along the way. It's a story that represents what resilience is all about."
"Never before has a book of this kind been explored." DC Bookdiva Publications CEO T. Short said. "An excellent story of overcoming obstacles, Mr. Williams shows his ability to tell a story that will change the perspective of urban novels."
Eyone Williams is a publisher and an author from Washington DC. His first novel, Fast Lane, was self-published by Fast Lane Publishing. He is also the author of Hell Razor Honeys 1 and 2, The Cross and the Lorton Legends. (ISBN: 9780984611065, Price: $15.00). Eyone is also a staff writer for Don Diva Magazine and freelance columnist for FEDS, and Urban Book Source.
DC Bookdiva Publications promotes, publishes, and markets authors in the urban genre. For more information about DC Bookdiva Publications visit
www.dcbookdiva.com
###
If you'd like more information about purchasing Lorton Legends by Eyone Williams, or to schedule an interview with
Mr. Williams, please call 1-866-928-9990 ext. 1 or dcbookdiva@yahoo.com
Kevin Kennard gazed into the precious face of his newborn son, the offspring
of the intoxicating love he shared with his wife, Simone. Closing his
eyes, Kevin whispered a prayer of thanks. Life had given him a second
chance at happiness far greater than anything he'd fathomed from inside the
concrete walls of his prison cell. While Kevin and Simone bask in their
familial bliss, those scorned by their union collect the pieces to their
shattered hearts and plot the couple's demise.
Darkness hovers the Kennards when their newborn baby becomes
the target for revenge. A tidal wave of fatal events stifles the sanctity
Kevin and Simone have come to cherish. Kevin had promised those he loved
that his gun-toting days were a thing of the past. But with nothing else
to live for, he journeys to find the person responsible for the devastation
reeked in his world.
Someone will pay for what they've done to his family, even if
it cost Kevin his own life. In the award winning novel, "Two
Tears in a Bucket," Kevin and Simone reminded us how powerful and
lasting the bonds of love can be. But can it weather, Another Tear?
Meet the Author
Traci Bee is the
award-winning author of the Kindle drama chart topping, Two Tears in a Bucket.
When she’s not writing, Traci enjoys karaoke and spending time with her
family. She currently resides in Waldorf, Maryland with her husband and kids and
is working on two novels; the final installment to the Two Tears in a Bucket
Series and A Nickel for A Kiss.
Excerpt from
Another Tear by Traci Bee
Trapped in the darkness, Simone struggled to free herself. She hated when her
body became immobile but her mind remained fully conscious. Normally, when she
hallucinated in her sleep, her surroundings seemed clear. But this time, a still
blackness haunted her. She struggled to wake. Finally, after a fluster of forced
blinks, her eyes opened. Slowly, the objects around her began to take form.
An older Caucasian man stood two inches taller than Kevin. A head full of
salt-and-pepper curls, a slowly aging face of soft wrinkles, and his lean build
clothed in an expensive-looking navy blue suit; everything about him screamed
money. His mouth moved, yet silence flowed as he chatted with her husband. Pain
was etched in Kevin’s face as he listened, his back resting against the wall
to support his feeble stance as he stared out at nothing. Angela sat in a chair,
black mascara smeared around her eyes. Dried-up tears stained her cheeks.
Kevin’s lips moved. She knew his lips well and read what seemed to be “Still
no word on...” The doctor’s nod cut Kevin off before he could finish asking
his question.
What’s going on? Simone questioned. She couldn’t hear a thing. Nothing but
the continuously, annoying beep from the heart monitor. Is that machine for me?
I’m in the hospital?
She grunted and pulled, but couldn’t move. Something was holding her down. Her
surroundings were too vivid for it to be a hallucination.
The doctor took a step toward the door. No, don’t leave!
Simone grew frustrated. Wait a minute! Her ears popped. Her hearing had
returned. Relieved, she called after the doctor. Doc!
Kevin leaned against the wall with his hand on his forehead. “Doc.”
Thank you, baby, Simone said.
Though Kevin’s voice was muffled and seemingly as weak as hers, he was closer
to the doctor. Lifting his head, he stared at the doctor through red eyes
stained from crying.
“There’s really nothing you can do? I mean, suppose she was the president?
What would y’all do then? I can’t take fifty-fifty, Doc. I need something
more concrete. I need you to tell me she’s going to be okay.”
The doctor sighed as he searched for the right words of comfort.
“Unfortunately, Mr. Kennard, we’ve done everything we can. Pulling through
something like this is up to the patient. It just depends on their will to
live.”
Yes, I can hear you. You can’t hear me? Simone cleared her throat. Is that
better? Can you hear me now?
“In most cases, they can,” the doctor shared. “So talk to her. It can only
help.”
Okay, I have got to get out of this bed.
Simone tugged. She pulled. But no matter her attempt, she couldn’t free
herself from the bed. To gather strength, she relaxed and filled her lungs with
air. Fueled by determination, she gave another powerful tug until finally, she
sat up in bed.
It happened in slow motion. Angela’s gut wrenching, boundless wails bedeviled
the room as her body gradually descended from the chair to the floor. Kevin’s
eyes bulged in fear as he and the doctor leaped across the room to Simone’s
bedside.
Simone turned to the heart monitor. The continuously, annoying beep was gone.
In
its place: a flatline.
Tracey Robbins has it all: money, successful,
business, and a closet a girl would kill for. St. Louis is her
playground as everybody who wants to be somebody tries desperately to be in her
circle. However, living the young, black, and privileged life comes with
perks that could turn the purest hearts wicked, just for a chance to be like
her. The unannounced arrival of Tez, a sexy seemingly no good thug, sends
her life in a downward spiral that no one saw coming.
Soon after, she finds herself the center of a devious plan to
ruin her life. Betrayal runs deep as the people the closest to her begin
to show their true colors. With her back against the wall, she finds love
in an unlikely pair of arms. Will that love be enough to save her, or will
she remain lost in the pursuit of wealth?
Seven, a gorgeous, retired exotic dancer is fed up
with her broke and boring lifestyle. The dreams promised by her husband, Bryce
aren't coming true, and Seven s heart longs for the endless supply of cash she
was forced to give up. When the bills aren't getting paid and they soon face
eviction, Seven wants to return to her old ways, but Bryce refuses.
However, unbeknownst to him, Seven has a scheme up her sleeve
that involves prostitution even though she won t be the one turning tricks. Once
the money starts to flow, vows are eventually broken, and unconditional love
gets put to the test.
Zaria is back and more ruthless than ever in this
sequel to One Night Stand. Part 2 of this series holds nothing back
as she navigates through this back-stabbing, cold world. On the run, Zaria
first has to develop a street-savvy mentality and then uses her body and new
look to survive the rough streets of Philadelphia, PA.
Convinced that all men are dogs and responsible for ruining
her life, she holds a deep hatred inside, but lives in the lapse of luxury
behind the gates of a wealthy man s home. Zaria quickly transforms
into survival mode, and plays the sexy newcomer into her web of deceit. A
note to every man on earth...Zaria is unstoppable and searching for you!
This story is about the unattainable "American Dream", when the only dream hopeless and uneducated men have is to steal someone else's "Dream Come True."
Based On Actual Events...
The Robbin Hoods are burglars. They are hood stars who are living the good life splurging their money on women, fast cars, jewels, nice homes, trips, and drugs. Chance was from Brooklyn. His mother moved him and his siblings to New Jersey for a better life. They moved to the suburbs where the dangers and crime of city life were not supposed to exist.
Very early on his family learns that the have-nots are surrounded by those who are successful; as opposed to the projects where everyone is struggling. Chance chooses a life of robbery to support his mother and siblings. The "crew" started out robbing houses in their town and the surrounding working class and middle class towns.
What started out as a petty crime with teenagers who would cut school and break and enter into houses, on foot, turned into a multi-million dollar empire when the crew took their craft to a higher level. They graduated from boys to men, who made millions of dollars when they began venturing into exclusive upper class neighborhoods. The Robbin Hoods is about what happens when you take from others, instead of building your own.
Amazon Reader Book Review by L. Taylor
4.25 Rating for The Robbin Hoods by Ericka Williams
A drug addict mother, younger brother, sister and dead father, Chance Major has been thrown into being head of the household at an early age. His mother's abusive drug addict boyfriend is the only male figure he's known for too long...so they move for a better life. Chance takes the responsibility of taking care of his mother and siblings seriously. Drug dealing not being his thing; he takes to breaking, entering and taking from those who have to support his have not family. Chance has smarts but he uses them for his illegal activities.
'You do the crime, do your time...come back and start all over again'. Chance and his crew do just that; only on a higher level, until......
Ms. Williams has written a very good story of how these young Black men became addicted to B&E...they found a niche in life and got overly comfortable in it. How and why? In my opinion because they had no blue print or guidance on how to be a responsible man. No father's shoes to walk in...so they walked in their own...drew up their own blue print along the way.
Chance is the perfect example of a lot of our young men that are imprisoned for more years than they are old...the result of the man that helped create them decide to leave them (sometimes before they are born) to fend for themselves. Without the guidance of a male figure in their lives, young men make choices that they think make them a MAN, money and women, but find it has only two consequences...death or imprisonment.
Good job on a story that sends a message...1.Stop blaming others (even the white man) and put the blame where it goes...irresponsible Black fathers and 2.Stop going in raw dog.....use a condom or practice abstinence.
Ericka Williams has had a passion for writing since junior high school. She attended Howard University and graduated from Rutgers University. Ericka's first dream was to become a journalist, but she began a teaching career instead. Ericka has been a Language Arts teacher in Paterson, NJ, since 1998.
Ericka is also a mother of two, an actor and independent filmmaker. Her hobbies are movie going, roller-skating, and traveling. Ericka has written five novels on various subjects, but all of her novels touch on social issues and overcoming personal conflicts. All of her novels have a moral or lesson.
BPM: Tell us about your journey becoming a successfully published author. Do you have anyone in your life that was heavily influential in your deciding to become an author?
I have become an author as a result of feeling very strong about the fact that as a people, we are too complacent and mentally bound. I try to change our thinking by showing us our ills. When my cousin died I became an author.
BPM: How did you initially break into the publishing industry? What road did you travel?
Initially I used a subsidiary publisher. I then met my publisher, Life Changing Books at the Harlem Book Fair, and then I started my own company, ESharan Publishing. It is important to learn all facets of the business.
BPM: What is your definition of success?
Accomplishing your goals makes you successful. Your goals should be prioritized from small ones to big ones. As you check them off, you will get more and more focused and better and better at accomplishing them.
BPM: Success leaves clues, whose clues did you follow on your journey?
Success teaches you that it is not something to take for granted. It is something that you must appreciate and not be obsessed over. Success comes in big and small packages, and it comes and goes. Sometimes you must fail to appreciate when it comes back around.
BPM: What books or authors made a difference in your life?
Acts of Faith, by Iyanla Vanzant. It taught me that I have all the ingredients within me to realize my dreams and to be content and have inner peace.
BPM: How has your writing style evolved over the years? What stimulated your growth the most?
I went from writing linear stories to rollercoaster rides, stories with twists and multiple dimensions. I like the fact that I was able to step out of myself and write about a murderous as much as I despise murder. I did not want to be pigeon holed.
BPM: What are some of the benefits of being an author that makes it all worthwhile?
Definitely meeting people and traveling across the country. I love book club meetings the most when the members know the books’ every detail.
BPM: Do you have any advice for people seeking to publish a book?
I advise people not to worry about editing at first, to just “write the book.”
BPM: A Legacy is something that is handed down from one period of time to another period of time. Finish this sentence- “My writing offers the following legacy to future readers... ”
My writing offers the following legacy to future readers… We all can change.
BPM: Introduce us to your main characters. Do you have any favorites? On Kindle or Nook? The Robbin Hoods is about misguided men who are “digging their own ditch.” We all know men like them. They are nice on the inside, but ruthless and twisted in the eyes of others. We know men who would have been great, successful examples of triumph had they only believed in themselves.
The Robbin Hoods is about Chance Major. He is a criminal-minded, destructive, inconsiderate, “sweetheart.” He loves his family and will protect them but does not know that he must first protect himself for that to be possible. Chance is a bad boy who you will love to love. We all will feel his pain of having a drug addicted mother and losing his father at a young age and feeling the pressure to provide and become a man, without the ingredients to achieve that goal. His friends are just like him, although some are worse than him. We want Chance to win, but he is so angry and hardheaded. The Robbin Hoods is not yet on Kindle or Nook.
BPM: What inspired you to write this book? Why now? Ever experience writers block?
The main character is based on a very close friend who spent his life going in and out of prison. I felt he deserved to be made human after years of being demonized in the local newspapers and news shows.
BPM: What insight does the book give readers on living in the suburbs vs. city life?
This book gives insight on living in the suburbs and on the way that many boys grow up thinking that committing crime is their only option.
BPM: In writing your novels, how do you develop the plot? Did you have difficulty keeping the story on point? How much research was required, if any?
I grew up with it, and knew it well. Most stories take on a life of their own even after you try to follow your outline very closely.
BPM: What particular scenes from the novel will grab readers and stimulate open discussions?
The burglary scenes are surprising and his sexual promiscuity is typical but still interesting. You wonder why he doesn’t see himself running into a brick wall eventually. You get mad when he doesn’t but continue to want him to. We care about him although he seems not to care about himself; or in a healthy way.
BPM: Who do you want to reach with your book and the message enclosed?
I want everyone to know that our materialism is destroying all of our lives, causing us to make bad choices and worship superficial things; to the detriment of our future and success and freedom.
BPM: What should readers DO after reading this book?
I want readers to mentor juveniles, boys as well as girls, take part in improving their mindsets and shaping their lives. Help young people to value their lives and other people’s lives. Create opportunities for young people to have better options.
BPM: Do you try to avoid the temptation of interjecting your own value system or ministry in your writing?
I do not always avoid it. That is my voice I am using in my characters’ voices. I am making a stand by spreading what I believe. Some will agree with my morals and values and some won’t. The narrator is the author in the form of many characters.
BPM: Share with us a quote or brief excerpt from one of the most powerful chapters.
A scene when Chance and his children's’ mother have a heart to heart is important because he basically tells her that he is not “marriage material” and that she should just be happy that he is in the home with her and the kids. He has not idea to try to be a better man or desire to.
BPM: Ultimately, what do you want readers to gain from your book?
I want readers to gain an understanding that everyone who does something bad is not a bad person.
BPM: Will the digital age or social media usage change the face of publishing?
The digital age will make the culture of books, authors, and readers less personal. I love meeting the people. How will we have book fairs without books?
BPM: How do feel about selling digital books vs. selling in a brick and mortar store? What impact do you think electronic book sales will have on black authors? On indie authors?
The electronic age is dangerous to the culture. It takes our face away and the impact of the human touch.
BPM: What has been your most difficult hurdle to leap? Marketing, promotions or gaining media exposure, etc. How can EDC Creations and our readers help you?
I would say that it all takes a lot of work, perseverance, and determination. I would like EDC Creations to help me stay relevant by allowing you to be an outlet to keep pushing myself and my brand.
BPM: How much does “word of mouth” play into the success of your book? What grassroots strategies have you used to spread the word about your book?
Word of mouth is very important and I do it all from driving around with books in my trunk and going to Laundromats, barber shops, nail salons and beauty parlors; to calling back people who call my voicemail to meeting people in parking lots to bring them my books.
BPM: Share with us your latest news. How may our readers follow you online?
My final installment of the “A Woman Scorned” series is next, A Woman Scorned 3-Déjà
vu.
In "A Blessing and A Curse" Malika has the life every woman wants, a
hard working husband who makes it happen financially; kids, both adopted as well
as biological; her career as an artist with partners who own an art gallery;
nice house, nice neighbors and the gift of foresight.
Malika couldn't ask for much more, until her gift of sight and infrequent
ability to read minds opened her up to her husband's disgust, followed by his
uncaring desire to leave her. She can't figure it out, what has gone wrong? But
a well needed vacation helps her find her worth but to what detrimental end?
Malika
finds a different type of groove in her story, A Blessing and A Curse.
Intimate
Conversation with Andrea Clinton
Hosted by BAN Radio Show
Previously an English teacher and high school principal, Andrea Clinton
is a Novelist, Poet, Essayist and aspiring Screenwriter and Filmmaker. Andrea is
a Montclair State University Graduate, who's achieved a degree in English, Film
and Journalism. She's the founder and CEO of the non-profit organization, People
Helping People, Inc., whose mission is to help citizens become independent and
self-sufficient; Andrea is Editor in Chief of AMISTAD newspaper and magazine;
and is presently working on a biography and screenplay featuring her uncle, Rock
and Roll Hall of famer, George Clinton of Parliament/Funkadelic and the Clinton
family.
Struck with Lupus in 2002, Andrea decided that if she were blessed to live, she
would bring her countless stories into fruition by publishing them for the world
to read. Her first novel is one of five in the first volume of, "Life Knows
No Bounds." Andrea began this chronicle to exhibit to the world and address
through fiction, the many directions life leads us in, regardless of which class
we belong to. Andrea also set out to express to the world that life isn't after
anyone in particular, it just doesn't know boundaries.
With the goal of helping people to understand and accept life, Andrea is said to
write with that same creative gene and knack that made her uncle George Clinton
the musical great that he is. See her many book reviews that support Andrea
Clinton as a creative and entertaining great writer on the rise.
BAN: You have overcome many obstacles in life, how do you stay focused and
keep writing? Do you have days when you just want to give up writing?
Many. In fact, it’s the reason I’m just now publishing. I had heard so many
horror stories about the book industry that I ran like a chicken for many years,
sharing my stories in magazines and newspapers as well as with friends. Even
when professors encouraged me to send my work out to authors I wouldn’t
because it seemed too cut-throat and I wasn’t up for the task. After all the
research I did and an agent who seemed rough around the edges, I just did away
with the thought. But, when I was struck with lupus in 2002, I regretted having
10 or more year old stories that received rave reviews, but were all packed in
trunks and storage boxes. It was too heavy on my mind as I lay sick that I never
published, nor attempted to. All this, while laying and worrying about dying
from lupus. So when I was well, a publicist I’d consulted with at that time
said with having lupus and being fearful of not having the time to live to
publish my finished books, I should self publish. Thus, the 1st book in the
“Life Knows No Bounds series.”
BAN: Do you have any favorite authors or books?
Sure, J. California Cooper, she’s outstanding. I started out writing stories
like the ones she writes, with the same aim to enlighten others about previous
goings on in the south and things they forget about. I also love Terry McMillan,
Alice Walker, Michael Baisden and Eric Jerome Dickey. Other Books in African
Literature.: Mother To Mother, Mema, and Devil On The Cross.
My literary muses are, and I say it proudly, Richard Wright who made me want to
tell my story; and my favorite author, J. California Cooper who pushed me
to complete my first short short story after I read family. Charles W. Chestnut
who was the first African American realism writer in the 1800′s, he shed
light on slavery from a different angle; and Charlotte Perkins Gilman who wrote,
“The Yellow Wallpaper” after experiencing some mental health issues and felt
the condition and the treatment of women needed to be exposed so male doctors at
that time could stop treating women as if they were insignificant and limp. They
make me not just want to write, but they make me want to blast off in the
literary world! They are my Duracell batteries... my muse.
BAN: Name three people who inspire you and the community. Dr. Cornell West because he’s attacking issues. He knows we sleep and
he’s right there in the trenches with that gong in our ears saying, “Wake
up! See what’s going on around you!? Look, it’s right there.” He’s
really giving us the 411, and often times many others when he’s on shows like
Bill Maher.
Monique, because she is truly one of us and showed us when she was doing
comedy shows, on Apollo, telling plus size ladies to love themselves and she
even took it to a TV show and a movie. Then topped herself by winning an Oscar
and topped that with a TV show where she’s putting the spotlight on others and
helping them promote their projects. Monique is good people and we need that.
Also, whether people realize it or not, I believe Russell Simmons inspires
us. In the front of our mind we may not give it too much thought but, you see a
man who came from the same neighborhood we everyday folk come from, where he
made it from scratch and still moving ahead, it makes you want to get back up
when you fall down; he delivers hope just by doing his own thing.
BAN: How did you start your writing career? Who influenced you the most?
I think I knew I wanted to be a writer when my grandmother, a teacher who
specialized in Early Childhood Education, gave me books to read to her at around
six years old. After each story I read, I began to sit and tell her stories. So
one day she gave me a pencil and paper and said, "Here, sit down right here
and write your story." I did, and a few years later when I was reading a
play for homework, she introduced me to writing plays. Experiencing those
different ways to tell stories, I knew at that point I was going to be a writer. BAN: What's the best literary advice you would offer other writers?
"Keep writing until you find your voice, and realize some people spend a
life time never finding theirs." BAN: What do you want to accomplish as a writer?
My plan is to do a lot with my writing. I have a few screenplays I’m holding
out until I get a few books published. A few of them I wrote with Queen Latifah
in mind, our families know one another. I would like to do a few screenplays for
Latifah, Sean Blakemore and Treach and a few others such as: Jada Pinkett-Smith
who I fully support; Will Smith in his Sci-Fi adventures; and Laurence Fishburne,
Robert Dinero and Al Pacino, all of whom I admire, and many more. Also, I would
like to bring some of my books to life in screenplays and stage plays.
BAN:
Tell our readers about Life Knows No Bounds Series latest release
"A Blessing and A Curse."
In "A Blessing and A Curse" Malika has the life every woman wants, a
hard working husband who makes it happen financially; kids, both adopted as well
as biological; her career as an artist with partners who own an art gallery;
nice house, nice neighbors and the gift of foresight.
Malika couldn't ask for much more, until her gift of sight and infrequent
ability to read minds opened her up to her husband's disgust, followed by his
uncaring desire to leave her. She can't figure it out, what has gone wrong? But
a well needed vacation helps her find her worth but to what detrimental end?
Purchase
copies of A Blessing and A Curse
ISBN-13: 978-0981837642
Order books: http://www.aroundthewaypublishing.com
BAN: Do you have any upcoming projects that we can look forward to?
Yes, Clinton Family Ain’t No Robinsons, which is a biography I’m working on
for my uncle George Clinton of Parliament/Funkadelic. Also, a few more novels
from the Life Knows No Bounds chronicle: A Blessing and A Curse; Where Do We Go
From Here; One Man is Smoke and The Other is Fire; Notes & Messages, and a
few non-fiction books: Death of my Other Half; and, Why Men Aren’t All Alike
& How to Deal With Them. I innovated on a few of these books so things
aren’t so typical-usual.
BAN: Is there anything else you would like to share about yourself or your
novel?
I would like to say to the money grubbing gold diggers, especially those
aspiring to wear this title like a tiara, to please take note of the gold
diggers in this book. They used men for money or played mind games with men and
look at where it got them. The examples in the book were the bare minimum of
what really happens when people find they’re being played for their hard
earned money or that their feelings are being toyed with. I plan to further the
goal of enlightening you of the consequences and repercussions of a money
grubbing gold digger in a novel titled, "Tracy," one of the characters
in this novel. Due to our insufficient-dependent women out there who like to
gamble with their life using and toying with men, this book is necessary.
To those who want to know the history of Islam here in America, I offer you
another view in this novel. Although the characters and details are fictitious,
the tragedies, issues, hardships and interruption of the Muslims of that time
period are factual. What was developed to give a sense of direction and self
worth was strategically ripped apart and many many Muslims went astray.
All That Glitters is a novel that proves not only that all that glitters ain't gold, but that we should not rely on our outside appearance to get us ahead in life. Mika and Asia have the problem of the cutesies. They believe that because they got it goin on, they can have what they want, do what they want, and use whom they want. Mika and Asia do not realize that what goes around comes around and that beauty is only skin-deep. They, like all of us, have to pay for their mistakes and will suffer the consequences of their actions.
Mika has a young son and a family that is trying to get her to turn from her wicked ways. Her mother and sister have tried to keep her on the right track, but Mika would rather run with her home girl Asia and flirt with danger instead of finishing college and taking care of herself.
Mika and Asia thinks that life is a game that they are going to win, but when drugs, sex, and the streets are involved in the mix, winning the game is improbable. They want to live the good life, but life has rules and you can't get the gold without the struggle. All That Glitters shows what happens when you gamble with your life.
Scattered Lies III is Available for Fans of Scattered Lies I &
II
Madison Taylor Returns with "Scattered Lies III " the Explosive Finale to
the
Scattered Lies Series! It's not often that a new author can hold a reader's attention through a series of separate releases, yet fiction writer Madison
Taylor; the mastermind behind "Scattered Lies I" and "Scattered Lies II" has managed to do just that! With the creation of her literary trilogy from Influential Writers Publishing, she has cultivated a mounting fan base that is quickly developing into a cult following. Taylor will finally quench the curiosity of swelling inquiries when she releases "Scattered Lies III" on July 1, 2011, culminating the surging suspense created with her two previous novels.
Developing her storyline on the concept that success built on a foundation of lies is not really success at all, Taylor has compellingly intertwined the lives of five successful urbanites to create an intriguing tale of suspense, passion and mind-boggling plot twists. Where "Scattered Lies I"
initiated the theme of "Where lies are the reality of the truth" and "Scattered Lies II" followed up with "Lessons can't be learned when lies prevail,"
"Scattered Lies III" drives the point home with "The Truth Finally."
In "Scattered Lies III" the five protagonists, chameleon Denise Taylor; rap icon, Tony Flowers; the sophisticated Gabrielle Brightman, pop diva Christina Carrington and the gorgeous young Morgan Marciano continue with their separate but intersecting lives, finally coming to terms with their masked actions of dishonesty and deceit. Madison cunningly immerses us into a world rich in urban fantasy while driving home inescapable life lessons. "Scattered Lies III" drips with drama, dances with danger and rivets with retributions as one
by one; truth uncovers a trail of viciously scattered deceptions, destroying everything in its path.
"There comes a time in our lives when redemption is the only chance of salvation," conveys Taylor, and for our beloved characters in the Scattered Lies series, 'Scatter Lies III' is the climactic conclusion to situations that finally had to play themselves out. My readers have patiently waited and anxiously anticipated 'Scattered Lies III' and they will not be disappointed. By the same token, new readers will be able to come on board with 'Scattered Lies III' and still enjoy a great story as well as get the lesson."
Madison Taylor, a native of Bronx, NY, has consistently displayed an ability to explore and exploit the demons of human nature in a realm of seemingly everyday life. With a B.A. in criminal justice and currently in graduate school obtaining a MPA in Public Administration at Ashford University, her characters seep into our own worlds and come alive with their day-to-day dilemmas. Madison Taylor writes like an insider who knows what tangled webs we weave behind the pretenses of truth.
In "Scattered Lies III" revelations initiate events that alter, and even end the lives of those involved. This tumbling of the house deceit will echo thunderously ending this trilogy with one last stand. But for Madison Taylor its just the beginning as there is no doubt "Scattered Lies III" will leave readers clamoring for more!
Join Madison Taylor online and secure your copy of "Scattered Lies III" along with "Scattered Lies I" and "Scattered Lies II"
http://www.Influentialwriterspublishing.com.
"Scattered Lies I & II & III" are also available online wherever books are sold including Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com.
NOTE TO MEDIA: Review copies of "Scattered Lies III" are available via e-book and hard copy. Send your preference to
jazzmynepr@gmail.com and send name, media outlet, and address for hardcopy. Madison Taylor is also available for interview.
Intimate Conversation with
C. J. Hudson
Author Christopher Speight, better known to his fans as
CJ Hudson was born in Alabama. He moved to Cleveland, Ohio at a young age, attended Kent State and later went on to Kaplan Institution acquiring skills to become an electrician. CJ has become a legend in his own rights with urban hits like Chedda Boyz, Next Door Nympho, and his highly anticipated title Diary of a Nympho. He likes to read, write, travel, and spend time with his family. C.J is married with two sons.
BPM: How did you initially break into the publishing industry? How do you feel about self-publishing?
Fate introduced me to the business. I had been thinking about trying to write a book for awhile. Then, one Friday, my job laid me off. For the next few weeks, all I did was sit around and read. One day I was reading a book, which I won’t name, and I thought to myself, damn this book is garbage. I know I can write something better than that. From that thought, Skeletons was born. I was so green, that I didn’t double space or nothing. LOL. I let my mother and my brother-in-law read it and they thought it was good minus the errors. Then they told me that I should try to get it published.
After that I started writing Chedda Boyz. While writing it, I started going to Borders and Barnes and Noble, looking in the front and back of the books, trying to find e mail addresses for publishing houses that were accepting submissions. After reading a Kwan novel, I reached out to him and asked him via e mail if knew of any PH’s that were accepting. He got back to me immediately and gave me the website address of LCB and Urban Books. I submitted to both of them as well as a few others. About three months later I got an e mail from Azarel telling me that they wanted to offer me a contract. I signed it and sent it back about a month later and the rest is history. Self publishing is fine, if you don’t mind doing all the work. LOL.
BPM: What are some of the benefits of an author that make it all worthwhile?
To me the main benefit of being an author is the self gratification I get after the final product if finished and I hold the book in my hand. Flipping through the pages knowing that I was the one who put all these words together, with some help from the editor and publisher of course, is an exhilarating feeling. Another great benefit is when readers ask me when my next book is coming out or telling me that they can’t wait for the sequel to come out. I love giving the readers some hot material.
BPM: What have you realized about yourself since becoming a published author?
That I need to become a more patient person. I’m impatient by nature, but in this game you have no choice but to be patient, if you want to put out a good product.
BPM: How has your writing style evolved over the years?
What stimulated your growth the most? I feel that my writing style has evolved into me being a writer as opposed to a person who just writes. There’s a huge difference. Whereas before I would just sit down and start pounding the keys, now I sit down with a clear outline or plan of what I want to write. I’ve also learned to pay attention to detail better than I used to. Paying attention to detail promotes consistency throughout the book. The authors that I associate with and the publishing house that I’m on stimulate my growth. Plus, I’ve been spanked a few times too (smile). No seriously…they have taught me well.
BPM: What books or authors have made a difference in your life?
Kwan and Quentin Carter are the two most influential authors that have inspired me in my short time as a writer. They way they put stories together is just amazing. I often found myself lost in their world, with my mind traveling back to my experiences as a young man.
BPM: Do you have any advice for people seeking to publish a book?
The first thing that I would tell aspiring authors trying to break into the business is to come into it for the right reasons. I was fully prepared to just write for the fun of it had I not gotten a book deal. I write because I love to, not because I need to. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not going to put out an e book for free or give books away. But if you don’t love what you are doing, then you have no business doing it. Also, be patient. In this business, things don’t happen overnight. I had to learn that the hard way.
BPM: Introduce us to your new book
Next Door Nympho. Do you have any favorites? What genre is the book? On Kindle or Nook?
Well, I'll tell you. If you like lots of sex and drama, then this is definitely the book for you. Talk about a title that sells! I start off with a drama-filled opening scene where one of the main characters is being slammed against the wall.
Diamond Robinson, with pals Essence and Angie, are girls from Cleveland who wanna have fun and, well, lots of sex. Diamond, who selects a dress from Forever 21 because she’s forever stealing somebody’s man, likes her sex fast and furious. When interviewed by a sexual addiction therapist, Diamond estimates her number of partners surpasses 250, but writes down 150 to make it look better.
The moral of the story.. Don’t forget to have the guys strap up! HIV can latch on to anyone. All my characters were so off the chain, it’s hard to choose a favorite.
The genre of the book is Erotica and yes, it’s available on Kindle and Nook.
BPM: What inspired you to write this book? Why now? Ever experience writers block?
Well, my first book Chedda Boyz was more of a street lit type book. I just wanted to switch it up and write about something that I knew people wanted to read about. In the process of writing it, I started to think about the growing problem that HIV was causing in the African American community. I wanted to show people the dangers of sleeping with different partners on a regular basis. Writers block? Who me? Never!
BPM: In writing your novels, how do you develop the plot? What particular scenes from the novel will grab readers and serve to stimulate spirited discussions?
That's one thing that I had to learn. My publisher has been very instrumental in instilling in me the importance of developing a good plot. I knew that I wanted this to be a hot book, but I also knew that I wanted the story to educate people. Once the story was properly developed, it wasn't that hard to keep the story going. I did have to do a fair amount of research for the information on the subject matter though. In my opinion, the funeral scene, where Diamond and her ex boyfriend’s mother get into it is an action packed scene will stimulate a spirited discussion. Another good scene is the club scene in which Diamond's ex boyfriend gets into it with a guy trying to sweet talk her. For me, though, the most intense scene in the entire book is the prologue. It captures the reader's attention from the very first line.
BPM: Who do you want to reach with your book and the message enclosed?
My target audience is primarily young women, and by that I mean 18-30. It is very important that they know the perils of being promiscuous. Reading urban novels and hood books might be entertaining, but take note- there is a message in Next Door Nympho. Receive it!
BPM: What should readers DO after reading this book?
Tell other readers how much they enjoyed it for one. LOL. The book gives information about HIV symptoms that people otherwise wouldn't know. The most important thing for them to do is to start educating themselves about HIV/AIDS and fellas- strap up.
BPM: How do you avoid the temptation of interjecting your own value system in your writing?
By basically becoming the character that you are writing about. Whether it's a man or a woman, a child or an adult, an angel or the devil, you have to put yourself in their shoes and transform into them. If you're writing about a man that's a womanizer, you have to be that person, whether you are one or not.
BPM: Share with us a brief excerpt from one of the most powerful chapters.
"At the last minute, I yanked to the right in order to avoid the collision. Unfortunately, there was a stalled car with its hazard lights on, parked on the shoulder. I slammed on the brakes as hard as I could but there was nothing that I could do to avoid the massive crash. I closed my eyes and gripped the steering wheel tight as my car slammed forcefully into the broke down vehicle. The last thing I remember doing was quickly praying to the Lord to spare my unborn child. Shortly after that, my world went black.'
BPM: Will the digital age or social media usage change the face of publishing?
No Doubt! We're already seeing how the introduction of digital books added to the demise of Borders. Who knows what’s next. My solution is to get with the program. If you can’t beat them, join them….with that said, I live on
Facebook. It’s a great way to promote for free …and yes I believe it’s changing the face of publishing because everyone is on an equal playing
field when it comes to advertising through social media.
BPM: How do feel about selling digital books vs. selling in a brick and mortar store? What impact do you think electronic book sales will have on black authors? On indie authors?
To be honest with you, I'm indifferent about it. A sale is a sale to me. If you receive the same royalties for an e book as you do for a paperback, what difference does it really make when it comes to finances? As far as making books more available…it’s awesome. As far as what impact it will have on black authors, I think the better question is what impact it will have on ALL authors. Maybe I'm just being naive but I write erotica and every race enjoys sex equally.
BPM: What has been your most difficult hurdle to leap? Marketing, promotions or gaining media exposure, etc. How can EDC Creations and our readers help you?
Trying to do book signings. I was all prepared to travel to a lot of cities this year and sign, but I learned fast that unless you are one of the more seasoned authors, the stores take their time getting back to you, if they get back to you at all. I'm still waiting on stores from Detroit and Chicago to call me back. Smile. EDC creations can help me by getting the word out to audiences that I can't reach through their media connections. The readers can help me by spreading the word that I put out hot, sexy books! LOL
BPM: How much does “word of mouth” play into the success of your book? What grassroots strategies have you used to spread the word about your book?
Word of mouth is more important than people realize. People listen to people they trust. So if someone that you know tells you that Next Door Nympho is a good book, you are more likely to buy it than if you just read somewhere that it's a good book. I carry two books with me everywhere I go. I go to barbershops, bars, beauty salons, restaurants, and grocery stores to get the word out about my book.
BPM: We are here to shine the spotlight on your new book, but what's next?
I have an ebook that I have just uploaded to Kindle and Nook. It's called "Hood Luv". "Mo Chedda", the sequel to Chedda Boyz, is also an e book that’s on the horizon. Next year, the sequel to "Next Door Nympho", "Diary of a Nympho" is slated to drop. To keep up with the latest news, friend me on Facebook at "Cj Thewriter", and Twitter @authorcjhudson. My email address is: <mr.hann822 at yahoo dot com>
Next Door Nympho by CJ Hudson
ISBN-13: 978-1934230312
Eyone Williams was born and raised in Washington, D.C. He is a publisher, author, rapper and actor representing urban life in a way that is uniquely his. Known for hard-core, gritty novels, Eyone made the Don Diva best-seller list with his first novel, Fast Lane (Fast Lane Publications). He followed up his debut novel with Hell Razor Honeys 1 and 2 (Cartel Publications). He then delivered his readers a short story entitled The Cross (DC Bookdiva Publications).
He’s also a staff writer for Don Diva Magazine, his most notable work is featured in Don Diva’s issue 30, The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, where he outlined the rise and fall of D.C. street legends Michael “Fray” Salters and Wayne Perry. Eyone’s first acting role was in the forthcoming movie Dark City (District Hustle). His latest mixtape, A Killer’z Ambition, is a sound track to the novel, A Killer’z Ambition (DC Bookdiva Publications) by Nathan Welch.
BPM: Tell us about your journey becoming a successfully published author. Do you have anyone in your life that was heavily influential in your deciding to become an author?
Eyone: My journey from unpublished to published author is a long one. It started inside a prison. When I was 16 years old I got myself into a world of trouble and went to prison, charged as an adult. While in prison I began to educate myself by reading all kinds of books, fiction and non-fiction. Being far away from home (Washington, D.C.), my strongest form of communication with the outside world was writing. I wrote tons of letters to the outside world. I wrote strong letters about all kinds of issues that I was going through as a young man growing up in prison. My letters became essays, essays on topics from prison to religion to history to almost anything else that crossed my mind. I grew a love for writing and began to take writing classes.
After reading Daddy Cool by Donald Goines I decided that I wanted to write a book about street life and how I grew up. I sat down and gave it a shot. My first book, Fast Lane, was born. I let others that were around me at the time read the book and they loved it, but from there I had to find a way to get published. All this was around 98, and there wasn’t a huge urban fiction craze going on at the time so there wasn’t a lot of publishers that I could submit my work to. I put it in my mind that I was going to start my own publishing company from prison. With the help of Aisha Bailey (former co-CEO of Fast Lane Publications) I published my own book. Fast Lane came out in 2004. After a number of ups and downs I signed a deal with Nvision Publishing to publish Fast Lane on a larger scale. That didn’t work out. By this point, I had written a number of books. My comrade, Jason Poole (Free Jason Poole) was making moves with T. Styles, he made a move to get my book Hell Razor Honeys to T. Styles. T. Styles loved it. I was back in the game from there. I released Hell Razor Honeys 1 and 2 with T. Styles’ Cartel Publications.
I was released from prison in March of 2010. I hit the streets on the grind. I was doing all I could to stay focused and to continue to write and excel in the publishing business. DC BOOKDIVA gave me a number of opportunities to put me in a position to work in the business that I wanted to be a part of. She helped me form my own entertainment company, Fast Lane Entertainment. I republished my first book, Fast Lane soon after. DC BOOKDIVA also had the same vision I had for my latest book, Lorton Legends. That was all it took. I decided to publish Lorton Legends with DC BOOKDIVA PUBLICATIONS. It has turned out to be a great business move.
BPM: What is your definition of success?
Eyone: Success can be looked at in a number of ways. Ultimately, success has to be the accomplishment of whatever one sets out to do. I want to hit that New York Times best seller list; I want to publish a number of great books that change the game and more. Once those things are accomplished then that will be one form of success for me as an author and a publisher. Success is the goal that we all set out for with whatever we do. Point-blank, in the publishing business, it’s my opinion that success is when your books are on the best-seller list. Your books are in all stores. Your fans love you and buy everything you drop. Success is what we all strive for, if we are in it to win it.
BPM: How has your writing style evolved over the years? What stimulated your growth the most?
Eyone: When I first started writing I only wrote about things that I knew about, for sure. That was street life. Mostly things that had something to do with the drug trade or gunplay. For lack of better words—gangsta shit. I took real life situations and fictionalized them. Fast Lane, my first book, is nothing but the way me and my homies grew up in the streets of D.C. After Fast Lane I wrote a book called Never Lay Down where I began to slide in a lot of useful information. That useful information was mostly about law and ways that street life was a trap that sent young men to prison. From there I went on to try my hand with my first female-driven book which was Hell Razor Honeys. In Hell Razor Honeys I stepped up my plots, my story line, and I began to slide in more love scenes.
With every book I wrote (I have several unpublished novels) I began to focus more on plot and character development. By the time I got to my latest book, Lorton Legends, I had found my voice and different ways to slide all kinds of things into the plots of my urban novels. At this point in my writing career I feel comfortable in writing what I want to write. I’m a much better writer now. If one reads my books in the order in which they were written they will see my growth as an author.
Reading books from other genres really helped me grow as an author. Reading books by authors like Guy Johnson, Eric Jerome Dickey, and Dan Brown opened my mind to different ways to write street fiction. I look at it like this now: I write street fiction but I can take my readers anywhere I want to. Nevertheless, reading is what has helped me to grow as an author.
BPM: What have you realized about yourself since becoming a published author?
Eyone: First of all, I realized that an author or a publisher’s work is never done. An author can write a great book but if he/she is not willing to get out and about to put in the foot work then the project is not going to move as one would think, the project is just not going to go to the top. I’ve learned that it’s all about knowing the business and the market. Also, an author can’t get caught up in what everybody else is writing, an author must stay true to their creative direction. As for me, I have also realized that once I put my mind to it that I can write what is hot and still put substance into my writing and people will love it. As a street fiction writer, I plan to always keep it street and hood, but I realize that I am a writer and that as a writer I can and should be able to write anything I put my mind to. At the end of the day I have realized that I am an author and what we as author are supposed to do is write good, strong plot driven books.
BPM: Do you have any advice for people seeking to publish a book?
Eyone: Do your homework. Study all you can about publishing. The internet has more than enough information. Research the publisher that you would like to go with and make sure that you fit in and that they are good business people. Overall, do all that you can to put yourself into the right position and give it all you got. If all else fails, do it yourself.
BPM: Introduce us to your book Lorton Legends. Do you have any favorites? What genre is the book? On Kindle or the Nook?
Eyone: My new book is Lorton Legends. It begins inside the justice system in D.C. Jail and follows the lives of four young men that are sent to prison at young ages. Although prison is the setting of the book it is more than a prison book. It is the story of young men growing into real men and all they go through in the process. My favorite character in the book is a guy by the name of Ronald. He is a young man that never had much in life but took it all in stride. No matter what he goes through, even prison, he never gives up on his dreams. As readers follow Ronald in this book they will begin to cheer him on, they will want to see him succeed in all that he dose because they will feel his pain.
We all have goals and things we want to accomplish in life so to get into Ronald’s story takes readers into a world where they can relate to what’s going on. In this book, Ronald had a family that he had to look out for. He has many different struggles he must deal with in order to get where he wants to be in life and he lets nothing get in the way, not even prison. Aside from Ronald and what he goes through in the book, along with his comrades, the book is also full of history and knowledge. I can truly say that Lorton Legends is a novel with substance for all.
By all means, the book is a street novel, but it’s a street novel that has a historic background in many ways, and I say that because the issues that I made a point to add into the book are issues and situations that have truth in them. I touch on black history, religion, politics, education, justice and more. It’s a well rounded book, even with its street flare and hard core aspects. Lorton Legends is not on Kindle or the Nook yet but will very soon. Until then you can only get it from dcbookdiva.com.
BPM: Ultimately, what do you want readers to gain from your book, Lorton
Legends?
Eyone: I want readers to enjoy my book. I want them to read it and feel like they have been through all that my characters go through. I want them to read parts of my book and be like: I didn’t even know that. I want them to understand that no matter what happens in life there is always a way to get to the top, always a way to get where you want to be in life. I want readers to come away feeling like they have been touched by my characters. Most of all, I want readers to understand what it means to be a real man and that struggles are a part of life. Struggle builds character, as my grandmother always said.
For more information about Eyone Williams visit his Facebook page: facebook.com/eyonewilliams
Contact the Publisher
Tiah Short, President and CEO
DC Bookdiva Publications
Phone: 1-866-928-9990 Ext.1
Website: www.dcbookdiva.com
Intimate
Conversation with George Sherman Hudson
George
Sherman Hudson, born and raised in Georgia, was continuously rejected by
publishers because of his books' subject matter. This father of two researched
while serving time and launched G Street Chronicles, the urban book
company based in College Park , Georgia . While George is determined to make G
Street Chronicles a recognized name in the literary industry, he has also
written and released five novels and a short story series of his own, with the
latest release being City Lights.
BPM: George, what is your definition of success?
My definition of success is reaching your goals after a lot of hard work,
sacrifices and determination.
BPM: Success leaves clues, whose clues did you follow on your journey?
I always admired Vickie Stringer's business mind, the way she came out of prison
and went to publishing and became successful. A lot of her clues, which I
picked up from research, interviews and other forms of media, gave me a lot of
knowledge including the pitfalls of the publishing business.
BPM: How has your writing style evolved over the years? What stimulated your
growth the most?
My writing style evolved a lot over the years, especially from my first novel to
my latest release, City Lights. I am now more detail oriented and I focus more
on my character building and my story development than I did when I first
started writing. And everyone knows that when you're detail oriented, you have
good character building and an excellent plot—those three things make best
sellers.
BPM: What have you realized about yourself since becoming a published author?
That I have more patience than I thought I did because when writing these books
you have to have patience and a long attention span and before I started
actually writing, I had no idea of the patience or attention span that I had.
After completing my first novel, I really realized that I possess those two
character traits on a high level.
BPM: Do you have any advice for people seeking to publish a book?
Oh yeah, I have a lot of advice. Do your research on the publishing business
because there's more to it than a book cover and a flyer. The behind the scenes
work is enough to discourage someone that's not prepared. Another bit of advice
is, have your finances in order because you will incur some unexpected expenses.
And my most important piece of advice to give you is to print sensible book runs
and have the marketing and promotions in order because without this, there is no
publishing company.
BPM: If you were not a writer, what would you be? What are you passionate
about, besides writing books?
Business. I would probably have my own record label or be in the music business
in some shape, form or fashion. I love the entertainment industry and just the
thought of pushing a company to where it becomes a major player in the game. I
love the hustle of this business because I'm a hustler at heart.
BPM: A Legacy is something that is handed down from one period of time to
another period of time. Finish this sentence- “My writing offers the following
legacy to future readers... ”
My writing offers the following legacy to future readers of urban literature. My
writing is timeless. I hope to be looked upon like literary icons Donald Goines
and Iceberg Slim are when it comes to their writing. The dates may change, the
settings may change to a certain degree, but the stories I tell will still be
loved and thought as timeless pieces from generation to generation. I look to
always be relevant.
BPM: Share with our readers the “behind-the-scenes” dish! Introduce us to
your book and the main characters. Do you have any favorites? What genre is the
book? On Kindle or Nook?
Family Ties is about a deceiving cousin that's doing everything she can in her
power to get her cousin's man. It takes you on a journey into the music industry
and the Atlanta night club scene. Brian is an unfaithful fiancé; Lynn is the
perfect soon-to-be wife of Brian; and Skylar, the scandalous cousin that cuts no
corner in her deceitful ways. This urban fiction novel is available for all
reading devices.
BPM: What compelled you to write this book? Why now? Ever experience writers
block?
I had a good female friend who had a cousin that wrecked her marriage by
sleeping with her man, so at the time I decided to write a book about those real
life situations that do occur when you have deceitful people in your family who
you thought you could trust at one time.
BPM: Are any scenes from the book borrowed from your world or your
experiences?
Yes, a lot of the scenes are borrowed from my world, as well as the characters.
BPM: In writing your novels, how do your develop the plot? Did you have
difficulty keeping the story on point? How much research was required, if any?
Since this story was similar to a real-life non-fiction story, I didn't have to
develop the plot because this particular story was a real-life experience that I
only enhanced with other experiences.
BPM: What particular scenes from the novel will grab readers and serve to
stimulate spirited discussions?
When Lynn found out about Brian's infidelity and the extent he played in the
other woman's life, especially when the sex tape was unveiled.
BPM: What insight does the book give readers on infidelity?
Infidelity - The book will show you that the grass is not always greener on the
other side and if you have something good you should try to hold on to it and
appreciate the situation.
BPM: Who do you want to reach with your book and the message enclosed?
The women out there who are lusting for their cousin's or best friend's man.
BPM: What should readers DO after reading this book?
Stop cheating on your loved ones and be content with the good situation you have
at the house.
BPM: Will the digital age or social media usage change the face of
publishing?
Yes. I feel like in a couple of years, ebooks are going to make the printed
books obsolete. With all the technology that's developing new reading devices,
the printed book will not be a big seller. As of right now, printed book sales
are down 10% which is a direct effect of the growing number of people who are
using reading devices and downloading books.
BPM: How do feel about selling digital books vs. selling in a brick and
mortar store? What impact do you think electronic book sales will have on black
authors? On indie authors?
I prefer selling ebooks because I don't have to pay for printing or shipping.
It's less expensive to produce an ebook.
BPM: How much does “word of mouth” play into the success of your book?
What grassroots strategies have you used to spread the word about your book?
Word of mouth plays a big part. Grassroots strategies - we like the virtual
marketing that's going on in the industry today and the use of all the social
networks but we tend keep it original with distributing flyers which I feel like
it will always have an impact on the recognition of the business.
BPM: We are here to shine the spotlight on your new book, but what's next?
Share with us your latest news, awards or upcoming book releases. How may our
readers follow you online?
In 2012, we are re-releasing Drama in 2012 and that will be followed by Drama
Part 2. Also, my VP, Shawna A. Grundy and I are co-authoring a fabulous erotica
suspense novel entitled, 69. My latest release is City Lights, a full length
novel and Gangsta Girl, my short story series which is exclusive to ebooks. You
follow me on Facebook, Twitter and www.gstreetchronicles.com
BPM: Thank you, George Sherman Hudson, for sharing a little bit about
yourself, your journey and your book with our readers!
You're welcome. Thank you and thanks to all the readers who have given me and
the G Street Chronicles' family much love and support.
Family
Ties by George Sherman Hudson
Skylar had everything a woman could hope for. She had the money, clothing,
jewels and the perfect man to finance it all. She was living in the lap of
luxury, until it all came crashing down after her boyfriend was murdered, during
a drug deal gone wrong. Skylar suddenly finds herself broke, hungry, and alone.
Unable to fend for herself, she leaves the world she once knew behind to start
over in Atlanta and reclaim the man that once got away...Brian.
Although, the two of them only shared a brief sexual encounter, Skylar never
truly forgot the way Brian put it down, bringing her to the highest point of
ecstasy. Not only will Brian be able to quench her sexual thirst, he’s the
perfect man to pull her out of her financial rut.
Since their last encounter, Brian has been making his mark in the music
industry, as one of the most sought after producers in the country. Skylar knows
her life with Brian will be perfect, there’s just one obstacle standing in her
way...her cousin and Brian’s fiancée’, Lynn. While Lynn is planning the
perfect wedding, Skylar is devising the perfect plan to steal her man. If
Skylar has her way, “keeping it in the family”, will be more than just a
phrase.
Excerpt
from Chapter One: Family Ties by George Sherman Hudson
“Skylar, this is Brian, my fiancé,” Lynn said with pride, linking her arms
with Brian’s.
“Hello, Brian. I’m Skylar. Nice to meet you,” Skylar greeted, checking
Brian out from head to toe.
“Nice to meet you, too, Skylar,” he replied, noticing how the girl was
giving him the once-over.
“Baby, can y’all go to the store and get some more paper plates and cups? We
got more family than I realized,” Lynn ’s Aunt Grace asked them while
flipping the meat on the grill.
“We got you, Auntie,” Lynn answered. She turned to her fiancé and asked,
“Brian, can you handle that for me? I got to help Mama season the rest of the
meat and set up the tables.”
“No problem, baby,” he said as he walked over and put his hand on the small
of her back. “Wait, I take that back. There is one problem.”
“What’s that, baby?” Lynn asked.
“I have no idea where the store is. You got me down here in the middle of the
swamplands!” Brian joked.
“I’ll show you, cuz-in-law,” Skylar volunteered.
“Thanks, cuz!” Lynn said as she walked off, heading to the table full of
meat marinating in a tasty blend of spices as it waited for its turn on the
grill. Brian couldn’t help watching as Skylar threw her hips from side to side
as they headed to the car.
“Nice ride,” she said as he adjusted her miniskirt in the soft leather seat
of his BMW 760.
“Thanks,” Brian responded, looking down at her exposed thighs and purposely
letting his eyes meet hers with a longer than casual glance. They both smiled at
each other. Brian left Skylar in the car as he went in the store to get the
party supplies. When he returned to his car, he noticed she had pulled her skirt
up so far that he could tell she wasn’t wearing any panties. He took in the
sight of her neatly shaved pubic hair.
“You like what you see?” she asked softly as she lifted her skirt even
further so he could get a good look. Brian was at a loss for words and stood
silent and dumbfounded.
“Well, do you?” she moaned wantonly as she leaned over and kissed him and
rubbed the lump growing between his legs. Before he knew it, they were climbing
into the back seat. Comfortably hidden behind the dark tint of the BMW windows,
they sexed each other up until the back seat was wet with their body fluids, one
last moan signaling their mutual release. After filling Skylar with his juices,
a feeling of guilt and regret came over Brian. He could only think of Lynn and
what would happen if she were to ever find out. “Damn,” he said, “we
shouldn’t have done that.” He regretfully buttoned up his pants in a hurry
and climbed into the driver’s seat.
“Why not? I really enjoyed it.” Skylar smiled and climbed back into the
front passenger’s seat and pulled down the visor mirror to fix her mussed
hair.
“Look here, Skylar, this has got to stay between me and you, right?” Brian
insisted with authority pouring from his voice.
“Yeah, yeah, our little secret, boo – just between you and me,” Skylar
said sincerely as she leaned over and kissed him on the cheek.
Available on all reading electronic reading devices. Nook
| Kindle
| Smashwords
| Don't have a eReader, read on your PC!
Intimate Conversation with author Jackie Davis
Author Jackie Davis was born in Washington, D.C. At the tender age of thirteen she moved to Raleigh, NC where she still remains with her son, Emanuel who is a freshman at North Carolina Central University.
Jackie works as a membership coordinator full time and part time at a group home for mentally challenged adults and children.
Jackie has been a book lover from a very young age, and was inspired to write her novel by a close friend, and author Tonya Ridley. She writes non-stop in her free time.
Love Heist is Jackie’s first novel. She is currently working to promote her newly released second novel called
Married to a Balla.
BPM: Tell us about your passion for writing. Have you always been a writer?
So glad you asked that question! I’ve been writing in a journal since high school. It was the only way I could deal with the problems I had at home. It would take me some place else, some place away from troubles. Those same troubles motivated me to take some of those issues and real-life characters, and molded them into a book. Ultimately, I want my readers to be able relate to my stories, and take a break from their lives all at the same time.
BPM: Introduce us to your new book, Married to a Balla. What's the
main focus?
Despite the beautiful home, expensive cars and huge bank account, Skye’s marriage to pro football player, Sandino Washington is seriously flawed. After years of being a victim of domestic violence, Skye is caught between their extravagant lifestyle and his controlling behavior, but knows she has to get out. In a desperate attempt, Skye flees the abusive marriage with her three children in tow, and vows never to go back. She even begins a new life with a new identity, but lives in fear, knowing that Sandino won t rest until he finds them. Brace yourself as a shattered woman is determined to rebuild her life and protect her family at all cost, even if it means death. Besides, who wouldn’t’ fight against their most treacherous enemy; even if it is your own husband?
BPM: Introduce us to your main characters in Married to a Balla.
My main character is Skye, and she is being abused by her pro ball player husband. After suffering years of abuse, she decides to leave him in the middle of the night.
She lives on the run for awhile and later goes into a battered women’s shelter and falls in love with the owner of the shelter. But finds out later he has a few secrets of his own.
BPM: Are your characters from the portrayal of real people? Who were your favorites?
My favorite character is Skye. She is strong and I admire her strength to finally get out of her abusive relationship. I based Skye’s character on a friend I use to work.
BPM: What are some of the specific issues, needs or problems addressed in this book?
Domestic violence, stalking, and how to get help.
BPM: Who do you want to reach with your book, Married to a Balla?
I attempt to end all my novels with a positive message. My hope is to always touch someone who found themselves inside my book. I want to not only entertain my readers but educate them so if they’re going through the same thing it may give them the information needed to get help.
BPM: What was the most powerful chapter for you to write in Married to a Balla?
The dramatic night Skye decides to leave and her husband tries to stop her.
Kendall Banks, author of bestselling author of Rich
Girls (2009) and the soon to be released One Night Stand (February 2011), is
offering the reader a glimpse at the consequences of cheating. In addition,
after reading One Night Stand you’ll realize that sleeping with someone you
don’t really know can have a life changing effect. Check out excerpts from her
books on the publisher's website at: www.lifechangingbooks.net.
BPM: Kendall tell us about your passion for writing. What impact do you want
your book to make on the readers?
My passion is simple. Telling it like it is. I’m such a realist. I yearn to
write about things that are really happening in life; especially in
relationships. I’ve had enough crazy relationships to be an expert at this
point. Okay, I had to stop and laugh. Laughing makes the pain go away. But
seriously, I just want my readers to learn from my writing. Let the do’s and
don’ts of relationships, marriage, and commitment meditate in your heart. Take
what I write as a warning because Lord knows if you run across one of my
characters in real life…you’d better take off sprinting!
BPM: A Legacy is something that is handed down from one period of time to
another period of time. Finish this sentence- My writing offers the following
legacy to future readers...
My writing offers the following legacy to future readers and youth headed toward
adulthood….my writing is on the wall…literary…learn to stay monogamous. We
as parents, authors, and society as a whole are helping to raise our youth. They
will someday read- One Night Stand and think…what? Is this real! Could this
really happen! Would my husband do that? Will I be tempted to cheat? The answer
is yes. Now, what will you do about it?
BPM:
Give us a peek inside your latest novel, One Night Stand.
This book is like no other, so I’ve been told. One Night Stand explores both
the male and female after effect of a One Night Stand. In fairy tale land both
parties have great sex and go home to peace. In this book the gritty truth is
revealed. From smashing up cars, to court dates, to kidnapping, to border-line
divorce; are all implications that one night of pleasure can lead to a lifetime
of misery.
BPM: Introduce us to the main characters in One Night Stand by Kendall
Banks.
The main characters are Zaria (lonely woman in her thirties with mental
issues) and Gerald Hardy (male womanizer who’s married and thought to
be untouchable) (Milan), Zaria’s room-mate who’s beautiful and desperately
trying to flee from Zaria and her over the top ways. (Dana) Hardy’s wife who
doesn’t believe nothing he says. However, doesn’t realize she’s in danger.
Zaria, who’s always looking for love falls head over heels for Hardy, a man
she met only once. His routine is to sleep with women, then forget he ever met
them. Problem…Zaria refused to be played. In addition, Hardy never took the
time to explore Zaria’s background.
BPM: Who were your favorites? Are your characters from the portrayal of real
people?
My favorite character was Hardy. Since I’m a woman, so it was fun to write his
parts from a male perspective. He’s off the chain and will give women some
insight as to what men are thinking. This is beyond info put into Steve
Harvey’s book. This is straight talk with no chaser. Many men were questioned
to assist with material to write his parts.
The aspects of realism come from too many parts of the book. I’ve been sworn
to secrecy, so can’t say. The only thing I can tell you is that a lot of
Hardy’s behaviors are real and the consequence has been changed to protect the
innocent. Go ahead, “say, ahhhh.” Drool at the mouth and then go to Amazon
to order your copy.
BPM: Were there things from "your world" incorporated into this
storyline?
Absolutely, I’ve been hurt so many times in life. But one relationship put the
icing on the cake. I was lied to, pounced on, and treated like less than a human
being. It was hard to walk the other way, so yes, a little payback was needed.
Some of the crazy things I did over the years make me want to cringe now. I’m
a little older, more mature so I choose to let things go. However, I wouldn’t
suggest that a brotha try this mess with me in 2011.
BPM: What specific revelation prompted you to write One Night Stand?
The revelation that the world would be a better place if cheaters were exposed
gave me inspiration. What about a database like we have for sex offenders? LOL!
I’ve already begun working on a handbook titled, “Rules for One Night
Stands”.
BPM: What are two juicy events taking place?
One initial event that lets you know that Zaria is a sick puppy is when Zaria
goes to a club and sees that an attractive man has eyes for her. She instantly
speeds of the relationship and assumes they will be a couple. Instantly, she
digs her claws into him, claiming him as her own. He doesn’t realize she’s
more than needy. She has emotional issues and eventually shows out at the club
claiming that some woman wants her man.
Another event is when Hardy , the man Zaria has one of her One Night Stands with
realizes he can’t just have a good time for one night and get away with it.
His family is threatened and things spiral out of control all too quick. Even
with the police involved, no one can stop Zaria after feeling like she’s been
hurt one time too many.
BPM: Who do you want to reach with your book and the message within?
I would like to reach men and women, of all ages. It’s important to know who
you’re dealing with sexually. If he or she is married, turn the other way It
only leads to the break-up of families and sometimes…someone’s bones
BPM: How will reading your book shape the reader's life?
If I am discussing them in any way, hopefully they will see themselves. The
whole One Night Stand situation can’t be good on any level. Think about it,
you’ll have one night of good sex…maybe! Then what? Let this be a lesson.
..Good things in life come from hard work. Spend time with a person, before sex.
Try to figure out if they are a good match for you just in case you get married
later and have children.
BPM: What was the most powerful chapter for you to write?
The chapter where Zaria realizes that Hardy really doesn’t want her. It was
like she was in super duper denial. Why can’t we as women see when a man
doesn’t want us?
BPM: What do you think makes your book different from others on the same
subject?
Mine is different because it brings the truth out. I don’t sugar coat
anything. It’s raw at times but also entertaining. It hasn’t even officially
been released yet has people talking everywhere. I’m sure it’ll be a
classic.
BPM: Share with us your latest news or upcoming book releases.
My book will be released on February 28, 2011. I’m looking forward to
sell-outs everywhere. So pleaseeeee pre-order now. In the meantime, check out my
first book- Rich Girls written in 2009 at www.lifechangingbooks.net
BPM: How can our readers reach you online?
Readers can reach me on FaceBook (Kendall Banks). I don’t have my website
yet…but for now check me out on: www.Lifechangingbooks.net.
I’m hoping readers will contribute comments and suggestions to my handbook on
, Rules for One Night Stands.
All Best!
Kendall, The One Night Stand Specialist
Purchase today at LCB, Go.
Purchase today at Amazon, Go.
Intimate Conversation with Niobia Bryant
aka Meesha Mink
Meesha Mink is the psuedonym for bestselling author Niobia Bryant. Meesha Mink is the national bestselling and award-winning author of 20 previous novels. She lives in New Jersey and South Carolina.
The Nationally Bestselling Hoodwives series – Desperate Hoodwives, Shameless Hoodwives, and The Hood Life – co-authored by Meesha Mink, changed the face of urban fiction in the way that the Coldest Winter Ever and True to the Game laid the foundations for the genre. Now Mink returns with an explosive new urban fiction series that is sure to bring the heat.
In the hood, every day is about struggle and survival, and no one understands that daily grind more than twenty-two year old Kaeyla “Goldie” Dennis in REAL WIFEYS: On the Grind, the first book in the Real Wifeys series featuring different “wifeys” from different hoods with different struggles. Fierce and uncensored, REAL WIFEYS: On the Grind is an intimate look at the scandalous life of a “wifey” who uses her sex appeal and street smarts to strike it big.
BPM: Meesha, what makes you powerful as a person and a writer?
I think my greatest power comes from believing in myself. There is no incentive to succeed like self-motivation. I knew since I was a child that I wanted to be a writer. I believed and I achieved. (That sounds so corny but it’s true.)
BPM:
What have you realized about yourself since becoming a published author?
I’ve realized that I can take constructive criticism. When I turn in a book and there is no long editorial letter, I actually feel disappointment because I have the utmost respect for editors and the polish they bring to a book. I am one author who enjoys the feedback and looks at it as a chance to grow as an author.
BPM: Do you have any advice for people seeking to publish a book?
The best advice is to learn the business. Use the internet, the library, local writing chapters, and any other resource to learn the proper steps to get published. Period. You can write the “Great American Novel” but if you don’t submit it properly to publishers and agents your work will not get read. Most publishers and agents have their submission guidelines on their websites and if they don’t you can send a SASE along with a very brief letter requesting their guidelines. That’s the most important step--well, that and finishing the book!
BPM: Meesha, if you were not a writer, what would you be?
If I weren’t a writer, I would have pursued a career as a relationship counselor or therapist or something along those lines. I have my Bachelor of Arts in Behavioral Science with a Psychology degree. All things therapy and counseling related intrigue me and I place a lot of my characters in therapy in the books because I believe there are PLENTY of people who could use a few hours or more being analyzed by a professional!
BPM: When you have completed a project, how do you celebrate?
I actually don’t officially celebrate until my editor accepts the book as is and initiates my Delivery and acceptance check. Lol. Once one of those slips into the mailbox I usually treat myself to one thing completely selfish--be it a handbag or short vacay or mini-shopping spree. You can finish a book and turn it in to your editor, but until he/she says your done with it--you’re not done with it.
BPM: Share with us one detail about you or a hobby readers would enjoy.
I love Twitter way more than Facebook. Seriously. FB is more revealing of people and sometimes there are aspects revealed that I know I wish I wasn‘t privy to.
BPM: Introduce us to Real Wifeys on the Grind. What genre is the book? On Kindle or Nook?
Real Wifeys: On The Grind is the first book in the Real Wifeys trilogy about three different “wifeys”, from three different hoods, who each face a major issue or crisis in their life. In
Real Wifeys on the Grind, the lead character is Kaeyla “Goldie” Dennis, a twenty-two year old woman who has been the “wifey” of a older, wealthy man since she was fifteen. The discovery of their long-time affair by his real wife brings a crushing end to her hood-fabulous lifestyle in her low-rise project in Newark. The book is definitely considered urban fiction but I believe the story could be told in any backdrop besides an urban one. Yes the book is available on both Kindle and Nook.
BPM: Take us inside the book. What are two major events taking place?
Through the whole book, Goldie realizes that she banked her whole life on a man who was married to someone and was never going to commit to her. She dropped out of high school. She never held a job. She accepted his lies and manipulations. When it was all said and done she was literally left alone in the cold and so she has to find her own hustle or grind to support herself because she’s determined not to deal with the man--or love-- anymore. And as she finds some level of success running a strip club out of her apartment, she is grappling with her love of money, her quest for power, and her search for self-respect.
There are a lot of major, dramatic events that propel the book forward. Thinking back on the book there really are no static moments but I guess if I had to choose two it would be: 1) Goldie breaking free of the financial, sexually, and psychological hold her older lover had on her by starting her own strip club in her project apartment and 2) definitely the last part of the book where her betrayals of friends and employees comes back to haunt her as she must choose money or her own self -respect.
BPM: Are your characters from the portrayal of real people or experiences?
The characters in Real Wifeys: On The Grind are completely fictional, but I did hear of a girl who actually ran a strip club in her apartment on the weekend and it was story I wanted to flesh out and develop myself.
BPM: What compelled you to write Real Wifeys on the Grind?
I just wanted to write a book that was both entertaining and deliverd a few subliminal messages--especially for younger women who are fascinated more so with designer labels than education, for the ladies that worry about what money a man makes over making money for themselves, and maybe showing them that you really don’t want to wind up in Goldie’s shoes --especially if you look deep into her life and see the bull she deals with.
BPM: Who do you want to reach with the messages within Real Wifeys on the Grind?
I definitely want to reach younger women that 18-25 demographic most specifically. The younger ladies who are still impressionable and open to maybe learning about and seeking different paths in life. Those maybe not so tied into a rut.
BPM: What are some of the issues, needs or problems addressed in this book?
Honestly there’s a lot. There’s the African-American communities fascination with materialism (me included), there’s intra-racial prejudice, school-age bullying, there’s domestic violence, there’s drug use, infidelity, incest (in the case of some of the dancer’s background), and I think one of the major issues brought up in the book is child molestation to some degree. Goldie was just fifteen (a minor) when she entered into this sexual relationship with a man more than fifteen or twenty years older than her. I made sure that there were no sex scene between the two of them when she was underage. I wasn’t at all comfortable with doing that because really Goldie was a victim of this man in my eyes.
BPM: Ultimately, what do you want readers to gain from your book?
Mainly I want young girls to realize that the decisions made in their teens or early twenties can affect them in the long run. To me, Goldie’s life was so tragic and even though she had money and even though she gained power through running her own business, she was still a tortured soul. So I wanted to show all of the materials things she had in the book and hopefully someone will say well you can still ball out and have this hood fabulous life and not be happy. It’s not enough. It’s shouldn’t be about those things. Maybe goals will change. You know?
BPM: Share with us your upcoming projects or latest news.
I have five releases in four genres this year and I’m currently working on Real Wifeys: Get Money. Its book two of the trilogy and it’s focused on a new “wifey” that is caught up in getting revenge against Goldie. You will catch up with Goldie and se some more growth from her but the book is really from the viewpoint of one Goldie’s enemies.
Intro: Real Wifeys on the Grind by Meesha Mink
In the hood, every day is about struggle and survival, and no one understands that daily grind more than twenty-two year old Kaeyla “Goldie” Dennis in REAL WIFEYS: On the Grind, the first book in the Real Wifeys series featuring different “wifeys” from different hoods with different struggles.
Fierce and uncensored, REAL WIFEYS: On the Grind is an intimate look at the scandalous life of a “wifey” who uses her sex appeal and street smarts to strike it big.
Goldie has been the “wifey” of an older, wealthy man since she was sixteen, but the discovery of their long-time affair by his real wife brings to an end her hood-fabulous lifestyle in her low-rise project in Newark.
Determined to prove she can make it without the man and his money, Goldie tries every hustle she can think of, including selling knock-off clothing and bootleg DVDs, with little success. Then she gets an irresistible offer from a sexy strip-club owner and becomes the club’s biggest act. Ultimately realizing that she can make more money by taking her show on the road, she leaves the club and its owner behind, and begins running her own show in her apartment. Business booms and Goldie hits it big when her company, Goldie Girls, is hired to tour with a platinum selling rapper. But her constant quest for more money and power leads Goldie to make decisions that bring on enemies and puts her safety and her self-respect at risk all for the bottom line.
Mink has literary prowess, a flair for creating drama, and an intimate knowledge of what really goes down on the streets. Urban-lit fans will devour this raw new series.
Authors, VegasClarke demonstrate that opposites attract. Vegas entered
a life of crime beginning at the age of 13. Selling drugs was all he came to
know which finally landed him a 78-month sentence in the Federal Prison System.
During his incarceration, he was able to cope with his time and mature through
writing. He put his heart into manifesting urban tales, poetry, and songs. He is
currently pursuing his degree in Business Administration and working on the
sequel to Snitch. Vegas believes that it is never too late to change his life.
On the other hand, in order to change, one has to be willing to change he often
tells his fan base.
Clarke developed a passion for writing while becoming an avid reader of
all kinds of fiction. Once Vegas and Clarke were reunited, they were able to
combine Vegas' street smarts and Clarke's school smarts, creating literary magic
while focusing on real-life realities. Clarke graduated from Kent State
University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Public Communications Studies with
a minor in Pan-African Studies. Since then she has changed fields and works in
Corporate America, where she is working on a Masters in Business Administration.
VegasClarke spend time working on future novels while residing in Cleveland,
Ohio with their two children. Visit their website for more details and event
listings: www.vegasclarke.com.
BPM: Are your characters from the portrayal of real people?
They were based on a conglomeration of different people, except Drape. We took
different people and meshed them all together to create three dimensional
characters. It’s kind of like taking four people and creating the one perfect
mate (smile).
BPM: Introduce us to your book, Snitch, and the main characters.
Our novel, appropriately titled Snitch discusses what goes on in the real world
when many people are caught up and their backs are against the wall. Some of us
have to make a decision on whether to snitch or not. Many times, people snitch
on their closest friends, even family.
Snitch is a sexy urban tale that will make you think twice about who you
can trust. It all begins with César Lopez aka Drape, a savvy street hustler who
thinks he’s on top of the world. He has no plans of relinquishing his crown as
King Pen of the Streets; but the love of his life Diona has a different agenda.
The drug game becomes a gamble when fast money, sex, and violence all collide
and the chips fall hard. In comes Shorty, a gangsta chick with a bodacious body
ready to betray anyone who threatens her livelihood. Love, trust, and loyalty
are tested in this wild tale of sex and deception. Eventually, Drape’s back is
against the wall and classified information gets exposed. Soon, no one know what
side they’re on …but best believe they’ll pay a hefty price; jail time or
death. Who will be this hustler’s downfall?
The main characters are Drape, Shorty, and Diona. Drape is
a guy who is from the streets and heads a crew called the Scrilla Boys.
Drape is attractive, has money, cars, but he lets the streets get the best of
him.
Shorty is Drape’s ride or die chick, which has been in love with him for
years. She is willing to do anything for Drape; however she can’t understand
why he won’t make a commitment to her. Of course in real life, there’s
always a woman lurking somewhere just waiting to scoop your man up!
Diona, Drape’s main lady aka “wifey,” comes from the suburbs and happens
to fall in love with a “bad boy,” going against the wishes of her family.
She endures many lonely nights, cheating and being left alone with a baby. Even
though she is not from the streets, she deals with much drama because of the
streets.
BPM: Finish this sentence- "Our writing offers the following legacy to
future readers..."
Our writing offers the following legacy to future readers...because it is a tale
of history repeating itself. There will be many more Drapes, Shorty’s, and
Dionas in the future. Our writing offers a sense of realism with street
credibility. Being though we are a writing duo, readers can anticipate always
getting the female and male perspective of things.
BPM: What specific situation or revelation prompted you to write your book? Vegas- Quentin Carter and I were cell mates in prison so while watching
him write his book, Hoodwinked it inspired me. I also wanted to write about
things that people could relate to in my community.
Clarke- I wanted to write about things that women could relate to and
raise awareness about the issues that women go through. While dealing with
certain situations, women have to maintain their dignity and strength at all
times.
BPM: What are some of the specific issues or problems addressed in this book?
The tactics used by police officials to catch criminals are horrific, but
they’re real. From reading this book you’ll be able to spot sneaky cops a
mile away. We’ll collect our tip money later (smile). In addition, the
betrayal vs. loyalty factor is huge. It addresses and relates to different types
of relationships; husband and wife, boyfriend and girlfriend, best friends, and
the list goes on.
BPM: Ultimately, what do you want readers to gain from your book?
We want more than anything for readers to gain awareness about true friendship
as well as being entertained and fulfilled at the end of the book. We want the
readers to think about our characters as if they’re real and wonder what will
happen next.
BPM: What makes your book different from others on the same subject?
Well, I don’t really know personally the other authors who have written novels
about this topic, however what can be said is this I have lived in the gutter my
whole life and have committed many crimes. So I know one thing for sure,
I have been snitched on and my credibility is rather high for the nature of
content for this book (Vegas).
Even though it is fiction, this book is also different because many other
authors are out of touch with what really goes on in the streets and the
reality. In order to raise awareness, people want to be able to relate in some
type of way, no matter how big or small.
Intimate
Conversation
with Danette Majette Hosted by Ella Curry,
Black Pearls Magazine
Danette
Majette was born in Long Branch, New Jersey, and moved to Norfolk, Virginia
when she was five. After graduating from high school and going into the U.S.
Marine Corps, Danette's love for fashion led her to Nordstrom where she worked
as a manager. It was there that she was advised be a friend and co-worker
to write her first novel "I Shoulda Seen It Comin" which
debuted in 2005.
She followed this success two years later with her second
novel 'Deep" which successfully made the Essence Magazine bestseller list
in 2008. She released her third novel “Good Girl Gone Bad’ in April 2009.
After years of living in Washington D.C., Danette decided to move to Raleigh,
N.C., with her two children, Bryan Majette and Marketa Salley. Marketa is
a featured author in LCB’S Teenage Bluez; a series of urban short
stories written for and by teens. Danette’s fourth novel 'Bitter' was released in February 2011.
BPM: Tell us about your passion for writing. What impact do you want your
book to make on the readers?
My passion comes from the deep interest I have in things going on in my
community. I always have issues going on around me so I take those issues and
turn them into a book, with added spice of course. To be honest, I love to write
entertaining novels!!
I think people are so consumed with the trivial things in life that they don’t
realize that there are people out here with serious issues and problems going on
in their lives. There are people that are homeless, hungry, dealing with bad
relationships, and fighting for their lives everyday. I hope my stories will
effect someone in a positive manner.
BPM: Finish this sentence- "My writing offers the following legacy to
future readers..."
I hope to show people that you can come from nothing and make something of
yourself. I don’t want my life to be measured by what I accumulated but
instead on how I used a gift from God to spread the word about issues affecting
our society. I want to be remembered for putting out quality material and always
conveying positive messages in my books to help the next generation. I hope long
after my death, my legacy will continue with the lives I’ve touched with my
writings.
BPM:
Introduce us to your latest novel, Bitter.
Reese Kennedy, is a controversial radio talk-show host who was on top of the
world when she was married and living the glamorous life. That is until her
husband Eric, a former NBA player, leaves for her for a much younger woman.
After a nasty divorce, Reese takes her frustration out on every man by bashing
them on her show and soon becomes the most hated woman in Dallas. Just when
Reese thinks she s completely fed up with men, a handsome and charismatic
investor named Xavier walks into her life.
Trying her best
to adjust to love again, Reese finally puts her guards down until she suddenly
finds herself on death s door. The phrase keep your enemies close will take on a
new meaning when an awful truth is revealed and Reese quickly learns that she s
not the only one who s bitter.
BPM: What are two major events
taking place?
The first major event is Reese is being
stalked. Then there is Joi and Lavar who have a very explosive relationship
which turns deadly for one of them. My main characters are Reese, Joi, Julian, Lavar and Xavier. Reese is a radio
host who loses her husband to a young white girl so she’s very bitter about
that. She later finds love but at what cost. Joi is Reese’s best friend and
co-host who is in a volatile relationship with Lavar a big time hustler who is
the epitome of evil. Julian is Reese’s producer who is obsessed with her but
keeps it a secret until she meets Xavier. He then starts to unravel right before
Reese’s eyes showing his bitter side as well. Xavier is Reese’s new love who
has a few secrets of his own.
BPM: Who were your favorites? Are your characters from the portrayal of real
people?
Joi is my favorite. In a lot of ways she reminds me of myself. She’s funny,
loves shopping, tells it like it is, and she’s not afraid to stand up to Lavar,
even though everyone else is. She knows he’s dangerous but she checks him when
he gets out of bounds with her.
BPM: Were there things from "your world" incorporated into this
storyline?
Absolutely! There are few scenes between Joi and Lavar that were really things
that happened to me so it was really surreal writing them. When things happen to
me I don’t think about how crazy they are until I write them in my books. I
then look back and think to myself ‘wow’. Some of them have me laughing.
Some of them make me wonder how I even allowed myself to get in that situation.
I think we are all still learning from our mistakes and will continue to make
mistakes because that’s a part of life. Nobody is perfect and life isn’t
always going to go the way we want it to. With that said…I’ll never run out
of stuff to write about because my life is just that colorful! The good and the
bad!
BPM: What compelled you to write Bitter? What are some of the issues
discussed in the book?
Domestic violence, stalking, and how to handle baby mama drama are some of the
issues addressed in my new book. I read something about Wendy Williams and
how she was the radio talk show host everyone loved to hate, my own personal
relationships with people, and then just things I see everyday when I leave my
home.
I can go to a Wal-Mart and see the craziest stuff, come back home, write it down
and have a storyline for a book. LOL.
BPM: Who do you want to reach with your book and the message within?
Everyone…because everyone is bitter about something or has been bitter at one
time. We put our whole lives out there for the world to see. We get on Facebook
and other media outlets and put our exact locations at that moment. We let
people know where we work, where we live, we post our children’s pictures, and
photos of our home and cars. Well if someone wanted to hurt you…they would
know where to find you.
I think we’re
also very trusting of people we don’t really know. We go out on a date with
someone and the next thing you know they know where we live, what we do, and
they’ve met the children. Then we find out their not the person we thought
they were we get mad. Well we didn’t really get to know them did we? Yet
we’re soooo surprised when it happens.
BPM: How will reading your book shape the reader's life?
It’s going to make the readers re-evaluate a lot of things they normally do.
Hopefully they’ll become a little more cautious and tread with open ears.
BPM: Ultimately, what do you want readers to gain from your book?
I want them to gain a sense of self-worth. If you don’t love and protect
yourself…you can’t expect anyone else to.
BPM: What makes your book different from others on the same subject?
I think each of my scenes suggest some kind of mystery and romance. Each chapter
is going to arouse curiosity and tantalize readers.
Intimate
Conversation with
Author Carla S. Pennington
Hosted by Ella Curry, Black Pearls Magazine
Author
Carla S. Pennington was born and raised in Prichard, Alabama where she
continues to reside with her family. In 1995, she graduated from Mattie T.
Blount High School, an all black school. She became a teen mother in 1992 and
was advised that she couldn’t return to school for an entire semester after
giving birth. This devastated Carla, but she refused to be held back. Her
dedication and hard work paid off. She ranked number five in her graduating
class and received an advanced diploma with honors.
In 1996, Carla was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Over the years, the
disease has halted her, but she refuses to let it stop her. She is currently
working on a number of other projects that she plans to have published in the
near future.
In 2002, she received her Bachelor of Arts degree with a concentration in
journalism from Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama. After graduation, Carla
decided not to pursue her career in journalism. Her heart and mind were
elsewhere. She wanted to write fiction novels and short stories, something that
she had been doing since she was a young girl.
In 2005, Carla published her first novel, Fling and from there several short
stories which appeared in anthologies across the country. Finally, she landed a
book deal with Life Changing Books which released the wildly anticipated novel,
the Available Wife in January 2011. Readers can reach author Carla S.
Pennington on FaceBook and Twitter as: carlapennington. Email
address: carlapennington@hotmail.com
BPM: Carla, tell us about your passion for writing. What impact do you want
your book, The Available Wife, to make?
Carla: My passion for writing began when I was in elementary school. Once I
started reading, I became fascinated with words. At first, I was into poetry and
that turned into short stories and that turned into full length books. I write
because it feels good. Writing is a de-stressor for me, my escape from reality.
It’s my drug of choice. What drives me to write is the fact that I can write
what I want. It’s my choice to do a love story, an erotic piece, an abusive
relationship, etc. The impact that I want my book to make on readers is: “I
want to read more books by this author. She is fire!”
BPM: Finish this sentence- “My writing offers the following legacy to
future readers...”
Carla: My writing offers the following legacy to future readers and authors: to
the readers, read with your eyes AND mind open. To the authors, be you at all
times. If you can imagine or think it, you should write it. You should never be
afraid of your imagination and thoughts. That is what makes you stand out from
the rest.
BPM:
Introduce us to The Available Wife and Niquole Wright.
Carla: Niquole Wright seems to have it all; a loyal and devoted husband, two
children and a rising record label that she dedicates more time to than her
family. Everything is perfect except for one thing...her husband Germaine. She
has run her course with him and he needs to be replaced. When the handsome and
seductive Kingston enters her life, he becomes the perfect substitute. Clueless
to his wife's plan, Germaine continues to be a loving naive husband while
Niquole's full blown affair quickly becomes her obsession.
Desperate to start a new life with her new man, Niquole does everything in her
power to push Germaine out of the picture. However, little does she know
Kingston plans are different from hers. Sit back and see what happens when a
wife learns that the price of betrayal can have a shattering toll.
With this book, I am offering the reader a chance to explore the side of a
selfish adulterer, an emotionally abused husband, a dysfunctional
mother/daughter relationship. The list goes on.
BPM: Take us inside the book. What are two major events taking place?
Carla: Two major events that take place are when the Germaine finally decides to
leave after years of emotional abuse and when Kingston, the lover, reveals his
ulterior motives to Niquole. This is a shocker especially since Niquole didn’t
care what his motives were. She still wants to be with him.
BPM: Who are your main characters? Give us a little bit of the back story in The
Available Wife.
Carla: The main characters are Niquole (the record label owner and adulteress),
Kingston (Niquole’s lover), Germaine (Niquole’s husband), Meagan (Niquole’s
assistant) and Jalisa (Niquole’s best friend).
Niquole is unhappy with her spouse. She falls head over heels for Kingston who
doesn’t possess the same feelings that she has for him. Niquole comes from a
once happy home and blames her mother for making it unhappy by kicking her
father out when she was a teen. She’s looking for love, but going about it in
the wrong way.
BPM: Who were your favorites? Are your characters from the portrayal of real
people?
Carla: My favorite characters were Niquole and Meagan. Although I didn’t agree
with the way Niquole went about getting what she wanted, I did admire her will
to go get it. I guess I can say some of Niquole is some of me but not the crazy
stuff though.
Meagan is one of my favorites because she played Niquole ‘til the very end.
Niquole is supposed to be this sharp chic who was screwed over by her assistant.
It’s always fun to see someone like Niquole, a villain, get screwed over.
BPM: Were there people or experiences from "your world"
incorporated into this storyline?
Carla: I originally wanted this to be a love story with a not so happy ending as
I’ve seen happen on a number of occasions. As I dug deeper into the writing,
my direction changed. I began thinking about a few dysfunctional relationships
that some of my girl and guy friends as well as I have had where we thought we
were in love and vice versa. Some of the crazy thoughts we shared amongst each
other over the years swarmed my head so the entire concept of the book was
changed. So, I guess you can say that some of my world was incorporated into the
storyline.
BPM: What specific issues do you address in The Available Wife?
Carla: Adultery, lack of communication in marriages, betrayal, collective lies,
family secrets are all discussed in the book. You can’t make someone love you
and you have to love yourself first before you can love another.
BPM: What was the most powerful chapter for you to write?
Carla: I’m not sure which chapter it is now because of the formatting but the
most powerful chapter for me to write was the one when Germaine uses reverse
psychology on Niquole to make her reveal a huge secret. Later that night, she
tries to seduce him hoping her actions will keep him from revealing her secret
to others. He lets her know that he knows what she is doing. Her plan backfires
and he makes he go through with her original plan. She hates it. He regains
control.
BPM: Who do
you want to reach with The Available Wife ?
Carla: I would like to reach men and women, young or old. Don’t lie! Don’t
keep secrets! Someone will always get hurt if you do. If you’re on a
relationship where you’re being abused, Get out! If you’re in a relationship
that you don’t want to be in, Get out!
BPM: What makes your book different from others on the same subject?
Carla: I think what makes my book unique is that I haven’t come across many
that deal with domestic abuse toward men. Women are always perceived as the
victims when it comes to domestic abuse, but men are being abused as well. For
men, abuse is a current problem but a hidden crime.
BPM: How can our readers reach you online?
Readers can reach me on FaceBook and Twitter as: carlapennington. Email address:
carlapennington@hotmail.com
Thanks Ella and Black Pearls Magazine for the wonderful interview segment!
Carla S. Pennington, author of The Available Wife
Michael
McGrew can be described in one word, “visionary.” Naturally born with a
gift in storytelling, writing a gripping novel is a walk in the park for this
Los Angeles native. When asked about his role models and inspiration growing up,
he simply explained that “Life itself and what it offers every day is a lesson
and every lesson, if learned is the best advice the universe can give you.” He
is a very diverse individual with a mind that invites the reality in which we
choose to either accept or ignore. We just choose to ignore the imperfections in
our own perfect world.
BPM: Tell us about your journey becoming a successfully published author. Do
you have anyone in your life that was heavily influential in your deciding to
become an author?
My journey is coincidental considering I couldn't stand to read at all as a
youth, but I've always been a good story teller. As far as any influences that
helped me make a decision I'd have to give credit to time. I didn't grow up with
a role model or professionals to look up to and time allowed me to learn who I
was, therefore giving me the ability to acknowledge my strengths.
My Kinda Girl by Michael
McGrew
Bobbi Williams dreamed his way to the top without accepting failure as an
option. From street hustler to a successful con man, he finds himself lost and
confused when his best friend/sister is murdered in cold blood. After doing six
years in prison for a string of robberies, and now friends with his late
sister's boyfriend James, they plan their way to the top together. When Bobbi is
released from Atlanta State Penitentiary with a lot to prove and a legal
hustling game plan, his life begins to take a successful turn for the worst
starting with a secret affair involving James fiancé, Jennifer.... recognizing
that she is his kinda girl. Bobbi has it all; the money, fame, a fantasy and a
family until his past and a little karma catches up to him. MY KINDA GIRL is a
tale that travels deep in the mind of a man with secrets that manifests into
problems, too hard to live with, and death is the only way out!
BPM: Did you choose your genre, or did your genre choose you?
I chose urban life/fiction because when I took an interest in writing
professional in 2008 urban fiction's demand was increasing and I figured it
would be an awesome genre to establish a platform before pursuing other genres
of literature.
BPM: Success leaves clues, whose clues did you follow on your journey?
I followed many talents on different levels in the industry such as Kwan, Will
Smith, Troy Johnson, Baby Williams, and a close friend of mine Tim Beachum.
BPM: What are some of the benefits of being an author that makes it all
worthwhile?
Some of my benefits are sharing my views, expressing my opinion through my
characters and being able to touch my readers in a way to trigger questions,
concerns in hopes that they can improve a situation or even learn what not to do
as a learning experience. When I receive reviews or someone stops me in public
and discuss my story with me just tickles my funny bone! I'm glad that I have a
platform to touch and help people, now that's living.
BPM: Do you have any advice for people seeking to publish a book?
Where do I start...um...being artistic is awesome and I'm glad I chose writing
as a profession, however business is just as important, in fact twice as
important if you want to succeed in doing so. Some people just want to print a
book to give out to the family for Christmas or even to say they've got a book
printed. However, if you want to become an author; which should enable you to
become a publisher someday, then you've got to have a marketing plan.
BPM: Now, let’s talk about the industry. How did you initially break into
the publishing industry? What road did you travel? How do you feel about
self-publishing? How do feel about selling digital books vs. selling in a brick
and mortar store?
Okay your getting me excited, let me reposition my chair! After I decided to
show interest in joining the literary world I had the pleasure to meet Kiki
Swinson and she gave me a few pointers and I ran with them. From the information
she gave me and the research I found, which happened to be worth my time in
investing, I put an order in at a local printer in my town and was quoted $7500
for 2500 books which came out to $3.00 per book (Highway robbery! I know but
didn't know any better.) and paid him in full in 5 months. I put a two weeks
notice in at my job two weeks prior to my book being shipped and have been
advancing in this industry ever since. I feel it's very important to become your
own boss, but I understand that there's a lot of people who just want to write
under another entrepreneurs company.
I chose the
independent route and established Legacy Publishing Group LLC in 2010 and
looking at greater profit margins, recognition and flexibility as my own
publisher. Ebooks is to bookstores what Wal-Mart is to mom and pop shops across
the nation. Bookstores are suffering everywhere for the simple fact that it's
convenient for someone to buy a E-reading deceive for $114 or download an app
and purchase your work online for $12 cheaper than the store, which they have to
get in their car and drive to! Personally I think ebooks prices should be
regulated to at least half of what the retail value is and I understand that we
can set our own price, but it's the authors who aren't seeing the bigger picture
that needs to stop settling for a $2.99 sale that their only going to receive
$1.04. My work is more valuable, so why not spend money in the stores and keep
the tradition going?
BPM:
Share with our readers the “behind-the-scenes” dish! Introduce us to your
book and the main characters. Do you have any favorites? What genre is the book?
On Kindle or Nook?
Well My Kinda Girl is about two guys who are in love with a woman. She is
tempting, drop dead gorgeous and belongs to James. Bobby looks up to him and is
also was his deceased sisters boyfriend in the past. Bobbi can't resist Jennifer
as she pursues him until he gives in and plants his first Karma seed. Lonnie
Biggs is also a leading character, he's a corrupt detective who seeks revenge on
his only sons killer and puts the pieces of the story together and finds out
that James and Bobbi are the main suspects.
It all unravels
but Bobbi's karma piles up as he is forced to deal with deceiving his friend and
dealing with Lonnie Biggs. My Kinda Girl will have you dropping the book out of
shock when you finish! I don't really have any favorites, I like them all
actually but the there is only one victim in my eyes and that was Bobbi's
girlfriend Stacy, she endured a lot and loved him so much. The genre is urban
life/fiction but my company will also be publishing romance, self help and
how-to/instructional books. My Kinda Girl and Taking Losses are both available
on Kindle, Nook and IPad for only $6.99.
BPM: What inspired you to write this book? Why now? Ever experience writers
block?
Some say I sound cocky when I say this but I just woke up one day and decided to
write a book. It was one of those "If he can do it, then I could do
better" type of scenarios and I did it. It was that simple. There is no
grey area and there shouldn't be in life. Whether you can or you can't...you're
right! Why Now? I asked myself this question on countless occasions and I think
I finally know the answer.
Our experiences
are great opportunity builders and being a single father during my late teens
and twenties enabled me to focus on responsibilities and not my dreams. I began
to ask myself the right questions such as what do I want to do with my life
professionally and where did I want to be in the next five years? And it wasn't
until my son was living with his grandmother between 2006-2008 that I came to
the conclusion that I'd rather become the master of one mountain than a servant
of a thousand foothills. I put all my chips on publishing and I'm still at the
table. I've experienced writers block and don't like to rush it but before I
begin to write, I develop the story in my head first so my process is pretty
smooth.
BPM: What particular scenes will grab readers and serve to stimulate spirited
discussions?
James suffers from heartache in a scene and describes his new found perception
of love and explaining this scene is powerful enough to stir up emotion and
questions that need to be discussed.
BPM: Who do you want to reach with your book and the message enclosed?
I want to reach everyone who's interested in reading movies on paper, that
simple. I want to escape the expectations of urban fiction and provide great
content for my readers, prompting them to demand the same from other authors.
BPM: How do you avoid the temptation of interjecting your own morals or value
system in your writing?
I think I keep a pretty good balance but my experiences, vision and ability to
explain in detail is my identity in this field. Mixed with a marketing plan and
knowledge of my target market, it helps me and my story framing.
BPM: Share with us a quote or brief excerpt from one of the most powerful
chapters.
"He looked vulnerable and beat, and at that moment I learned that if you
want to defeat a man, you have to work him form the inside. Never in a hundred
years did I think that I would ever come to envision a depressed version of
James. A man with a mysterious passion and will to pursue goals to prove to more
than just himself, that anyone can grab the success stick and run with it, but
with every strength lies a weakness, and his, unfortunately was
reliability." - from main character Bobbi Williams
BPM: Ultimately, what do you want readers to gain from your book?
As an individual we all have choices that lead us in a direction or path of our
own. Our life's direction is all based on the decisions we make everyday. My
characters represent symbols that are translated simply as karma, trust,
commitment, honesty and relationships (business and personal).
BPM: What has been your most difficult hurdle to leap? Marketing, promotions
or gaining media exposure, etc. How can EDC Creations and our readers help you?
This is a great question and being an entrepreneur and known for building great
relationships I could use more media exposure. For the last four months I've
focused primarily on my Internet presence as well as image establishment and as
I prepare for my book tour following the Harlem Book Fair, It's time for me to
socialize and grow my brand. Legacy Publishing Group is here to stay and authors
are the NEW Rockstars!
BPM: How has your writing style evolved over the years? What stimulated your
growth the most? We are here to shine the spotlight on your new book, but what's
next?
I'm that type of writer that's all about growth and it has definitely gotten
better and that's what happens when you deal with professional editors, they are
a writers best friend. My personality and strength in the sales department. Well
look out for Legacy Publishing Group and it's affiliates, in the process of
growing the My Kinda Girl brand a playwright has been discussed as well as
comedy and fashion shows coming soon. It's only the beginning.
BPM: What's next for you? Share with us your latest news. How may our readers
follow you online?
Taking Losses is my sophomore novel and that will be released July 15, 2011.
My book tour begins July 21st - August 19th which will consist of a seven city
tour ending in Virginia before flying back to L.A for the LABBX August 20th. You
can purchase my novel "My Kinda Girl" on Amazon and it's also
available at Barnes and Noble for only $13.95.
In My Kinda Girl by Michael McGrew readers are introduced to Bobbi Williams, a dreamer who takes a wrong turn
while defending his sister's honor. Once Bobbi is released from prison his new
friend, James, comes to his rescue with business opportunities and the ability
to live the high life.
James has taken on the responsibility of running the entertainment business
while his partner, Bobbi, is away. James meets and falls in love with Jennifer,
the woman of his dreams. It is apparent that James did not think about the
demands of being a business owner. The demands take their toll on him and he is
court ordered to commit himself to a drug rehab program.
Bobbi is released and starts taking over the operation. James is not worried
because he knows Bobbi will hold things down. He has taught Bobbi, everything he
needs to know about their businesses. While James is away, Bobbi starts
communicating more and more with Jennifer, his best friend's girlfriend, and
things seem to get out of hand. Now they say keep your enemies close and Bobbi
learns this the hard way. Bobbi's past discretions catch up to him and he is
betrayed by the only person he has ever really trusted. Will Bobbi come out on
top?
My Kinda Girl is a story about people coming into your life for a reason. This
author has orchestrated a believable story that happens to many people in the
entertainment industry. The author also introduced a new twist to street
literature that will keep readers intrigued. The characters are well-developed
allowing readers to relate to their plights. My Kinda Girl is also a
page-turning book of unsuspected surprises that had me rushing to finish. I
cannot wait to read more from this author and I definitely recommend this book
to others.
-- This book was provided by the author for review purposes. Reviewed by Teresa
Beasley, APOOO BookClub. APOOO Rating: 4.5
Intimate Conversation with Lorraine Elzia
Constantly the free and gentle flower growing wild,
Lorraine Elzia absorbs all life has to offer. Stumbling into writing at the suggestion of loved ones, Lorraine has embraced that calling to become an Award-Winning Author, Editor, and Ghostwriter. Her debut novel, Mistress Memoirs received the AALAS Break Out Author of the year award. Ask Nicely and I Might, her sophomore novel, promises to not only entertain, but tell a message as well.
BPM: What makes you powerful as a person and a writer?
It would have to be my passion and belief that giving anything less than 100% of my effort to anything is unacceptable. I am a people pleaser at heart, but I have included myself at top of the definition of “people.” The thought behind that is that I know I am my hardest critic, no one is harder on me than I am on myself; so if I work real hard not to disappoint myself, then I definitely won’t disappoint others. I follow that thought process in life and in my writing endeavors.
BPM: Success leaves clues, whose clues did you follow on your journey?
Sorry if this sounds cliché, but I truly follow the clues of God first and foremost. Even though I write in every genre from religious to erotica, my journey and my steps have been ordered. God gave me a unique and descriptive gift. I don’t take the gift lightly and I never feel worthy of receiving it, yet I am obedient in the ways I use it. I was told by Him several years ago that if I, but listened to what He had to say, eventually, I would be successful according to the measurement standards of man. From that day to this one, I am continually on a scavenger hunt, following one clue after another from Him, knowing that my efforts are not in vain. He directs my path and I have no problem following the clues and being patient in waiting on my promised blessings.
BPM: What have you realized about yourself since becoming a published author?
I’ve realized that the voices in my head that were screaming to be heard actually had a space, a place and life of their own. Writing, for me, is as necessary as the air I breathe—it is essential for my daily sustenance and a vital source of strength and nourishment for me. From the first anthology I was in, to the completion of my sophomore novel, I recognized that being a published author is a form of self-expression for me that is bigger than any other need I have. It is one of the desires of my heart that I ‘allow’ to control and own me.
BPM: What is the most rewarding aspect of your career?
I feel the most rewarded when a reader expresses sheer enjoyment from my words, when they are totally engulfed with the people, places and things that are just figments of my imagination. Whether the message I tried to convey touched them or whether I was the vessel that allowed them to escape from day-to-day reality for a hot minute in order to exhale and have a woosah moment at the end of their day. I love being able to give readers a momentary ‘vacation.’ I’m not greedy concerning how my readers were touched, but I do receive extreme gratification from letting my fingers do the walking across a keyboard in a manner that “reaches out and touches” someone.
BPM: If you were not a writer, what would you be?
I’ve always had a fascination with all aspects of law, the judicial system and legal debate. If I wasn’t a writer, I would have aspired to be the female equivalent of Johnny Cochran; an untouchable, highly skilled, legal orator. I love the way that the late Mr. Cochran could use word play in order to make people see things in the exact manner that he wanted them to see them, and yet he did it with a style and flavor that was uniquely his own. They say that imitation is the highest form of flattery. If I weren’t a writer, I would have tried to imitate Mr. Cochran in female form.
BPM: Hot Seat: Share with us one detail about you or a hobby readers would enjoy.
I am obsessed with Betty Boop. I collect any and everything Betty, you name it, and I have a Betty Boop version of it from ink pens to clothing. I’m obsessed with anything Betty. Her persona intrigues me and reminds me to keep the same outlook on life: sexy, sassy, classy and carefree.
BPM: Introduce us to your book and the main characters. What genre is the book? On Kindle or Nook?
My latest book is Ask Nicely and I Might. The tag line is: Welcome to the Sexy Side of
Murder. Unlike any cat and mouse game that you have read before, this book has overlapping storylines which begs the question of the lines of separation between the sane and insane. It is a suspenseful thriller that revolves around two very strong African American female characters; one is Jade, a serial killer whose past has affected her thinking to the point that she feels the need to devour prey just for the fun of it.
The other is Alex, a streetwise detective whose lover falls victim to Jade, making the capture of Jade her number one priority. As the two women collide they soon find that they have more in common than just bloodshed. The book is available at www.amazon.com and www.barnesandnoble.com in paperback, Kindle, and Nook.
BPM: Are your characters from the portrayal of real people or experiences?
The situations in the book are not real, but the underlying reasons that both women act in the manner that they do are ‘baggage’ that a lot of women carry with them throughout life. I used a fictional situation to illustrate how we have to ‘let go’ of the demons of our past if we are ever to progress and grow into the people we were born to be.
BPM: What compelled you to write Ask Nicely and I Might?
Honestly, just the need to take a topic that I think all women think about at one time or another and give that topic life. I think every woman has thought about that moment in time where they could snap.--The moment when the things she is going through in life are considered the last straw for her and she gives in to animalistic desires and demands. Reality is that most of us pull it together before acting in a manner that becomes deadly; we find a way to overcome those moments of madness. But what if we chose not to? What if we gave in to the darker side? I wanted to explore what would make a woman actually decide to take that course, and I wanted to also address how sometimes our past makes it harder and harder to bear one last straw after another. I wanted to look into what happens when straws of defeat can feel like unbearable mountains of despair, and force us to act in a manner we wouldn’t normally entertain.
BPM: Who do you want to reach with your book and the message within?
My first intent in writing this book was to entertain. I wanted to write about something I had not seen done before; a black female serial killer and a black female detective; both good at what they do. I knew that would be something I would like to read over a weekend, while sitting on the beach, and I wanted to give that temporary ‘getaway’ to readers. But as with everything I write, there is a message. And that message is that we cannot let the issues of our past, dictate our future. Nor should we allow them to be excuses for our current behavior. There comes a time when we all just have to ‘let it go’ and take ownership of our actions.
BPM: Share with us a quote from one of the most powerful chapters in Ask Nicely and I
Might.
We’re all intimately intertwined to one another as human beings in one form or another by a mere six degrees of separation. Like vines of ivy growing alongside a wall reaching towards the sky, if you follow the branches close enough back to the point of origin you eventually find the connection. Whether through skin color, religious beliefs, ideologies, social-economical connections or bloodline; the separation is not as large as we sometimes profess loudly with our mouths, or secretly think in our moments of personal grandeur. It’s all a matter of semantics. Scratch and sniff the surface long and hard enough and the connections can be made. We are all linked together, all related and all strung to one another by a mere six degrees.
BPM: Ultimately, what do you want readers to gain from your book?
A sense that we as individuals—not our circumstances, not our upbringing, not what has or has not happened to us—are in control of our destiny and ultimately what we become in life.
BPM: Share with us your latest news or upcoming book releases.
My next release is entitled, Tell the Truth, Shame the Devil. This tale is a cross between Sleepless in Seattle and Dead Man Walking. It chronicles the last 30 days of a man on death row and his late night, pillow talk confessions with a radio talk show host where he details not only his life on death row, but the events leading up to the crime for which he is scheduled to die for. As the radio host and the inmate discuss his case, a race against time ensues as she tries to save his life against a crime he says he did not commit.
Tell the Truth, Shame the Devil will be a story unlike any you have read before as you find yourself watching the clock tick away to see if love and justice actually conquer all.
Book Spotlight: Ask Nicely and I Might by Lorraine Elzia
A twisted game of bewildering intrigue proves positive that Six degrees of separation bridge the gap between the sane and the insane.
Alex Carlysle is a savvy homicide detective highly respected among her peers. When her lover becomes the latest victim in a series of brutal murders, the investigation of the killings becomes personal for her and catching the killer could be the break she has been waiting for concerning her career.
Jade abides by a different set of rules. Instead of enforcing the law, she is the thorn in its side. She is a sexy enigma of a serial killer who taunts the police just for the pleasure of it while devouring her prey in the process.
As the hunter becomes the hunted, both women are destined for a massive head-on collision with each other. The thrill of pursuit is not the only tie that binds them; they are also driven by bloodshed and a chain of circumstances that began in the subconscious mind. Ask Nicely and I Might is a racy thriller filled with sexy suspense; a wicked game of cat and mouse where time is rapidly running out for both the hunter and the hunted.
Ask Nicely and I Might by Lorraine Elzia
ISBN: 978-0-9829672-0-1
Suspense, Thriller, Urban Fiction
Targeted to anyone of legal age who loves a good suspense book
Ask Nicely and I Might Primary Topics
Abuse, neglect, relationships, self-awareness and self- respect
Publisher: www.peaceinthestormpublishing.com
Lorraine Elzia: www.lorraineelzia.com
"Don't blend in when you're born to stand out!"
Award-Winning Author, and Creator of Mistress Memoirs and Ask Nicely and I Might
And the upcoming suspense, available in the summer of 2011, Tell the Truth, Shame the Devil
Intimate
Conversation with Miss KP
Author of The Dirty Divorce Trilogy
Hosted by Ella Curry, Black Pearls Magazine
Miss
KP began writing in high school as an outlet to express her emotions as a
teenager. She would write poetry and has even written unpublished songs.
However, after feeling as if she had much more to say, she decided to purchase a
laptop and began working on her first novel, which we now know as Dirty Divorce,
Part 1.
Just months after a good friend introduced her to publisher, Azarel; Miss KP’s
dreams came true. She became a published author with the Life Changing Books (L.C.B)
family with a #1 hit behind her name. Along with being an author, Miss KP
works in the fashion industry as a Merchandise Manager in prominent department
store.
A native Washingtonian, Miss KP currently resides in Maryland with her eight
year old daughter, and is awaiting the release of her second and most
anticipated novel of 2010, The Dirty Divorce- Part 2. For more information
on Miss KP or her books, visit her website at: http://www.misskp.com
BPM: Please introduce us to The Dirty Divorce 2 and the main
characters.
Drugs turn out to be a way of life for Rich, a powerful, sexy Drug Lord hailing
from Washington, D.C. His desire for fast money and the extravagant
things that it brings puts his family in harms way. Soon, his ego
forces him to leave his castle and empire to expand business on the West Coast.
His decision to leave his love ones behind at the mercy of his enemies turns out
to be catastrophic. One by one, each of Rich's children spiral out of
control.
Pregnancy, rape, and abduction all hit the family structure one day after
another. With Rich putting his focus on money, sex, and insignificant things in
life his wife Lisa, throws some new drama into the relationship as well; a
side-piece and divorce papers. This creates an even bigger wedge between Rich
and Lisa. The hate that Rich and Lisa develop for each other causes the
divorce to get down- right dirty. Can their love out way their hate to save
their family or is it too late?
Read
excerpt from DD1,
GO.
Main Players in Dirty Divorce 2
Rich- Handsome and definitely a lady's man. Father and husband that is
ruthless and some think he's heartless but he's real. He lacks respect for women
and his infidelity causes major issues in his home. His only love is for his
money and his daughter. He keeps his son and wife on the back burner which
causes major problems.
Lisa- Rich's wife. A docile, fragile wife and mother that struggles with
what's important in life-- the love of money or her happiness. She deals with
Rich's infidelity for the finer things in life but realizes when it's too late
the price of street life has a hefty price tag.
Juan- Rich and Lisa's son. Has extreme hate for his dad due to his lack
of respect for Lisa but doesn't realize he's more like his father that he knows.
Denie- Rich and Lisa's daughter. Teen girl that loves her father no
matter how much he neglects her. He can do no wrong until it effects her and
their relationship is tested.
Carlos "Los"- Rich's Cousin- Handsome street Colombian
that holds rank in the street. His father Uncle Renzo makes things happen on
both coasts and is the reason for the major cash flow that Rich and his family
benefits from. Carlos and Rich's loyalty is tested by the ultimate betrayal and
causes the family to dismantle.
Marisol- Carlos' wife. Beautiful but ruthless. A true ride or die chick.
Will do anything for her husband. A close friend to Lisa.
BPM: Who are your favorites? Are your characters from the portrayal of real
people?
KP: I would have to say that Lisa would be my favorite character in Part 1
because of the transformation of her character. It was intriguing to have her go
from being this gullible wife to this deranged woman that was lost and willing
to do anything for revenge. The characters of the book are fictional characters
but the situations are real.
BPM: What role do you give the mean spirited characters?
KP: The mean spirited character in the book is Rich, but he is consistent.
Sometimes we have to look inside to see what makes people tick and why are they
the way that they are. When people treat others with lack of respect and there
are no consequences, do we blame the victim for allowing it and not standing up
for themselves.
BPM: What compelled you to write a book?
KP: As a teenager I would write as an outlet because I experienced a lot at a
young age. My father’s absence through my teen years contributed to a lot that
I went through. One of good friends was going through some relationship issues
and made a powerful statement, she said, “I feel as though I’m being
punished for everything my father did wrong to women, why do my relationships
keep failing?” From there I said I want to write a book with a storyline
that speaks to the troubled black family.
BPM: Who do you want to reach with your book?
KP: The Dirty Divorce is a novel I feel anyone can relate to. Most people will
know someone who has been through a divorce or has been through one themselves,
even if they are a product of divorce. Everyone in the family is affected by the
break up, whether dirty or not.
KP: The one thing I always say is, " I don’t want anyone to lose
the message. The cars, the money, and the big house might seem all good but we
need to know the consequences that come with it. The streets are always watching
and you have to live a life in fear of the day it could all come to an end;
whether if it’s the Feds or the next man trying to get on top it eventually
comes to an end. Infidelity
and betrayal comes with the territory as well. Know that these are all the
things you sign up for street life, but the main message is not only what I just
mentioned, it’s the effect on the family and the children. "
It’s a
vicious cycle because we are teaching our children that this is the only way,
and as young girls we choose the hustler as our boyfriend, and as young men we
choose street life as the way because this is all we know. The abuse in the home
becomes a way of life and you take the risk of your off springs either becoming
a product of their environment or finding a way out. I want people to see that
even though this book is fiction, it’s somebody in this world going through
the same things and what are we going to do differently in our lives to make a
change in our current behaviors.
BPM: What specific issues do you address in this book? KP: Divorce has been such an easy way out these days, the younger generation
doesn't fight anymore for their relationships so this is definitely a topic
everyone can relate to. Also the relationship between a mother and her son as
well as a father and their daughter. How the decisions that we make as parents
and how they affect our children.
BPM: Please share your upcoming releases and online contact info.
KP: The Dirty Divorce is a trilogy and Part 2 will be released on November,
2011. For Dirty Divorce 3 release update information or to contact
me I can be reached on Twitter: www.twitter.com/misskpdc.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/misskpdc
or visit my website at www.misskp.com
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Intimate Conversation with Cairo
Cairo divides his time between Jersey and California,
and is the author of The Man Handler and The Kat Trap. His many
travels to Egypt are what inspired his pen name.
BPM: What makes you powerful as a person and a writer? Where do you
find your inspiration?
My ability to write in both male/female voice, to mentally seduce, and create
erotic images in my reader's minds through words that leave a lasting impression
are what make me a powerful writer. My inspiration comes from the universe.
BPM:
Introduce us to your book, Daddy Long Stroke, and the main characters. Daddy Long Stroke is a voyeuristic look into the mind of a womanizer who
manipulates and seduces women by using what he's got--good looks, chiseled
physique, charisma, and sexual prowess--to get what he wants without remorse, or
regret. The main character in Daddy Long Stroke is the sexy Alexander
Maples a.k.a Daddy Long Stroke. Arrogant and self-indulged, he is what every
woman secretly craves in the bedroom--rough, rugged, and ravenous. And he is
always happy to deliver.
When it comes to pleasing a woman, he knows no boundaries,
leaving no area untouched, not even her heart--or her wallet. But love is the
last thing on his mind. Getting paid, and whetting his sexual appetite are the
only things that motivate this salacious gigolo. And any woman trying to claim
him finds herself on the receiving of heartache, tears, and drama.
Dramatic, bold and racy, Daddy Long Stroke uncovers
the shocking and painful reality of some men's belief systems about women and
sex. Written in raw, graphic language, Daddy Long Stroke is a cautionary
tale of one man's insatiable thirst for sex and his quest to bed down as many
women he possibly can—no matter the costs, and no matter who gets hurt in the
process.
BPM: Are your characters from the portrayal of real people?
Although Daddy Long Stroke is a fictitious character, I'm sure many of us know
of someone who is like (or similar to) the main character in this book.
BPM: What specific situation or revelation prompted you to write your
book?
Daddy Long Stroke was written for all the women who crave thick chocolate, and
the bad boys who serve it.
BPM: Who do you want to reach with your book and the message within?
I want to reach the sexually liberated and open-minded. The message in Daddy
Long Stroke is don't get emotionally attached to someone who is only looking for
no-strings attached sex. Bottom line, everyone who makes good love to you isn't
always gonna be good for you.
BPM: What do you think makes your book different from others on the
same subject?
Besides the fact that the sex scenes are on fire, what makes my book different
from others on the same subject is that I give it to readers rough and raw. It's
blunt, graphic, in your face dialogue. Period.
BPM: Ultimately, what do you want readers to gain from
your book?
Aside from great sex tips and a toe-curling, stimulating read, I want readers to
gain insight into their own sexual behaviors. For them to indulge their
sexualities respectfully. And to enjoy the sexual revolution responsibly!
Kai
is a published and nationally recognized poet and writer. Her poem, Pre-Destiny was featured in the April 2008 issue of Essence Magazine and she was a Featured Poet in A Place Of Our Own (APOOO) national tribute in April 2008 and RAWSISTAZ Author Showcase, April 2007.
She is a contributing poet in Step Up to the Mic: A Poetry Explosion, by Poetic Press (Xpress Yourself Publishing). A winner of the No Candles Infinity Contest, hosted by Osbey Books, Kai is credited for writing emotionally raw and thought provoking works. Her short story featured in If It Ain't One Thing..., by Diva Books, Inc., received praise for its originality and realism.
Similarly, her tribute to mothers, entitled Soften My Soul, featured in APOOO's Mother's Day Tribute, has resulted in an outpouring of praise and personal testimonies. Additionally, Kai's poem My Baby Girl, was featured in the Fall 2008 issue of The Write Vibe, and her poem The Other Women is featured at Tribute to Black Women. Kai also serves as a Guest Reviewer for RAWSISTAWZ Reviewers. An alumni of Hampton University, SUNY Brockport and Georgetown University Law Center, she is a licensed attorney and proud parent.
BPM: What are you most thankful for today?
I am always thankful for my children - they are a gift from God that I couldn't have foreseen. My eldest son taught me pure love. As a child, he was so open and trusting and I remember wanting to protect his innocence from the world. When my daughter was born, I was actually amazed at the sight of her. It was a feeling of awe that I will never forget-for the first time I felt like I glimpsed just a bit of God's ability and it left me dumbfounded. Every day my children make me laugh, even if I am hiding my smile while trying to be a disciplinarian. And I know they have no idea how very grateful I am that they exist. I dedicate everything that I am, or will ever be, to them.
BPM: Do you have a favorite holiday menu, story or song? Share with us.
Homemade lasagna is a requirement every Christmas, along with the normal holiday meal. The tradition started when my mother in law, Carolyn Moore, would cook large South Carolina style soul food meals every holiday - I would make lasagna to have something at my house, even though we would eat at her house on Christmas day. After she passed away, I assumed full cooking duties (although my cooking will never compare to hers) but I kept making the homemade lasagna from her recipe, for nostalgia and as a quiet tribute to her. That started in 1996. Lasagna has been apart of our Christmas holiday meal ever since.
BPM: Have you ever considered what kind of legacy you want to leave future generations? What do you want to be remembered for?
My legacy is one of unconditional love. That is what I strive for - to live life transparent and love without requirement. I have made so many mistakes, trusted the wrong persons, opened myself up to humiliation-but when it was all said and done I forgave myself, brushed myself off and kept moving forward. I have to-my mistakes may be the template for the next person to avoid similar pain. So I speak on it; I don't hide it. It is the journey of this life that counts, the destination is so very secondary. And if my mistakes make my journey richer, then I accept and welcome them. If my mistakes allow for a person to confide in me, to release the pain that they are holding because they know I won't judge them, then the experience wasn't for naught. That is my legacy. To love regardless and to accept people for who they are, regardless of their mistakes.
BPM: Tell us about your latest book. What are two main events taking place in the book? In Daughter of the Game, Monique Waters is in the unique position of being the daughter of the major drug kingpin in the city without anyone knowing her identity. She was raised by her schoolteacher mother, tucked away in middle class life. But her tangled relationship with her father and siblings leaves her wanting, and she searches for love in Armand Smith- a street hustler on the rise. In the midst of an argument, Armand brings Monique fully into his world for the first time, unfortunately, it is the night that he is attacked by his boss's enemy. Their goal is to kill everyone, including Monique. Although she survives, Armand did not save her. While he seeks revenge on his enemies, Monique searches for him-instead of caring for herself- and further jeopardizes her own life and the safety of her family.
In one climatic scene, Monique and Armand are pulled over by the police. Armand is ready to die, going out with guns blazing is the way to forever etch his name in street legend. But Monique has a life to live for. She is going to college, has a mother to think about, relationships to consider. She uses her education and appeal to save them from the police--a move that enrages Armand. He feels both emasculated and challenged--in his eyes, the move reveals that Monique could, under the right circumstances, turn traitor. It's a decision that he doesn't forgive and his reaction to it causes the destruction of their love.
In another scene, Armand realizes that he is still being hunted by his enemies, even though he is on neutral territory! The violation rips across his mind and he contemplates life and the unfairness of it all, the randomness of destiny that would make him a drug dealer instead of a lawyer's child, or something so much easier. That, coupled with the loss of a life long friend, changes everything. The game goes out of the window, so does proper protocol. He decides that for every life he lost, ten will be taken. He hides and overtakes his pursuer, killing one in the process and kidnapping the other for information.
While he tortures his captive, Armand finds out something that he never expected - his enemies have Monique. It's a fact that he can't wrap his mind around and the helplessness of not being able to protect his love--his woman--sends him into overdrive. It's time to go savage-all bets are off.
This book is about family--those who love, live and support those who live "the game." Dealers and hustlers aren't all blatant monsters with no code, no ties, no love, no loyalty. Circumstances create personas behind which people live and hide to survive. And there are networks of people around them who are also affected, also harmed, also tormented, also loved. Daughter of the Game examines the story of those who are tied in by love and life, whether they want to be or not.
BPM: How may our readers contact you online and pick up your latest work?
My website is www.authorkai.com and my email is
discoverkai@yahoo.com. Please send me an email- I will definitely respond.
Daughter of the Game is a trilogy, the second release - The Secret Keeper - will be available in early spring 2011. A sneak peak at the prologue is currently available on my website at
www.authorkai.com. My next novel, The Loudest Silence, will be available this winter. It is the story of the destruction of a marriage - when there are no more words left. I have had numerous men approach me about this story-amazed to have read something that captures that silent frustration they felt. A sneak peek at the prologue for
The Loudest Silence is also available on my website at www.authorkai.com.
Intro for The Loudest Silence by Kai:
The Loudest Silence - Where every cruel, silent action is met with a definite, louder reaction... "The tables have turned," Lani thought, watching her husband Terrance beat his hands against the hood of her car. Lani locked the doors. She flinched as Terrence slammed his golf club against her windshield. Lani punched her horn in anger. Terrance had some nerve. He had left her; had walked out on their life without looking back. Terrence had started this battle when he ran to his "best friend" Kenya, after another argument, like the punk Lani believed him to be. Now, Terrence had her trapped in her car, watching him act like a maniac as he tried to figure out where she had been, who she had been with. Terrence didn't even know the half of it ... and he deserved it. He deserved every minute of agony. This was payback for the cold silence Terrence had subjected Lani to during her times of need. The time had come for Terrence to realize that for every cruel, silent action he took, Lani would respond with a definite, louder reaction.
Daughter of the Game by Kai
In Daughter of the Game, the game devours life and life devours love. It's obvious that Armand is a hustler on the rise. As long as he keeps that life separate from Monique, she is willing to be his everything. Needing Armand's love, she hides her true identity. Armand has no clue that Monique's father is the ruler of all vice, so deep in the game that most hustlers work for and answer to him without ever knowing it. In a moment of weakness, Armand submerges Monique into his underworld, exposing her to his secrets and risking her life to his enemy. When that enemy turns out to be her father, Monique finds herself in a cruel tango between family loyalty and all consuming love. Can true love outlast the game? Or must love be sacrificed for both of them to survive?
Daughter of the Game Book Review:
Monique Waters is ensnared in the middle of a deadly drug war. Making the situation more precarious is the fact that the warring factions are her father and her boyfriend. For over a year Monique was successful at keeping both parts of her life totally separate. Her boyfriend Armand only knew Monique as the college student who's being raised by her school teacher mother. While Monique's father Pete is convinced that Monique will be the only one of his children that will fully escape his street dealings. Monique's mother severed her relationship with Pete many years ago to ensure that as well and the decision seemed to be a wise one until Monique falls for Armand.
When Armand's benefactor Titan crosses Pete, Pete decides to retaliate by knocking off Titan's top protégé who just happens to be Armand. Pete's assault places Monique directly in harm's way and sets off a chain of events that shifts the book into overdrive. The entire novel encompasses a 72 hour period that will be seared into the minds of readers. Author Kai does an extraordinary job demonstrating how urban fiction can be done correctly.
The premise of Daughter of the Game is in no way new but what made it stand out against other stories with similar plots is the realism and character development exhibited. Monique wasn't a spoiled princess dating a drug dealer as a way to rebel against her dad. Pete wasn't an over the top drug lord flaunting his wealth with purchases that he wouldn't be able to justify to the IRS. With Daughter of the Game Kai effectively showcased that an urban book doesn't have to be filled with stereotypical characters to be believable. Authentic heartfelt characters that readers can sympathize with will give the novel all the street credibility it needs to be convincing.
This review, which was unsolicited but greatly appreciated, was posted by a reader on
Amazon.com - By Hotchklate "Coast2CoastReaders" (Bronx, N.Y.)
Intimate Conversation with Anthony Fields
DC native
Anthony Fields is the Essence bestselling author of Angel presented by Teri Woods. He’s also the author of
Ghostface Killaz and co-authored Bossy with Crystal Perkins-Stell. After being sentenced to 15 years in federal prison, Anthony discovered his gift of writing. Chronicling his life stories and experiences, rave reviews from his family and friends encouraged him to seek a publisher, which he did, and so began his promising literary career. Now signed to
Wahida Clark Presents Publishing, Anthony hopes to broaden his fan base and give the people great street tales. He is currently working on his next novel and fulfilling his talent as a writer. Anthony resides in Louisiana.
“The Ultimate
Sacrifice” is the story of four friends that commit a crime together. Once the crime comes to light, suspicion is cast on all of them. So that they all don’t take the fall, one agrees to confess to the crime. He only asks one thing in return from his friends – to take care of his family. How quickly his friends forget their promise. Instead, they betray him in the worst way.
Ella: Tell us a little about your main characters. Who was your favorite? Why?
The main characters in “The Ultimate Sacrifice” are Khadafi, Boo, Umar and Ameen. These characters are based on real people. The story is fiction, but the characters are real. Just as I wrote the characters in the story, they are really the same. I captured their real essences and weaved a story around them. My favorite character was Khadafi. Why? Because I had the most latitude with his character. I crossed lines and borders to make him as cruel as possible. He does everything that I want to do but never would.
Ella:
What inspired you to write this story?
It was a desire to write a story about four or five friends where everyone’s story is different, yet tied together by one common denominator. A lot of the story was inspired by real events and events that can possibly occur.
Ella:
What was your primary quest in publishing this book?
My primary quest for the publishing of this book was to give the people a good street story to read. One that they could feel and relate to. I try to come up with original concepts and ideas. I want people to know that Anthony Fields is here and that I’m not going anywhere anytime soon. I want my name to be synonymous with good, realistic, cautionary street tales.
Ella:
Do you write full time? Describe your writing schedule for our readers.
My writing schedule is sporadic. I’m a mood writer. I write when the mood strikes me. I have no specific pattern or set schedule. Some books take me a long time to write and others don’t.
Ella:
What do you like to do when you're not writing?
When I’m not writing novels, I’m plotting and planning. I’m reading, creating and brainstorming. I’m sleeping, praying and working out. If all else fails, I’m playing myself in Scrabble. I am the only one who can beat me! :)
Ella:
What is the best piece of advice you would give to an aspiring author?
My advice to aspiring authors is to never give up if your dream is to be a published author. Let no one or nothing stand in your way. Keep writing and perfecting your craft. Be original and filled with substance. And never follow to where the path may lead. Instead, blaze your own path and leave behind a trail for others to follow.
Ben Blaze is a new author born in Lake City, Florida and raised in Live Oak, Florida. He is featured in the anthology
Romance For The Streets with Marlon Mccaulsky and K. Roland Williams. He will also be featured in the anthology
Try A Little Tenderness.
Forbidden:
A Ben Blaze Tragedy
Khalil Grisby, the son of a legendary gangster, keeps his mouth closed and takes a murder charge for his best friend, aspiring entrepreneur Naishawn Oliver. After Khalil is incarcerated, his mother acts quickly on her hate, banishing his fiance, Classy De Luca, from the family in his absence.
Having no family to speak of, Classy reaches out to Naishawn for a place to lay her head. What begins as a friendly gesture blossoms into an infatuation that not even their current relationships or conscience can break.
As they continue in this forbidden love, Khalil's appeal looms while his family's deadly affairs threaten to claim every life involved.
Ella: What makes you powerful as a person and a writer?
I feel I am a powerful man because of my drive and determination. My personal experiences have molded me into that type of man. I'm powerful as a writer because of the creativity I bring when I pick up a pen and the fact that I am a huge fan of literature. During my writing process I wear the hat of a writer and a fan, as I am my biggest critic.
Ella: Who are your mentors? Where do you find your inspiration?
My publisher Jarold Imes pretty much took me under his wing and showed me the game. He's been very helpful and I thank him for the opportunity. My inspiration comes from hip hop and my family. For a while, that was all I had and they will be with me until I'm gone.
Ella: Who were your favorite characters? Are your characters from the portrayal of real people?
My favorite character is Block, the villain. He's my favorite because I could go anywhere with him. I could take it anywhere I saw fit and I did just that. Block was not inspired from anyone in particular though. He came straight out of my active imagination.
Ella: Ultimately, what do you want readers to gain from your book?
I want the reader to be fully entertained from start to finish. I didn't write this story to teach a lesson or even educate anyone though I'm sure there are people out there that will take something away from this novel. My main purpose was taking the reader to this world of hip hop, sex, forbidden love and greed and making sure they get their money's worth. I think I accomplished that goal.
Ella: How can our readers reach you online?
I can be reached at benblaze5050@yahoo.com,
I'm on Facebook (Ben Blaze), and Twitter (BenBlazeWrites).
Author
Tennette “Missy”
Jackson
hails from
Somerset
,
New Jersey
. She has two daughters and three grandchildren. Missy began writing at a very
young age and knew it was her passion. After years of drug abuse and numerous
prison stints, Missy found an outlet in writing. Cheetah, her debut
novel, was written in the state prison. Missy currently lives in
Bound Brook
,
New Jersey
while working on her second novel.
Spotlight
on Cheetah by Missy
Jackson
Born and raised on the mean streets of
Newark,
New Jersey, Yanika Johnson
aka Cheetah is far from your average female. A true thug in
every sense of the word, Cheetah has the ego and persona to prove it all. After
she and her best friend Naj take Newark
drug trade by storm, the haters begin to do just what they do best...HATE. Can
the tough streets of this brick city accept being ran by two women, or will
their budding empire come tumbling down?
Cheetah
is a young woman with a heart of gold and steel. Follow her journey through a
year of murder and madness. In this book, you will see how a true friendship is
supposed to be. You will become engrossed in the "Hood Happenings" as
you ride the wave of real street life. Cheetah will make you cry, laugh, and
truly understand how things work in the ghetto.
Ella:
Missy, please tell us a little about your main characters. Who was your
favorite?
A) My favorite has to be Cheetah, since she was designed from my past. Her
gritty, no nonsense attitude, and love for her family made her my favorite.
Actually all four of the main characters Nissan, Qua Naj, and Cheetah are
mirrored after my life. I took a piece of me and structured each one.
Ella:
What inspired you to write this story, CHEETAH?
(A) I was in prison and the urban novels were the hot commodity. I read a book a
day and knew that if I could write one myself. My bunkie doubted me, so I wrote
CHEETAH.
Ella:
What issues in today's society have you addressed in CHEETAH?
(A) CHEETAH touched on issues close to home for me. Here are a few of them: how
some young people feel as if the only way to make it is to either sell drugs or
rob. It touches on how you can even be educated, headed in the right direction;
yet allow the lure of the street and the lifestyle to suck you in. My main issue
is how most families in society deal with either having a drug dealer, gang
banger, or drug user in the household.
Ella:
What sets you apart from other books in your genre?
(A) The fact that I write from the lesbian point of view, sets me apart from
many. When you read about drug dealers, gangs, clique, or a pack of robbers it
is usually guys or a mixture of guys and girls. My story shows the struggle of
not only the women in the hood, but also the lesbian women. The stereotyping and
the differences they face due to life in an alternative lifestyle are prominent.
Ella: If you had to do it all over again, would you change
anything in your latest book?
A) No, I would leave the story as is. Though this is not a true story, it
is very dear and personal. I feel that CHEETAH is one of the realest books out
there. It portrays the everyday hustle and grind that's going on in every hood.
The corner boy/girl hustler, the one who don't see the mansions and millions,
and also the brutal end results that most encounter.
Ella: Missy what's next for you? Are there any new books on the horizon?
My upcoming novel "THE JUMPOFF" is sure to catch the same buzz.
Be on the lookout for it summer 2010.
Book
Club Reviews for Cheetah
5
Stars by Readers in Motion Book Club Can't
Knock Her Hustle
Meet Yanika Johnson a.k.a. Cheetah, a female thug with more swagger than any
male thug on the block. Born and raised in
Brick
City
, life has been a struggle for her and those she loves. Her ultimate goal is to
become financially stable and get out the game. With her best friend, Naj,
covering her front and back, nothing is impossible. That is until she runs into
a few stick up dudes, who obviously didn't know who they were messing with.
Revenge soon becomes added to Cheetah list of goals.
With the love of her life, Naj, and other loyal members of the crew, Cheetah
locks down the drug game in
Newark
. Will she survive being the backbone to her family and loved ones, since her
gangsta will be tested time and time again? ---Reviewed by: Minah, for Readers
in Motion Book Club 4 Stars byThe RAWSISTAZ Reviewers What
Goes Around, Comes Around
Cheetah, born Yanika Johnson, is far from the cuddly name presented here. She is
a street hustler from
Newark
,
NJ
and she is no one to mess with. She gives new meaning to the word
"thug". Circumstances make her even more ruthless and she sets about
the streets of
Newark
on a reign of terror. Eventually what goes around comes around, and
unfortunately for Cheetah, it comes around in the worst way.
CHEETAH
was a very powerful read. I could not put this book down. Missy
Jackson
gives the reader some insight on what could be happening in the streets where
you live. This book fits the bill when we read about or hear about street
violence in newspapers and on television everyday, but it hits home once you
read it. The reader gets a glimpse as to what really goes down between street
hustlers and crime. It also shines some light on females living in "the
life"...the life of lesbianism. Despite the hard core persona Cheetah
portrays, she has a soft heart when it comes to the people she loves. An
excellent read! --- Reviewed by Cheryl Dublin, for RAWSISTAZ Reviewers Peek inside the book
ISBN-10: 0981854559
Intimate
Conversation with Mike Sanders
Spotlight
on Thirsty by Mike Sanders
Thirsty takes place on the mean streets of
Charlotte
,
N.C.
where you either hustle hard or stay home.
Meet Justice, a half-black, half-Filipino goddess whose appetite for a quick dollar is insatiable. Having moved from Chi-town to Charlotte, North Carolina, at an early age, Justice and her younger brother, Monk, decides to take the streets of the Queen City by storm. Justice and Monk, the two main
characters are a team of sheisty individuals definitely
hustle hard.
Justice uses her exotic looks to get next to dope boys, then sets
them up for Monk and his crew to rob. All is well and their hustle is fruitful until Justice ex-boyfriend Carlos (a
vicious drug dealer) is robbed and all fingers are pointed towards Justice and Monk. Subsequently, a war ensues between Monk and Carlos clique of dealers and killers. No one is exempt from the bloodbath!
Justice life begins to spiral out of control. She has sworn off hustlers and is determined to find a guy with a legitimate job to settle down with. She meets J.T., a handsome business man who becomes her every fantasy in human form. J.T. rescues Justice from a deadly and cruel world. Justice thinks she has moved into a safe haven, only to find out that she has actually landed in a snake pit! She decides that her only escape is to leave Charlotte behind altogether. However, this may leave Monk with no one to watch his back.
Justice refuses to leave without punishing all those that caused her harm, but her past soon catches up with her. She is confronted with a bare truth that explodes her world into a million tiny pieces. As her thirst for money grows, so does her appetite for revenge. However, she soon realizes that some thirsts can NEVER be quenched!
Ella: Mike, tell us a little about you. How did you start writing?
I am the author of "Hustlin' Backwards",
"Snitch", "Thirsty" and the soon-to-be released
"Thirsty 2." I was born and raised on the grimy streets of
Charlotte,
N.C.
which inspired my writing. My writing journey began in 2001 when I penned my
first novel and subsequently published it in 2004. I am now with Wahida Clark
Presents and I'm currently in the process of penning my fourth novel.
Ella: What was the most powerful chapter or scene in the book for you?
To me, the most powerful chapter in the book was the last chapter. That chapter shows how lost alot of us are as far as "family"
is concerned. In too many African-American household, the father is not present.
Therefore, there is always the possibility of siblings outside of the original
household.
In a lot of cases like that, siblings don't even know one another. I've got a
sister 18 months younger than me who I met for the first time in 1995! We'd
been living in the same city all of our lives and never knew the other existed.
The situation with my sister was one of the reasons I wrote the storyline of
this book the way I did. I sat back and thought about how screwed up it would've
been if we had met under different circumstances. It happens!
Ella:
Is there a message in your book that you want readers to grasp and share?
The message I want readers to grasp is the fact that there are ALWAYS
consequences for the actions we choose to take. And without a doubt, KARMA is a
bitch! What goes around definitely comes back to stare you in the face.
Most times, it's when you least expect it and it's way more severe than what you
dished out!
Ella: What does your family think of your writing career?
My family is very supportive of my writing. They are beyond proud of the fact
that I am finally doing something legitimate with my life now instead of taking
penitentiary and graveyard chances. My daughters love the attention they get
from teachers and classmates when they find out their father is a published
author. My mother who recently passed away was by far my biggest fan...When I
write now, I can still see her smiling face all over again just like when she
found out my first novel had gotten published. She is my continued motivation.
Ella: What is the best piece of advice you would give to an aspiring
author?
Actually I have two key pieces of advice to offer aspiring authors. First and
foremost, be mindful of who you are trusting with your material. Do your
background check on your publisher and check their track record. Don't just sign
a contract because you want to see your book on shelves. I guess I'm saying MAKE
SURE YOUR BUSINESS IS 100!
Secondly, I advise anyone who is thinking about jumping into this game to come
with something NEW. There are so many of the same books out there right now just
with different titles. Bring something refreshing to the game. The game needs
it!!
Ella: Share with us your latest news, awards or upcoming book releases.
THIRSTY was nominated for a literary award at the African-American Literary
Award show last September. It was #2 on Don Diva magazine best-sellers list in
the July '09 issue. I am currently working on the sequel to Thirsty which will
be out soon. I can be reached online for interviews and to buy books at: www.wclarkpublishing.com, www.amazon.com , www.myspace.com/queencitysbest, Facebook (Mike Sanders), and I can be emailed at: queencitysbest@yahoo.com
Book
Review
From the excitement of the first page, THIRSTY moves like a no brakes runaway
car that involves stickup boys, drug dealers, hit men, and shady ladies like
Justice, who is introduced with a gun in hand in this unpredictable
edge-of-the-seat thriller. There's mystery, suspense, gunplay, and a touch of
erotica in this street novel that transcends the narrow confines of this genre
and becomes a serious minded and entertaining story of sociopaths and the women
who loves them. THIRSTY is a not to be missed novel with gritty realism and
biting irony, and a must read page turner. ---Terry B. author of Dancer's
Paradise
: An Erotic Journey, At Midnight: Choice Fowler's Story and
The E Collection: A New Definition of Erotica
ISBN-10: 0981854540
Intimate
Conversation with Tash Hawthorne
Tash Hawthorne comes out strong and does her thing with her freshman novel...
Showing that Karma is definitely a mutha! --J.M. Benjamin, Essence Bestselling
author of Ride or Die Chick and On The Run With Love
Tash
Hawthorne, born in
Summit
,
NJ
and raised in the Valley section of
Orange,
NJ
, cannot be viewed as the typical Jersey Girl. For the first 18 years of
her life, Tash had the rare privilege of being raised by three generations of
strong Black women; all who lived under the same roof. Having received such
ingredients like fearlessness from her mother, compassion from her grandmother,
and resilience from her great grandmother, Tash grew to be a product of her
environment. One of pure love and unadulterated passion for the human condition.
As
a child, Tash dreamed of becoming an Olympic gold-medalist in track & field
and an Alvin Ailey dancer, but her hopes to run and dance were soon deferred due
to medical reasons. Writing evolved from that of her mother. Tash showed early
signs of her gift of script at the age of 9; winning second place in a
state-wide essay contest for students in grades 4-6. At age 14, she placed first
in another essay contest which consisted of 1300 junior high school candidates
along the East Coast.
Despite
her early accolades, Tash did not seriously begin writing until the age of 17,
three months after the untimely passing of her best friend. Writing became a
therapeutic way to escape the unpleasant realities of her surroundings. And it
was in that time of salutary that her first screenplay, "The Jaded
Edge" was born.
After
graduating from high school, Tash went on to attend the first college of her
choice,
Hampton
University
, where she furthered her love for the arts, pursuing a degree in theatre. She
would soon be faced with another tragedy. Just seven days into her studies at
the university, Tash received a phone call from her mother stating that her
great-grandmother had unexpectedly passed away. Tash's entire academic world
came to a standstill. The woman she used to secretly meet in the middle of the
night to eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with had been taken away from
her. It would take Tash the rest of her tenure at
Hampton
to fully recover from the sudden loss.
Having
regrouped and accepted God's will, Tash turned her focus back to her studies.
With the help of some of her professors and staff at
Hampton
, she went from being on academic probation to graduating on time with Honors.
During her term, she was able to write a second screenplay entitled "Nu
JeruSlum" and a stage play entitled "Mourning Glory." After
returning home to
Orange
, Tash began to write a third screenplay entitled "Karma." Throughout
that year, she experienced unsettling thoughts about the format of the piece. It
was not until a year later when she decided to turn it into a novel.
“Karma,” like all of Tash's works, encompasses the reality of life as she
sees it and knows it.
Ella: Tash, you've had a full life for one so young! Please tell us about
your passion for writing.
My passion for writing stems from life experiences (mine and others) and my love
for the arts. I write because I believe the genre of urban literature is missing
something…and that something is substance. My goal is to give readers an
alternate view of the urban world. This goal is what drives me.
Ella:
What legacy do you want your writing to leave future readers?
My writing offers the following legacy to future readers…A legacy of
integrity. When I say that, I mean to say that I stood my ground in telling my
characters’ stories. It was important to always tell the truth…their truths.
Ella:
Introduce us to your new book, Karma
with a Vengeance.
There is a time in a young woman’s life where the choices she makes will
determine the outcome of her existence in the years (of uncertainty) to come.
Those choices will lead to mistakes. The mistakes will lead to hard times. The
hard times will lead to answers, searched for by that lost soul.
In
the urban setting of
Newark
,
NJ
, we accompany Karma Alonso-Walker, who, on this journey, gains support
from an unwanted, unlikely source through life's greatest troubles. At the age
of 17, Karma becomes caught in the middle of her parents' deteriorating
marriage. Due to the unexpected appearance of her father's one night-stand at
the family's church on Easter Sunday, Karma's perception of men changes for the
worst. With an opportunity to join the US Women's Track and Field team for the
2000 Summer Olympics in
Australia
, Karma is driven to achieve her dream of winning Olympic gold. But to her
dismay, her mother is stricken with Ovarian Cancer. Karma is forced to choose
between running professionally at her mother's request or running home to be at
her mother's side.
Ten years later, we follow Karma to her mother's home on her fifty-second
birthday. Her parents have separated and found comfort in new partners. All the
while, unbeknownst to Karma, her mother's boyfriend has made himself a permanent
fixture in their life. While trying to protect her mother from her abusive
lover, Karma finds herself distracted by the presence of her cousin's new police
partner. As distraction and attraction become intertwined, Karma loses focus of
her mother's safety. And on the very same celebratory day of her birth, Karma is
forced to mourn her mother's death.
Driven by hatred and fury, Karma sets out to find her mother's boyfriend
and avenge her death. Having severed her ties with God, been dismissed by her
family and the Newark Police Department, Karma becomes a menace to society--and
to herself. This timeless chronicle about a young woman's unyielding
loyalty to her mother will open your eyes to the way life can be, even when the
glass looks half empty. As Karma’s life spirals out of control, her
exploration leads her to self-preservation and true happiness…or does it?
Ella:
Who are your two main characters? And what do you like most about them?
My two main characters are Karma Alonso-Walker and
Money
Parks
. What I like most about Karma is that she is a strong, independent woman who
can adapt to any environment. I also admire Karma’s ability to be dependent on
someone else when her burdens are too much for her to bear. What I like most
about Money is that although he makes many mistakes (terrible ones at that) his
intentions are good.
Ella:
Ultimately, what do you want readers to gain from your book?
I want readers to know that there are successful people of color in the inner
city. Every woman is not materialistic or abusing the system or bedding multiple
men for financial gain. Every man is not a drug dealer or a gangster or a male
gigolo. For the most part, people are living their lives trying to do the right
thing.
Ella: What
advice would you give a new writer?
I would advise a new writer to not write pieces for the sole purpose of sales or
what he/she thinks other people would want to read. I would encourage the writer
to write what he/she feels people NEED to know. It is imperative to ALWAYS tell
the truth.
Ella:
Name three things that it takes to make a successful author in your opinion.
A
writer must have discipline. For instance, they must have the strength of
mind and will to be able to shut the world out so they can immerse
themselves in their work.
A
writer must be able to deal with adversity. They must have tough
skin and be able to take criticism, be it constructive or destructive.
They must have an open mind and be flexible in their approach to the art
and craft of writing.
A
writer must be a consummate student. A successful author reads works
written by other authors, not only for pleasure, but also to learn new
ways to invent and deliver their own stories.
Ella:
What can we expect from you in the future?
You can expect the sequel to Karma: With A Vengeance (wink). Seriously, you can
expect a continuation of my works in film and theatre in the future. I believe
writers should be multi-dimensional. They should never cripple themselves by
writing in only one facet of scribe.
Ella: How may our readers connect with you online?
National
Bestselling Author Dutch debut's "Dynasty", the first urban soap
opera! The Bells and Simmons are family. The Bells, a crime family in
New York, have the cocaine market on lock. The Simmons, hailing from the South, reign
supreme in heroin. Talks of joining forces are suddenly stalled when family
patriarch Guy Simmons is gunned down. Suspicions fly. Jealousy breeds. The body
count rises.
Guy
Simmons has created a legacy he wants to pass on to his two sons, Kevin and
Tyquan. However, his womanizing ways have spilled over and jeopardizes all he's
worked for. The mothers of his sons hate each other. Like mother, like son. Guy
s shooting has ignited a new brotherly beef; a beef that could have deadly
repercussions, especially when you have a family where the enemy may lie within.
Book Review
"Get in where you fit in, Dutch has taken the game to another level with
this vicious new tale"
-- Official DC Reviewer Michelle Rawls
Meet author Kwame Teague
Hailing from
Newark,
New Jersey, Kwame Teague is the award winning, critically acclaimed, and Essence #1
bestselling author of the street classic Dutch trilogy. His other novels include
The Adventures of Ghetto Sam and the Glory of My Demise, and Thug Politics under
the pseudonym Dutch. With a passion for writing, Kwame is hard at work on his
next novel.
BPM: What inspired you to write
Dynasty?
A. I wanted to write a book that was based on a gangster crime family similar to the Soprano’s. I wanted to deal with some of the issues that come with the lifestyle and how it affects the family structure.
BPM: Who did you write this book for? Why?
A. I wrote the book for myself first. Whenever I write, I have to be first interested in the subject matter myself or I can’t write the story. After that, I give it to my readers, I say reader in a wide context because weather you’re a 34-year old woman, a 22 year old man incarcerated, or even a 50 year old college professor I want to intrigue you. I don’t aim for the “urban” audience but I do write about the urban experience. So in a nutshell, if you can relate then I write for you.
BPM: Urban literature should represent a “cautionary tale.” What issues do you bring to the reader’s
attention in Dynasty?
A. Who says that urban literature should present a cautionary tale? I don’t believe that’s true. The first priority is writing a good compelling book. Hannibal Lecter eats people; Mario Puzo wrote the Godfather, where’s their cautionary tale? Let the urban voice be free to express their selves, and as the reader grows, the genre will grow. Don’t hold us to standards you don’t propose to Teri McMillan, Eric Jerome Dickey or Joan Collins.
BPM: What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
A. I like to listen to music, that is what inspires me the most.
BPM: What is the best advice you would give to an inspiring author?
A. Stay true to yourself. Don’t try and be street if you’re not just because you may have grown up in the ghetto. Also, if you’re from the street, don’t try and water it down just because mainstream wants to belittle you. Be true to yourself.
BPM: How may our readers contact you online to purchase book?
A. Purchase books here from my publisher: www.dcbookdiva.com
Dynasty
by Dutch (Kwame Teague)
ISBN-10: 0578029464
Pearl Pick: Sweet
Seduction by Maya Banks
He
was the stuff erotic dreams are made of…
Salon owner Julie Stanford wanted Nathan Tucker ever since she gave him his
first massage. Getting paid to feel every inch of his body, stripped, oiled, and
spread out in front of her? Stuff dreams are made of. But the sexy guy was
oblivious to the signals she was sending-until she finished off his final rub-
down with something extra. In fact, the best extra he ever had. Unfortunately,
he came around too late. Now Julie's moving on...
She was everything he'd dreamed of…
The woman was driving him crazy. She lit fire to his insides then ran like a
scalded cat. And now she's going to someone else to have all her fantasies
fulfilled? Over his dead body... He's more than willing to give her what she
wants, and as soon as he pins the little minx down, he'd show her his own brand
of sweet seduction.
B&N
Reader Review
From the first time salon owner and masseuse Julie Stanford gave him a massage
to the last one with a crowning finish she has wanted Nathan Tucker. However, he
is either blind or gay as he ignores her seductive endeavors even when she makes
him come in her mouth. Deciding she has had enough with frustration, Julie
visits the House so her sexual fantasy of doing two men can be at least
satiated.
Nathan
and his friend Micah make love to the blindfolded Julie. When he reveals what he
did, she decides to give him a taste of female strength using handcuffs to
dominate him. Gentle under her control, afterward he admits to Julie he loves
her, but she flees having been hurt by love before. He will have to persuade her
that they belong together one dominating but gentle stroke at a time. This
heated erotic romance is fast-paced from the opening blow- job to the final BDSM
seduction.
Julie
is a wonderful protagonist who knows what she wants though a submissive and goes
out to get it; Nathan is the one who vows to never to be tamed but though a
dominant Julie has him figuratively tied in knots. Although the couple's
relationship never fully gels outside the boudoirs, fans will knows it's safe to
bet the House (see SWEET PERSUASION) on Maya Banks providing an enjoyable hot
read. ---Harriet Klausner
ISBN:
0425230694
Pearl Pick: What's Really Hood!
What's Really Hood! : A Collection of Tales from the Streets
by Wahida Clark, Bonta ( With) , Victor L. Martin ( With) , Shawn Trump ( With),
and LaShonda Teague
Life in the streets take on a whole new meaning in this urban anthology of "hood" tales compiled by New York Times bestselling author Wahida Clark
WHAT'S REALLY HOOD!
Black Is Blue by Victor L. Martin delves into the life of a corporate woman who falls in love with a thug and finds out just how easy it is to stray from the straight and narrow.
Eighteen and hungry Wiz's only addiction to drugs is the money it made. But Crystal changed all of that and shows him just how powerful a woman can be in
The P is Free by LaShonda Teague.
In The Last Laugh by Bonta, Bobo, a member of the infamous Eight-Trey street gang, learns that gang life isn't all it's cracked up to be as "street wars" take on a whole new meaning.
Shawn "Jihad" Trump tells the story of loyalty, love and honor, when The Point Blank Mob is brought to its knees leaving the crew fighting for their lives and freedom in
All for Nothing.
And New York Times bestselling author, Wahida Clark, introduces Nina, a woman tired of being disrespected by men who takes revenge to the ultimate level in
Makin' Endz Meet.
Meet the Authors
Wahida Clark was born and raised in Trenton, New Jersey. She began writing fiction while incarcerated at a woman's federal camp in Lexington, Kentucky. Her first novel, Thugs and the Women Who Love Them, and the sequel, Every Thug Needs a Lady, appeared on the Essence bestsellers list. Since her release, Wahida has achieved much success with her follow-up of Thug Matrimony. Payback With Ya Life, made its way onto the prestigious New York Times bestseller's list. Wahida is working hard on her next novel in East Orange, New Jersey.
Victor L. Martin is the author of four published novels: A Hood Legend, Menage's Way, For the Strength of You, and Unique's Ending. He is currently incarcerated in a North Carolina prison.
LaShonda "L.L.Dasher" Sidberry-Teague is a Wilmington, North Carolina native, coming into her own as an up-and-coming author. She is the wife of author Kwame "DUTCH" Teague, one of the hottest street writers, and the mother of five children. She has found her calling in writing, and has her first novel coming soon, entitled Kiss. LaShonda lives by the motto...be a blessing and you will be blessed.
Bonta was born and raised on the mean streets of Chicago's southeast side. After graduating high school and a brief stay in the U.S. Army, he answered the streets' calling. His cost of chasing the mirage of fame and fortune was a 151-month federal sentence. While there, the legendary Joe Black inspired him to get serious about writing. Since then, he has written two novels and a few short stories.
Shawn "Jihad" Trump was born in Pennsylvania. In November 1999, Shawn was
arrested and subsequently indicted by the federal government and sentenced to 84 months in prison. During his time there he learned to channel his emotions through writing. Since being released, Shawn continues to write and is also the partner of an up and coming indie label, South of the Burgh Entertainment. Shawn is married with two daughters.
ISBN-13: 9780446539166
Pearl Pick: In My Hood Part 3
Wahida Clark (Foreword), Endy (Author)
The streets of Newark have never been as cutthroat as in Endy's third installment of her In My Hood epic. Just when the hood seems at momentary peace, the emergence of an enigmatic hit-woman known as the Black Widow jolts everyone back to attention when she marks one of the hood's dignitaries as her target. But she's not done. She's on the hunt, out for blood, and relentless in her pursuit to right the wrongs committed against her family.
Ishmael and Desiree's teenaged son Nyeem is trying to step out of his father's shadow and avoid becoming another casualty of the hustle. Escaping from his heritage becomes especially troublesome, however, when his world is shaken to its core by an extraordinary turn of events.
The fall of the head hustler in town conjures up droves of backstabbers, small-timers on the come-up, and young Nyeem facing a grown man's decision just to survive.
[Melodrama]
Book Reviews
I am amazed by this young lady's talent. --New York Times bestselling author, Wahida Clark
In My Hood is saucy, fast-paced, and uncompromising. --Library Journal
This debut novel {Hood} will hit the bestseller's list. --KaShamba Williams
ISBN: 978-193475762-6
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Her Essence and Black Issues Book Reviews bestselling novels include Thugs and The Women Who Love Them,
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[Listen to an awesome interview with 
In Lorton Legends,
Ronald Mays and three of his comrades enter the D.C. Department of Corrections as teenagers and grow into men as they face a number of struggles. Their lives change in ways that will amaze readers and give them a completely different outlook on young men that enter prison as
teenagers. "This book shows my writing skills in its true form," says Eyone. "Lorton Legends shows what the struggle is all about and how a man can obtain his goals in life, no matter what he faces along the way. It's a story that represents what resilience is all about." 
Kevin Kennard gazed into the precious face of his newborn son, the offspring
of the intoxicating love he shared with his wife, Simone. Closing his
eyes, Kevin whispered a prayer of thanks. Life had given him a second
chance at happiness far greater than anything he'd fathomed from inside the
concrete walls of his prison cell. While Kevin and Simone bask in their
familial bliss, those scorned by their union collect the pieces to their
shattered hearts and plot the couple's demise.
Based On Actual Events...
Ericka Williams has had a passion for writing since junior high school. She attended Howard University and graduated from Rutgers University. Ericka's first dream was to become a journalist, but she began a teaching career instead. Ericka has been a Language Arts teacher in Paterson, NJ, since 1998. 
In "A Blessing and A Curse" Malika has the life every woman wants, a
hard working husband who makes it happen financially; kids, both adopted as well
as biological; her career as an artist with partners who own an art gallery;
nice house, nice neighbors and the gift of foresight.
Previously an English teacher and high school principal, Andrea Clinton
is a Novelist, Poet, Essayist and aspiring Screenwriter and Filmmaker. Andrea is
a Montclair State University Graduate, who's achieved a degree in English, Film
and Journalism. She's the founder and CEO of the non-profit organization, People
Helping People, Inc., whose mission is to help citizens become independent and
self-sufficient; Andrea is Editor in Chief of AMISTAD newspaper and magazine;
and is presently working on a biography and screenplay featuring her uncle, Rock
and Roll Hall of famer, George Clinton of Parliament/Funkadelic and the Clinton
family.
BAN:
Tell our readers about Life Knows No Bounds Series latest release
All That Glitters is a novel that proves not only that all that glitters ain't gold, but that we should not rely on our outside appearance to get us ahead in life. Mika and Asia have the problem of the cutesies. They believe that because they got it goin on, they can have what they want, do what they want, and use whom they want. Mika and Asia do not realize that what goes around comes around and that beauty is only skin-deep. They, like all of us, have to pay for their mistakes and will suffer the consequences of their actions. 
It's not often that a new author can hold a reader's attention through a series of separate releases, yet fiction writer Madison
Taylor; the mastermind behind "Scattered Lies I" and "Scattered Lies II" has managed to do just that! With the creation of her literary trilogy from Influential Writers Publishing, she has cultivated a mounting fan base that is quickly developing into a cult following. Taylor will finally quench the curiosity of swelling inquiries when she releases "Scattered Lies III" on July 1, 2011, culminating the surging suspense created with her two previous novels.
Author Christopher Speight, better known to his fans as
CJ Hudson was born in Alabama. He moved to Cleveland, Ohio at a young age, attended Kent State and later went on to Kaplan Institution acquiring skills to become an electrician. CJ has become a legend in his own rights with urban hits like Chedda Boyz, Next Door Nympho, and his highly anticipated title Diary of a Nympho. He likes to read, write, travel, and spend time with his family. C.J is married with two sons. 
BPM: Introduce us to your new book
Next Door Nympho. Do you have any favorites? What genre is the book? On Kindle or Nook? 
Eyone Williams was born and raised in Washington, D.C. He is a publisher, author, rapper and actor representing urban life in a way that is uniquely his. Known for hard-core, gritty novels, Eyone made the Don Diva best-seller list with his first novel, Fast Lane (Fast Lane Publications). He followed up his debut novel with Hell Razor Honeys 1 and 2 (Cartel Publications). He then delivered his readers a short story entitled The Cross (DC Bookdiva Publications). 
George
Sherman Hudson, born and raised in Georgia, was continuously rejected by
publishers because of his books' subject matter. This father of two researched
while serving time and launched G Street Chronicles, the urban book
company based in College Park , Georgia . While George is determined to make G
Street Chronicles a recognized name in the literary industry, he has also
written and released five novels and a short story series of his own, with the
latest release being City Lights.
Family
Ties by George Sherman Hudson
BPM: Introduce us to your new book, Married to a Balla. What's the
main focus?
BPM:
Give us a peek inside your latest novel, One Night Stand.
Meesha Mink is the psuedonym for bestselling author Niobia Bryant. Meesha Mink is the national bestselling and award-winning author of 20 previous novels. She lives in New Jersey and South Carolina.
Authors, VegasClarke demonstrate that opposites attract. Vegas entered
a life of crime beginning at the age of 13. Selling drugs was all he came to
know which finally landed him a 78-month sentence in the Federal Prison System.
During his incarceration, he was able to cope with his time and mature through
writing. He put his heart into manifesting urban tales, poetry, and songs. He is
currently pursuing his degree in Business Administration and working on the
sequel to Snitch. Vegas believes that it is never too late to change his life.
On the other hand, in order to change, one has to be willing to change he often
tells his fan base.
BPM: Introduce us to your book, Snitch, and the main characters. 
Danette
Majette was born in Long Branch, New Jersey, and moved to Norfolk, Virginia
when she was five. After graduating from high school and going into the U.S.
Marine Corps, Danette's love for fashion led her to Nordstrom where she worked
as a manager. It was there that she was advised be a friend and co-worker
to write her first novel "I Shoulda Seen It Comin" which
debuted in 2005. 
BPM:
Introduce us to your latest novel, Bitter.
Author
Carla S. Pennington was born and raised in Prichard, Alabama where she
continues to reside with her family. In 1995, she graduated from Mattie T.
Blount High School, an all black school. She became a teen mother in 1992 and
was advised that she couldn’t return to school for an entire semester after
giving birth. This devastated Carla, but she refused to be held back. Her
dedication and hard work paid off. She ranked number five in her graduating
class and received an advanced diploma with honors. 
BPM:
Introduce us to The Available Wife and Niquole Wright. 
Michael
McGrew can be described in one word, “visionary.” Naturally born with a
gift in storytelling, writing a gripping novel is a walk in the park for this
Los Angeles native. When asked about his role models and inspiration growing up,
he simply explained that “Life itself and what it offers every day is a lesson
and every lesson, if learned is the best advice the universe can give you.” He
is a very diverse individual with a mind that invites the reality in which we
choose to either accept or ignore. We just choose to ignore the imperfections in
our own perfect world. 
BPM:
Share with our readers the “behind-the-scenes” dish! Introduce us to your
book and the main characters. Do you have any favorites? What genre is the book?
On Kindle or Nook? 
Constantly the free and gentle flower growing wild,
Lorraine Elzia absorbs all life has to offer. Stumbling into writing at the suggestion of loved ones, Lorraine has embraced that calling to become an Award-Winning Author, Editor, and Ghostwriter. Her debut novel, Mistress Memoirs received the AALAS Break Out Author of the year award. Ask Nicely and I Might, her sophomore novel, promises to not only entertain, but tell a message as well. 
BPM: Introduce us to your book and the main characters. What genre is the book? On Kindle or Nook?
Miss
KP began writing in high school as an outlet to express her emotions as a
teenager. She would write poetry and has even written unpublished songs.
However, after feeling as if she had much more to say, she decided to purchase a
laptop and began working on her first novel, which we now know as Dirty Divorce,
Part 1.
Read
excerpt from DD1,
BPM:
Introduce us to your book, Daddy Long Stroke, and the main characters. 
Kai
is a published and nationally recognized poet and writer. Her poem, Pre-Destiny was featured in the April 2008 issue of Essence Magazine and she was a Featured Poet in A Place Of Our Own (APOOO) national tribute in April 2008 and RAWSISTAZ Author Showcase, April 2007. 
BPM: Tell us about your latest book. What are two main events taking place in the book? 
Ben Blaze is a new author born in Lake City, Florida and raised in Live Oak, Florida. He is featured in the anthology
Romance For The Streets with Marlon Mccaulsky and K. Roland Williams. He will also be featured in the anthology
Try A Little Tenderness. 
Tash
Hawthorne, born in 
National
Bestselling Author Dutch debut's "Dynasty", the first urban soap
opera! The Bells and Simmons are family. The Bells, a crime family in 
He
was the stuff erotic dreams are made of… 
The streets of Newark have never been as cutthroat as in Endy's third installment of her In My Hood epic. Just when the hood seems at momentary peace, the emergence of an enigmatic hit-woman known as the Black Widow jolts everyone back to attention when she marks one of the hood's dignitaries as her target. But she's not done. She's on the hunt, out for blood, and relentless in her pursuit to right the wrongs committed against her family.
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with us your news, events and articles.
