Tears of a Hustler Part 3 By Silk White

Tears of a Hustler Part 3 By Silk White


Tears of a Hustler 3 picks up right where part two left off. Things get serious when Marvin the leader of a powerful up coming gang decides he wants to take over Pauleenas empire. With her back against the wall Pauleena defends her territory by any means necessary even if it means killing everything moving. With her main soldier gone she has step up to the plate and get her hands dirty. The streets will rain money or blood it s their choice but giving up her throne is not an option. Who will be the last hustler standing? Once against Silk White takes readers on a ride they wont ever forget.

Excerpt:

Four all black Denali SUVs pulled up back to back in front of the projects. Pauleena sat in the third SUV with her legs crossed sipping on a glass of wine. Today was a day in her life that she would never forget. “You sure this where this cat lives?”

“Yes I got a man in the staircase right now who’s been watching Carl’s crib all day” Eraser Head told her.

Pauleena sighed loudly. “Let’s go get this shit over with.” Her big Muslim body guard Malcolm quickly hopped out of the driver’s seat, and walked to the back door, and opened it for his boss. Pauleena stepped out looking like a million bucks followed by Eraser Head. Seven black Muslims all wearing black suits hopped out of the SUVs and escorted Pauleena in the building, and up to Carl’s floor. Eraser Head and Malcolm kicked open Carl’s front door, then quickly barged inside.

Carl sat in his couch watching TV when his front door came crashing open, followed by men busting inside with guns pointed in his face. “What’s all this about?” Carl asked with a confused look on his face.

“You know exactly what this is about” Pauleena said entering the apartment. From the look on Carl’s face she could tell that he didn’t know who she was, but he was definitely about to find out. “Did you kill G-Money?”

“Yes I did” Carl said confidently. “He disrespected, and violated me in front of my son, and for that he had to pay.”

Pauleena smiled. “And now you have to pay” she said as she pulled a .380 from the small of her back. Just as she was about to pull the trigger, little Bobby came running out the back room. “No please don’t hurt my daddy” he cried as he hugged his father.

“You kill me in front of my son?” Carl asked looking Pauleena dead in her eyes. He didn’t fear no man or woman, but if it was his time to go he didn’t want it to be in front of his son.

Pauleena looked down at Carl with a straight face, and pulled the trigger blowing his brains out right in front of little Bobby. She then trained her gun on the young boy, and sent bullets into the boy’s boney chest killing him instantly. “A body for a body” she said as she turned, handed her gun to Malcolm then made her exit.

Back in the Denali everyone was quiet, they knew Pauleena had just crossed the line, but they knew she had to do what she had to do. If the streets spotted any signs of weakness, every stick up kid in the world would be looking for her, and hustlers would be looking to take her spot. Pauleena was on top, and she planned on doing whatever needed to be done to stay on top.

“I heard Marvin is supposed to be having a birthday party next week” Eraser Head said breaking the silence.

“Word where at?” Pauleena asked helping herself to another glass of wine.

“Some club downtown.”

“Keep me posted” Pauleena said with a smile. “I wouldn’t miss that party for the world.”

A native of Harlem, New York, Silk White began his writing career in 2006. He is the author of the three part Urban Fiction series Tears of a Hustler and Co-Owner of Good2Go Publishing and Good2Go Films. Silk has No Way Out and Black Barbie as a film credit under Good2Go Films and in his spare time, loves to write and act. He is currently producing a new movie and is hard at work on his next novel.

Interview with Silk White

1. Tell me about the finale to your critical acclaim trilogy Tears of a Hustler?

This book is the finale to a trilogy that was written 2 years ago. We took our time with releasing part 2&3 to help build up our fan base in between releases. It’s a classic finale that all our loyal fans have been waiting for. I promised I wouldn’t let them down and according to the reviews we have received so far, everyone is happy. Check amazon.

2. What made you decide to start your own publishing company rather than signing with an establish publisher?

Well after Tears of a Hustler PT 1 was released I had several offers on the table, but from a business standpoint it just made more sense to release my titles under my own company. In the short term it’s a lot of work because you have to build your fan base one fan at a time, because you don’t have any distribution. But once you’ve established your brand like we have, you make 100% of the profit. At the rate we’re going we should be one of the biggest independent african american owned publishing companies out there in a few years. We’ve reached over 70,000 households in two years with no help. Right now we have good2go publishing and good2go films our movie Production Company and Third Lane Marketing.

3. What is the hardest part of writing for you?

Writing was a natural process for me, growing up in the environment that I grew up in and my life experiences help enhanced my already vivid imagination. My ability to translate my imagination thru writing was a god gifted talent that I discovered when I was going thru unforeseen circumstances.

4. What’s the best thing about being an author?

I really appreciate all the love and support that I get from the fans. They are the ones that keep me motivated. It’s amazing to see all the support that I get from all parts of the country, outside the country also. Shout out to all my UK Fans. I never thought that one day my work would have reached over 70,000 households.

5. What are you working on now?

Well I just wrapped up my 5th book which is slated to be released Nov 25 2011. Its called The Teflon Queen. So be on the look out for that. You can pre-order an autograph copy now from www.good2gopublishing.com I also just finished shooting my 2nd movie under good2go films its called Black Barbie. The first movie is called No Way Out you can get that at www.good2gofilms.com

6. What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

This piece of advice is not just for writers but any aspiring entrepreneurs out there. Especially, the youth coming from underprivileged communities. Sometimes in life we get a bad hand to play with. You have to make the best out of the hand you’re given. The best piece of advice I can give is, spend all your time and energy focusing on accomplishing your goals whatever it may be, you’re going to get results. Surround yourself with good people you trust, Sleep 5hrs work 19hrs.

I just want to say Thanks to everyone out there for the love and support. Keep supporting me and Good2go Publishing

Silk White

Find Silk at:

facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Silkwhite212
twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/good2gobooks
author site: www.good2gopublishing.com
blog: http://www.good2gopublishing.com/blog
Email address for readers to contact you : G2g@good2gopublishing.com
Buy Books at http://www.amazon.com/Tears-Hustler-PT-Silk-White/dp/0578084740/ref=tmm_pap_title_0

David By. Preston Dent

In this explosive tale, the character David grows up in the foster care system, where he has no family or guidance he turns to the only male figure in his life Smooth, his foster brother where he heads down a dangerous life of crime and sexual encounters with multiple females that eventually leads to him contacting HIV. David is currently for sale on www.amazon.com, ISBN: 9781450242691 and is published through iuniverse.com a self-publishing company.


About Preston Dent:
Born in Kansas City Ms., at the age of 9 my father moved us to Harrisburg Pa, to the projects on Cameron St, at a young age Preston noticed he had a desire to write. By the age of 13, Preston A. Dent was writing love letters in form of poetry to impress girls and other class mates. “As I got older I started rapping my words and desired to become the next 2 Pac or Scarface.” Not knowing that his love for writing would lead to him becoming a Self-Published author Preston continued on the road of stardom as a hip hop artist under the pen name "Pacino", when he received the opportunity to present to a group of high school students, he noticed that his lyrical content was not a story he wanted to share with a group of that age, that is when Pacino resorted by to his form self of Preston Dent and created a novel that’s story could be shared with the world.

A conversation with author Preston A. Dent:

As a new author, what would you say was your most difficult challenge in completing your novel?

Finishing the story was the hardest part because my imagination runs so wild that i could keep adding stories forever.

What are your favorite things about the main three characters David?
My favorite three characters are David, Elektra, and Smooth
David because he was the little boy from under a rock, the boy with known family going foster home to foster home, I admire his heart and courage, even though he was taking his situation to a negative matter, his plans were always strategic.

Elektra because she was the happy little girl, her whole life changed when her mother died in a fatal car accident. She was sent to live with her uncle across the country and he started raping her until eventually she shot him to his death.

Smooth because he was about his money, he wanted better for David putting him in position to fend for his self. It wasn’t till David started using the drug they were trying to sell that he cut ties with him.


What’s the biggest compliment you’ve been getting on this book?
The people say the book makes them cry from the pain and sorrow that it makes them want to have sex from the sex scenes, and that it is the hardest book they ever read


As a writer, what are some of the most important things you try to get across through your books?
I write for the people that been through a struggle, to the people that survived tragic situations. So my points to get across would always be the reality not the fairy tale and fantasy land they print on your TV screen


What was the last book you read? Why that particular book?

48 laws of power because the knowledge that it provides is 100 % needed in a man’s journey to life success


Please give us a preview of your next project including when it will be released.
My next project which I am currently working on is the sequel to David.


Book Excerpts: Chapter 1

T
racy Thompson was raised in Kansas City, Missouri and lived in the inner city where her father grew up. The neighborhoods didn’t have big backyards and tall trees like the suburbs. However, Tracy’s neighbors were country and always had a barbequing going on. There was a liquor store on every corner with winos panhandling to feed their addictions. Tracy’s life was by no means perfect coming from a one--parent household, with only a father who was slowly dying from cancer. Tracy was able to rise above this difficult time in her life because she knew how much her father loved her. Tracy's mother was strung out on dope and deserted them; Tracy was eight years old at the time. Her father Michael was diagnosed with gastric cancer three years after her mother departed. Michael raised Tracy the best that he could until he became chronically ill from the dreadful cancer. He would say to Tracy, “Always remember that education is the key to success.” Tracy promised her Father that she would reach for the stars and always follow her dreams.

Tracy was young, pretty, and had a smile of pure innocence. Her father taught her to be a young lady and that receiving a good education was mandatory. Tracy was very smart in school and had a desire to strive for excellence which resulted in her making the honor roll every semester. As her father began slowly dying from cancer Tracy became spiritually stronger by reading the bible and putting her faith in God. She was able to turn her pain and frustration into a thirst for knowledge and success. Tracy’s dream was that her father would make it to her high school graduation. She prayed every day, “Lord please let my father make it to my graduation.” After years of her father going back and forth to the hospital Tracy knew that her father’s time would soon be up. Tracy began preparing for her graduation and had really high spirits awaiting her graduation date. Tracy obtained a full academic scholarship to Kansas State University and couldn’t wait to start her life at college. The only thing that troubled her was Michael’s condition and she hoped that he would be around to see her graduate.

When Tracy’s graduation day arrived she had a stomach full of butterflies, she slept very restlessly tossing and turning all night. She got up and went straight to her father’s room and knocked on the door.
“Dad you better be up because we can’t be late!”
“I’m up and don’t be rushing me you know that I’m an old man” Michael said with a laugh.
Tracy had prayed that her father would make it to see her graduate so when he responded with his normal self she showed the biggest smile. Tracy knew it was going to be a good day thinking thank you god I knew you wouldn’t let me down. Tracy started walking down the stairs heading towards the kitchen to eat a bowl of Fruity Pebbles cereal. When all of a sudden she heard strident coughs and it didn’t sound good at all. Tracy ran up the stairs and opened her father’s door and said
“Dad is you ok?”
“Yes baby I’m fine; this old man wouldn’t miss this day for nothing.”
“Dad I’m serious stop playing are you ok?”
“Yes honey, I am okay for the second time.”
“Okay then we got to go, it’s getting late.”
Tracy helped her father to the car holding his hand and opening the door for him, because he was becoming too feeble to walk by himself. Tracy made sure he was safely inside of the car before pulling off and heading to the graduation. Tracy was half way there when she looked over at her father and noticed that he was sweating and coughing.
“Dad I want you to come to my graduation but if you’re not feeling well, I’ll take you to the hospital.”
“Baby if I have to tell you one more time that I am ok, I am going to beat you.”
It felt good for Tracy to see that her father still had his sense of humor, but deep down inside she knew something was wrong. Tracy and her father pulled up to the graduation a couple minutes late. “Oh shit! I got to hurry.” as she walked her father to a seat.
“Baby I’m fine now go and make this old man proud.”
“I love you so much dad.”
Tracy gave him a hug and a kiss and began walking toward the stage to be seated with her classmates. When Tracy walked across the stage she had the biggest smile on her pretty brown face. She was waving and blowing kisses to all of her friends. When Tracy looked up to see if her father was watching she saw him waving his hand and blowing kisses back at her. Tracy thought okay he's fine and continued on with her graduation laughing, taking pictures, and hugging all the other graduates.
After everything calmed down Tracy thought, I better go check on my dad. As she approached his seat she saw her father slumped over in the chair. She put her hands to her face and screamed, “Oh my God, my dad!” As Tracy ran over to see if he was okay, He began falling off the chair hitting his head on the auditorium floor after having a stroke. He was lying next to the chair with blood leaking from the side of his head. Tracy screamed out, “God please, somebody help me, call an ambulance!” As someone called the ambulance Tracy was in a frenzy begging, “Please hurry my father is lying on the ground not moving with blood coming out of his head.” When the ambulance arrived Tracy told them that he was in his final stages of cancer but would occasionally have mild strokes. Tracy knew that her father was dying from cancer so she was already prepared for his death; she knew the reality was that her father was going to die soon. Tracy was sad but at the same time happy that her father made it to her graduation.


About the Book:In this explosive tale, the character David grows up in the foster care system, where he has no family or guidance he turns to the only male figure in his life Smooth, his foster brother where he heads down a dangerous life of crime and sexual encounters with multiple females that eventually leads to him contacting HIV. David is currently for sale on www.amazon.com, ISBN: 9781450242691 and is published through iuniverse.com a self-publishing company.

The Blacks: LOVE'S Politics By Angelia Vernon Menchan

In Mrs. Black? Cinnamon Brown finally divorced her husband, William Brown, who had flagrantly disrespected their vows for decades. Cinnamon, however is not without sin, she had an affair with Malcolm Black and was set to become his wife. Does Cinnamon and Black get married? And if they do marry will they be able to withstand their comeuppance, because one must always pay for their transgressions. Not only that what could possibly occur if politics enter the already volatile mix? To find out, delve into the pages of, The Black's: LOVE'S POLITICS - New Beginnings and find out. You will not be disappointed as Angelia Vernon Menchan plunges you into a story filled with love, family, retribution, revenge, politics, and ultimately love.

Excerpt:To change the subject, did you know that Diaz was impeached?” Aunt Gladys asked Cinnamon.
“Get out of here, the Mayor being impeached, for what?”“Well, it seems he really likes young girls and he takes money that doesn’t belong to him. I tell you I just don’t understand.”“Me either…”“Well, you better because it seems there is a grassroots move to get your husband elected.”“What!?”“Yes, I was at a meeting last week and there is a petition with 5000 signatures with Malcolm Black for Mayor. We have never had a black mayor and if anyone can win, it sure is him.”“Does Malcolm know about this?”“Do, I know about what?” Malcolm walked into the room, like the handsome leader he was.
“I thought you were tired?” “I am but I am no longer used to sleeping by myself, now what should I know?”“Well, it seems there is a petition going around to get you to run for Mayor of Center City.”“What, no way, what happened to Diaz?”“It seems he has been sleeping with young girls and taking money.”“Surely, you knew, as much news and newspapers as you consume,” Aunt Gladys chimed in.“Ummm, not lately…”“You two, well he is and they want you. I want you too.”“Aunt Gladys, I don’t know about all that. I have been a private man for a long time and I just don’t do dirty politics.”“Boy, what is the worst that can happen? They mention you were a ladies man, well you weren’t married then and that secures the female vote. All of your money is legitimate. All you will have to do is come out and tell the world about your son.” Malcolm turned to Cinnamon.“What do you think about all this?”“I think you would be an awesome mayor, but, I don’t know about…I just don’t know. Can, we talk about this later.” Nodding Malcolm changed the subject.QUESTIONS:

1. Angelia what motivated you to write about such complicated love relationships? Malcolm and Cinnamon has an affair, her husband basically condoned it and now they are married and he is running for mayor.

That is pretty simple, really, life and love are full of complications and most books talk about the drama when a man cheatsor a woman loves too much, but I wanted to flip the script and do it differently, even making my characters older, because it seems many writers think sex and love ends at 30.

2. How have your older characters been received and do you have a younger audience as well?

Extremely well and I certainly do have younger readers, my books encompass all ages and everyone needs to know that black love never ends. I have written across genre, I have two young adult books, two non-fiction, two anthologies and seven women's fiction, I want to attract all readers.

3. Wow, how has ebooks worked for you and have you embraced them?

I must say, I embraced them with some reluctance, but once I did, it has been awesome. It seems that my local readers want actual books and my online readers prefer ebooks. Since I publish my own work, I can aim to please.

4. Why did you choose to self-publish?

It was a no-brainer for me even though in 2006 when I first started writing, it was frowned upon, still is actually. But, I had a very vivid imagination and knew what I wanted to write about, also, it allowed me to control my time and not worry about a contract. Ultimately, I plan to publish other authors, I have already published one author and have two anthologies with three other authors. Self-publishing is a great deal of work but worth it for me.

5. What do you want readers to take away from The Blacks: Love's Politics?

That it is never too late to love and find peace, also that we always must pay for our transgressions and at the end of the day we have to be responsible for ourselves, our families and those in our community who need us.

6. What's next?

On January 19th, my birthday, actually I will publish Family, Friends, Foes? which is the followup to this book and I am very excited about it and readers are blowing up my email and phone asking me to hurry up already. I love that!

7. Finally, what would you tell up and coming authors?

To write, write, write and to be open to constructive criticism but stay true to your stories, only you can tell your stories. Thanks AAMBC for having, be PEACE!


Angelia Vernon Menchan is wife, mother, nana and mentor. The former Job Corps Counselor is employed by day as a Budget Officer. However, by night she is the author of ‘Fictionalized Truths’… Since January 2006, she has published 13 books through her small publishing company, MAMM Productions. Her personal motto is, ‘There is and abundance through God for all of us, we simply have to be open for our blessings.” Her most recent offering is THE BLACKS: LOVE’S POLITICS

Find her at:
http://acvermen.blogspot.com
www.skirt.com/angel08
www.facebook.com/angeliam
www.twitter.com/angelmenchan

ebook link
http://www.amazon.com/Blacks-LOVES-POLITICS-Beginnings-ebook/dp/B005LH5V1U/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1323819105&sr=1-2

Bumped By Sibylla Nash

What happens when you’re blindsided by betrayal and happy hour is no longer an option?

Elle Nixon seems to have the perfect life. As a music PR maven and party girl on the L.A. social scene, she attends the hottest parties and has a roster of artists that reads like the who’s who of Billboard magazine. Her upwardly mobile bound

boyfriend lavishes her with plenty of gifts and attention until he disappears…during the middle of a high-profile fraud investigation into his investment firm by the FBI. Add an unplanned pregnancy to the mix and suddenly, it’s not so fun anymore to walk a mile in her Louboutins.

Will Elle’s search for answers help or destroy her as she confronts the past and tries to reinvent her future?

Excerpt:

AFTER A FULL DAY of sightseeing in Paris with eight writers and then a sound check at the
famed Olympia, I wanted nothing more than to close my eyes and sleep. Long and hard. I unlocked
my hotel room, took two steps in and flung myself face down on the bed, landing on top of the
scratchy, green bedspread with my high heels and short trench coat still on. My room was the length
of my arm span, which was fine on a day like today. Tiny, dark, enclosed spaces couldn’t make me
feel any worse.
I buried my face in the pillow and tried to stave off the nausea. It felt like the beginning of the
flu and it had followed me from Los Angeles to Paris, and had dug its heels in at the hotel along the
Champs Elysees. It didn’t help that Paris hadn’t gotten the memo that it was spring, or maybe I
didn’t read the memo that said to pack layers of clothes. Either way, it was damp and chilly outside.
It was hard to look chic in goose bumps, no matter how cute my shoes were, and my Louboutins
were hot; save for the beating they were taking from all the cobblestone walkways.
I checked the time on my cell phone. I had less than two hours before I had to wrangle
everyone back on the bus for the main purpose of the trip, watching one of the biggest hip hop
artists in the world, Cameron perform at the Olympia, one of the oldest concert halls in Paris. He
was signed to Savage Rhythms, the record label that employed me as a publicist and subsidized my
stiletto habit.
My phone chimed and a text message from my friend Justine came through. Growing up, we
used to live four doors down from one another in New Jersey and had been as inseparable as cake
and ice cream at a birthday party. Now, living on opposite coasts, we were like caviar and a bottle of
hundred-year-old scotch, only on special occasions.
Happy B-day Ellie! Hope ur enjoying ur trip in city of love!  :> :>)
She included her usual assortment of happy faces and other crazy icons that always made me
wonder if she dictated her text messages to her 12-year-old.
Bleh! Another birthday. I grabbed a pillow and put it over my face. Born four years apart, my
sister Evie and I shared the same birthday. I’d much rather pretend the day didn’t exist. I moved the
pillow and rolled over on my stomach to send Justine a quick message.
35. Yaay. I’m working & how much fun can it really b w/my man on another continent?
Before she could reply, my phone rang.
“Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you!” Diego Rivera’s baritone sang in my ear with
only the slightest of interference from across the Atlantic. I smiled, happy to avert a trip down
memory lane. Even after two and a half years of dating, the sound of his voice still made my
stomach tingle with erratic butterflies…or it could have been the escargot from the other night. Two
words. Never. Again.




Sibylla Nash is a Los Angeles-based freelance writer and author. She has written about a variety of topics that have appeared in numerous magazines and newspapers. She is also the author of several books including DreamCity, Baby Modeling & Beyond: From the Stroller to the Red Carpet and her newest novel, Bumped. She holds a degree from the University of Southern California in print journalism and is the extremely proud mom of a young actress. You can find her on the web at sibyllanash.com, divaluscious.com, starbabyla.com, bumpedthenovel.com on Facebook and tweets @starbabyla.

Get to Know the Author:

1.) How did you begin my journey as an author?

I started off as a freelance writer but as an avid reader, novels were always in my future. This is my fifth book – all independently released - and it’s been a long work-in-progress! When I released my first novel eleven years ago, life was pretty different. The author tag line on the back of that book (DreamCity) read something like “Sibylla Nash lives in Los Angeles with her dog.” Since then, I became a mom, the dog died, I moved back to NJ and then moved back to LA. Life happens and I think that’s part of what helps one grow as a writer. Experiencing and living life and then obsessing and rehashing the details, exploring the “what if’s” and “could be’s” in the pages of the worlds we create.

2.) What compelled or inspired you to write this book?

Who hasn’t had that one relationship where you’re scratching your head after the fact asking yourself, how could I not see this? I wanted to explore betrayal in such way that seemed more organic. You really go through stages of grief after being betrayed and I wanted to show a character dealing with the ultimate betrayal, which is not necessarily the physical, cheating act. I wanted to take this character from point A of thinking everything’s great to point B where she’s like oh my gosh, who is this person? I can rattle off a list of women in that past few years that have been through a very public and humiliating scandal like Sandra Bullock, Maria Shriver, Elin Woods, etc where they’re with someone who totally turns out to be so different with the emotional and physical cheating. For the public, that’s the big story but for them, life goes on and they have to pick up the pieces.

3.) How do you develop the plot?

I use index cards, and I like to break the story up into three parts, which is from Syd Fields screenwriting technique. I plot it out and usually deviate from many of my plot points, but I always have an idea of where I’m going and I definitely know where I want to end up.

4.) How long did it take to write Bumped?

Bumped has been a labor of love for quite a few years. I always thought my second novel after DreamCity would be a sequel but the characters in Bumped demanded to be written. DreamCity was written before I became a mom and Bumped was written late at night, in between auditions for my daughter and play dates. It has taken quite a few years and revisions and was finally birthed in August 2011.

5.) What types of books do you like to read?

I have a very eclectic taste and will read everything from horror, mystery, thriller, self-help, history and anything else that catches my eye. I’ll read it on the Kindle or in printed form, whichever I can get my hands on first. I’m not a die-hard purist and love the opportunities that e-books offer.

6.) How do you feel about selling digital books vs. selling in a brick and mortar store?

I love it! That coupled with social media allows me to find and connect with a wider audience that was harder to reach with my previous books. It certainly levels the playing field and allows new voices to be heard without having to fight through the gatekeepers of the old guard.

7.) What’s next?

I’m updating my guide, Baby Modeling & Beyond. So much has changed since I wrote it six years ago and there seems to be an even bigger market of moms who are curious about getting their kids started in the business. I’m also re-releasing my first novel DreamCity at the end of the year. There’s a fun sequel to that which will be out next year. I’m staying pretty busy. I have so many stories in my head bouncing around that are demanding to get out and strut their stuff on the page or screen.

Find Sibylla Nash at:

sibyllanash.com, bumpedthenovel.com, facebook.com/bumpedbysibyllanash, Twitter @starbabyla

Email address: sibylla22@gmail.com

Buy Book at: http://www.amazon.com/Bumped-Sibylla-Nash/dp/0970170637/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1318560856&sr=8-1

Getting to Know Angela H. Brown

Angela is the published author of; IT’S MO BETTER THE SECOND TIME AROUND! She is on the move and has no plans on stopping any time soon! Angela is motivated to pull her readers into the room and make them feel sexy, and secure to be themselves. It’s Mo Better is based upon bits and pieces of her own life. Angela experienced physical abuse at an early age, but the bruises eventually disappeared and she began to inspire other people to stop playing the victim and plan for your victory! Angela was inspired to write her first book by her attorney who was her client; she is a hair dresser of twenty years. The book became born and the character TIFFANY was released to the world. Tiffany is a young sexy diva who is searching for a LOVE JONES EXPERIENCE. Tiffany meets Mr.Wrong.com, and learns that love and sex is two different things. Charles is his name and boxing is his game. Charles is controlling and has the key, and code to Tiffany’s forbidden treasure. Moaning, passion, rain drops of sweat, and screaming his name ends in pain. Now Tiffany’s young and dumb attitude knows better she was raised better than that. The book will take you through a tunnel of confusion, because Tiffany finds out life ain’t perfect. Well look who fell out the sky it is a bird or a plane, no honey it is every woman’s dream it is a scoop of chocolate ice cream dripped in caramel, and nuts with a cherry on top. Lord have mercy it is Mr. Randy to the rescue. Tiffany takes this joy ride then jumps out the passenger seat and hitchhikes right to, what do the lonely do at Christmas life. Readers it get’s Mo Better because love gets real, and the bruises began to fade. This book has so much passion and surprises; it is a small world after all. Mo Better takes a flight toAtlantaand parties to the cool and classy old school beats. Rock with me and slip into your sexy gear, and enjoy making your LOVE JONES experience, a night to remember.

Angela Hughes Brown is inspired to write, because she loves expressing herself in a sexy way. She lives onFantasyIsland, when the world gets confusing then she starts to write to give herself a break. This has become her hobby and mission to inspire her readers to become the best what ever they want to be. She has trials and tribulations, but it only makes her stronger. Angela has been a listening ear to her clients for years, she gives them a healthy beautiful look, and inspire them in their hearts that they can make it with God on their side. Angela has never met a stranger she is out going and loves to net work. Her goal is to travel and motivate the world to GO AND GET THEIR DREAMS OUT THERE! When one door closes anther one will open with prayer and faith! Her passion constantly inspires her readers to never let their fire out life is too short! Look for her other books that is coming soon, How TO GET THE HEALTHY BACK IN YOUR HAIR, and CARPET BURNS! Yes Angela is your next fabulous new author she has a heart full of stories to tell, and she prefers to tell it her way. So laugh, cry, and learn a valuable lesson while this dynamic poetic writer pulls you into her world!


How To Get the Healthy Back In Your Hair . . .: Rekindling Healthy Hair

How Tto Get the Healthy Back In Your HairThis insightful book educates the reader on how to choose a hair stylist, as well as understanding their hair. It pulls you into the world of healthy hair, and focuses on important issues, like, balding, weaving, colors, and textures. Enjoy a special interview with Kimberly Williams Greer, the personal hair stylist for the Food Network show, Down Home with the Neely’s and Road Tasted with the Neely’s. Wearing your new hat with cancer, will also be featured, it gives important information concerning growing your hair back healthy after loosing your hair. Consultations before you become a client, and much more. . . .


Novel: It’s Mo Better The Second Time Around

Tiffany is a young beautiful virgin, who falls for the wrong guy. She finds that love doesn’t wear a glove, and Charles is her abuser! He inherited this mixed up abuse from Daddy Dearest! Tiffany gives up her forbidden hidden treasure, and wears tattoos in all rainbow colors. She knows that mama didn’t raise no fool! She moans,screams,and cries out for help, making love feels like, Mr. just doing his business. Tiffany has a long way to go, and being grown doesn’t seem so pretty. Charles becomes a thing of the past finally, but he leaves scares inside this young ladies heart! Mr.Right enters into Tiffany’s world, but there is much work to do. Randy is very handsome, charming, and is lover not a fighter! Can Tiffany let the past go and eat all the dessert that is on her plate? Randy is the best thing that has ever happened to Tiffany. She learns what real love feels like! Conflict will arise,and scandal will come back and hunt her. Sit tight , because it is about to turn into a LOVE JONES THRILLER! Put your seat belts on , and take a roller coaster ride, into Tiffany’s world!

It’s Mo Better The Second Time Around, Q & A

1. Q, What inspired you to write this sexy love story?

A, Well I was in a domestic relationship, and writing was my therapy.



2. Q, Do you consider yourself a survivor?

A, Yes I do, I made it and it is my responsibility to help others who may be going through the same storm!



3. Q, How did you come up with the Randy character?

A, Well Randy was not perfect but he was perfect for so many women we know inside and out! I felt it was about time someone wrote about a positive black man for a change!



4. Q, What made you tell the readers about Charles’s father’s abusive ways?

A, The readers had a right to know how this monster began learning hoe to abuse women.



5. Q, What made you come up with that shower scene between Tiffany, and Randy?

A, Well I wanted my book to breathe a classy sexy experience, and I wanted them to take their time.



6. Q, Your book had an old school flavor are you old school?

A, Yes I love old school music, and life! I wanted to bring a little of that back like the candy, Now or Later, and Lemon Heads.



7. Q, Will there be a sequel or should we just vibe off this Love Jones story?

A, Well I have many other books to come so I never say never, I will consider it in the future!

Find Angela at: www.thehealthyhair.com . E-mail is cherrywinepublisher@yahoo.com

Sleepless Nights: The Drew Smith Series By Norwood Holland

William Norwood Holland, Jr. or Norwood Holland also his nom de plume was born on July 22, 1951 in Washington, DC and grew up in Gum Springs the historically black enclave in Virginia’s suburban Fairfax County once apart of the Mount Vernon plantation then willed to George Washington’s slaves and their descendants. Holland traces both maternal and paternal lineages to Washington’s slaves. During the post Brown vs. Board of Education desegregation period he attended the County’s segregated Drew-Smith Elementary School named after the pioneering African American physician Dr. Charles Drew and 19th Century Gum Springs resident and educator Annie Smith. Holland credits his early childhood reading and education with inspiring the name of his lead protagonist Drew Smith.



Desegregation was complete by the time he entered the County’sFortHuntHigh School. There he witnessed limited social and extra-curricular opportunities for blacks and sought out the historically black college experience enteringFiskUniversityin the fall of 1969. There he majored in English and Education studying under the late Harlem Renaissance writer Arna Bontemps. Hollandgraduated a member of Lambda Iota Tau International Literature Honor Society in 1973 then worked briefly at theGraduateSchool, USDA counseling military veterans and foreign students before enrolling at Howard University School of Law receiving a Juris Doctor in 1978.



He has served in several government agencies including the National Labor Relations Board and a number of Washington’s top national law firms. In the mid 90s Hollandbegan freelancing for the local media. In 2008 The Writer Magazine published his How I Write profile of local best selling novelist George Pelacanos.



Hollandidentifies with Pelacanos’ writing style and hometown setting also adopting the same hardboiled noir fiction genre. For the past 10 years Hollandhas devoted much of his writing to completing the 4 volume Drew Smith series. He launches the series with the publication of Sleepless Nights, where the practicing attorney/bon vivant keeps it real both at work and play.

Hollandcurrently blogs at editorialindpendence.com . More information on Sleepless Nights is available at SleeplessNightsNovel.com and his web site Norwood Holland.com




Trial attorney Drew Smith a solo practitioner takes on shady clients solving cases fraught with danger and romantic intrigue. Through Sleepless Nights the urban legal wizard while frolicking with an exotic dancer succumbs to a midlife crisis. Haunted by foreshadowing nightmares an awakening reveals an empty life but Smith finds solace with therapist Zöe Settles. In an already complicated life Smith is pressed into service when a vicious robbery leaves three dead and the city enraged. Drew Smith and his devoted sidekick Julio Mejia work to free his young client on the trail of a crazed gunman responsible for a growing body count. In the end, the gunman and the dancer combine forces to bring Smith down. When death comes knocking Drew Smith faces the fight of his life.

Get to Know Holland:

1. Could you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I am a freelance writer and lawyer lobbying on behalf of police and security officers. I received my law degree from Howard University School of Law and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in English at Fisk University. A native of Washington DC, I favor D.C.’s local color in my fiction and currently write the offbeat blog editorialindependence.com devoted to diversity issues and labor law, book reviews, and social commentary.

2. Describe your book ‘Sleepless Nights’ in 30 words or less.

Sleepless Nights is suspenseful with larger than life characters based on a true crime story changing the lives of three young men and those around them–an engrossing legal thriller.

3. What was the hardest part of writing your book?

For me the most difficult part of writing Sleepless Nights was developing the plot line, and trying to come up with creative ways to raise the stakes for Drew Smith. A fundament rule for legal thrillers is to make your protagonist suffer and with that in mind the challenge was to make Drew Smith suffer while seemingly enjoying the high life. Drew Smith an urban bon vivant in his favor why should he be troubled? So I had the difficult task of causing him trouble. Once I had a central plot down then subplots and characters began to unfold naturally in the development.

4. What books have had the greatest influence on you?

I love biographies and particularly writer’s biographies. I’m a student of African American Literature so my taste may be a little esoteric. Two great books which I considered my favorite autobiographies are James Weldon Johnson’s Along This Way and Langston Hughes I Wonder As I Wander. As for popular fiction I’m a big fan of Harold Robbins and James Michener, I like epic adventures. I can say unequivocally the works of Langston Hughes have had the greatest influence on me.

5. Briefly share with us what you do to market your book?

Marketing is a challenge and a whole new experience for me. I’m targeting book clubs and reading groups to develop a core readership or fan base. I’m also targeting the Library market. I have found the local and national independent publishing associations to be valuable resources. They have also been instrumental in introducing me to book fairs and trade shows as possible venues for selling books. My promotional strategy is combination of both on line and off line. I plan to implement an intense internet promotional plan primarily made up of a bog blog tours to promote the ebooks and book signings at independent book stores and reading groups.

6. How do you spend your time when you are not writing?

Lately I’ve taken up golf as a hobby. When I’m not working I’m usually involved in some type of self improvement project like trying to teach myself new skills like building web sites and learning a second language. I also like to travel something I hope to do more of as I attempt to promote my book at book stores across the country. I enjoy reading, visiting art museums, and music. According to Auntie Mame, “life is a banquet and most poor suckers are starving.” I try to end each day sated.

7. What are you working on next?

Minus One, the prequel to the Drew Smith Series is in its final editing stages. I expect to see it in print by Spring 2012. Drew Smith finishes law school and takes a job as a hotel concierge while awaiting his bar exam results. He makes new friends with two Bell Men and after a night out on the town suddenly finds themselves the center of a murder mystery.

Blacktop Hustlaz By

JAMES SKIER aka “Skee” has a raw perception of women: they’re here to take care of him. And his 18-year-old girlfriend, Ariana Houston, does just that. Her parents accepted him and her father even offers him a job … but he has a better idea … he wants to sell dope.

Unbeknownst to Ariana, he finds a weed plug in the only person he knows will front him the product, an aged and respected gangster from his old neighborhood. Skee sells out fast and it seems that he’s found his niche. Even when he gets robbed at gunpoint, he switches to selling powder cocaine and hustles harder. He moves out his mother’s house and, with pride, treats his girl to a shopping spree—but under the guise that he has a real job. That very night, though, after a heated argument, he tells her he sells drugs and she storms out.

Does he care? No. He has bigger problems that threaten to tear down his newfound success.



ARIANA HOUSTON devoted herself to being the perfect girlfriend to Skee despite the rumors she heard that he’s a cheater. But when she finds out he sells drugs, she leaves him. Her best friend, Brandy, is happy for her new singleness and encourages her to go out with Ronnell “Scrill” Jackson, a well-paid brotha that goes to their college. Soon after she sleeps with him, she feels a painful guilt, as if she cheated on Skee. That guilt turns to horror when she finds out that Scrill sells drugs too … and that someone very close to her is his boss. And they’re planning to kill Skee!

Will she be able to warn her ex-boyfriend in time?

Should she …?

Interview with the Author:

Who are the main characters in Blacktop Hustlaz?

Blacktop Hustlaz is about James "Skee" Skier and Ariana Houston, a once inseparable young couple that fall apart over drug trafficking. Everyone knows they're supposed to be together, but Ariana can't see herself with someone that sells cocaine for a living. It turns out that fate has a plan to bring them back together ... but their reunion comes in a way that horrifies both of them.
What inspired you to write this book?

Authors before me inspired me to write Blacktop Hustlaz, namely Kwan, Shannon Holmes and Teri Woods, the urban lit forerunners. I wanted to write about my experiences in the streets as well, mixed in with stories I've heard about other gangsters around my city and stir it all up until I've got a story where every scene will be memorable. My second inspiration was to give my fellow inmates something to read until somebody ordered another street book, which tooks months. Then everyone started anticipating my novels. Now that I'm free, I'm making Blacktop Hustlaz available to the public.
What sets your book apart from other books in the same genre?

I didn't want to write "another drug story," so I shied away from going deep into the aspects of the dope game. I focused on character development, Skee and Ariana's relationship, and honed in on Charles Blake, an obnoxious and comedic friend of Skee's who shouldn't have any business whatsoever fooling with narcotics.
The e-book edition of your novel is different from the rest, also. How?

I added links inside the e-book that allow the reader to listen to the same music as the characters. Sometimes I would read a book, say a Stephen King novel, and he would mention songs that he obviously thought his readers were familiar with, but I had no idea what he was referring to and sometimes I don’t feel like looking up the song. So in Blacktop Hustlaz, all you have to do is click on the song as it is mentioned in the novel and you’ll hear it play. Felony Books will have that feature in all its e-books.
As an author, what is your writing process?

I need a whole lot of silence when I write, unless I've reached a love scene, which requires me to have some R&B going in my media player to create crazy-sexy-cool moments between characters. I try to get at least two pages a day in. Blacktop Hustlaz took me a year and half to write.
What made you start Felony Books, and what does “Reading By Any Means” actually mean?

I started my own publishing company because I have a lot of ground-breaking book ideas and I don’t want to have to wait to get them “approved.” And I used to hate reading street books that were riddled with errors, which, in the end, is dependent on the publisher or the editor he hired. Even more than that, I hated the "outsiders," the critics that represent other book genres, downplaying the genre that I came to love. I wanted to help urban lit grow, with quality books, fresh stories and new ideas. I studied editing, transitioning from paragraph to paragraph, plots, themes, point of view (one character for every chapter is how I do it), and I also studied the print manufacturing part of publishing, simple things like getting rid of orphans and widows in the typesetting phase. I'm not a fly-by-night author. I love writing and take it seriously, so I study it. The slogan “Reading By Any Means” came while I was incarcerated. Some institutions I was at banned street books, and we had to think of ingenious ways of getting those books inside, such as through legal mail or sending in one page at a time through family letters. We read by any means. And even back in the 1800's when reading was illegal, we read under candlelight when no one was looking and got the master's daughter to teach us words we didn't know. We read by any means. Now we’re publishing our own books, breaking into digital media and doing big numbers, and will continue to do so in whatever new venue becomes available. That's what Felony Books represents!
Can you give us a sneak peek into what’s next for Felony Books?

I'll be releasing STALKER.COM: A NOVEL in the summer of 2012, a novel that's about a woman obsessed with Facebook ... and a man that stalks her profile and eventually her life outside the computer. TRE POUND 2: TROUBLESOME is finished, but the release date for that is TBA.



Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jordan.belcher2


Purchase e-book here: http://amzn.com/B005X21X4W


E-mail address: felonybooks@gmail.com






Book Excerpt:

Stacy Skier was in the middle of washing her hair when she thought she heard a knock at the door. She lifted her head out the kitchen sink and cut the faucet off. Her hair was dripping wet so she grabbed the towel off the dishwasher handle and rubbed her short do wildly.

She paused to listen for a knock, but heard the phone ring instead.

Every time she settled down to get something done there was always a distraction, she thought. Her day off was never really a day off. If it wasn't the ringing telephone, it was Skee asking to use her car, borrow money, or him playing his music too loud. She was more than happy when her son got his own car. And when he told her he needed her to cosign for an apartment, she was more than willing.

As she went to pick up the phone in the living room she was sure about the knock on the door this time. But the knock was more like a bang. She let the phone ring to find out who was banging at her door. When she opened it she saw a young man standing in front of her that looked to be in his early twenties. He had a Black and Mild cigar in his mouth. He inhaled, then whistled out a stream of smoke in her face. She waved the smoke off, assuming it wasn't deliberate.

"Is there something I can help you with?" she asked with disdain.

"Yes, ma'am. I'm looking for Skee."

"Skee doesn't live here. And I would appreciate it if you wouldn’t bang on my door like you did."

"I apologize, ma'am. I was told he lived here. Do you know where we can find him?"

Stacy wondered why he said "we" when he was the only one standing here. "No, I don't. Have a nice day," she said, closing the door. But he wedged his foot in the way.

"You sure you don't know where he is, ma'am?"

"I told you no! Now move your damned foot!" Stacy peered behind the rude cigar smoker and saw three more young men walking up the small stairway. One of them had a shotgun! She remembered her .380 pistol under her mattress and turned to run for it, only for her wrist to be grabbed.

Legacy Of The Pacific" by D H Brooks

Adventure, romance and intrigue meet in a titanic clash within the tale "A Legacy Of The Pacific," a paean to California and her blue neighbor: A waif called Pincin, unknowingly the heir to the throne of Nereidia, meets his two sisters: Princess Lile, the willful warrior and the winsome Princess Ciona. Once joined in their cause, his family assists him in seeking his rightful place among the people of this fantastic seascape of 1930s California vernacular architecture and billowing kelp forests. Along their quest, the siblings encounter heroes from diverse points around the globe who teach them that the myths and legends of the water deities of old have a vital message to impart in aid of saving our oceans and their inhabitants in the present day.


Excerpt:

Princess Lile wanted answers yesterday, and in her usual tactless manner, she intended to get them from the two figures who blocked her way out of the cell. "Hades protect you if you are foolish enough to block that doorway as I reach it. Who are you and what business have you here?"


The voice she had heard before spoke up again as the two shadows moved slowly toward Lile and the others. Fearing the worst, Curadh and Liam stepped in front of Lile, but she remained unstirred, pushing them aside. Her ice sword picked up on the ambient light streaming in from the hallway as she faced the two intruders.


"Show yourselves!" she demanded, holding her sword in striking position. From behind her, Pincin concentrated on the shadows, using his innate ability to manipulate light to amplify the small amount of dappled sunshine within the cell. Having done so, he could now make out the forms before him as being that of two Centaurians, merfolk who are half-man and half-seahorse. The one to the left, who appeared to be the younger of the two, addressed Lile once again, his piercing green eyes registering her displeasure.



Consumed by rock music, animation and comic books since age four, Daria H. Brooks studied Creative Writing and Comparative Literature at California State University Long Beach. She first wrote of the aquatic denizens of Nereidia in comic book form in 1993, later supplying research notes for TechTV's "Thunderbirds"tm and licensed material for A&E Home Video's "The Best Of Thunderbirds."tm A Southern California resident born and raised, the author lives in Los Angeles near her beloved Pacific Ocean.


Interview with the Author:
1) What are the origins of "A Legacy Of The Pacific?"

"A Legacy Of The Pacific" began as a "create your own comic book" challenge at work between a friend and I who loved superhero books. It took several months to draw, write, ink and letter a single issue, which added to my respect for those who do this regularly. The characters I created resonated with me but "real life" took over; it was sixteen years before I had the opportunity to revisit their adventures in novel format. Both outings were rewarding but my hands do not miss all that sketching.


2) How different is writing a novel from writing a comic book?

The successful writing of any style calls for discipline in large measure (not my forte'), plus a fair amount of being selfish with your time. It took two years to write "A Legacy Of The Pacific" and I often heard from friends who objected to my lack of availability. Now I look back and wonder where I found the time to write at all. I could use it now!


3) Who makes up your audience?

I originally assumed that I was writing for teenage girls but have found most of my readership to be middle-aged women. While I've based the tale in modern day Los Angeles and added bits of obscure Black history, the majority of my readers thus far are White and live as far away as the UK. Ideally, I want readers from all walks of life as they all have a stake in the health of our oceans, the fate of which is at the core of this tale. Additionally, the trio of heroic siblings in the story are misfits and, as such, they communicate hope and inspiration to kids who feel themselves outsiders in their own lives. Like my heroes, they can rise above if they believe in themselves and their goals.


4) Which authors and artists influenced your writing and artistic style?
My favorites artists work either in the comic book medium (Phil Jimenez; Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez) or advertising art and design (Alfons Mucha and Charles Rennie Mackintosh). Such influences come through in the artwork I created for the illustrated version of my novel (now sold out). As for writers, I love the humor of Douglas Adams, Eric Idle and Billy Connolly; my homage to Gracie Allen comes through best in the Princess Ciona character. Readers have told me that they laugh out loud at some of the exchanges in the novel; this pleases me greatly!


5) What influences guided you in writing your novel?

Much about "A Legacy Of The Pacific" is an homage to the people, places and things which were major parts of my "wonder years." I managed to work in my love of comics, animation and rock music, as well as my adoration for Los Angeles, my hometown. Our family often spent Sundays either at Point Fermin in San Pedro or driving around 1960s L. A. to see landmarks such as the Pan-Pacific and Chinese Theaters, Griffith Park and Pacific Ocean Park; those days were a strong influence upon my voice as a writer. This is my town and this novel is my way of throwing my arms around her.


6) What caused you to create this book at this time in your life?

I'm a late bloomer! More seriously, our oceans are being decimated by both industrial and military pollution, as well as by Joe and Flo Sixpack who throw their used furniture into the storm drains, flush away cat litter (which is devastating otter populations), wash motor oil down driveways and discard food wrappers and cigarette butts on our beaches. I hope that readers will personalize these attacks upon our oceans through their relationship with my characters and take on the challenge to help keep our oceans clean.


7) Where do you go from here?

Atlantis!


Find the Author:
E-mail: legacyofpacific@aol.com

Website: www.alegacyofthepacific.com

Amazon.com (Paperback/Kindle): http://www.amazon.com/Legacy-Pacific-D-H-Brooks/dp/0974021296/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1321858278&sr=1-1

Lulu.com (e-book edition / .PDF file for Adobe e-readers): http://www.lulu.com/product/ebook/a-legacy-of-the-pacific/16691554?productTrackingContext=search_results/search_shelf/center/1

Book Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTfZdIoNLEc
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/A-Legacy-Of-The-Pacific/303077839716038
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/pincin
Legacy blog: http://02f8337.netsolhost.com/blog2/
Publisher's website: http://cedargrovebooks.com/

I Am The Ancestor By Symbolie Monique Smith

I’m the proud mother of 4 awesome and amazing children and I take my role as a mother VERY seriously. My primary reason, main purpose and my true desire for writing my book is gift to them. I have used every bit of knowledge, strength and capabilities that I’ve self-developed to raise and developed their individual personalities while building a mini empire. I refuse to just leave behind businesses, a life insurance policy, homes and other materials possessions, without sharing with them my true identity and my life’s journey. They must know who their mother really is, my experiences and what it took for me to become the women I am today.

I want to leave them a TRUE LEGACY.

As I started writing my story, I became overwhelmingly compiled to bring awareness to many areas that have affected my life. The immediate are:

Sharing of one’s history is nothing new, but are people really educating their children about their roots and the importance of them. Good or bad, parent must continue to empower them with that knowledge; they may even enlighten themselves during the process. Thus: GENEALOGY

Elementary children with cell phones may be ok for many, but do parents and care givers have a STRONG plan enforced with them about their safety and surroundings. Let them know that the boggy man is not just something that they imagine under the bed or peeking from the closet—it’s lives amongst us. Oh yea, the boggy grows as they grow and changes often. Worst of all, it’s not always a deformed evil looking creature, which only appears once they’re alone. Thus: PREDATORS

Blinded eye people – Any person who KNOWINGLY fails to perform their duties are partially responsible for damages and harm they allow to take place. There are all types of signs and processes that are being ignored by them which should immediately be acknowledge in any possible way. Blinded eye people are aiders and abettors for sharing in wrongful acts because their actions or, lack of. Family, Friends, Neighbors and Municipalities: Thus “ROLE PLAYERS”.

If I can bring hope of any, to show proof that light IS at the end of the tunnel, that a cloud can be lassoed and can proudly shout…..I AM ABLE……………..GET READY, BE READY AND STAY READY……………………Thus: INSPIRED


Excerpt:

Throughout all of this, I still make time for myself. I have to! My social life is pretty average for a woman who has her children’s best interest first. Over the years, I’ve dated and enjoyed hobbies like sewing and knitting. I also make time to connect with other women at social events and outings. On a monthly basis, I attend a recurring women’s event and every time I leave I am pumped and charged to work even harder. By all accounts, I feel like the most powerful woman in the world when I take into consideration what I have vs. what statistics report I should have.
Unfortunately, I am also a woman without a true identity on a quest to find out where it all began for me. Imagine a world with no links, no attachments, and no existence. Can you picture yourself walking down the street wondering if the person who just passed you is your brother, sister, or cousin? Do you know what it’s like to get tested more frequently than most persons because of an unknown family medical history? Have you experienced not being able to enjoy a simple cruise to Aruba, Jamaica, or the Mediterranean because you cannot produce proof of your identity? I can’t obtain a passport because my vital statistics are not correct. For too many years, I have lived this way and still I have no real answers. This is the reason I gave birth to I Am the Ancestor. After 15 years of endlessly searching for the truth, I suddenly realized that I must tell my story before I die in an attempt to leave behind a true legacy for my four children. Leaving this burden on Courtney is completely unacceptable to me.
I Am the Ancestor is an inspirational account of my life as a woman living in a world without a single connection. Thanks to being abducted, exploited, and raised by a woman named Tammie Smith who never showed any love and various municipalities such as the public school system, the Department of Social Security, Bureau of Vital Records, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and police departments who dropped the ball at one point or another in my life, I am like many victims of abduction: left to put the pieces of my life together. What’s worse is the impact this is having on my children. Now, it’s my duty as a mother, the only dear title that I really have — for I’m not a daughter, a sister, an aunt, nor a cousin — to make sense of my history.
With this book, I truly want to share my strengths, expose my weaknesses, develop in all areas of my life, and survive by any means for my children and myself. When this book is finally released, I will be free, my children will be empowered, and the minds of many will be wide open! Not only that, but this book will open the door for other people in the world, like me, who are determined to put together the missing pieces of their lives. I believe that there are thousands, if not millions, of people like me in the world! As a matter of fact, just recently I saw two different news accounts of women who had been abducted as children and were reunited with their family. It shocked the world to know that we, adults who were abducted as children, are still out.

Energetic, engaging, dynamic, inspiring, and industrious are just a few adjectives that capsulate this phenomenal woman. S. Monique Smith reared in Baltimore, Maryland, received her formal education from the Baltimore City Public School System. She holds numerous certificates and certifications in various disciplines. Ms. Smith is a full-time student of life, and prides herself in being a lifetime learner. Armed with undeniable wit, charm and personality, she has faced numerous challenges and over-come tremendous obstacles throughout her life. To her credit, Ms. Smith has only used them as motivators while carving out her place in the world as a savvy business woman, a prolific entrepreneur, and most recently added to her long list of achievements Ms. Smith is an accomplished author. There are certainly multiple dimensions to this woman and they are constantly unfolding, however amidst all her accomplishments the one that resonates and remains a constant in her life is that of “Mother.”

As a mother, she wants nothing but happiness and a “real legacy” for her four beautiful children. Ms. Smith has often said that her children are her reason for breathing. She manages to balance both the role of motherhood and professional with fineness and her own unique style. But it doesn’t end there. Ms. Smith is an involved parent, a mentor to many, a philanthropist and an activist.

Some of her interest and hobbies include bike riding, white water rafting, swimming and skating. S. Monique Smith is a
multi-talented, and vibrant powerhouse of a woman. She is indeed a force of nature, and once you’ve had the pleasure of making her acquaintance, you will be left with a indelible impression.

Get to Know Monique:

1. What’s so special about your book with so many others out there?

A. That I’m living the life as a ‘Missing Person’…because I am.

2. Have you ever written a book before?

A. I have never neither written nor desired to write a book before now but felt the need to not only share my story with my children, but to the world in hopes of HELPING anyone….another innocent child more so.

3. Why a book now?

A. Sharing! It’s time for me to share MY story and to step out on faith with another project . . . Why now? Once one knows they are ready for something . . . IT IS TIME! I had opportunities before that were small….’it’s the season now I guess”. Also, the resources I have now make it so much easier for the novice in this writing/publishing area.

4. What challenges are you facing?

A. This a whole new arena for me. Way out of my scope. …Did I say WAY? So researching, educating myself and cherry picking the resources that could directly aid me in this process was priority…and COSTLY! People are NOT the professionals that they THINK they are.

5. The release of the book?

A. Sunday October the 2nd, followed by a bus tour on Sunday October 14th, and a Book signing on Sunday October 7, 8, 22nd EXCITED!! I’m going to do a state tour in hopes of finding out what state I’m from while raising awareness and funds for my charities

6. Are you getting any help?

A. People are amazing. I’ve shared my story and have often received an abundant amount of tools, aids, resource, leads and unbelievable support…BRAVO TO ALL WHOM TAKE ACTION FOR THEIR CAUSES!!

7. Can you share anything exciting about the book?

A. Yes I can . . . my book is not just for me to share with my children. It will inspire people in so many other areas of their lives…I know and have been told DAILY since I’ve started. With that being said…I’ll be launching and advocating the importance of instilling in not just our youth, but how EVERYONE is an Ancestor….Stay Tuned.

Sleepless Nights: The Drew Smith Series By Norwood Holland

William Norwood Holland, Jr. or Norwood Holland also his nom de plumewas born on July 22, 1951 in Washington, DC and grew up in Gum Springs the historically black enclave in Virginia’s suburban Fairfax County once apart of the Mount Vernon plantation then willed to George Washington’s slaves and their descendants. Holland traces both maternal and paternal lineages to Washington’s slaves. During the post Brown vs. Board of Education desegregation period he attended the County’s segregated Drew-Smith Elementary School named after the pioneering African American physician Dr. Charles Drew and 19thCentury Gum Springs resident and educator Annie Smith. Holland credits his early childhood reading and education with inspiring the name of his lead protagonist Drew Smith.

Desegregation was complete by the time he entered the County’sFortHuntHigh School. There he witnessed limited social and extra-curricular opportunities for blacks and sought out the historically black college experience enteringFiskUniversityin the fall of 1969. There he majored in English and Education studying under the late Harlem Renaissance writer Arna Bontemps. Hollandgraduated a member of Lambda Iota Tau International Literature Honor Society in 1973 then worked briefly at theGraduateSchool, USDA counseling military veterans and foreign students before enrolling at Howard University School of Law receiving a Juris Doctor in 1978.

He has served in several government agencies including the National Labor Relations Board and a number of Washington’s top national law firms. In the mid 90s Hollandbegan freelancing for the local media. In 2008 The Writer Magazine published his How I Write profile of local best selling novelist George Pelacanos.

Hollandidentifies with Pelacanos’ writing style and hometown setting also adopting the same hardboiled noir fiction genre. For the past 10 years Hollandhas devoted much of his writing to completing the 4 volume Drew Smith series. He launches the series with the publication of Sleepless Nights, where the practicing attorney/bon vivant keeps it real both at work and play.
Hollandcurrently blogs at editorialindpendence.com . More information on Sleepless Nights is available at SleeplessNightsNovel.com and his web site Norwood Holland.com

Trial attorney Drew Smith a solo practitioner takes on shady clients solving cases fraught with danger and romantic intrigue. Through Sleepless Nights the urban legal wizard while frolicking with an exotic dancer succumbs to a midlife crisis. Haunted by foreshadowing nightmares an awakening reveals an empty life but Smith finds solace with therapist Zöe Settles. In an already complicated life Smith is pressed into service when a vicious robbery leaves three dead and the city enraged. Drew Smith and his devoted sidekick Julio Mejia work to free his young client on the trail of a crazed gunman responsible for a growing body count. In the end, the gunman and the dancer combine forces to bring Smith down. When death comes knocking Drew Smith faces the fight of his life.


Get to Know Holland:
1. Could you tell us a little bit about yourself?
I am a freelance writer and lawyer lobbying on behalf of police and security officers. I received my law degree from Howard University School of Law and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in English at Fisk University. A native of Washington DC, I favor D.C.’s local color in my fiction and currently write the offbeat blog editorialindependence.com devoted to diversity issues and labor law, book reviews, and social commentary.
2. Describe your book ‘Sleepless Nights’ in 30 words or less.
Sleepless Nights is suspenseful with larger than life characters based on a true crime story changing the lives of three young men and those around them–an engrossing legal thriller.
3. What was the hardest part of writing your book?
For me the most difficult part of writing Sleepless Nights was developing the plot line, and trying to come up with creative ways to raise the stakes for Drew Smith. A fundament rule for legal thrillers is to make your protagonist suffer and with that in mind the challenge was to make Drew Smith suffer while seemingly enjoying the high life. Drew Smith an urban bon vivant in his favor why should he be troubled? So I had the difficult task of causing him trouble. Once I had a central plot down then subplots and characters began to unfold naturally in the development.
4. What books have had the greatest influence on you?
I love biographies and particularly writer’s biographies. I’m a student of African American Literature so my taste may be a little esoteric. Two great books which I considered my favorite autobiographies are James Weldon Johnson’s Along This Way and Langston Hughes I Wonder As I Wander. As for popular fiction I’m a big fan of Harold Robbins and James Michener, I like epic adventures. I can say unequivocally the works of Langston Hughes have had the greatest influence on me.
5. Briefly share with us what you do to market your book?
Marketing is a challenge and a whole new experience for me. I’m targeting book clubs and reading groups to develop a core readership or fan base. I’m also targeting the Library market. I have found the local and national independent publishing associations to be valuable resources. They have also been instrumental in introducing me to book fairs and trade shows as possible venues for selling books. My promotional strategy is combination of both on line and off line. I plan to implement an intense internet promotional plan primarily made up of a bog blog tours to promote the ebooks and book signings at independent book stores and reading groups.
6. How do you spend your time when you are not writing?
Lately I’ve taken up golf as a hobby. When I’m not working I’m usually involved in some type of self improvement project like trying to teach myself new skills like building web sites and learning a second language. I also like to travel something I hope to do more of as I attempt to promote my book at book stores across the country. I enjoy reading, visiting art museums, and music. According to Auntie Mame, “life is a banquet and most poor suckers are starving.” I try to end each day sated.
7. What are you working on next?
Minus One, the prequel to the Drew Smith Series is in its final editing stages. I expect to see it in print by Spring 2012. Drew Smith finishes law school and takes a job as a hotel concierge while awaiting his bar exam results. He makes new friends with two Bell Men and after a night out on the town suddenly finds themselves the center of a murder mystery

Prince to a King By Clifton J. Dutton

Author, Clifton J. Dutton is a multi-faceted man that has confronted life’s positive and negative moments with courage and tenacity. His endowment of writing allows him to share these enthralling real life events, and allows the awaiting public a glimpse into his creative mind.

Born in 1972 in Sandy Spring, MD, Howard County, Clifton was raised in a middle class family of one sister and two brothers; Clifton being the youngest of the four. He earned a full athletic scholarship to the University of Tennessee where he studied Criminal Justice. Once college was over and the dreams of a career in the NFL never materialized, he pressed on with aspirations of working in the music industry.

Although Cliff is blessed with a wide range of gifts and talents, he quickly discovered that his mastery is indisputably writing. This expert author possesses the ability to bring his readers the gritty intense reality of the same streets that many experience every day. Cliff’s vivid imagery causes his audience to truly understand and feel what they otherwise could only speculate, traveling from DC boardrooms and South Beach bedrooms to this nation’s most powerful courtrooms.. Readers who are lovers of action, thrills, suspense and drama, get ready to brace yourself as he brings you powerful anthology which highlights the pleasure (and pain) of relationships, along with the dangerous and seductive world of the street life leaving no truth untold.

Brace yourselves as he releases the first of many in the Clifton Dutton Novel Series, Prince to a King!



Prince to a King is a novel set in an urban environment, but is also relatable to all societies. The love story that unfolds and proves to grip the plot, can take any reader of any backgrounds heart. How often do you find yourself cheering for the bad guy?
Based on elements of true events, new author Clifton J.Dutton takes the reader on a journey that proves to be electrifying.This novel captures the audience of the passionate type, while never losing the interest of the action and drama reader. This combination is often lost when trying to reach one core audience.
Prince to a King is an urban novel, but stretches the boundaries of the term taking you deep into the mind of a confused young black man that desperately seeks the love that was taken from him so long ago.©
DC, the murder capital, city of terror; It’s within these streets where a Prince will come to rise. Prince is a young man with a sadistic inner soul that was created by the tragic events of his early childhood.
Though these events have been suppressed deep in his mind, these are the traits that make him the man he is. As the pages turn and the roller coaster ride of Prince races toward the Man that stole his young life as he knew it, you can’t help but to cheer for the one American Gangster you hate to love.

Excerpt-

“Nigga drive, why the fuck you sitting here..?” Before he could finish his head was flung back from the force of the truck speeding away. Fear is the worst enemy of a man. This concept was described as the fifth law of power in the book, 48 Laws of Power written by Robert E. Green. Prince was another Sun Zu of sorts. As the smoke cleared Prince stood unmoved by the events.
The niggas ran like bitches even though everyone of them was strapped. The presence of Prince made them afraid. He was living proof that fear is indeed the worst enemy of any man. The truth of the streets of DC stood strong on that sidewalk that hot summer night. The urban legend stood tall for all to see!!

Get to Know Cliffton:
1. Where are you from?
I am from Howard County, MD.

2. Where did you attend school?
I went to the university of Tennessee on a full football scholarship.

3. What made you begin to write?
I loved to write at an early age but once sports took over my life writing was put on the back burner. Once I was incarcerated I used the time wisely to re-invent my gift of writing.

4. Where did the concept of Prince to a King come from?
The concept literally came from the first sentence of the book. I wrote the first sentence and then let the story come to life.

5. As a writer who is Clifton Dutton?
A man that is not scared to tell the truth and creatively have the ability to fictionalize the truth of life and make written words become visual as you read.

6. how many books do you plane to release under the Clifton Dutton novel series?
The plan is for the first four releases to have three parts making 12 in all.

7. Finally what makes you different then the other hundreds of Urban authors?
My opinion is this, my upbringing is completely different then most of my fellow authors in my demographic.Most of them have a “HOOD” upbringing. Myself, I was raised in a 98% whit area which gives me uncanny ability to write and be able to expand on the interest of all demographics. I just got a great review back from a 75 year old white country woman from Nevada.

Find the Author at:
www.cliftondutton.com
cliftondutton@twitter.com
cliftondutton@facebook.com

Upgrade You By Syretta Walker

Anabella Carter is alone and miserable. The only thing that brings her happiness is a blunt and a pint of Hennessy. Due to a number of misforturnes, she doesn’t know where her life is headed until she enters a urban fiction contest. As she journeys through her tale, she discovers the meaning of love and pain. Anabella realizes one person has stood by her side during the good times and the bad. She wants to tell him how she feels, but doesn’t want to risk losing him. Will Anabella will succumb to the pain? or Will love prevail?

Excerpt:

That was also part of the reason Anabella decided to tell her story. She had been unable to talk about the point when her life took a turn. Anabella hated that point and most importantly she hated the way her life was headed at this point. She was twenty-one years old now with a child of her own, and most times she couldn’t believe she was a mother herself.
Anabella had gotten pregnant at seventeen, had her daughter at eighteen, and had continued to see hell every since. Currently, her National City checking account held a balance of twenty-three cent, and she didn’t have anything else to lose.
At least we got a roof over our heads and food to shove in our mouths, Anabella thought of her, and her daughter Isabella. She was due to start one of her last three semesters at Sinclair Community College tomorrow, and she didn’t know how she was going to swing that, and writing her novel as well. But, to Anabella it no longer felt like an option anymore. It was mandatory. Anabella loved the idea that she could erase the pain and hatred from her heart. She felt like she would be able to start all over again. Anabella just hated the fact that she would have to give the readers her triumph, before her tragedy. But, she thought, what the hell? Might as well get all this shit off me. Anabella decide she would use characters real names for the time being, although she knew it was risky. That is where an urban tale was born, five days into 2008, and the day before Anabella was due to go back to school…


Syretta A. Walker was born in South Carolina, but raised in Dayton, Ohio. She is a single mother of one little boy. Currently, she is obtaining an associate degree in real estate property management. In her free time, she enjoys reading, writing, cooking, and eating. Her debut novel Upgrade You was written as a form of therapy after some of her old baggage began to surface. Upgrade You is loosely based around her life story. Syretta hopes that her novel can help at least one girl that is facing similar struggles.

Books can be purchased at a www.mahogneyinkpublication.com, amazon.com and a bookstore near you!!!

Get to Know Syretta:

What is your first title called, and what is it about?

A: My first street lit title is called ‘Upgrade You’, and it is about a “broke dog”{ who goes through on trial after another on a promiscuous journey to find love; maybe it will happen, maybe it won’t.

Where did you get the inspiration to write ‘Upgrade You’?

A: My baby sister, and my son. Got to do it for the kiddies, and leave my next few generations secure.

What sets ‘Upgrade You ‘apart from other books in the same genre?

A: I wrote the book while going through schizophrenia before being diagnosed with the disease. I was hearing voices and characters in my head.

Who was the biggest influences in your life coming up, and why?

A: My late great-grandmother because I would watch her tend house for others, sell baked goods, and remain a gracious woman while instilling a hustler’s mentality in me. Second,the late rapper Tupac Shakur, for sharing his trials with the world, and still trying to help in the crisis of poverty.

As an author, what are the keys to you success that lead to getting Upgrade You out to the public?

A: Word of mouth and attending seminars to get recognized as an upcoming serious author.

As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take to write Upgrade You?

A: It took me a month and a half. My writing process was eating a great deal of chocolate, drinking lots of sodas, and consuming lots of Newport cigarettes.

What other projects do you have available, and what’s next for Syretta Walker?

A: Chocolate Rose 2 is available on Kindle, and Nook. And I will be releasing Behind Tha Chastity Belt coming early 2012.

Email: Xmom9727 @att.net

Misleading By Winkk

Sexy, wealthy and handsome is what best describes Jarvis Denttin, the owner of the exclusive popular Denttin nightclubs. His posh lifestyle has women flockingis love to him regularly, and they feed his strong appetite for sex. Having his choice of any woman, has created a selfish, deceiving, controlling man. Women are attracted to his alluring demeanor, until they are invited into his life and introduce to his devious side.

Expanding his company, Jarvis Denttin is excited to open a new nightclub in Chicago. He is devastated when his close friend is killed and his businesses become in jeopardy, that he is now reconsidering his move to the Windy City. Just as attractive and charming as Jarvis, his friend and employee Antonio Flink, is being well trained to become a duplicate of him, but Antonio proves that he is more conniving then Jarvis could imagine.

Candace Mourton, the personal assistant to Jarvis Denttin is a smart opportunist and knows that he is capable of providing the lifestyle she deserves, and she is willing to do whatever it takes to keep the money flowing. She enjoys her professional and sexual relationship with him, until she breaks her own rule and falls in love. Jarvis takes care of her financially, and she caters to him daily, but realizes that isn’t enough to keep him interested in her.

With money dominating Jarvis’s successful life, he is unaware of the scheme being orchestrated to bring him down and he gets caught up in a web of deception. Knowing all the wrong he has done to people, he’s ready for a fresh start, but karma gets to him first. Oblivious of his acquaintance motives, puts him in a deadly situation. Will his life crumble before he finds out that the people around him have been misleading him the entire time?


Once you open one of Winkk’s novels, you won’t be able to stop until you’ve navigated every twist, turn and tragedy in the lives of her relatable and fascinating characters. Winkk’s deft storytelling and experience as a former model, actress and professional dancer for artists, including R. Kelly, Avant, and Ronald Isley made “Tour Secrets” and “Tour Secrets 2,” a rousing success.

The two novels–which follow the lives and torrid love affairs of dancers and best friends, Raven and Music–flew off virtual shelves when they were published in 2009 and 2010, netting acclaim from outlets including Rolling Out, Power 92.3 FM, Parle magazine and Raw TV. She is a “Breakout Author of the Year” nominee for the 2011 African American Literary Awards, an honor also bestowed upon fellow nominees and celebrity writers Iyanla Vanzant, Tavis Smiley and CNN anchor Don Lemon.

Winkk follows that credo in her own life. That is why, despite dancing for some of the biggest names in R&B and modeling for Ebony magazine among others, she opted not to go the tell-all route. Instead, Winkk focuses on fictionalized stories based on her experience and imagination, broaching topics from “down low” men to transsexual entertainers.

Winkk also is building her brand beyond writing novels. In 2011, she founded Ailam Publishing. Though she is currently publishing her own projects, she wants to assist other authors in finding their voice.

“When I first started writing, I wanted to tell the story of the tour experience from the dancer’s side…that’s a side that never got out,” Winkk said of the books and innovative video teasers she produced on her own. “Misleading” too will get the visual treatment, as part of Winkk’s holistic literary vision. “Now, I want to tell as many stories as I can as many ways as I can in print and eventually on the small and big screen.”

Get to Know Winnk:

What inspired you to write the novels Tour Secrets and Tour Secrets 2?

I’m a former dancer/choreographer and have worked for artist including R. Kelly, Avant and Ronald Isley. Traveling on the road as a dancer inspired me to write the Tour Secrets series so the readers could get a glimpse of what dancers experienced. I felt it would be interesting to write some outrageous and sometimes unbelievable, but realistic things that dancers deal with. Tour Secrets is not a tell all, but will give you a heart-stopping, jaw-dropping inside look into the music industry. The novels have been re-released under Ailam Publishing, and are available in paperback an Ebooks.
What character did you enjoy writing about the most in the series Tour Secrets?

Raven and Que were the characters I enjoyed creating and writing about the most. Raven revealed a big secret in the book and her sassy, humorous personality was exciting to write. Que is scandalous and ruthless, and creating his character was fun.
Was it easy making the transition from a dancer to an author?

The literary industry is very similar to the entertainment business, so the transition was very easy. Since I’ve been writing for many years and used to write while traveling, I felt comfortable making the change.
Tell us about your new novel Misleading?

My new novel Misleading is about a nightclub owner who is focused on money and being successful. He realizes that he can’t control the world with money and finds out that the people closes to him are more interested in bringing him down then helping him succeed. Revenge, deceit, sex, drama and scandal are all tied up in this novel. The novel will be available on September 30, 2011 and you can pre-order it now on amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com. It will be available in paperback an Ebooks.
What part of the writing process do you enjoy the most?

The part of the writing process I enjoy is creating the story and seeing all the elements come together. I usually create the cover in my mind first and everything else falls into place. I love creating so writing a novel is like choreographing a dance routine to me. I enjoy the process from the beginning to the end.
Why did you decide to self-publish and what are your plans for your new publishing company?

I started Ailam Publishing to publish my novels and to keep the creative control over my projects. I will continue to publish my novels and would also like to publish other authors in the future.
What can we expect next from Winkk?

I will keep writing novels and producing video book trailer. I will turn my novels into movies and continue mentoring and sponsoring local artist. I’ve got a few things up my sleeves, so be on the lookout.
You can catch me at www.winkkatme.com or info@winkkatme.com. Also facebook.com/winkkatme2, Twitter.com/winkkatme.com, Myspace.com/winkkatme and Youtube.com/winkktv.



Watch trailer here http://youtu.be/FD3m41EssRk