ARTICLE: Why There's Nothing Wrong with Black Street Lit (2012)

Madame Noire contributor Charing Ball weighs in on the importance of accepting Street Lit as a literary genre that depicts narratives that many readers can relate to.

Check out the article at: http://madamenoire.com/201231/it-might-not-be-the-color-purple-but-theres-nothing-wrong-with-black-street-lit/.

@charingball #streetlit #urbanfiction #literacy #commentary

NEW READ! Murderville: The Epidemic by Ashley & JaQuavis (2012)

New York Times Bestselling Urban Literary Duo

Ashley & JaQuavis

Are Set to Release New Thriller

On July 24, 2012

 

from Cash Money Records’ publishing division

Cash Money Content

 

New York, NY – July 17, 2012 – Cash Money Content/Atria books will release the thriller, Murderville: The Epidemic, on July 24, 2012, from New York Times bestselling literary duo, Ashley & JaQuavis.  At age 26, Ashley & JaQuavis, aka Mr. and Mrs. JaQuavis Coleman, are the hottest young voices in African American literature today and are the youngest African American co-authors to make two appearances on the New York Times bestseller list.  The couple has co-authored more than 17 bestselling novels, and ghost-written 15 for other well known authors.

 

Murderville: The Epidemic is the second release from Ashley & JaQuavis’ Murderville trilogy, and is also the second release from their deal with Cash Money Content, the book publishing arm of iconic record label Cash Money Records, home to multi-platinum artists Nicki Minaj, Lil Wayne and Drake. 

Catch Ashley & JaQuavis on the Cash Money Young Author's Tour:

July 21 - NYC  -Harlem Book Fair

July 24 - Baltimore - TLJ Bookstore -  7pm - 9PM

Aug 4-    Atlanta - Medu Books Greenbriar Mall - 3pm - 5pm

Aug 5 -   St. Louis - Missouri Black Expo 1:30 pm

Aug 11 - Maryland - Cartel Bookstore - Booksigning 3pm - 6pm

Aug 25 – Dallas – Tulisoma Black Book Fair – 1pm -3pm 

Aug 25 - Fort Worth -  Dockshop Book signing – Forth Worth 5pm -7pm

 

Ashley & JaQuavis' New York Times bestselling series, The Cartel, was the first trilogy from the talented team.  The Cartel 2 debuted on the New York Times Bestseller list at #29 (November 2009).  The Cartel 3 made its debut at #27 in August 2010.  The well-written and fast moving series, filled with surprising plot twists and turns, gained in popularity and anticipation with each new release selling nearly 100,000 copies. Cash Money has optioned the film rights to The Cartel trilogy and has already set into motion their plans for bringing the series to life on the screen.  Stay posted for more news on The Cartel film series.

 

Murderville: The Epidemic, hits stores on July 24^th, and is the follow up to last year’s hit, Murderville: The First of a Trilogy.  Proving to be the couple’s best work yet, The Epidemic follows street savvy, Liberty , as she survives one unspeakable tragedy after another.  Her journey takes the reader from the streets of  Los Angeles  to war-torn  Sierra Leone as she finds love and pursues the American dream. With the help of her partner Po , the two build an unmatched drug empire. But when an unlikely enemy enters the game, will the dreams they've built together come crashing down?

 

Growing up in Flint , Michigan Ashley & JaQuavis began writing together at age 15 while in high school.  While putting themselves through college, their first novel Dirty Money, caught the attention of New York Times and Essence bestselling author and publisher Carl Weber.  Ashley & JaQuavis were both signed to national publishing deals.

 

Ashley & JaQuavis made names for themselves with successful underground bestsellers like, Dirty Money (2005), The Trophy Wife (2008), Supreme Clientele (2009) and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2009), and Murder Mamas (2011), to name a few.  However, it was the release of The Cartel trilogy that caused young readers and the publishing industry to take notice.  The Cartel trilogy is the story of the fight to take down a ruthless Miami drug Cartel.  The books are standouts with well-developed characters and stories fueled by treachery, murder, deception and seduction.

“Ashley & JaQuavis’ books connect with the hip-hop generation and speak to the streets in the same way that hip hop music does,” said Ronald ‘Slim’ Williams co-founder of Cash Money Records and Cash Money Content. "With two New York Times bestselling books under their belt, we saw this signing as an opportunity to take urban fiction to the next level in the same way we took hip hop music to the next level.  The Epidemic is Ashley & JaQuavis’ second book with Cash Money Content and we’re looking forward to a future of nothing but hits.”

For more information on Ashley & JaQuavis log onto www. AshleyJaquavis.com. Follow JaQuavis on twitter @realjaquavis and follow Ashley @novelista.  Check them out on facebook at facebook.com/The Writers Block- Ashley & JaQuavis books.

 

About Cash Money Content

Cash Money Content is a groundbreaking partnership that pairs the Cash Money Records brand with Atria Books, a division of the publishing powerhouse, Simon & Schuster.  Other releases from Cash Money Content include Raw Law: An Urban Guide to Criminal Justice by Attorney Muhammad Ibn Bashir, The New York Times bestseller Justify My Thug by Wahida Clark, Murderville: First of a

Trilogy by New York Times bestselling co-authors Ashley & JaQuavis, Pimp: The Story of My Life, Trick Baby and Long White Con, by legendary author Iceberg Slim, all out now.  Cash Money Content will release the entire Iceberg Slim backlist of seven novels over the next few years. 

 

This year’s releases from CMC include An XL Life: Staying Big at Half the Size, by national radio host Kurt “Big Boy” Alexander, and Get It Girls: A Harlem Girl Lost Novel, by Treasure Blue and The Wives Association: Inner Circle from VH1 “Basketball Wives star Evelyn Lozada.  Fall releases include Little Bad Girl, a Treasure Blue Short Story for ebook only, due in September 2012 and Animal: A Hood Rat Novel by K’wan, due out in October 2, 2012.

 

For more information on Cash Money Content books, log onto www.CashMoneyContent.com and follow on Twitter @CashMoneyBooks and on Facebook.com/Cash Money Content. 

 

About Cash Money Records

Cash Money Records is a legendary record company founded by brothers Bryan "Birdman" Williams and Ronald "Slim" Williams.  The record label has grown from the housing projects of New Orleans into a multi-million dollar urban empire and is considered the most successful independent record label in America as well as an enduring global street brand. Cash Money is home to chart-topping, multi-platinum recording artists like Lil Wayne, Drake, Nicki Minaj, Jay Sean, and Bow Wow.  Today, Cash Money operates as a subsidiary of Universal Music Group, the world’s largest music company.

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SLJ Positive Book Review for Readers Guide to Street Lit

From School Library Journal, July 2012:

MORRIS, Vanessa Irvin. The Readers’ Advisory Guide to Street Literature.168p. appendix. bibliog. index. websites. CIP. ALA. 2012. pap. $48. ISBN 978-0-8389-1110-5. LC 2011029685. 

Morris sets out to help public and school librarians gain an understanding of the content and history of street lit. In her introduction, she reiterates the need for this literature wherever there is demand, whether the collection is for teen or adult readers. She calls for librarians to be both knowledgeable about the genre and to be readers of it, and advocates for them not to judge or dismiss its fans. Morris sets the record straight that street lit is about more than drug dealers and domestic violence. It focuses primarily on African American characters and is about life and survival in inner-city, lower-income areas. She compares the genre to other early survival-story novels such as Daniel Defoe’sMoll Flanders and Charles Dickens’s A Tale of Two Cities. She suggests series titles, individual titles, both fiction and nonfiction, and lists a few Christian teen-friendly series. The book discusses the appeal, characteristics, the structure of the genre, and mentions themes and subgenres, YA recommendations, and tips for selection and readers’ advisory. In this comprehensive book, Morris provides excellent input to aid in collection development and includes a list of publishers.– Adrienne L. Strock, Maricopa County Library District, AZ

Review Source:
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/slj/reviews/professionalreading/894713-320/professional_reviews_july_2012.html.csp#.UACA_l33Zd0.twitter

Short Film Debut: REDEMPTION, For Colored Boys

If you are a fan of "The Wire" you will love this short film series by award-winning filmmaker, Stacey Muhammad!

You can purchase the film plus a bonus film for just $10 USD via PayPal at: http://www.staceymuhammad.com/.

This film would be a great addition to any library video collection. Enjoy!

Introducing: Tracey Syphax, Author of From the Block to the Boardroom

Syphax, Tracey D. From the Block to the Boardroom: As Told to Detric "Qadiriyyah" Goss. NJ: From the Block to the Boardroom, LLC.

ISBN-13: 978-0-9850295-0-0 

$14.95 USD (Paperback); Kindle: $7.95 USD

I am happy to introduce you to Mr. Tracey D. Syphax, author of From the Block to the Boardroom (2012), a memoir chronicling his journey from a street lifestyle to becoming an award-winning multi-millionaire entrepreneur. 

Syphax reveals a roller-coaster account of his ups and downs as he sought to conquer the streets of Trenton, NJ, and break his relapse stints in the prison system. Today, he owns successful businesses in the construction and real estate sectors. Mr. Syphax states that the purpose of his book is to "empower ex-felons, encourage youth and adults to become entrepreneurs and to create opportunities to give back to the community".

From the Block to the Boardroom is a unique memoir because in addition to telling his life story, Tracey offers advice, tips and instructions to educate readers on how to strategically (re)shape and (re)claim a path of civic empowerment.

Syphax, also a community activist and motivational won the Princeton (N.J.) Chamber of Commerce Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2011, becoming the first African American so honored.

Independently published, From the Block is available on Kindle, and in paperback/hardback from his website. Mr. Syphax is on social media via Facebook.

Enjoy this music video for From the Block to the Boardroom:

Summer Reads 2012: The Streets Are Sizzling, Hot!

On this occasion of the Summer Solstice, 2012, I thought it would be a good idea to offer up my top Street Lit picks for summer reading. I've decided to feature mostly independent authors to pay homage to the foundation from which 21st century Street Literature emerges ... from the self-publishing hustles of authors writing, publishing, and promoting their own works. These works are also very different, offering unique approaches to the genre with "a tale of urban terror," and stories that show how whole communities are devastated when even just one child is devastated. Enjoy these reads. I've provided information for how you can best order these books for your collections.


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Tecori Sheldon. 2012. When Truth Is Gangsta.
NY: Strebor on the Streetz.
978-1-59309-397-6 | $13.00 US | Paperback, 348 pages

***STARRED PICK*** Tecori Sheldon (aka Thomas Slater) has crafted a story that is not only well-written, but is action-packed and keeps you on the edge of your seat, as if you are literally, watching a movie in your head. He sets up the action scenes so convincingly that for me, a very sensitive reader, I could viscerally feel the suspense and terror of the shoot-outs and grisly gangster activities. The plot and characters are well-developed: protagonist Ruffneck is indeed psychopathic, but you truly understand how and why he became the monster he became, sometimes out of circumstance, and other times out of the need to survive. 

Synopsis: Ruffneck's name is Walter Story, Jr. He is the namesake of a father who was a major drug kingpin with a team of other powerful men. Walter, Sr. and his wife were both brutally murdered in front of 8-year-old Junior. In a moment's instant, the young boy witnessed the murders of his parents and committed murder,  himself, as well. These deeply traumatic events created a darkness in Ruffneck that was pretty much suppressed until he experienced some time in prison. Coming out of prison, Ruffneck had a need to avenge his parents' deaths, as there were many questions unanswered, as well as many truths he needed to know and understand about who his father was, and how such a powerful man came to die such an ambushed, violent death. However, in his quest to learn these things, Ruffneck became more like his father than he perhaps intended. However, the chain of events were set in motion, and it was too late to turn back the hands of time. Ruffneck had started a vicious street war with the ruthless men responsible for his parents', as well as his grandmother's and cousin's deaths. Ruffneck does have a soft side to him, and when his enemies seek to harm more members of his family, Ruffneck's rage rains savagely, with everyone getting drenched. Justice is served, street-style.

Available on Amazon when you search for When Truth Is Gangsta.

Mr. Slater is on social media via Facebook.

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Joy Deja King. 2012. Boss Bitch. Bitch Series.

Collierville, TN: A King Production. 

978-0984332540 | $15.00 US | Paperback, 224 pages

AN ESTABLISHED BRAND, this a MUST-HAVE. I would be remiss if I did not pay proper respect to the wonderful veteran author, Joy Deja King, and her immensely popular Bitch series. Deja King is a major author in the street lit genre, having penned several works (including not 1, but 3 series) that has garnered her an intensely loyal readership. I was recently speaking at an event talking about Street Lit with librarians. One librarian shared that in her library, it is elderly, Anglo American women who come in asking in low, husky whispers, "You got that Bitch series? The next one come out yet?" :-) The female protagonists in King's series are strong, resilient characters who stick to your imagination, as you find yourself seeking out the next installment time and again!

Synopsis: From the book cover: "Precious Cummings and her daughter Aaliyah Mills Carter must protect the family empire as an unknown enemy tries to step in and take the throne. Can mother and daughter get past their differences and unite as one or will they stay at odds and risk having their loved ones torn apart? The saga continues to unfold in Boss Bitch." 

Boss Bitch, available on Amazon, is a definite beach-read.

Ms. King is active on social media via the following outlets:

Facebook: JDKfangpage
Twitter: @joydejaking
YouTube: joydejaking

Website: www.joydejaking.com

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Darrell King. 2012. Deadly Phine: A Tale of Urban Terror. 

Washington, DC: Darrell King Productions. 

978-1466062726 | $14.95 US | Paperback, 226 pages

A MUST READ. This novel is a straight no-chaser look at how behaviors really are a matter of life and death, especially when drugs and sex are a means for survival and to escape poverty. This novel is a crime fiction / sci fi / horror blend with non-fiction facts about the real-life atrocities concerning HIV/AIDS in inner city American communities. Ignore the cheesy book cover, this story is a good one; informative and entertaining at the same time.

Synopsis: Valentino is a handsome, rich, Puerto Rican drug dealer who is a carrier of an extra potent form of HIV, called HIV5X. A veteran of the U.S. military, Valentino is a willing participant in a government-run experiment to test the effects of this mutated strain of the HIV virus on unsuspecting low-income city dwellers.  In exchange for cash and a cure for himself, ladies' man Valentino hits the bricks hard, transmitting the disease to as many women in the hood as possible, unleashing a reign of terror to reduce the population of inner cities throughout the US. The evil shadow of Valentino's bio-terrorism is a U.S. military agency, seeking to conduct a 21st century biological experiment on lower class citizens who are deemed expendable. This novel is interwoven with important scientific facts about the devastating effects HIV/AIDS in Latino and African American communities. This story makes you question what is really free will when you are impoverished? 

Deadly Phine is available on Amazon.

Darrell King is active on the following social media platforms:

Facebook: Darrell.King946

Twitter: @Fuskieboy

Website: www.darrellkingproductions.com

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Vanna B. Fancy: Handbags, Heels & Hard Times. 

Philadelphia, PA: Hope Street Publishing.

978-0985351502 | $15.00 US | Paperback, 190 pages

GOOD A/YA READ. This novel was a pleasant surprise. It is nicely written, and is suitable for mature YAs as the protagonist is a high school Latina living in inner city Philadelphia, searching for her authentic identity. There will be many teen readers who will relate to protagonist, Maribel "Fancy" Alvarez. 

Synopsis: Maribel is a quiet, mousy public high school student who is lonely and would like to be one of the popular girls. She meets a friend named Shawn (a girl) who helps Maribel come out of her shell as the new and improved, Fancy. Fancy graduates high school and lives her roaring 20s as a fake socialite. On the outside she wears the finest clothes and makeup and goes to all the VIP parties. But in reality, she lives in the hood and can barely make ends meet. When she meets up with a handsome, wealthy man named Aaron, she realizes she wants true love and a real life. However, everything and everyone are not what they appear either, so Fancy experiences a series of dramas that inspires great change for her life.

Here is a book trailer for Fancy:

Fancy is available on Amazon.

Vanna B. is present on the following networks:

Facebook: vannabonline

Twitter: @msvannab

Website: www.vannabonline.com

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And those are my Street Lit picks for Summer 2012!

PRE-PUBS:
Additionally, there are a couple of titles that are not published yet that you should look forward to:

Author T. Styles of Cartel Publications will be releasing part 3 of her Raunchy series.

Raunchy 3: Jayden's Passion (August 2012)

The long-anticipated second installment to Ashley & Jaquavis' Murderville Trilogy is scheduled for release.

Murderville 2: The Epidemic (August 2012)

Top Picks for Summer Reading: Graphic Novels with African American Characters

From School Library Journal, check it out:
Top Picks for Summer Reading: Graphic Novels with African American Characters