Interview: What got you into writing in the first place?

Joy King: Oh my God! Honestly, I was going through a very bad breakup and during that time, I thought about all my previous relationships and there was a clear pattern; they were all dysfunctional.  I decided I wanted to put my entire journey down on paper because I felt like I had a story to tell and needed to be shared. During that period of time what I like to call: purging my soul, it was funny because I didn’t even know what all went into writing a book let alone how to type one.

During that time, Wendy Williams talked about how she would tape record her thoughts for her book and have someone type it for her. I was like you know what? I can do that. I could talk about all my trials and tribulations freely then let someone else type it for me. That would allow me to get the story out there without worrying about what I considered the hard part, typing it! (laughing)

Interview: Do you strictly write about entertainment?

Joy King: My first book was “Dirty Little Secrets” and that first book was mostly based on my life. I had spent a lot of time in the entertainment industry. I worked in PR for a brief amount of time, first through an internship and then I was offered a full time job. Then I quickly got into the radio thing, being the director of hip hop artist relations. Then also, my boyfriend at the time was a hip hop music producer. There was a long stretch of time that I was surrounded by the entertainment industry. That period had a huge impact on my life so I wrote about that a lot in my first book.

A lot of my books that people read, they get very attached to my characters because I throw some non-fiction in there with fiction based on my own experiences. I know a lot of readers pick up on that, based on all the emails I’ve received with them saying so. I write a lot about the entertainment industry because I know a lot about that but I also write about relationships because I know about that too (laughs).

Interview: Is there a specific genre of entertainment you feel you specialize in?

Joy King: I don’t feel like I specialize in any specific genre of entertainment. My specialty comes from being exposed to an industry with endless layers of drama. That with my gift of creativity has allowed me to write countless books. For example, one of my favorite books is called “Hooker to Housewife” which was birthed from having a phone conversation with a good friend of mine. At this time, this girl who was her good friend was dating this really big time music mogul and they had a child together. For a long time, it was like why won’t he wife this chick? A man is not gonna’ wife a hoe, that’s what I said. And she was taken aback by that phrase and said I have to write a book about that.

I was published under St. Martin’s Press at that time and for commercial purposes I couldn’t title “A Man Won’t Wife a Hoe”, so I changed it to “Hooker to Housewife.” I’ve seen many industry chicks try to make that slogan a reality with my own eyes. So again, when I say specialize, I specialize in the relationship aspect. I’ve seen the dynamics between these women who enter the industry as a model/actress but in actuality, there not a model or actress, there just looking for a rich guy in the entertainment industry to sponsor them. When I was spending extended amounts of time in the studio I would get into long conversations with these young women, they all had the same goal. They would get themselves in mindboggling situations all because they’re trying to look for somebody to give them the glamorous, entertainment driven lifestyle. Encountering such complex people, I can’t help but implement the craziness in my books.

Interview: Ok. You created and launched your own publishing company in 2008. How is that working for you thus far?

Joy King: It’s been awesome. Initially, I started with St. Martin’s Press and Triple Crown Publications. Don’t get me wrong, it was extremely beneficial for me to begin my career with established publishing houses, but in my mind, I always knew I wanted to be apart of more than just the creative aspect. I wanted to also learn the business and that takes time. Being with two different publishing companies before launching my own help me create a blueprint to launch A King Produciton. I had a much better understanding of what works and what doesn’t work. A lot of people think if you publish a book, it’s going to sell but that’s simply no true.

Interview: What advice would you give to up and coming, struggling authors who are thinking of giving up?

Joy King: Please understand that you have a lot of work to do. A lot of authors make the unfortunate mistake of thinking when they get a deal with a major publisher, all they have to do is write the books and their work is done. When I got my deal with a major, I took my advance and re-invested in myself because I always knew that I wanted to eventually branch off into my own. You have to create a following. I tell anybody with the types of books I write which is urban lit, it starts and ends with the streets. If you don’t keep your ear to the streets, you’re not gonna’ win.

A major publishing company is not gonna’ go pass your bookmarks out in the streets. They are just not gonna’ do it. There are things that you still have to do. You have to put your grind work in. Whether you have a deal or not, you need to constantly hit the streets.

At the beginning of my career, I was constantly doing book signings. I would do a book signing anywhere. I was living on the east coast at the time and I’d go do a book signing in Brooklyn or Queens if I had too. I was always constantly going back and forth to Philly doing book signings.

And I’m not just talking about stores. Barnes & Noble and places like that are cool to do book signings but I tell people, if people on the street don’t know about your book, they are not gonna’ walk into the book store and ask for it. And if they are not asking for it, the book stores aren’t gonna’ feel like they need to carry or even promote your title. And if they do carry it, the last thing you want is a bunch of returns.

With authors, they really need to understand the grind. There are so many authors that have these books deals and they think it’s gonna’ be so great because they got this big advance but their books aren’t even moving. And that’s because they are not doing the footwork which is absolutely essential. If you have a deal with a major, be ready to grind really hard because the publishing companies are not gonna’ do it for you.

They don’t even know how to do it. They still sell books in a conventional format and that only works for certain genres of books nowadays. But as far as urban lit, it doesn’t even work because the majority of those types of sales aren’t even done in a book store.

{SOURCE: www.losangeleshiphop.net}

1. You Don’t Know

There’s an old Frederick Douglas statement that says you have to speak truth to power. And that’s exactly what it does. It not only speaks to the street but it speaks to the corporations, it speaks to the government, it speaks to system in to itself. So when you look up to something that speaks truth to power, this book will do it for you. That’s number one. 95 percent of my work is criminal trial work. So what I’m really running up against is young people who don’t know. Nobody’s really educated them on what’s going to take place when they have to deal with the system. So my point was, enough of this waiting around for someone to walk into an office and blame their lifestyle. I wanted to get 10 to 15 people all at once to get that light moment in their head where they “get it.” They realize the consequences and know the rules. I’m tired of having the same lecture over and over with kids so I figured I would go ahead and do it in writing and try to get the point across a little bit quicker.

2. Public Enemy #1

This is also a book that is targeted for our community. When I say “our” community, I’m talking about the hip-hop community, the generations that nobody speaks to. I am hoping this will become an empowering book, a book that you can read and say, “I walked away and felt, I’m feeling it and I know what to do now.” It’s one of those kinds of things. It gives you an opportunity to read something, enjoy it and understand what you were feeling. Having seen hip-hop for what it really is, growing up with it, it is a cultural phenomenon. It could be great or it could be destructive. So once you see that and self-awareness of pride in the culture, you’ll want to move it forward. My idea was to put it on a pad, like Chuck Dsaid, “When I get mad, I put it on a pad.” This is what the hip-hop community needs. Sometimes you need to stop, look in the mirror and check yourself out. That’s what I’m doing with the book.

3. I Show You How To Do This, Son

Another thing I think the book will do and what I hope it will do is it’s going to bring out some issues that no one is addressing in the way it’s being addressed. It’s not necessarily an academic book. It’s not one of those things where you get a lot of statistics. It’s not one of those things where you get bogged down with lots of case laws. This is coming from somebody who practices the law and lives the life. So when I tell you something is happening and it’s hot in the courtrooms and it’s hot in the streets, it’s because I’m hot in the courtroom and I’m hot in the streets. The book is story-based. So I just have to give you a little story. A mother walked into my office with her kid. Her son was charged with a robbery. The first thing he does after he gets nabbed and brought down to the police station is gives a statement. And I said to the mother, “What would make him give a statement? Doesn’t he know that the first thing police tell you is you have a right to remain silent? And that anything that you say ‘can’ and ‘will’ be used against you? ” This meaning that they will find a way to use it against you. They are telling you up front. So what would be his benefit of speaking to the police? And she said, “Well, I just told him to tell the truth.” So that told me there was two generations of people who didn’t understand the fabric of their own Constitution. The Constitution gives you that Fifth Amendment of due process and right to protection of incriminating yourself and yet the first thing out of his mother’s mouth, out of her own personal pride was tell them the truth. So he tells the truth and locks himself into an armed robbery. If he had remained silent, the only evidence against him was a vague description. Now I’m not trying to encourage crime but there is a Constitution out there and there are rules that are designed to protect you. And it seems like the only people not familiar with the rules are the people of color. We’re the ones who make up 75 percent of the prison population and don’t have the resources to get people in a position to fight within the rules. So I want people to know whatever your lifestyle is, at least know what the rules are.

4. R-E-A-D-A-B-O-O-KAAAAY

Somebody once told me, “If you want to hide it from hip-hop and people of color, put it in a book.” I’m getting ready to shatter that myth. I want young people to grab the book, I want old people to grab the book and shatter that myth. This book is a myth shatterer. This is going to be one people grab and talk about. So I think this will be a great conversation piece.

5. Real Love

And last but not least, you should read the book because it’s from someone who you will be able to identify with. There’s an old hip-hop expression, “Real Recognize Real.” This is real.

You Decide. Will you purchase Raw Law?

To buy Raw Law, just click here.

(source: sohh.com)

 Don Diva Magazine Presents:

Raw Law: An Urban Guide to Criminal Justice

by Muhammad Bashir, Esq.

The first book of legal advice written for our generation.

This is a step-by-step guide to the criminal justice system for those who need it most. As a criminal justice attorney Muhammad Bashir knows what it’s like on the inside and has fought and won against a system whose odds are stacked against you.

Raw Law is not a manual for how to get off or how to be a better criminal, but it is proof that the system will eat you up and spit you out if you dare to become involved with it or think you can beat it.

Whether you need to know how to secure the best public defender, what your rights are when the cops come knocking, or what to do when DWB (driving while black), this is the book.

Muhammad Bashir, Esq. opens his files, sharing real stories with a generation facing very real problems. He defines the legal terms you need to know on the streets and in the courtroom in a way any non-lawyer can understand.

• Ever been in the wrong place at the wrong time?
• Do you know someone who has made a mistake they just keep paying for?

By outlining cases of theft, rape, possession of narcotics, weapons, murder and more, Raw Law gets inside the minds of every side of the law.

Here you will learn to sift through the truths of the justice system and the lies you’ve been told so you can protect yourself from the worst of it. Most of all, you will learn how to follow the first rule of the criminal justice system:

AVOID IT AT ALL COSTS.

Seduction can be a useful tool for giving pleasure and to secure love, money and power. In the wrong hands, especially those of a young woman who has not yet learned to use the power of seduction with purpose, this gift can cause a great amount of pain and heartache.

Ayana Cherry soon learns that her new home in a quiet wealthy suburb of Indianapolis has just as many opportunities for sexual intrigue and deception as the raw streets of Los Angeles. She never imagined that she would be exposed to a secret world of strippers and pimps, and the lies, infidelity, and voyeuristic lust of the family and otherwise respectable neighbors she’d at first believed were simple squares living the good life. Realizing her natural powers of seduction in this place of sexual decorum could cost her more than she can handle.

Contact the author, Peter Mack, for book club presentations, conference calls, book signings or speaking engagements in your area at the email address or phone number below:

Email: petermackpresents@yahoo.com

Stud Princess, Notorious Vendettas

by N’Tyse

Chyna s back, and this time she s bringing the entourage. While still on a murder mission hunt for the crooked lawyer that double-crossed her uncle, the latest addition to the family brings her one step closer to that sweet revenge. This ruthless queen-pin owns the day and the night. Mother Nature herself can t interrupt her cash flow. But when bad calls are made and her chief female escort goes missing, it s time to set things off. Sand and Rene can admit that they haven t always been honest with one another, but are they ready to forgive and forget? When they each find themselves being blackmailed into working for Chyna, it s no coincidence. They go against the grain to prove their love for one another, bearing in mind whose turf they re treading on. An unrelenting thirst for notorious revenge has Chyna, Sand, and Rene, riding out, hanging low, and staking out their highest claims yet. Click Here to Order

About the Author N’Tyse is a Dallas, Texas native and best selling author of My Secrets Your Lies. While N’Tyse, pronounced entice, spells out exotic seduction, the true significance behind her name takes on an entire new meaning. Never Tell Your Secrets is the hidden message N’Tyse envelops within her stimulating taboo tales. Go beyond the pages and satisfy your curiosity. www.myspace.com/ntyse

By: Mr. Bigmann

STREET GANGSTOETRY: O.G. RATED. (loyalty is to die Fo’) is a book of realitypoetry from the Loccish Lifestyle Crip way of life.

STREET GANGSTOETRY represents a cult of life that real street gangstas can relate to. The loccish livelihood of poet Mr. Bigmann begetted from the streets of the Gangsta Mac(Macon, Georgia), where the clip and the trigger decide your fate, as the streets separate color flags by boundaries. Mr. Bigmann expresses reality in every way of a gangsta who has begetted from the culture of their color flag in which they all represents. As the accolade to the late Henry Lee Clark III (Pookie Loc) who was a close loved one to the Mr. Bigmann. Mr. Bigmann dedicates this book to Pookie Loc. Street Gangstoetry will take you through the reality of a Loc’d out banger, hustler, rider, and poet.
STREET GANGSTOETRY defines loyalty is to die Fo’ from the beat of a gangsta of gangsters, man of men, born to win with the breathe of God the rider. Real Street Lit Publishing’s gives the streets realitypoetry from the real streets and executes realitypoetry in its realest lit.

Street Gangstoetry: O.G. Rated (Loyalty is to Die Fo’) is a book of empirical realitypoetry. Thus the reputability of the late Henry Lee Clark III (Pookie Loc), who’s name has been exploited without representation by two wanna “B” or “C” rapperz, who never once banged the Real Street gangsterism lifestyle they both profess. Mr. Bigmann, who has actual factual reputability on all levels of tha enveloped gangsterous lifestyle within these pages, has poetically manifested the reality him, Pookie Loc, and all other Real Street Gee’z has been reputable of whether “B” or “C”. For these two vain ganstaz mythful characterz seek to gain lustrous street fame behind money but are not traditionally gangstafully appraised, nor reputable of a Real Street Gangsta faction. They know their respect or street cred must “B” or “C” exposed, for tha realistically street gangstaology reality that many men have cried and died for. It’z real street not to let their inadequacy way of life “B” or “C” imitated by their impostrous actionz. Mr. Bigmann incorporatez realitypoetry from tha ganstafully reality, that not only him, but many such as Pookie Loc has live. Loccish Lifestyle Continuez!!!

ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY!  http://www.realstreetlitpub.com/

Fo’ Real

For as it is tatted in tha heart of realism

Loyalty is to die fo’

Many men sin,

not knowin’ what to actually believe in

For one must be loyal to self,

before one can be loyal to anyone else

For a selfish heart knowz not how many breathz it has left

To stand as a man of real,

one must have moralz and principlez by which they live

Many men has died for somethin’,

While those who has been disloyal died for nuthin’

To be loyal is to know how to be real

To be real is to be loyal

For this is fo’ real, fo’ real, fo’ real

Coming Soon  by Mr. Bigmann

THUG DIARY: POETIC BY CONVICTION AND REAL TALK THANKS TO THE STREETS (POETIC THOUGHTS OF A GANGSTA) LIMITED EDITION

DIAMOND BULLETS

.44 LAWS DISPELLING ILLUSIONS OF THE GAME

BY AL MONDAY

When all the trinkets and material objects are stripped away, and you find yourself in a 6′ x 9′ box, all you have are your experiences. And in these experiences, lies your power.

There are terrible misconceptions about those in prison. Misconceptions like, “Everyone there says they’re innocent,” or other ones that suggest we are all losers. Having been incarcerated 14 years, I can tell you, being innocent is not the sentiment of most of those I’ve met. Over indicted and overcharged maybe, but innocent, no. And loser is a term I’d be careful to use, because if we are all honest with ourselves, the only difference between you and the incarcerated is that you weren’t caught for the crime(s) you committed.

Most of the men I’ve met will tell you right off that they’re guilty of what they’ve done. But because of peer pressure and the overall “tough guy” image that prevails within the air of prison life, one may never hear their remorsefulness. But in the quiet of the night, you can see it. In Church services, you can find them praying with their fingers interlocked, and some, with arms outstretched. Others exhibit change by their eagerness to contribute to works like this. Works that force them to relive their painful pasts, some tragic, some devastating, some encouraging, some inspiring, that can possibly change or prevent another life from being lost or thrown away. Works that do the community a great service through candid conversation and testimonies of lessons learned. Works that absolutely save lives.

This book, written by men who are serious in their attempt to help guide the next generation, was born out of necessity, and its impact on the community will be impossible to measure or quantify. Neither the Social Scientist nor authors themselves will ever know the effects of what has been written here because better choices can now be made by readers who can circumvent danger and arm themselves with the mistakes of those like themselves, allowing for better judgment. These stories are written by those convicted in the heart, who choose to reach out to a generation in despair, who are lost; and others who are on the same destructive path as they were.

There is an overwhelming attraction to the lifestyle being glamorized by the media through music, film, games and other pervading influences that are destroying young adults by the hundreds of thousands every year throughout America’s communities. That lifestyle is being promoted to both educated and uneducated, with an understanding that only the former will have the opportunities and resources to attain it through legal means. Reaching for the illusion, in any event, is shown to have deadly consequences for many, but will steer most, particularly the uneducated, down the long road of suffering, heartache, and confinement.

These are the stories and lessons learned by those who reached and fell into the harsh reality of the deceptive lifestyle. And in a unique and subtle way, you will hear messages of self-responsibility and accountability. Who better to lift the sparkling veil and expose the truth of the matter than those who fell victim to its snare? Those on the far end of consequence?

With respect to the departments who seek to rehabilitate and correct us, you have tried it your way. Let us do this ours.

ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY: BHUPublishing.com or DiamondBullets.com

Ride or Die Chick

By: J.M. Benjamin

RIDE OR DIE CHICK is a love story about Treacherous Freeman and Teflon Jackson. Treach and Tef, orphaned in their pre-teen years, discovered each other at a youth detention center, and quickly became inseparable.

Since Treach’s birth, Rich Robinson raised his son to be an emotionless, “treacherous” hustler who feared no one. After Rich’s incarceration, Treach discovers his father committed the ultimate crime, and realizes why his father had prepared him for the streets his whole life. Before he can put his father’s training to the test, Treach ends up sentenced to five years in the youth detention center.

Teflon was her prostitute mother’s pride and joy. As a young child, Teflon witnessed her mother’s abuse and untimely death. After being shuffled through abusive foster homes, Teflon decides to take her chances and venture out alone at age 10. Teflon’s vulnerability leads her to become involved with the wrong man, and she gets caught with an 18-month sentence in the youth detention center.

Treach and Tef develop an inseparable bond while incarcerated at the youth center, and vow to be a “ride or die” couple upon their release. For over 10 years after their release, Treach and Tef continue their unsavory career, in addition to maintaining their fairy tale love life.

RIDE OR DIE CHICK is a heartbreaking love story between two criminals that can also be compared to the Romeo and Juliet tragedy. Although Treach and Tef were ruthless in their game, the reader cannot overlook the story’s romantic inclusion. JM Benjamin is a very powerful writer who skillfully mixed love and hustle with “gangster tears.”

By: gorjis1 via Amazon.com

Ignorant Souls

By: Richard Jeanty

Buck Johnson was forced to make something out of nothing. He has witnessed and experienced the most cruel events and situations in his life. Those events led up to the man that he has become and his family will suffer as a result? They say ignorance is bliss, the Johnson family has been the epitome of ignorance due to life s circumstances, but one day change will come. Will it be too late for the Johnson family? How will they make the adjustment in a civilized world?

Cheetah

By: Missy Jackson

Sometimes in the drug hustle some females don’t get the respect they deserve. Well that’s about to change once you take a trip to New Jersey and get acquainted with Cheetah.
She’s been making a name for herself in the city of Newark holding things down with her drug moves; but not quite getting to where she wants to be. Although Cheetah rocks a tough exterior and has a swagger that commands attention from both men and women, she has a big heart that’s revealed only to the ones she loves.

Naj is Cheetah’s BFF. She is the levelheaded one of the two. Naj is in a loving relationship with someone who understands the close friendship between Naj and Cheetah. While Naj believes family comes first, she knows Cheetah’s strengths and weakness and watches her best friend’s back regardless and besides…Cheetah is family.

When Violence hits close to home, the girls decide to move their business to the next level and make a promise that once they hit the million dollar mark they will get out of the game.
Of course the competition is not too happy to see the girls on the come up and the jealousy starts to flow.
Cheetah and Naj believe in trust and loyalty and run a tight crew. But things start to fall apart when the backstabbers show their true colors and Cheetah’s sometimes out of control ways threatens their goal and her love life.

Missy Jackson has her feet firmly planted in the literary world with her debut novel. I thoroughly enjoy ALL the characters and the story is awesome! I liked that the author was able to develop an edgy character like Cheetah with a no nonsense attitude, but yet with many other aspects to her personality.
Ms Jackson is one to watch and I will be looking out for future projects from her.

Locksie
ARC Book Club Inc.