JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Ben, author of Up The Way
(DC Bookdiva Publications)

(Three of the first ten people to comment on Ben’s author interview will win a FREE copy of Up The Way from JoeyPinkney.com)

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write Up The Way?

Ben: The idea to write the story started as more of a challenge by a friend who I was incarcerated with. My inspiration was based on my previous experiences. A lot of it was loosely based on things that I witnessed while there.

JP: Many readers fantasize about prison culture without truly realizing the corrupt nature. What does Up The Way show about “belly of the beast” that has not been seen?

B: I believe that my book exposes the realities of what actually is taking place in most of the prisons today. It deals with corruption at the hands of the inmates, employees and our government. It also deals with homosexuality issues that affect our community.

Many individuals believe that prison life does not affect them because they are not in prison. However, most inmates will come home. There are issues that I deal with in the novel that directly affect us as a race from homosexuality to community unity.

JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that lead to Up The Way getting out to the public?

B: I first believed in my self. I wanted to change my reality and start to focus on myself as a man, for me first and my family second. I wanted to change my life and focus on recreating myself and my legacy. Writing was my outlet in prison and has been a my passion since grade school.

I wrote Up The Way as a form or entertainment for my fellow inmate friends and myself to laugh to keep from crying about the conditions we were in. I used the novel for entertainment and to also bring awareness to social issues within our community.

I shopped the book to several publishers who were not interested because my manuscript was not typed along with an outline of several other books that I was in the process of writing. We worked via mail and brief phone conversations to bring the project to completion, distributing over 1,000 copies in our first day of publication.

JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take for you to start and finish Up The Way?

Ben: There is no formula. I have a wild and vivid imagination, so it comes with ease. The actual book took me about three weeks to write.

JP: What’s next for Ben?

Ben: I plan to expand into several other genres. I am currently working on an erotica series, a children’s book and a motivational/self help read.

http://www.dcbookdiva.com/
http://www.myspace.com/authorben
http://www.facebook.com/authorben

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Scattered Lies
by Madison
(Influential Writers Publishing)
3.5 out of 5 Stars

Scattered Lies, the debut novel from Madison, gives the reader everything that makes Urban Fiction delicious. On the surface, this novel is full of high-priced cars, upscale backdrops and inner-city squalor. The entertainment factor is high, but the psychology of and interaction between the characters of Scattered Lies is what will make this a great read. Madison created characters with deep, dark layers giving the reader plenty to digest.

Scattered Lies starts in the middle and works its way to the beginning and the end simultaneously. This is one of the things that makes the novel such an interesting read. Most of the characters are related to each other in multiple ways. As the characters reveal bits and pieces through strong dialogue, the plot twists unravel and will make the gears turn inside of the critical readers’ minds. If you have to go back and re-read parts of Scattered Lies, rest assured that it is not due to poor editing. The complex plot twists keeps the reader engaged.

Although Greg is not the central character in terms of the amount of pages dedicated to him, he can be directly or indirectly attributed to the tangled web of events the author Madison has put together. Greg is a locked up master-mind of a criminal enterprise. More than just a common street thug, Greg’s vision for what was possible for his Melrose Projects crew is infinite. Greg attempts to set his people up for legal success gained mixed results. The intricate mix of personalities, abilities and sense of loyalty is what will separate Scattered Lies from the average Urban Fiction book.

Gabrielle is Greg’s loyal wife and a successful lawyer. Her parents are ashamed of her decision to marry a convicted criminal. Her love for Greg is as genuine as his love for her. The bond gives her the strength to be married at a distance. The monthly conjugal visits are great sexually but not enough to convince her to have children. Gabrielle met Greg while hanging out with her cousin, Denise. The bond with Greg was instant but is later strained when Gabrielle starts to figure out exactly how Greg landed in prison.

Denise, Greg’s protege, shows the most promise out of Greg’s associates. Instead of becoming a statistic, Denise became the exception to the rule. From teenage “good girl gone bad” to ruthless killer to a mature business executive, Denise is a testament to the fact that bad people can come from good families and good things can come from bad people. In the hood, she is known for making people who cross her disappear. At her day job, she is known for keeping everything under control and getting things done no matter what. However, she can’t stay away from street thugs with nothing to offer besides mind-blowing sex. She’s seen it all from being pimped to contract killings to multi-million dollar real-estate deals, and Denise still manages to keep a job strictly for the health benefits.

Tony is a nobody in the hood who is at the helm of a platinum-selling music career with the help of Greg’s direction and connections. With average looks and an overboard ego, Tony lives a life that most wanna-be rappers would die for. He is able to obtain a beautiful girlfriend who is equally successful in her R&B career. His sexual addiction makes it hard to enjoy his girlfriend. Unlike Denise, he has a rep for being a pushover in the streets.

In her debut novel, Madison shows her mastery of melding together name brand items with high level psychology. The characters in Scattered Lies know enough about each other to know that there is more to know. It is that surface tension that keeps the reader afloat amid infinitely deep plot twists. The realistic dialogue is matched with issues that will hit home with many readers: family favoritism, being in love with old flames, skeletons in the closet coming back to destroy stability, among others.

The additional characters and scenarios perfectly accommodate the flavor and complexity of Scattered Lies. Denise’s niece Morgan deals with issues that most teenagers struggle with such as teenage sex, being a critical thinker at a young age and being treated differently because of beauty. Gabrielle’s clientele also engages issues like money laundering practices by wealthy people and rich women who are sexually addicted to boy toys from the hood.

There were two things that did not sit comfortably with me: the book’s cover and the book’s ending. Past the fact that “shattered” rhymes with “scattered”, the only connection I could see between the book cover and its story was that two shards of the broken glass had an image of a microphone (Tony, the rapper) and a woman wearing an unbuttoned shirt with a pearl necklace (presumably Denise, but possibly Gabrielle). However, this cover is much more welcomed and classier than just posting up a pin up model. Scattered Lies’ ending was shocking, but not satisfying. Given the lives of the characters up to that point, I struggle to see how ending the story that way brings closure to the various plot twists or opens the opportunity for sequels.

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JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
George Hudson, author of Drama
(GSH Publishing)

(One of the first ten people to comment on George Hudson’s author interview will win a free copy of Drama.)

(Congratulations Adrienna Turner! She won a free copy of George Hudson’s Drama.)

The drama just doesn’t stop in the lives of Deb, Tammy, and Lisa. Deb, the hard worker and savvy entrepreneur, is blessed with a multimillion dollar contract but has to enjoy the success without the comfort of her man whose fledging music career has him busy from state to state.

Tammy has everything a diva could want: a multimillion dollar home, expensive cars, clothes, jewelry, and what she thought was the perfect fiancee. That was until she found out about the other woman that ultimately tore their lives apart.

The oldest and most reserved Lisa becomes a victim of a scorned lover and is now faced with a baby-daddy dilemma that turns tragic.

In the the lives of the trio, there’s never a dull moment. There’s nothing but DRAMA!

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write Drama?

George Hudson: I was inspired by women-friends and family members that went through experiences similar to the characters in Drama and I put a little twist to it.

Also, I wanted the characters to be successful black women, as our women are often seen in a negative light. I wanted the public to know that our women are victorious, as well as beautiful!

JP: What sets Drama apart from other novels in its genre?

GH: It engages your mind and imagination as you make your way through the story and interact with the characters in the title as the storyline unfolds.

JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that lead to Drama getting out to the public?

GH: Passion. I am very passionate in my writing, I am dedicated and ambitious. As an author, my goal is to provide fans of urban fiction  and novel readers with nothing but the best of me.

JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take for you to start and finish Drama?

GH: I use the traditional pen and pad and write every chapter at least three times to ensure perfect quality for my urban fiction reader fans.  It took me about four months to write Drama.

JP: What’s next for George Hudson?

GH: Blocked In is my next novel, and it is about a woman that was exploited when she was younger by her mother who sold her for drugs. As she got older, she took the streets and met the man of her dreams which was a very prominent black man. She hid her past from him.

As their relationship grew, she kept being haunted by her past and she was trying to hide it from her new guy. Then a man from her past is trying to black mail her, which leads to more drama and murder. Also, Kingdom Publishing Service, an affiliate of GSH Publishing.

http://www.gshpublishing.com/
http://www.kingdompublishingservice.com/
http://www.myspace.com/gshpublishing
http://www.facebook.com/georgeshermanhudson

George Sherman Hudson
GSH Publishing
Tel: (678) 628-6674
http://www.gshpublishing.com/

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JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Kareem Tomblin, author of Death, No Exception
(PriorityBooks Publications)

It was one thing for William Earl Holly, an ex-con four months fresh out of State prison, broke and hungry for a quick major come up, to strong arm rob Queen City dope girl on the low, Monica Sparks, taking her coke, cash and chromed out 190 Benz. But it was altogether something different when William put his hands on her child in the process.

In the eyes of Monica and her thugged-out associates, it was a fatal mistake – one in which they all were determined to have William answer for. But first, William had to be found. Follow Monica as she demonstrates in no uncertain terms what being motivated by an unhealthy emotion called revenge can do.

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write Death, No Exceptions?

Kareem Tomblin: The idea and inspiration to write Death, No Exception actually came from my personal experiences in the streets “thuggin”. The fruit never falls too far from the tree that births it. I wanted to create a story of uncompromising revenge but also a story of uncompromising forgiveness.

My main character, Monica Sparks, is out for revenge. Not only was she robbed at knife point of her coke and a major lump sum of cash, but in the process of her hesitating to give up what the robber knew she possessed, her child suffered. Furious about her son being scarred for life, it’s a must she finds out who this dude is as well as who hipped him to her.

When this information is discovered, all hell breaks loose and it’s Death, No Exceptions for the corporate. Well…at least that’s the plan and attempt.

JP: What sets Death No Exceptions apart from other novels that detail murderous revenge set in the inner-city?

KT: When Monica’s robber, by the grace of God and a bit of theatrics on his part, survives a murder attempt, all he wants from the point of his recovery is to pay Monica another visit somehow, and kill her. But after listening to a pastor early on a Sunday morning preach an unusual sermon about how crazy and violent people in this world are, he decided, after that sermon had sunk deep into his soul, that perhaps after much thought it would be more profitable to consider “changing his life than putting more blood on his hands”.

I think this is what makes Death, No Exception a little different from most murderous revenge set in the inner-city. Most of the time with thugs in the streets, if you hurt or harm in anyway a thug or gangsta or what have you, retaliation is the norm. If your retaliation attempt fails, then the person who you tried retaliating against will now seek to find you until someone is hurt severely or killed.

It stops when someone in the streets who has been scarred by another in the streets decides to say “You know what? I’m alive and over time scars can heal. So I’m going to use better judgment and deny my PRIDE and let the matter go. I’m going to let it go, because there’s a possibility that if I go and do something foolish, I will regret it later. The prisons and graveyards are full of individuals who aborted exercising common sense because their PRIDE got in the way or whatever…”

JP: How did you get hooked up with Prioritybooks? How instrumental has this publishing company been to getting your story out to those need to read it?

KT: I got hooked up with Prioritybooks through an ad I discovered in the East St. Louis Monitor Newspaper. Prioritybooks Publication was accepting manuscripts. I decided to send them the first three chapters of Death, No Exceptions along with synopsis and brief bio of myself and what I was trying to do through writing my books.

All I wanted was an opportunity to deliver positive messages while at the same time not watering it down or sugar coating it. One thing I knew personally from thuggin in the streets at a young age was that the streets will light your *ss up with all type of negative bullsh*t. It will have you living a life that God didn’t intend for any of His children to live. Oh yeah, there’s a lot of fast money that can be made while in and off the streets. There are a lot of promises that so-called friends will make you. Promises that they will be loyal to you if sh*t ever hits the fan.

I learned the hard way that everything that glitters isn’t gold, and sometimes that hand you shake and even eat from in the streets is the same one that will bite you when you need them the most. Prioritybooks Publications is giving me the opportunity to give it to my readers the way it is. I really appreciate Mrs. Beavers, the CEO, for that.

JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take for you to start and finish Death No Exceptions?

KT: As an author, I just let the Spirit guide me into my next story or whatever. That’s how I end up coming up with stories. If the Spirit or the inspiration isn’t there, nothing really can be produced worth reading, right? Hip Hop music helps me in many ways to write.

There are so many different issues facing the youth today, such as HIV/AIDS, obesity, gang affiliation and incarceration. I consider these plagues and under the inspiration to speak on it through my books, I just get a typewriter and let it flow. It took me a couple of months to write Death, No Exceptions. It was my first. The story was in my head. The problem was getting it on paper. I didn’t have any help, so I just did the best I could as a young author.

JP: What’s next for Kareem Tomblin?

KT: What’s next for Kareem Tomblin? Well, I completed a novel not long ago which will soon be released called Father Forgive Me and Her. It’s about a Federal Inmate who falls for this very sexy and beautiful Federal employee. The problem is, she’s married. Like the young man, he’s going through a lot being locked up with his hormones running crazy. He wants her badly.

It will be a pretty good read. It’s a different take on a love story. I’m working on other projects as well. God bless you and thank you for taking the time to interview me. I pray that you enjoy reading Death, No Exceptions! Be on the looked out for the sequel. You definitely will not want to miss it.

http://www.myspace.com/kareemtomblin
http://www.priopritybooks.com/
http://www.prioritybooks.com/kareem.htm

Kareem Tomblin a.k.a Soojah is currently incarcerated in a federal correction institution located in Bennesville, South Carolina. He has been incarcerated since 1992. He has never allowed his present confinement to stop him from accomplishing his dreams of bringing the ghetto gospel of truth to those who have eyes to read and ears to hear.

Kareem lets readers know, in his first street story, that the warning he is ultimately delivering is simple, whatever decision one chooses to make in life do it with wise direction. Because in this world of sin, motivated by dividends, one slip, or wrong turn could lead to Death, No Exceptions! Bottom Line.

Kareem Tomblin #10119-058
Federal Correction Center
Post Office Box 52020/Unit B-2
Bennettsville, SC 29512

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JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
B. Lisa, author of You Know Better
(Xilbris)

B. Lisa takes you into the lives of four people dealing with the ups and downs in their relationships and friendships caused by love, lies and lust. You Know Better is not a typical story but a story anyone could relate too. It is written similar to Waiting to Exhale, where friendships and relationships are put to the test  and mixed with elements reminiscent of Afterburn where true love is found.

You Know Better is an erotica mixed with urban street lit that tells the story of four friends who are either being mistreated for loving, scared to love, vows never to love and who wants to share their love. Because of the betrayal, deception and unfaithfulness that are going on in their relationships and friendships, will they have a chance at love?

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write You Know Better?

B. Lisa: The inspiration came from a challenge from my little sister to write a better story than the book we both were reading. The idea that sparked You Know Better came from a conversation between a friend and I. My friend was going through some craziness with her boyfriend, and the things she was allowing him to do to her made me think she should have known better.

JP: Why did you decide to mix erotica, urban lit and romance to tell the story in You Know Better?

BL: After reading many erotica books and many urban lit books, I wanted my first book to have all the key ingredients to makes me want to read it in a day. With the combination of erotica, hot and steamy sexy sex scenes mixed with urban lit, very explicit and strong language, to me, it’s the perfect recipe of an interesting page-turner.

JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that lead to You Know Better getting out to the public?

BL: Besides word of mouth, book signings, family and friends, facebook, myspace and twitter, people like you, Mr. Pinkney, that offers interviews on the author and their books.

JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take for you to start and finish You Know Better?

BL: This started out as a joint venture between my little sister and me. I was to start it, and she was to finish it. I end up writing the entire story. Because I was working two jobs, I wrote You Know Better in about nine months.

My writing process consists of watching people, listening to everyday conversations and writing down phrases of what people are saying if I think it is something I may want to put in my book. I also listen to music and just using my imagination.

JP: Whats next for B. Lisa?

BL: I’m in the process of finishing up my third novel, One Love One Addiction: The Alicia Coles Story. I’m having my second novel, La Femme Nikki, professionally edited. I’m still promoting my debut novel, You Know Better.

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JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Venesha, author of Notorious
(Polka Dotz & Stripez Publishing)

My name is Starlett Ray and I am Urban Fiction’s most notorious vixen and newest “It Girl”. Don’t really know how I ended up on top of so many people’s sh*t list within this industry, but the hate far exceeds the love. Despite the mounds of b*tch*ssness, I have been able to stiletto step my way towards the top in the face of the Candyland games some folk fancy to play. I struggled through the not so good times and finally reached the pot of pink diamonds on the other side of the ghetto rainbow.

Enter the infamous and notorious world of publishing: the good, the bad, and the ugly. The good: Writing and the journey behind the words, characters, and editing process. The bad: Being tricked and treated by far removed publishers sitting in their ivory towers, rockstar graphic designers, devious publicists making promises they can’t keep and wannabe-balling-out-of-control authors who have the publishing industry confused with the dope game from the 80s and 90s. The ugly: Being gossiped about and frowned upon by industry so-called elite since I did things a little different than they did to try to get my book published.

In addition to learning the woes of becoming an author, you are also given a first class seat inside of my private life, married to a platinum rapper. It’s the best of both worlds as Hip-Hop and Urban Literature collide within the pages of Notorious. Fasten your seat belt for a wild, whimsical, and fanciful ride in the Bentley of Urban Fiction tales…

Your Access Has Been Granted:

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write Notorious?

Venesha: I came up with the idea and inspiration for Notorious back in 2007 after a series of unfortunate events within the publishing industry. They tried to put me in a box, and I came out with a book!

JP: What sets Notorious apart from other novels in its genre?

V: My books will always be different and set apart, so to speak, from other books simply because they read so true to reality. Hell, they may be. I’ll never tell though.

Notorious chronicles a character’s journey up close and personal as she writes a book and tries to get the book published. I take the reader behind the scene of the entire process and adventure of publishing a novel. The good, the bad, and the ugly.

My reader base will enjoy it because it has a double plot, and you know I gets the drama poppin’ off on or about page 2. And, it doesn’t stop there. I have been holding that book under lock and key for a while but now it’s time for Notorious to hit the red carpet and pose for the cameras…flick flick!

JP: What did you learn from writing and publishing Mistress Me that made Notorious a better novel?

V: Wow. I learned a lot about developing my craft as a writer. It took me much longer to write Notorious versus Mistress. The editing process almost took me under it was sooooo stressful. I was trying to pull off a double plo,t and I wasn’t ready. However, with the help of my editor, it all came together.

I did a ton of re-writes and added about seven additional scenes before we could move forward. My editor was sooooo cracking the whip… I cried on several occasions and thought of trashing the entire project.

So, I learned a ton just as a writer should each time they write a book and go through the editing process. I was more so challenged as a storyteller rather than a writer. I think I did more telling than showing. Then, I had to go back in the ninth hour and reverse many aspects of the novel.

Notorious has literally drained me. However, the pre-reviews and press buzz has been awesome. So, I’m excited!

JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take for you to start and finish Notorious?

V: My writing process is rather simple. A laptop, good R&B music and a few scented candles creates the ambiance required for Venesha to flow. When I’m in writer mode I don’t check emails, Myspace, Facebook, Twitter, or talk on the phone. I have to shut the world out for hours at a time. Then I’ll pop back in for a while. Then I’m out again.

It took me a year or so to get the foundation. I wrote the first half back in 2007. Six months later, I completed it and have been doing re-writes for months.

JP: What’s next for Venesha?

V: With Notorious coming out of production and ready for her turn, I can finally get back to Mistress Me/The Remix, which will be out this winter. Once The Remix is completed, I have a few more projects to write.

Whatever isn’t written by 2010 will be put off while I concentrate on Teen Fiction.

http://urbanbarbiedoll.com

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Blood Money: The Beginning
Toni Coleman
(Seraphim Publications)
4 out of 5 Stars

Blood Money by Toni Coleman is roller coaster ride through a world where the music industry and criminal activities are mutual bedfellows. Jameelah Cole marries her long-time boyfriend, inherits a multi-million dollar record company and gets a huge house complete with two million dollars in cash in its safe. Not bad for a “little girl from Compton”, right? Wrong… Nothing could be further from the truth.

Jameelah’s female intuition leads her to be suspicious of her boyfriend, Michael Mine. Being the CEO of G-Styles, women throw themselves at Michael left and right since its the hottest West Coast record label out. Jameelah is naturally suspicious when Michael rushes to drop her off and go handle some “record company business”.

Michael meets up with the other woman and swiftly swooshes her to his mini-mansion. In the throws of passion, Michael becomes the victim of a serious jack move. His late-night rendevous steps to the side and lets two burglars beat Michael to a pulp and demand the location of the money hidden somewhere within the house.

Gun in hand, Jameelah finds Michael hogtied and hanging onto dear life as the two hooligans hold him hostage. A couple blasts from the shotgun sends the floozy flying out of the room like a ghetto roach and the thugs splattered on the floor like extras in a horror flick. The shots also partially paralyzes Michael, but he survives. That would have been highly unlikely if Jameelah wasn’t a woman that shoots first and asks questions later.

While laid up in the hospital, two of Michael’s closest business partners plan and plot like vultures over the remnants of Michael’s anticipated demise. Bruce Kelly shares ownership of G-Style records with Michael. Ruthless by nature, this red-haired Irishman will stop at nothing to make the business moves that keep him financially secure and keep his business partners satisfied.

The sexy R&B crooner Alan Wise is G-Style’s flagship artist. He was Michael’s bestfriend when they were petty thugs on the rise in the drug game. Allan becomes rapped up in Bruce’s evil manipulations just like everyone else who is too afraid to cross Bruce’s path. Allan’s loyalty quickly shifts from Michael to Bruce because he believes he is going to take Michael’s place as a partner in G-Style.

At the hospital, Michael not only asks for Jameelah’s hand in marriage but also give her all of the inside details of his business operations. Michael had been working on transitioning his interest in G-Style records into his own record company. Jameelah pays attention but has no idea how what she learns in that hospital will be crucial to her survival both physically and business-wise.

Michael’s untimely passing brings much more than his past lovers out of the woodwork. Micael’s former partner in crime and business, Bruce, begins to set in motion the steps neccessary to make G-Style records a burgeoning music empire. He also feels he now has the room needed to turn the record label into a perfect money laundering operation for his “silent partners”.

As Jameelah sorts through the things left to her by her forward-thinking husband, she happens upon the stash of money Michael was getting robbed for. Jameelah and her best friend Renee hand-count one million dollars only to realize they only made it halfway through the total stash. The money turns out to be more of a curse than a blessing for reasons you’ll have to read in Blood Money.

Unbeknownst to both Bruce and Allan, Michael’s secret marriage to Jameelah gives her control over Michael’s interest in G-Style and its transition to a new record label. Her private attraction for Allan come to the forefront as they meet for a sensual encounter that is deliciously guilty and too complex for either party to truly understand.

Blood Money is the perfect title for this fast-paced, action-packed thriller that will keep the reader off-balanced and rushing through the pages for the next plot twist. Blood Money: The Beginning is the perfect title not only because of the money’s origin but also the resulting outcomes the money generates for those who are connected to it. As the marriage and its implications come into play, all three parties attempt a deadly game of chess full of death, deception and dishonesty never experienced before in Urban Lit.

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JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Allbook Reviews Best Mystery/Thriller of 2008 Award Winner Johnnie Bunting, author of Enterprise Corruption
(Krhyme Publishing)

Enterprise Corruption is the fast-paced, action-packed novel. Tammuz and his two friends go on a quest to get rich. The quest includes robbery, extortion, and prostitution. Tammuz puts his girlfriend through a test to prove her loyalty, and the results casts them into a downward spinning spiral of lust, lies, and murder!

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write Enterprise Corruption?

Johnnie Bunting: I wanted to put together an Urban classic, but I didn’t want to sound like a lot of the Urban titles which use names of old songs or urban phrases. I wanted the title to be catchy, yet have meaning behind it. Enterprise Corruption was the perfect name for it since it’s an urban crime novel. Enterprise Corruption is actually the name of a criminal charge under New York State’s Penal Law. It’s sort of like New York’s version of the Rico Law.

JP: Many people might perceive the creation of this novel as an attempt to glorify criminal activities. What was your personal goal in writing and publishing this novel?

JB: Many people do write novels that glorify criminal activities. This is part of the reason why I started writing the Urban Crime Mysteries. My goal is to give readers a look into the lives of criminals which involves their home lives and their basis/logic/lessons for getting into the criminal life. I also aim to teach a valuable lesson of law and the consequences of the criminal activities that my characters commit. I show the sides from the police and the prosecutors point of views and have crimes affect the family members and loved ones.

JP: What did you learn from the process of writing and publishing Son of Solomon that you were able to use to make Enterprise Corruption a better novel?

JB: I learned that the publishing business is no joke, and a publisher and/or author has to do a lot of promotion to sell books. I won an Award for Best Mystery/Thriller of 2008 by Allbooks Reviews for Son of Solomon. I relaxed on promotion, and the bootleggers took over. That lesson taught me to promote Enterprise Corruption as much as I can through as many venues as I can because if I don’t there’s someone who won’t mind making money off of my work.

As far as writing the books, I’ve learned that readers appreciate novels that are multidimensional. I’ve had quite a few people comment and compliment me on the romance aspect to Son of Solomon. Enterprise Crime is a crime mystery, but I also have a romantic aspect in it. We all need a little love in our lives. As long as I don’t overdo it, the romance only makes the book a better overall story.

JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take for you to start and finish Enterprise Corruption?

JB: I think of a story and put at least two different obstacles for the main character(s). This will be my plot and subplot. I make a list of characters with their physical description, traits, habits, etc. Then I make an outline on how I want the story to progress chapter by chapter. This helps me to push the story along. Every chapter has a purpose and a point to get across that will entertain and push the story. It took me close to eight months from start to finish on Enterprise Corruption.

JP: What’s next for Johnnie Bunting?

JB: I am striving to publish a book which will feature poems and inspirational writings from myself and other prisoners called Letters, Lyrics, and Life Behind the Wall, and I am working on an autobiography and memoir book called Adaptations: The Story of a Loser. I have two debut authors to be published by my company, Krhyme Publishing, Inc. (Lorenzo Ross, Addiction; and Jonathan Dobey, You Can’t Be Serious) I have a screenplay penned for Son of Solomon, and I’m just starting to do a sequel to Son of Solomon.

In my free time I’ll still do interviews for promotion and speak to the youth about prison life and the importance of staying out of trouble and staying in school.

www.myspace.com/JohnnieBunting
www.amazon.com/JohnnieBunting
www.barnesandnobles.com/JohnnieBunting
www.facebook.com/JohnnieBunting

rcampb3422@aol.com
johnnie_bunting@yahoo.com

For orders, fan mail, questions, write to:

Krhyme Publishing, Inc.
Attn: Mr. Johnnie Bunting
PO BOX 1090
Yonkers, NY 10704
United States

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P.S.S. If you want to be feature in a 5 Minutes, 5 Questions With… series, email me at joey.pinkney@gmail.com or http://myspace.com/joeyreviews

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JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Charazz, author of Redrum

Mike and Daquan are cousins by blood, but become brothers by circumstance. In a New York minute, Mike is exposed to the death of his uncle Will at an early age. That same death equally affects Daquan, whose father (Mike’s uncle) was snatched away without warning. Daquan and Mike take to naturally take to hustling in the streets of Jamaica Queens in their late teens.

Their crew is rounded out by Sean and Kevin. The four teenagers find a dead spot on 118th and begin to turn it into an empire. The only problem is that they are cutting into the profits of the nearby drug gang known as the Young Gunz. Fronted by drug lord BK, Mike and his crew are hungry to make it happen. With BK as their supplier, they have the materials and the clout to take over the block. Things are moving, and money is being made hand over fist.

In a game of kill or be killed, eat or be eaten…can they survive the game long enough to get out of it? Or will they live up to the saying, “Live by the gun, die by the gun?”

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write Redrum?

Charazz: Being incarcerated for many years, I began to see myself as a liability to my family. I wanted to do something I felt would benefit them financially as well as make them proud in spite of my incarceration. I remember one day while in the “box” another inmate had written a book, and I told him I wish I could do that. He said “you can”. From there, I felt my story of my life should be told.

JP: What sets Redrum apart from other novels in its genre?

C: Redrum is a fiction novel based on real facts and events from my life! I’m telling a story from personal knowledge, not research or second hand. It’s raw and gritty. It’s the realest you’ll get to being indicted. (Ha ha.)

JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that lead to Redrum getting out to the public?

C: The key to my success lies in strong family support and my belief in a higher being other than myself. It was the commitment, the trust and the dedication of a woman named Michelle Lee York who believed that Redrum was a story that should not be kept a secret. She worked by my side to see how Redrum could be published while being incarcerated,and connected with C & B Book distribution which has provided the exposure I need in becoming a successful author.

JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take for you to start and finish Redrum?

C: Well let me say I have no formal writing training or education in becoming an author. Everything I taught myself through countless hours in the library doing research on perfecting my skills. There are two ways I begin the process. One is being with a basic outline of my thoughts, then plugging in ideas as they come to mind. Second is just simple free-flow. I like to think it’s like a movie in my mind and scenes is created as the day goes by. Remember, I have a lot time to think about all kinds of stuff behind these concrete walls.

JP: What’s  next for Charazz?

C: Man, I’m just going to keep writing and the hope to be able to interact with my readers soon. Coming out in late January is the release of my second novel Caught In The Game. I am working on a third, but I would like to finish that upon release.

Joey “Thank You” for this opportunity and I’m glad you enjoyed reading Redrum. As my skills improve, I promise to keep my readers coming back for more! Get your copy of Caught In The Game now!

Charazz York, born and raised in South Jamaica, Queens. He found his hidden talent to write a story while he serves time in a New York Correctional facility. Redrum is his first self-published fiction novel, soon to be released is his second “Caught Up In The Game.”

Charazz is a certified Braille transcriber from the Library of Congress. He is a facilitator of Vassar College program called ” Bridging The Gap” at Otisville Correctional and a board member of the Glam4Life organization which is a community outreach program for minorities suffering from mental illness and suicide prevention San Diego, CA. Charazz also holds a associate degree in business.

Charazz welcomes letters from his readers.  Letters can be sent to:

Charazz York 94A5091
Box 8
Otisville, NY 10963

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JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Thomas Overton, author of Murder with a Deadly Weapon
(Live to Die Publishing)

When a Glock nine-millimeter is snatched from a pawnshop by two would-be robbers, it embarks on a wild journey. From the hood to the ‘burbs and back again, this gun is a vehicle for murder. The Glock reaches the hands of several individuals and is used as the weapon for diverse malicious crimes. Detectives Peterson and James are determined to locate the whereabouts of this deadly weapon, but realize the task at hand is more difficult than they expected. Why? Villains, more often, move faster than law officials. After a person is killed and another gun goes unrecoverable, who will be the next to be murdered with an undiscovered deadly weapon? If it fell into your hands, what would you do?

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write Murder with a Deadly Weapon?

Thomas Overton: I was serving a two-year sentence in prison, and that is where I became inspired to write. Out of boredom, and the fact that there was nothing else to do, I came up with the concept. I began to wonder whatever happened to the first two guns I owned. I remembered my cousin giving me a gun to handle some business with at one point in my life. Because of the mass gun violence that takes place in our streets these days and personal life experiences, I thought that a gun with a voice that travels from hand to hand would be an excellent concept.

JP: What sets Murder with a Deadly Weapon apart from other novels in its genre?

TO: It’s not the same old street lit: girl meets drug dealer, they go through some drama, they end up either dead, in jail, etc….. That’s the same old stuff. I like to write about different things that go on in the streets. And the a gun that travels is definitely reality.

JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that lead to Murder with a Deadly Weapon getting out to the public?

TO: I’ve only been out for a few weeks now. It has been difficult getting out to the masses, but Terry Woods said it best. She said, “At first no one will buy your book. After one or two readers embrace the story, masses of others will follow.”  So…. I’m just waiting on the masses. I haven’t gotten any bad responses, so that’s a blessing. Just keepin’ it movin’ is what I’ll have to do.

JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take for you to start and finish Murder with a Deadly Weapon?

TO: I usually try to write something everyday. A sentence, a paragraph, a page, etc…until the story is complete. When I was in college, my professors use to tell me that I was a good writer. So, when I got to prison, I just expanded what the college teachers use to compliment me on. After I read True to the Game and Bloody Money 1 by Leodrei Prince, I decided to write my own tale. Originally while incarcerated, I self-taught myself how to write a screenplay. Murder With a Deadly Weapon was originally a movie script, however Leodrei Prince and my baby-mama convinced me to convert it into a novel. Plus, it was easier to shop that way. It took me about 3 months to do the conversion, but I liked the novel writing process. It allows me to express my full vision of what is going on in the story.

JP: What’s next for Thomas Overton?

TO: I’m working on three novels at once. (1.) Keys to the Franchise is about five drug dealers who come up in the game to purchase a professional football franchise but will they see their dream come to life. That’s actually done already. (2.) It Was All Good Just a Week Ago is about a woman who is on top, however, takes a trip to the bottom of the food chain after she looses her job, relationships, and her freedom. When she decides that enough is enough, she devises a plan to get back on top. (3.) Now Who has the Last Laugh which is a tale about a young black man with ambitions to be a successful entrepreneur, but negativity surrounds his lifestyle. He struggles to survive the clutches of life in a way that all ambitious black men can relate to. Also, look out for ”THE URBAN BOOK OUTLET.” An online bookstore strictly for the urban reader and/or the urban author to promote and sell his/her work.

www.myspace.com/livetodiepub

P.S. Join the Joey Reviews Newsletter at http://joeypinkney.com/joey-reviews-newsletter.html

P.S.S. If you want to be feature in a 5 Minutes, 5 Questions With… series, email me at joey.pinkney@gmail.com or http://myspace.com/joeyreviews

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