Category Archives: 5 minutes 5 questions with

5 minutes 5 questions with, african american author, african american authors, african american book, african american books, amazon.com, street lit, urban fiction, urban lit

5 Minutes, 5 Questions With… Ben, author of Up The Way

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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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5 minutes 5 questions with, hip hop

5 Minutes, 5 Questions With… Maggbeatz, Bosses That Meet Bosses Group

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JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Maggbeatz AKA Maggmuzik
(Bosses That Meet Bosses Group)

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the name Maggbeatz? What does it mean?

Maggbeatz: I was searching through the dictionary one day trying to find a beat name that would fit me. I came across the word Magnum Opus which is a noun that means “a great work of art or literature”. That word matched the criteria of what I do. I named myself “Magnumopusbeatz” at first.

After a few months, I got tired of people telling me “It’s a hot meaning but too long of a name”. I shortened it to “Maggbeatz/Maggmuzik”. Some people think the obvious when they hear the name, either the gun or the car.

When I break it down and tell people what it means, they’re impressed. That name is something I’m proud of and live by! I don’t speak for my work, my work speaks for me!

JP: How would you describe your style of production? Who were your mentors?

Maggbeatz: My style of production is unorthodox. My goal is to create an independent sound. As for who my mentors were. I have two mentors. The first one would be my good friend Stefvon G. Facey. We made beats together from 2000 to 2004. He taught me a lot about making beats and the music game period. He’s still a great deal of help to this day. I always call on him when I have questions.

The other would be Polo AKA The Fur King. I’ve only known him for a short while, but he has took me to another level of this thing we call entertainment. They don’t build people like him anymore! I’m just blessed and grateful to have met Polo and to have him as a good friend.

JP: In a perfect situation, what gear would you gather together to make your dream studio?

Maggbeatz: I would have it set up just like the Quad Studio NYC. (Editor’s Note: Maggbeatz gave a detailed list of studio gear that was too long to fit in this interview.)

JP: Nowadays in HipHop, producers seem to have a good run for a few months, maybe years, and then fall off. What are you doing to make sure MaggBeatz will stay relevant in the game no matter the season?

Maggbeatz: That’s a good question! I have to keep making great music the best way I can, stay as humble as possible and try to keep good relationships with artists, radio and DJ personalities. Most importantly, I’ll just continue being myself. I can’t do any better than that.

Either you love me, or you hate me. At the end of the day, I can say, “I tried my best!”

JP: What does the future hold for MaggBeatz?

Maggbeatz: More magazines, TV, interviews and major artist/label music placements. Until then, I’m going to keep my “Grustle” @ 2000% and work with what I got!

http://www.maggbeatz.com/
http://www.myspace.com/maggmuzik
http://www.twitter.com.maggbeatz/
http://www.mybeatshop.com/maggmuzik
http://www.soundclick.com/maggmuzik

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5 minutes 5 questions with, african american author, african american authors, african american book, african american books, amazon.com, interview

5 Minutes, 5 Questions With… Zoe and Yusuf T. Woods, authors of the Blood of My Brothers series

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JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Zoe and Yusuf T. Woods, author of the Blood of My Brother series
(Man Up Publications)

(One of the first ten people to comment on Zoe and Yusuf Woods’ author interview will win a FREE copy of Blood of My Brother, Pts. I, II and III from JoeyPinkney.com)

The Blood of My Brother series tells of a drug Kingpin, Odell “Roc” Miller, his rise to street fame, his demons and his love for his younger brother. Roc has reached the pinnacle of success within the drug game, witnessed destruction and dealt with internal battles. Even after being caught up in the game from a young age, Roc decides that as a man, father and husband he is ready to walk away from it all.

In doing so, he also wants to protect his younger brother Lil Mac from choosing the life that he did. Roc realizes that the calling of the streets, the money, the fame, the addiction…it’s all very powerful and his efforts to save his younger brother from a life in prison or certain death seem to be slipping away.

Through out the series you’ll see how deep the love for the drug game can be, walk through the streets with these two brothers, hear their souls and read about their war. The hold that this game can have on a person is so deep that sometimes they don’t see anything or anyone and will stop at nothing to become the next Kingpin and takeover…even if it means spilling the blood of your brother.

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write the Blood of My Brother series?

Yusuf Woods: It was my understanding of my community once I was brought out of it and better able to see it with clear eyes. I started to recognize the effect that I had on the people around me, mentally, physically, and financially, without having direct contact with them. I was in the game hard at one point in my life before being discovered by the D.E.A., put on trial and charged with being the leader with a couple of drug counts.

I was sent to a Federal Penitentiary, and it was there that I started to receive mail from many people. Some of those people were friends of a friend that I may have seen once or twice. I didn’t know they would send letters and money, writing stories that showed the force of an impression that I made on their lives.

It’s sad because at the time of my actions, I thought I was doing me and when the time came to face my punishment all I knew was me and no names, but sorry, God, I was so wrong.

That’s why I pray that the Blood of My Brother series helps the bosses of today see that the people they try so hard to keep from the street really can’t see anything but the streets. It’s in their eyes and their moves. It starts to ease into the heart of their brothers, sisters and kids. It’s for everyone’s sake that the cycle must stop.

JP: What sets The Blood of My Brother series apart from other urban fiction novels?

YW: The Blood of My Brother series stands by itself, starting with the title and its representation. The reason I chose Blood of My Brother is because every person in this book represents someone that died in the game, a game that nobody is playing in.

When you write from the soul, it is at that moment that your writing sets you apart from others. No two people walk the same exact path through out life, therefore your story, experiences and outcome will be unlike that of another. There are many authors who choose to write stories about their personal experiences or that of someone they know, however the creative process, the significance and level of realism are some of the things that separate your story from everything that is within that genre.

That is what sets Blood of My Brother apart from other urban fiction novels. I believe we all have a story to tell…this is my story.

JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that lead to the Blood of My Brother series getting out to the public?

Zoë Woods: Consistency with your effort is very important. There is a great deal of work that needs to be put into trying to reach readers in so many areas. You have to be optimistic and believe in what you’re doing because that will give you the motivation to keep moving forward. We keep in mind what our goals are and where we would like to go with our work.

With anything that you’re devoted to, you have to invest a great deal of time and whatever is necessary for it to be successful. You may find that you have to give a little more of one thing and make adjustments to something else in order to have an effective way of reaching the public. We have learned through trial and error like many authors have.

Promoting at events is one of things that we realize is a major part of success, people need to know who you are and that your book(s) exist. Meeting your readers allows you to see what kind of effect this type of promotion will have. It is a great experience to speak with, and actually meet in person, the people who truly support your work.

We also recognize that word of mouth is a great way to reach the public. Having family, friends, readers and book clubs that are willing and able to spread the word and give whatever support that they can has been very helpful. There is quite a bit of knowledge to acquire about the book/publishing industry, and not everyone will reveal the best resources available to assist you.

You have to kind of delve in on your own and develop a plan that will suit your needs and take you to the top.

JP: As an author, what is your writing process? What did you learn in doing the first book and lead you to do something different for the second book?

Yusuf & Zoë: One of the really important things we feel is necessary when writing is to take our time, let our story develop and not rush the creative process. Ideas will come and go. Creativity will allow you to do amazing things. When you let things flow, it just works out better than trying to put together a great novel in a hurry.

We have more than one novel in creation at a time, and that lends a little diversity to the writing process. This works well for us. One of the biggest differences you’ll notice in our second novel is that you will become more intimate with the characters. We’ve given the readers a better look into their world and situations, some of which shaped who they are and why they chose to live their lives the way that they did.

There are a few other surprises in the sequel, but you’ll have to read it to find out about them!

JP: What’s next for Zoë and Yusuf Woods?

Yusuf & Zoë: The ‘Author’ title is still fairly new and we’re very pleased with the love shown from all of our readers. Outside of the Blood of My Brother series, we are working on several other novels and look to release them in the near future.

http://manuppublications.com/
http://www.myspace.com/manuppublications

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