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5 Minutes, 5 Questions With… HBO’s The Wire actor Tray Chaney, author of The Truth You Can’t Betray

April 8, 2009 Joey Pinkney 1 Comment

JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Tray Chaney, author of The Truth You Can’t Betray
(Booksurge)

Tray Chaney, currently appearing as Malik “Poot” Carr on HBO’s award winning street drama “The Wire,” announces the re-release of his inspirational autobiography entitled The Truth You Can’t Betray.Â The book has been inspiring young people as well as adults to strive for their dreams. Mr. Chaney’s book release has marked a pivotal new turning point for the young Washington, DC Actor.

With his acting career skyrocketing toward stardom and fame, Chaney decided to put his life story into words with The Truth You Can’t Betray. His publication is quickly gaining media attention and support from his peers. His book is suitable for all audience and is written without profanity. The Truth You Can’t Betray has an encouraging message that speaks of the importance of determination and hard work to reach lifelong dreams. His story chronicles the personal life of a young man choosing a path of righteousness on his way to public stardom.

With so much opportunity for young people to choose wrong from right, Chaney says, “I wanted to share my story to illustrate to the young people that hard work and determination will pay off for you as long as you stick with it and never give up. I want to be a positive role model for all the young people in the world.”

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to share you life story with The Truth You Can’t Betray?

Tray Chaney: I always wanted to share my life with individuals around the world. I wanted to show them that you can achieve success if you put your mind, body and soul into it. We live in a society where there is so much negativity and where people don’t have morals. I felt like, “Why not write a inspirational/motivational book about pursuing a positive dream?” The true inspiration comes from being around positive people. A lot of people will be pretty shocked as I take them on this journey that led me to starring on one of the biggest shows that ever hit televisionÂ hands down: HBO’s The Wire!

JP: What sets The Truth You Can’t Betray apart from other autobiographies?

TC: Most individuals and entertainers decide to do an autobiography when they have achieved a lot in their careers. Not saying that I haven’t, but I am in my early twenties. I felt the need to start inviting my fans and the people on my inspirational journey now. I am going to update readers that are younger, older and in between on some of my life’s choices that I have made and am continuing to make. This book is not set up as chapters; it’s set up in seasons because I respect the line of work I am in which is acting.

JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that lead to The Truth You Can’t Betray getting out to the public?

TC: Well of course, being self published helps. I have managed to market and promote myself through multimedia avenues like television, magazines, internet, parties, etc. It’s just a matter of setting up a myspace page, twitter page and face-book then beating up the streets with my product. I use this book as a tool to motivate. I know I have something, so I’m driven to run up in the hair salons, barbershops, restaurants, train stations and wherever else I need to go. That’s how more people have gotten to know about Tray Chaney outside of my affiliation with The Wire. They also know me as an author with a message and a lot of drive.

JP: What has been your readers’ reactions to your life story?

TC: Their reactions have been very positive. The reactions really make me feel overjoyed. People are touched when they read it because they feel the same way that I feel right now doing this interview right now. That’s how the book reads. It just flows. It’s not long and drawn out. It’s straight to the point. I wanted to give my people the real Tray Chaney. Let me just add that there is NO profanity or cursing in the book at all.

JP: What’s next for Tray Chaney?

TC: I have a independent movie coming out on April 21, 2009, straight to DVD with the rapper Freeway from Rocafella Records entitled “What We Do”. The move is directed by Tron Anderson. I am shooting a film now called “The Conversation in DC” directed by Frank Jackson. More movies, more books and more music. I am working with producers putting together a soundtrack for the book. Yeah, I know it sounds crazy, but I like to try different things.

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http://www.myspace.com/traychaney
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On the heels of his book release last year, Tray wrote and produced a play that was performed in the ARC Theater called “The City of Lost Dreams.” Soon Tray hopes he can turn his autobiography into a film. Tray has ventured into another industry sector with his music. He is pursuing a music career working with various producers. Tray Chaney’s up and coming album is entitled “Jack of All Trays” is coming soon. It will be made available at most outlets. His album currently features two hit singles “Dilemma,” featuring JAZZ of Druhill, and the international pop record “Baby Lets Go,” featuring G-Mann with Cherry. For more information on Tray’s career and to listen to his music visit www.myspace.com/traychaneyfeaturingJazz.

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5 Minutes, 5 Questions With… Kiffany Dugger, author of The Green Eyed Butterfly

April 5, 2009 Joey Pinkney 1 Comment

JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Kiffany Dugger, author of The Green Eyed Butterfly
(Dugger Publishing)

Seth St. James invites you to get comfortable and prepare your mind for a whirlwind journey as you travel with her to unlock the mystery of her past. Like a leaf in the wind, Seth blew into town after her family died in a mysterious accident. At eight years old, Seth was left alone to be raised by her surrogate grandmother, Madelyn. Together, the two worked hard to keep their identity a secret.

Seth is now a grown woman trying to lead a seemingly normal life, but the secrets and the mystery behind her family’s deaths continue to loom over her life. As the twentieth anniversary of her family’s death approaches, Seth receives a mysterious visit from a stranger who jolts her back twenty years to the very night her family was killed.

Hanging on to her sanity by a very thin thread, Seth set out to uncover the truth surrounding that horrible night. She must once again change her identity in order to confront the man that she believes murdered her family and she finds much more than she bargained for.

She discovers life changing information about herself, her heritage and her family’s sorted past. Her strength is tested as she becomes torn between falling for a stone cold murderer and staying true to her long time love. Filled with deception, sensuality, and suspense this transforming journey, somehow, links everyone through six degrees of separation. Just when you think you know what’s going on… Think again!

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write The Green Eyed Butterfly?

Kiffany Dugger: I’d been trying to write a book for years, but I was in college having fun and just couldn’t focus. Years later, I actually started to have dreams about people that I didn’t know and places that I’d never been. I started seeing my characters and scenes from the book as if I were watching a movie. I actually thought I was losing my mind. I kept trying to ignore “the vision.”Â Then unfortunately, due to an illness, I was idle for quite some time.

One day, I got tired of these people in my head bothering me, so I opened my laptop and started writing The Green Eyed Butterfly. It was amazing. The characters became real, and they openly invited me into their world. The book began to flow like water from a never ending fountain. After I finished the first book, it was like a floodgate, and I began to write others.

JP: What sets The Green Eyed Butterfly apart from other novels in its genre?

KP: The Green Eyed Butterfly covers several genres: There’s some romance, suspense and mystery all rolled into one. Whatever the reader is looking for, The Green Eyed Butterfly has it.

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

KP: Self publishing is definitely not easy.Â It takes dedication, hard work, an unshakable faith in God and the talents that he has so graciously blessed me with. I knew that I’d written a great book, and I wanted the world to see what I saw.

This has been a difficult road, but knew that I couldn’t just put this book on the shelf.Â The ironic thing is that most of my ideas, character names and even the name for the book came while I was sitting in church. I can remember writing book entries on the back of my church bulletin. So church was enough motivation for me!

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

KP: I don’t really have a structured process. I have to wait until the characters come to me and tell me that they are ready to share their time with me. Sometimes, I can write for days or weeks. Sometimes, I’m idle for months.

There have been times when I’ve been driving down the street and had to pull over to jot down my thoughts. Music plays a key role in my writing process. I also make a soundtrack for whatever project I’m working on.

JP: What’s next for Kiffany Dugger?

KP: Wow, the sky is the limit.Â I’m going full speed ahead, expect to see The Green Eyed Butterfly on the big screen.

http://www.duggerpublishing.com/
http://www.myspace.com/southerngirlentertainment

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Book Review of Blood Money: The Beginning by Toni Coleman

April 3, 2009 Joey Pinkney 6 Comments

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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