Tag Archives: joey pinkney

5 minutes 5 questions with, african american author, african american authors, african american book, african american books, interview, street lit, urban fiction, urban lit

5 Minutes, 5 Questions With… Contel Bradford, author of Thug Nation

JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Contel Bradford, author of Thug Nation
(Count Krew Publications)

Around the time gangs flooded the streets like mosquitoes after a good rain, teams of misguided, military-minded thugs pledged allegiance to one another, willing to die for what they felt to be sacred. Those who no longer infected the hood were residents of the prison system.

Just a couple of hours into his first full day, Gerald noticed several affiliates in the facility. Unlike many of them, he didn’t bring the bandanna with him. Still the vivid images of pitchforks and devil-tailed hearts covered his arms, letting everyone know the status.

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

Contel Bradford: I initially started Thug Nation in 1996. It’s not exactly a true story, but it was inspired by my life. Everybody around me and I were bangin’ at the time, so I decided to write about that whole experience. It took me 10 more years to complete it and release it as Thug Nation.

JP: What sets Thug Nation apart from other urban fiction novels set in Chicago?

CB: Only a small portion is set in Chicago, which is where the main character is from. The bulk of this novel takes place in Detroit, Michigan. It’s just real…the plot, the story itself. Not too many people write about gangs, specially not this in depth. I’m proud to say that Thug Nation is very original. You’ve never read anything like it.

JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that lead to your own publishing company and multiple novels?

CB: I’m just a self-published author. That’s all. I wouldn’t exactly call myself a success either. I’m still in the hood dealing with the same hood drama. Deep down, I always wanted to be a writer, so I just saved up a li’l change and got my books out here. I still gotta long way to go.

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

CB: I can write very fast. The problem is that I’m always working on more than one project at a time. I would say it took me about six months to complete Thug Nation.

JP: What’s next for Contel Bradford?

CB: I just completed an anthology with some of the game’s hottest authors from Detroit, aptly titled Bitch I’m From The D. This book is gonna be hot and features talents like Ms. Michel Moore, Dennis Reed and T.C. Littles to name a few.

I also have three books of my own that I can drop any time – well as soon as I raise the funds. Aside from that, I’m a professional freelancer. I’m looking into more lucrative fields to further myself as an all around writer.

http://www.countkrewpublications.com/
http://www.myspace.com/countkrew

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5 minutes 5 questions with, african american author, african american authors, african american book, african american books, amazon.com, get in get out, interview, mitanni entertainment, myspace, salim amir, urban fiction, urban lit

5 Minutes, 5 Questions With… Salim Amir, author of Get In Get Out

JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Salim Amir, author of Get In Get Out
(Mitanni Entertainment)

Get In Get Out chronicles the life of Marquise Jackson – son of a hustling father, his tumultuous trek into manhood and the journey of a soul that is torn between what is right and what is necessary. In choosing the same life that took his father, he soon realizes that once a person is in the game it’s never as easy as one wishes to Get In Get Out.

This is the introspective story of a young man. Marquis Jackson is forced into manhood prematurely because of a tragedy that threatens the life and welfare of his family. He finds himself trying desperately to get out of the life before he’s claimed by the same fate that claimed his father.

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write Get In Get Out?

Salim Amir: I got the idea and inspiration from my life experiences and the unfortunate death of my comrade Kareem Williams.

JP: What sets Get In Get Out apart from other urban fiction novels where the main character is torn between crime and love?

SA: In order to big my project up without belittling other urban authors, I’ll tell you what makes this book special. The characters have depth, and they’re real. Not every hustler pushed keys. Some people hand-to-hand their entire drug career.

My characters reflect that realistic polarity of the game. You’re in their minds as they contemplate life. When they cry, you’ll probably cry or come close to it. I also focused on making sure my narration could be distinguished from my dialogue. I think that’s an important thing for street lit authors to do.

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

SA: Studying your market. Anything you get into you should study. It’s like the stock market. You don’t just buy a stock without first researching the company whose stock you’re about to buy into. You learn all the tricks of the trade.

As an author and CEO of my own publishing company, Mitanni Entertainment, I feel it’s imperative to learn everything Random House, St. Martin’s Press and other major publishing houses know and use to stay on top of this game. Especially considering the top is my destination.

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

SA: My writing process varies. Sometimes the thoughts and ideas come scattered like a collage and I put the pieces together like a puzzle. Other times it just flows. Get In Get Out took almost 2 years to perfect because I was new to writing. But I have a novel called Politics as Usual that took all of two months in the hole up state to write. So it all depends.

JP: What’s next for Salim Amir?

SA: Dying To Live! The sequel to Get In Get Out.

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5 minutes 5 questions with, african american authors, african american book, african american books, amazon.com, best seller, interview, sister, t benson glover, urban fiction, urban lit

5 Minutes, 5 Questions With… T. Benson Glover, author of Sister

JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
T. Benson Glover, author of Sister
(Amaiya Entertainment)

In Sister, T. Benson Glover takes you on a journey to “The Badlands”, a notorious North Philadelphia ghetto plagued by drugs and violence. It’s a place where love doesn’t exist inside The City of Brotherly Love. This is the neighborhood that the character Sister calls home.

Follow Sister as she winds her way into the depths of a world shrouded in darkness, clouded by murder, riddled by lust, consumed by greed and overrun by envy and betrayal. In Sister, Glover makes it clear that beneath every inner city there’s a place where’s there’s no love lost, even The City of Brotherly Love .

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

T. Benson Glover: I got the inspiration to write the novel Sister out of necessity. I felt that there was need to assess how drastic and violent the situation has become for our young black women to grow up in the inner city minus their fathers. And the character Sister is just an example of what can happen to a young sister growing up in urban America.

JP: What sets Sister apart from other urban fiction novels set in Philly?

TBG: What sets Sister apart, is that it is not only set in Philly, but also Pittsburgh, PA, and Fayetteville, NC.

JP: As a debut author, what are the keys to your success that lead to Sister appearing on the Essence Best Seller’s List?

TBG: I would say that it’s the constant grind: going to the book signings, the Harlem Book Fairs, communicating with your readers online, etc.

All of those things, on top of having a good product that’s both credible and real, are keys to gaining that position. Key Number 1 has got to be that your readers have to feel where you’re coming from. Shout out to Essence for recognizing my hard work.

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

TBG: Actually, I start by developing my lead character and his or her voice. Once I nail that down, I finish the storyline. It took me maybe nine months, off and on, to finish Sister.

JP: What’s next for T. Benson Glover?

TBG: Next up for me is the sequel to Sister. Cash should be in stores by December 2008. Thanks for your time.

Facebook: T. Benson Glover

http://www.amiayaentertainment.com/

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