Reign the Cartel
T Styles is a boss. Fly, progressive and enough swag to lend to the haters. Now a bookstore owner, we had the chance to sit with T Styles to discuss her bookstore, the publishing business and e-books.
UM: Describe The Cartel Publications and what it brings to the publishing industry:
T Styles: The Cartel Publications is a street literature publishing house. Meaning we publish novels heavy in urban themes depicting street life. We bring consistency to the publishing industry and we offer a solid brand for our distributors and customers. Our customers are starting to realize that when they see the CP logo, it’s all good and your customers will be pleased. It’s a win-win situation for everyone!
UM: Most publishers build their house on at least one book or author. To date, what book has laid the most bricks for the The Cartel Publications?
T Styles: Without a doubt it has been the Shyt List series. For seconds I’d have to say my titles…Black and Ugly as Ever, A Hustler’s Son 2 and the like.
UM: You’ve remained focused on your house and have expanded your brand into a bookstore. In an economic climate where bookstores are closing, what has been your biggest challenge operating the store?
T Styles: I haven’t had any major challenges. I scouted the area in which the book store is located a long time ago. In fact, I grew up in the area and knew that a black book store would do great in a location where most of the customers commute by bus/train. If I had to pick a challenge, it would be hiring and maintaining qualified staff members. Although we seem to be doing pretty well now.
UM: As a bookstore owner, what misconception (s) have you learned about the publishing industry that you did not know as a publisher / author?
T Styles: Hmmm, misconception…you know what, I’m one of the few publishers who is not interested in how other people do things, and because of it, I’ve been protected from ‘How other publishers/authors’ do things. So I didn’t have any misconceptions or expectations outside of keeping my focus on the brand. I knew I’d have to grind to get the brand out there that if I did, the Cartel would be okay. I think too often business folk worry too much about what others are doing in the industry and base their business decisions on what worked or didn’t work for that person. Ignorance was my greatest asset because I didn’t know that most publishers didn’t put out two books at the same time, or this that and a third. Feel me?
UM: As a bookstore owner, what are some words of advice for authors and book signings.
T Styles: Well, I’d say please…please…please don’t cut corners when it comes to quality book covers. It’s imperative. And although your mother’s cousin’s uncle may have done good copy paste work in the past, when it comes to your book cover, take no chance. People say don’t judge a book by it’s cover but they always do! They pick up the book and put it right back down if the title isn’t hot and the cover isn’t hotter. I’d also say don’t expect a line to form around the corner when you sign your books. Successful books signings are 80 percent grind & pull (of customers) and 20 percent promotion from the book store.
UM: What is your view on urban books in the ebook format and publishers giving the ebook away for free?
T Styles: Publisher are giving books away for free? Nonsense! There has to be some reason for that madness I’m sure. Me? I LOVE ebooks but you have to pay for ours. We currently have our books available on Amazon.com’s Kindle and since Kindle’s AP is available for the iPad, you may download our books there too. In terms of e-books, the industry is changing. Publishing is changing and those who aren’t willing to embrace change will get run over. There’s no other way to say it. We have to get with the program or get left out of it. People want access and immediate gratification and ebooks provide it for the consumer.
UM: The amount of books in your catalog is impressive as T Styles. What made you write using the pseudonym Reign?
T Styles: I love writing under Reign because she’s relentless. And Reign means to prevail. Sounds just like me!
UM: What book did you enjoy writing the most?
T Styles: Black and Ugly. Why? I enjoyed the story because of the topic for one (about a young lady who hates her dark skin) and I like creating characters based on solid friendships because I never had that. When I was growing up, I moved around so much I didn’t get a chance to form long lasting bonds. And although the friends in Black and Ugly fight a lot, they love one another.
UM: Do you desire to sign with a major publisher or would you like to remain independent?
T Styles: As of now, no. I’d like to remain independent because I’m not feeling the idea of working for someone else. And the longer I am successful, the more I don’t want to. This may change depending on the offer, but for now, I want to see how far I can take the label.
UM: What are some upcoming dates for The Cartel Publications book releases, author signings or book tours?
T Styles: We have The Unusual Suspects, Miss Wayne and the Queens of DC, Hell Razor Honeys 2, Reversed and the list goes on and on!
UM: Where can readers reach you online?
T Styles: On my site at www.thecartelpublications.com, on Twitter at www.twitter.com/authortstyles and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/authortstyles
Street Legends Vol. 2 – Seth Ferranti
Seth Ferranti
Seth Ferranti is the acclaimed author of a number of books, perhaps most notably “Prison Stories”, which he self-published through his company Gorilla Convict Publications. Ferranti currently serving a 25-year prison sentence for dealing drugs. He has currently served 17 years. As he was sentenced under the guidelines of an LSD kingpin, Ferranti’s case was widely publicized and covered in high profile sources like Rolling Stone magazine and The Washington Post.
Not only did he form his company while in prison, he has helped to publish other incarcerated writers. Ferranti is an accomplished journalist and has written pieces for a wide variety of magazines including FHM, Vice and Don Diva. More information about Gorilla Convict Publications and Seth Ferranti’s work can be found at http://www.gorillaconvict.com
Urbania: Can you tell me a little bit about your publishing house Gorilla Convict? How did you find the other writers that you are currently publishing?
Seth: Gorilla Convict Publications is the voice of the convict. It is founded and formed by prisoners and for prisoners. We are trying to bring readers the voices that might not otherwise be heard. We are trying to shed light on the stories that have been manipulated by the mainstream media and government. We give the prisoners side. We give voice to the legends of the street. They have been glorified and name dropped in hip hop, now with Gorilla Convict Publications you can read their real stories, in their words and the words of their homies, co-defendants and relatives.
We try to promote any other prisoners who are writing and putting out books from the penitentiary. We know it’s a struggle because we did it ourselves. So anyone with like minds we hook up with and help them to do their thing. Like my man Lamont “Fridge” Needum whose book STRAIGHT SAVAGE is like that and my dudes from the MIA Plex and Mike Harper who wrote BooBaby and STREET RAISED respectively. Their books are like that. At Gorilla Convict we promote and network to find the talented writers that exist within this system. There are a lot of dudes in here with a lot of stories to tell.
Urbania: Do you ever think of writing a straight up biography about your own life?
Seth: I’d like to write a biography one day or a movie script about my story. I’m not a gangster or anything like that. I’m just a kid from the suburbs who got caught up in this bullshit war on drugs and now I am paying the price with this 25-year federal sentence of which I’ve served almost 17 years of so far. So eventually, yes, I will write a straight up biography of my life and case and the circumstances that led me to be incarcerated. As of now, magazines like Rolling Stone and Don Diva have touched it upon, but I look forward to writing the complete and unabridged story one day. But for now I have a lot more stories to write and to share with the world in my Street Legends series.
Urbania: I know you didn’t start writing books until you were in prison, did you ever have any indicators earlier in life that you wanted to write?
Seth: I always played in bands when I was young. I still sing and play guitar. I know its kind of weird being that I write about gangsters and urban stuff, but really I am way into punk and metal, music wise. Though I do love a lot of the early hip hop stuff like Run DMC, Beastie Boys, NWA, DAS EFX, UTFO and stuff like that. I have always written songs and poetry and lyrics and the like, and it just evolved into what it is now. So I guess I did have indicators early in life that I wanted to write. It’s about more than that though, it’s about being able to create and to have a vision and follow through on it. That’s what I think I have always been about even when I was out on the street selling LSD and marijuana at all the east coast colleges. That was my vision back then, Gorilla Convict is my vision now. When I finally hit the streets my vision will take on a new form.
Urbania: What are currently your main motivations as a writer?
Seth: My main motivation as a writer now is to get stuff done. I want to put out a book a year for the rest of my bid, 6 years. So that when I get out I will have a resume, my books, my works that will speak as to what I am capable of. I want to be heard. I want these stories to be heard. I think it’s great that hip hop and urban fiction has opened up these doors. Especially for me and other people in prison. It gives us something to aim for and it gives us hope of a future life when we get out.
I want to use my time wisely and crank out as much quality material as I can. I’m happy that people are interested in my work, but for real I would do this regardless. This is my passion. Like I said, I’m a visionary and I won’t compromise my vision for anybody or anything. My wife and I started this from prison. When I get out I want to take it as far as it can go. That is my motivation.
Urbania: Street Legends 2 comes out next month. Can you talk a bit about how this new book compares with the first Street Legends?
Seth: Street Legends Vol 2 drops in DEC 09 and it carries on where Street Legends Vol 1 left off. In Vol 1 I wrote about the death before dishonor sic- Supreme, Wayne Perry, Anthony Jones, Aaron Jones from the JBM, Boy George and Pistol Pete. Six of the most recognizable gangsters of the hip hop era. These dudes were the black and Latino John Gotti’s and Pablo Escobar’s.
Now in Vol 2, I am profiling the original gangsters. Dudes you might have heard about but never really knew about. Frank Matthews, Peanut King, Michael Fray, The Boobie Boys, Short North Posse and New World. A lot of the street legends we hear about from the rappers are from New York, so I widened my scope on this one and tried to write about legends from different areas including Baltimore, DC, Miami, Columbus, Ohio and New Jersey. I wanted to talk about the older legends you might not have known that much about and some of the newer, not so hyped up ones. So basically Vol 2 is the same format. We are just talking about different legends.
Urbania: Do you think you have inspired other people in prison to become writers? Can you give some examples?
Seth: I think I have inspired other people in prison to be writers. Me and my man Joe Black started off together, he wrote Street Team and Squeeze. I’ve also been around Robert Booker who wrote PUSH and Eyone Williams who wrote Fast Lane and Hell Razor Honeys I and II. My man Fridge who wrote STRAIGHT SAVAGE and Plex who wrote BOOBABY and Mike Harper who wrote STREET RAISED.
I’m sure I have inspired them and they have inspired me and vice versa. Wahida Clark has been corresponding with me since she first started writing. Also Kwame Teague, who wrote the DUTCH series for Teri Woods, is someone I correspond with. I know a lot of writers who are still in prison. We have all inspired and tried to help each other. I’ve done whatever I could to get interviews and articles about all the people I have named here in magazines and on Internet sites. I appreciate Urbania doing the same for me. I’m sure there are more writers too. That’s just off the top of my head.
Urbania: On one of your blogs you mention you are interested in filmmaking when you get out. Are you going to get into Directing films? Also are you thinking of making your books into films or would you do something new?
Seth: I am going to get into film making when I get out. I want to write and
direct. I want to be like Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez. Like
I said before, I have a vision. Some of the stories I written about would
make great films.
But I want to do more than gangster films. I want to do action/adventures with a gangster edge, of course. Anything I do has to have that edge to it. But dudes like Supreme and Boy George have tailor-made stories for film. When I am in the right position, I will push to get those films made. I will write them and then I will do all I can to get someone to bankroll them. I have written a couple of scripts and am still perfecting my screenwriting craft.
Street Legends: Vol: 2 can be purchased the Booksellers below.
The Survival Bible by Jihad
Jihad
Jihad is a writer and motivational speaker. Early in his life, Jihad embarked on a life of crime, which landed him in prison for seven years. He was shot on several occasions and in a car accident, which left him paralyzed.
Miraculously, Jihad regained usage of his legs. He also discovered his love of books and for writing while in prison. Jihad’s books include the autobiographical novel entitled “ Street Life” which was written in 1998.
Jihad has since written five other novels. Jihad’s most recent release is a book of non-fiction entitled “The Survival Bible 16 Life Lessons for Young Black Men.” For more information about Jihad’s works, check out www.jihadspeaks.com.
In addition to his writing, Jihad is also an inspirational speaker and a real estate investor. He is the founder and CEO of the non-profit organization The Wake-Up Everybody Foundation. This company is dedicated to “positively and proactively re-awakening the African-American psyche through self-realization and re-education.”
We interviewed Jihad his work and his ideas for helping and encouraging young people. As far as his novels go, Jihad explained that he gets his ideas from major emotional experiences in his own life. He explained, “I could be running at the gym, and I’ll have a thought that develops and won’t go away. That thought usually comes from something I see or hear that I am a very passionate about.”
Jihad’s new book “The Survival Bible 16 Life Lessons for Young Black Men” has some truly insightful ideas. One of the most important points he strives to make is that youngsters need to intentionally seek out books written by people who share the same cultural identity.
Jihad explained during our interview, “In life, all of our formal education comes from either books or scholars that are teaching from the people and the books that they were taught from. These may not be books or schools of thought that have your best interest in mind, being that you are black and only have the identity that others have told you. So, you have to READ books about your yesterday written by people who look like you and have your best interest at heart. You have to do that in order to establish your cultural identity. This is a must in understanding how you got to be where you are. By studying your ancestors, you can see how to avoid their mistakes and understand how they achieved their successes.”
Jihad goes on to explain, “Your identity is your foundation. There is nothing
that can stand through rough weather or turmoil without a foundation. That
is why our people are in the condition that we are, most of us have no
foundation. See, knowing the past is knowing the future…. Everything in
life revolves, the earth, our bodies, our story. There is absolutely nothing
new under the sun, so knowing your past in essence is knowing your future,
because with knowing your yesterday, you can map out your tomorrow. In
essence, this is what they mean by Know thyself.”
Jihad’s work is self-published. Overall, he feels this experience has been very challenging. He explained that as an independent publisher he never had the same distribution outlets as the major publishers. “It’s like a grass roots movement for life being independent, at least until the media or the people really latch on to your work.”
As far as suggestions go for readers looking to become writers and follow a similar path to success, Jihad’s main words of advice are “ READ, AND JUST DO IT. Begin at the beginning of your thoughts and just write
what’s on your mind, and don’t worry if you are an avid reader, the story will come to you as you are writing.” He explains that it is important for new writers to realize that the hardest thing to write is the first page.
Jihad’s inspiration for new writers is as follows, “How many times do you see a movie that you know you could have done better or a book you could have wrote better? Sit down and just do it… everyday if it’s one word, one sentence, write… and most importantly read. Other books are your school. Don’t worry about stealing anyone’s ideas, as I said before there is nothing new under the sun, so how can you steal what never belonged to the author in the first place… It’s all about your twist on one of the few stories that have been done a million times a million ways.”
Of course, in addition to his books is his motivational speaking career. Jihad described a recent experience at one of his live events. “It was beautiful. The young King had never read a book before but his mother made him read The Survival Bible while he was grounded… After reading my book, he told his mother that The Survival Bible was the greatest one gift he’d ever received and he was going to change the world and make her proud. I spoke with the young King and told me that he was selling his PS3 to help his mother buy books from a reading list put in the Survival Bible. He is 13…. That one King’s words are worth more than any amount of money I could be paid to write.”
Next from Jihad is the sequel to “Preacherman Blues.” He not only plans on writing more novels, but also many more self-help books. In fact, the next self-help book on the horizon is “The Survival Bible: 16 Life Lessons for Young Black Women.”
Voice of the Generation – Felicia Pride
Felicia Pride
Felicia Pride is best described as an author, speaker and voice of her generation. She has a Master’s degree in writing and publishing from Emerson College and she currently lives in Baltimore, Maryland.
Pride’s numerous books span a variety of categories including hip-hop, pop-culture, fiction, and young adult literature. Perhaps her most acclaimed work to date is called “The Message: 100 Life Lessons from Hip-Hops Greatest Songs.” This book has been called “Chicken Soup for the Hip-Hop Soul.” This book was even profiled by USA Today.
In addition to her writing, Pride is also an accomplished speaker who has spoken at schools and venues around the country. In 2004, Pride founded Backlist. This is an organization that conducts creating workshops and seminars, and that curates community events. Backlist also consults with artists and writers. More information about Pride’s work can be found at her website http://feliciapride.com/
Urbania: How did you get started writing? Did you always know you were a writer? Tell us a little bit about your background as far as when you realized this was one of your passions.
Felicia Pride: I didn’t always want to be a writer. I got my start while working in corporate America. I wanted an outlet where I could be creative so I found an opportunity to write for free for a small newspaper out of Staten Island, NY. I did this on my downtime. I began writing about music and the first time I saw my byline on a published article, it was a wrap.
Urbania: Your new book is called Patterson Heights. Can you tell us a little bit about your inspiration for the book?
Felicia Pride: The book takes place in Baltimore and is about a family that suffers a tragedy and how they each of them deal with the pain differently. It’s told through the eyes of fifteen-year-old Avery Washington who has to embark on a quest to find out who he is in order to move on. I’ve wanted to write a book based in Baltimore about a regular family who must deal with what life throws at them. Baltimore can get a bad rap sometimes, and I wanted to show another face of the city.
Urbania: Your book “The Message” is a really unique concept and since it has been released it has clearly made a lot of waves. Can you tell us a bit about your experience promoting your book?
Felicia Pride: Overall, the experience promoting THE MESSAGE has been amazing. I’ve met so many interesting people, including a lot of smart young people who have found value in the book. Their engagement with the book has taught me a lot. I’ve had the chance to give keynotes, and facilitate workshops for them and they’ve helped me grow in many ways.
I also was able to bring my family into the mix to help me (both sister and mother are in education) and together we developed an enrichment program based on THE MESSAGE that aligns with national academic standards. So that’s been exciting as well.
Urbania; What types of books do you enjoy reading most personally. Do you have any current recommendations?
Felicia Pride: I read all types of books, but the ones that I enjoy most are imaginative, different, and make me marvel at the power of words and the talent of wordsmiths. But a current recommendation, and I’ve been recommending this book all over the place, is “The Black Book: 35th Anniversary Edition.” Originally presented by Toni Morrison, it’s a book complete with images, archival documents, and news articles that chronicles the African American experience in this country. Everyone should own a copy.
Urbania: Do you have any suggestions for writers looking for inspiration and motivation to get started?
Felicia Pride: Write. Write. Write some more. You’re not a writer unless you write. Push aside those feelings of doubt and fear and write. The more you write, the better you become. And read, read, and read some more. The more you read, the better writer you become.
Urbania: How about suggestions on getting published?
Felicia Pride: Network like your life depends on it. And well, if you’re trying to be a published writer as a career, it kind of does. Most of the opportunities that I’ve been blessed to have come into my life has been the result of the relationships I have built and nurtured.
Urbania: I noticed you and your organization Backlist have done a lot of speaking engagements on a variety of different topics everything from strategies for success to hip hop. What types of audiences and/or topics do you enjoy presenting most?
Felicia Pride: Definitely teens and young adults—high school to college students. We vibe off each other’s energy. I learn from them. They learn from me. I was them and they are me.
Urbania: What is next on the horizon for you?
Felicia Pride: I’m working on a few multimedia projects, one being about my family in Baltimore. It’s an amazing story and I almost feel like I became a writer to tell it.
Trapped in the Closet by Jordan Belcher
January 20, 2010 by Editor
Filed under Featured, Short Fiction
TRAPPED IN THE CLOSET
BY
Jordan Belcher
Her kidnappers told her not to move, but how else was she supposed to keep the blood circulating through her legs?
Sometimes she’d be sitting with her knees bent close to her chest, and when that starts to feel uncomfortable, she’d stretch her legs flat out, ankles touching. It wasn’t like she could spread her legs into the splits… the closet she was held captive in was too small for that.
The fact that her hands were cuffed behind her back was uncomfortable, too. And they were furry cuffs, like somebody’s sex toy or something. But this wasn’t some sex game taking place. Her kidnappers were serious business. They proved it after she insanely kicked on the door screaming for them to let her out, and a gut in a ski mask yanked it open and told her to shut the fuck up after he punched her in the face. Blood was still dried up under her nose.
So she hadn’t kicked or screamed again. She thought about it, but then the pain in her nose made her think otherwise. The last time she had her nose made her think otherwise. The last time she had her nose busted was when her then best friend Janet Finley caught her in the act with long-tongue Brandon, Janet’s dusty boyfriend at the time. That was two years ago, prom night, Hickman Mills High School.
Maybe this was karma. Not for fucking Janet’s man—she already got her karma for that—but a new karma for fucking her current best friend Tracee’s husband, a money-getting drug dealer named Blue Rock. Yeah, this could definitely be considered some kind of bad divine intervention. Because she had been abducted at Blue Rock and Tracee’s home. Right after she got done riding Blue Rock’s hard dick, right when she was getting dressed and had only to put on her socks, a team of three masked thugs barged in the room pointing guns at them. The big kind of guns, too.
They took her. She didn’t know what they did with Blue Rock, but they took her and threw her in the trunk of a red box-style Chevy. Kansas license plates, she remembered, with the first three letters XTY. Then after a bumpy road trip, the next thing she knew she was being pulled out of the trunk into a messy garage, furry cuffs were slapped on her wrists and she was led through a door into somebody’s humble kitchen. It wasn’t until she was ushered into the empty living room and up the rickety stairs into an empty bedroom that she realized she was in a vacant house. They stuffed her in this closet, where she’s been for at least forty-five minutes.
It was pitch black in here, not even a ray of light shining under the door. Of course, the room beyond this closet was dark as well, and she had seen a little moonlight coming through those curtainless windows before they shut the door on her. She lived in darkness now. Just her and the cobwebs. Cobwebs came with creepy spiders, so it was just her, the cobwebs and probably some hungry brown recluses.
She wasn’t supposed to be in here. This was a case of mistaken identity, she surmised. The kidnappers had apparently thought she was Blur Rock’s wifey, Tracee, and took her for ransom. But she was prettier than Tracee, taller and thinner and didn’t have to wear a girdle like Tracee; she was Kiera Franklin, queen of opulence.
Kidnappers were dumb, though. Too inattentive. But when they found out she wasn’t the wife, that she was just Blue Rock’s secret side piece, they would surely let her go.
So the question was: How long would it take them to find out?
Tracee was probably at her grandmother’s nursing home right now, where she routinely visited every Saturday around 9:30 p.m. Sometimes the girl spent the night there. And that posed a problem. If Tracee didn’t go home tonight, then she wouldn’t discover kidnappers kicking her husband’s ass and she wouldn’t be rightfully captured; thus, they wouldn’t come let Kiera go with an apology. If Tracee didn’t go home tonight, Blue Rock’s scandalous butt would let the kidnappers believe that Kiera was in fact Tracee, and he would refuse to give up his drug money. That would leave Tracee safe at the nursing home; leave Blue Rock with his money—and leave Kiera dead.
It wasn’t going down like that. Kiera had to tell kidnappers who she was.
Swinging her legs up, she beat on the door with her bare feet. The raggedy wood rumbled loudly. “Hey, you dummies!” she yelled, kicking fast like she was in a grape-smashing contest. “Come get me outta here! I’m not Tracee!”
It took a moment, but then the door was snatched open. A kidnapper in a black ski mask and gloves hunched in grabbed her by the chest of her T-shirt and—
“Don’t hit me!” she said immediately.
Lowered his fist first, but still had a hold of her shirt with his other hand. “I told you to quit fuckin’ makin’ noise,” he growled. “Now I’ma hit you one more good time, but if you kick this door another—“
“I won’t kick it again, just don’t hit me and listen to me. I’m not who you think I am.”
“Oh really?”
“I’m not. I’m serious. My name is Kiera Franklin. Yall lookin’ for Tracee Cooke; that’s Blue Rock’s wife. She’s at the nursing home off Holmes Road. I’m not her .”
The kidnapper cocked his head as if considering her story. Then he stood up straight, placed a hand on the edge of the door and stared down at her through the mask. She couldn’t see his eyes—it was too dark, even with the moonlight behind him—but she could tell he was staring, likely trying to assess her facial features.
And then he did something odd: he started to chuckle.
Just as oddly, Kiera chuckled back. “Grabbed the wrong girl,” she said understandingly. “It happens. Once, I thought I picked up my niece from day care and it turned out to be—“
He slammed the door. She could hear footsteps leaving.
The bastard didn’t believe her, she thought. But she could prove that she was Kiera Franklin. One phone call to her mom would verify her name, her address, and even her social security number if they wanted it.
She kicked on the door again. “Come back! I was tellin’ the truth! All yall gotta do is—she battered harder—“ call my damn momma!”
The wood shook with increasing looseness, and she got the idea that if she kept kicking, the old door might come unhinged. She felt a prickle in the sole of her left foot and knew it was a splinter, but that didn’t stop her from trying to get free.
“My name is Kiera! Let me go!”
The door swung out fast. And not because she broke it off the hinges. There was a different kidnapper holding it open, a shorter one who looked down at her without a ski mask.
“Last warning, bitch. And I’m not playin’. I’ll tell them to come up here and shoot you dead right now and get it over with. Because I don’t care about the money, or you.”
Kiera was horrified. “Tracee?”
“Don’t act surprised. You made yo bed, now it’s time to lie in it. And I hope you had fun suckin’ and fuckin’ my husband. Because now it’s time for you to pay.” Tracee slammed the door.
Kiera was plunged back into total darkness.
Jordan Belcher is the author of Tre Pound. For more information visit Jordan’s page or follow on Twitter.
Amazon
The Power of Positive Thinking at Peace in the Storm Publishing
The Power of Positive Thinking at Peace in the Storm Publishing
Peace in the Storm Publishing looks for talented writers and storytellers in a wide variety of genres. The subject matter ranges from fiction and mystery to erotica and Christian fiction.
Inspiration is the cornerstone of any new endeavor, and the creation of Peace in the Storm Publishing is no different. The company motto is “Giving your Soul a Rise, One Page at a Time.” Soul is definitely at the heart of Peace in the Storm publishing, and God is often sighted as a source of strength and inspiration on the company’s website. God and spirituality obviously played a huge role in bringing Peace in the Storm Publishing into existence.
Recently, we were able to sit down with founder Elissa Gabrielle. We explored the inspiration behind Peace in the Storm Publishing, as well as what personally motivates Elissa.
Elissa Gabrielle
Just as her father’s song motivated her, Elissa, in turn, wants Peace in the Storm Publishing to motivate others. Elissa states, “With each book, there will be something that will entertain, encourage, and enlighten. I’m extremely proud of that.”
All businesses face challenges, yet Elissa addressed the obstacles she has faced in a unique and determined way. She says that while the “devil has a way of trying to stop your progress, especially when you’re trying to chase your dreams,” she has found that she can still overcome many obstacles. One key strategy she has employed in tackling her obstacles is the power of positive thinking. She says that she has a “glass is half full” philosophy. She uses this positive philosophy in conjunction with constantly asking God for guidance and wisdom.
Elissa feels that Peace in the Storm Published has, to date, faced two distinct challenges. The first challenge was that of selecting authors for her initial launch. It was vitally important to her that they were a diverse group, who would appeal to as wide of an audience as possible. The second major obstacle was the complexities of developing a brand; once this challenge was met, she stated that everything was easier. Elissa said that once the branding for the publishing company was set in stone it has been “smooth sailing.”
Jacqueline D. Moore, author of Serving Justice stated what makes Peace In the Storm Publishing so unique is “The make-up of the group. The styles of writing are as varied as the women themselves.”
Lorraine Elzia, author of Mistress Memoirs, added, “Peace in the Storm prides itself on the quality of the authors, the quality of the stories and the quality of the representation of the company.”
Jessica A. Robinson, author of Holy Seduction states “We are unique because we are truly family and we believe in being trendsetters for excellence. We always try to raise the bar with our professionalism.”
These three quotes do wonders to illuminate the perspective of all those involved in Peace in the Storm Publishing. Clearly, all involved are focused on promoting hard-working authors, and focused on creating quality books that are inspirational and motivating.
Elissa’s advice for new writers attempting to get into the publishing business should be very helpful those just starting out. She feels that research is paramount because knowledge is power. Being informed about the business, being determined to meet your goals, and asking for God’s assistance and guidance are all part of the formula. Again, it was impressive to see Elissa’s consistent optimism shine through.
2009 looks as though it will be a great year for Peace in the Storm Publishing, as there are 10 authors slated for publication, with even more titles planned for 2010. Be sure you take a look at and keep an eye on their website www.peaceinthestormpublishing.com for updates and new titles. With someone as determined and positive as Elissa at the helm, there is little doubt that 2009 and 2010 will be impressive years for Peace in the Storm Publishing.
INTERVIEW UPDATE (10/09)
After the African American Awards, I caught up with Elissa Gabrielle to discuss the success of 2009.
UM: Positive thinking, creating a meaningful brand and great books garnered Peace in the Storm publishing several awards at the African America Literary Award show in 2009.
Did you expect to win and how did it feel?
Elissa: Mr. Wells, honestly, I didn’t expect to win any of the five categories Peace In The Storm Publishing had garnered nominations in. I was very honored and humbled to even be considered. How did it feel? Awesome. And not for the reasons you may think. See, in 2009, I lost my sister suddenly. Her name was Jodi and she was only 44 years old. I had never experienced pain on such a monumental level before in my life and the pain made me lose my way for some time. I still performed the roles of publisher, because I had a job to do, but it was truly a performance.
Shortly thereafter, my dad, well-known jazz musician Joe Thomas fell ill, and we weren’t sure if he would make it. For some time, he wasn’t even able to walk. I couldn’t have predicted the very highs and the very lows that I experienced in 2009. I was extremely grateful and humbled by the fact that my parents were able to witness the awards, to be there with me, and I prayed that somehow it lessened the trauma of my sister’s death. It was a happy day for all of us. And, my dad is now able to walk. So, while the awards are great, the real icing on the cake was that I was able to share such a special moment in my life with those I love the most – family, because as you know this is life is not a dress rehearsal. We are blessed with life, and we must treasure our time here on this earth with family and loved ones. And, I can’t lie, it feels great being a winner. Who doesn’t love that feeling? I am responsible for the literary careers of 11 authors, so bringing home the “gold” gave me a little more confidence and encouragement to do the best job I can for the Peace In The Storm authors.
UM: What has been the toughest challenge in the publishing industry? Was the challenge expected or inspected?
EG: That’s a hard question to answer because I’m not sure if I look at the actual challenges as challenges. I sort of stay in my own little bubble, and do my own thing for me and the authors of Peace In The Storm. In identifying one challenge, I suppose it was receiving information that I needed to move forward. Valuable resources and information are sometimes not readily available to the people seeking it. So, getting information to help Peace In The Storm grow was probably the most difficult thing to do. I guess I expected it. However, life is filled with speed bumps, roadblocks and stop signs. Our normal tendency is to listen to the world as it tells us to slow down or even stop, behind a belief that some things in life are out of our reach and beyond our attainment and control. The world wants to cushion our expectations and to ultimately limit our goals. But thankfully, there is a God. And with faith in Him and His mercies, He gives us pedals upon which to accelerate and a path of green lights upon which to proceed when others tell us we can’t possibly move forward. My Peace In The Storm journey has been an ongoing saga of having faith and believing that even though others can give me molehills of why Peace In The Storm can’t, My God gives me mountains of why Peace In The Storm can. There will undoubtedly be more challenges that lay ahead, but I have to remain focused for me and the authors of Peace In The Storm. I’ll continue to allow God to order my steps and will lean on Him for guidance when the continued challenges arise.
UM: Other than the awards and accolades, what has been your reward?
EG: My reward has been helping others. Nothing beats the feeling I get when an author calls me when they have their book in their hand. I try to really be involved with the overall publishing process, so the author and I develop a real bond as the process continues. When that part of the process is complete, I feel joy right along with the author when they’ve achieved their dream. I’m happy for my authors because they are worthy, and they deserve all the goodness that is sure to come. They work hard, and it’s been both and honor and a pleasure to witness them chase, and finally reach their literary goals. So, for me, the biggest reward is to help them make their dreams come true. Ain’t nothing like it.
UM: Now that you have found success and have been recognized as one of the leading publishers, what’s next in 2010?
EG: I think it’s going to take years for me to become a leading publisher, if that ever happens. Only God knows for sure, and only time will tell. I’m still learning and there are many more miles I need to travel. Honestly, I’m happy to be on this journey and I’m looking forward to what the future holds for Peace In The Storm and its authors. For 2010, we have two new authors, so far, that have joined the Peace In The Storm roster; Brian Ganges, and Pamela D. Rice. Returning are the award-winning Jacqueline D. Moore, Lorraine Elzia, Cheryl Lacey Donovan, and the literary-award nominated S.D. Denny, and Ebonee Monique, in addition to Tamara Angela Grant, Jessica A. Robinson, and LaToya S. Watkins. I will also release another novel in 2010. The lineup is really fantastic and I’m very excited about the 2010 releases. These authors have really stepped up their game and they will not let their readers down. Please visit www.peaceinthestormpublishing.com in December to preview the 2010 lineup from these incredibly gifted authors.
UM: Positive thinking can go a long way, but can’t get the job done alone. As a publisher, what was one of your most successful strategies that you implemented this year?
EG: In recognizing that I was a small press and a new publishing company, I needed to ensure that Peace In The Storm came out with a bang, and in order to do that, I was very selective in the process I used to choose the books in which I would publish. I wanted diverse genres and broad appeal. In doing so, the quality of books under the Peace In The Storm umbrella was very high, because I looked for stories that were above the norm. Now don’t mistake me, I don’t mean better, I just mean different. I was not interested in publishing just for the sake of publishing, but I had a real concern about the quality of books that bore the Peace In The Storm name. After choosing high quality manuscripts, I focused and encouraged my authors to direct all of their attention on marketing. The importance of marketing can sometimes be lost on publishing companies and I made sure it was not lost on me, or on the authors under the Peace In The Storm publishing house. There are so many great publishers out there, how would anyone recognize Peace In The Storm and its authors? Realizing that if Peace In The Storm was going to make a name for ourselves, it had to be done through a progressive and aggressive marketing campaign. We all were new to the literary scene, nobody knew our names, and when starting out with brand new authors, it was my goal as the publisher, to make their names as individuals, as well as the company brand, a household name as quickly and professionally as possible. I think that initiative on the part of me, as the publisher, and on the part of my authors, was one of the most successful strategies that helped Peace In The Storm overcome some of the obstacles that other small presses have difficulty overcoming, and that is being noticed. It’s very hard to be noticed. I’m so very grateful that we were acknowledged. But I’m even more happy that our readers are pleased with the work that we’ve put out there.
UM: As an author what was one of your most successful strategies that you implemented?
EG: I’ll tell you a little about my latest novel, A Whisper to a Scream. A Whisper to a Scream is the story of Queen Thomas, a successful defense attorney who is very passionate about defending the African American male. She has seen that the justice system has not been so fair and kind to them, so it is her mission to save as many of these men as she possibly can. A speed bump comes along in the form of Dr. Quincy Hughes which makes her question everything she’s believed in and has fought for, for so long. The interracial element of the book was the most difficult part to write effectively. I had to do a lot of research, because I had no direct knowledge or experience with interracial relationships, so in order to make it authentic, I had to really work hard. I challenged myself on so many levels with A Whisper to a Scream. Queen Thomas is a defense attorney, so I had to research to make sure that the courtroom drama was real. In addition to that, I needed to highlight the domestic violence parts of the book. Poetry is something that is laced throughout the book as well as the recurring theme of “whispers” and “screams” so this was the most technical book I’ve ever written. I enjoyed the challenge of having a book that was so well thought out and well written. That was my goal and I enjoyed reaching that goal. So, in terms of strategy as an author that was implemented, was giving the reader a book that exceeded my expectations as a writer. I wanted to give the people more and I’m hoping that strategy will prove to be successful.
Some Great Advice and Insights From The Man Behind RELENTLESS CONTENT
Some Great Advice and Insights From The Man Behind RELENTLESS CONTENT
In my initial correspondence with Aaron from Relentless Content, I was struck with one of the quotes that he placed at the bottom of his email. The quote was from Oliver Wendell Holmes and it read, “A man’s mind once stretched by a new idea, never regains its original dimensions.” I thought it was a fantastic quote, and it definitely made me want to learn more about Aaron, his insights, what prompted him to create Relentless Content.
Aaron began his writing career while still in prison, and says that he maintained the mindset of an author throughout his ordeal in prison. Once out of prison, he registered his company with the state of New York and began his company by having fifty copies of his own book PUSH printed. He sold PUSH for $15 dollars on the streets. However, now as a result of Aaron’s vision and perseverance we can now find his book on the shelves of Starbucks! I was motivated to learn more about how Aaron was able to get his work on the shelves of such an iconic international chain such as Starbucks.
Aaron’s story with Starbucks is an interesting one. His journey began in Harlem. It was in the Harlem Starbucks location that Aaron was first able to get his books on the shelves. During the four years that his books were on the shelves in the Harlem Starbucks, people from all over world were buying his books, regardless of race.
This success in the Harlem Starbucks afforded Aaron the opportunity to expand into several Starbucks outlets in Atlanta when he relocated. It was in Atlanta that one of Starbucks’ branch managers recognized the quality of Aaron’s writing, and encouraged him to set up a table inside the store for the day. Soon Aaron found himself in dealing directly with the Regional Manager of Starbucks, which opened the door for Aaron to make appearances at even more Starbuck branches. This exposure has allowed Aaron to meet a wide array of individuals including numerous professors of literature and history. He also met professionals in law, real estate and government who admired his work.
So what advice does Aaron have for young or new writers trying to market themselves and their work? He begins with some fantastic advice, stating, “My way is MY WAY. You cannot do it my way. You need to find unique ways, unique markets and emerging markets. I hold exclusive partnerships with some of the biggest, wealthiest business owners thanks to this strategy.”
This rather sage wisdom would likely help any new writer looking for guidance. Aaron’s point is a great one- it is important to carve one’s own niche in order to find his or her audience and reach true success.
Aaron also had some great observations on the difference between writing for a major publishing company and writing for a independent one. He feels that a major publishing company can quickly get a writers work out to the world, but that it is still up to the writers to get out there and promote the work themselves. On the other side of the coin, if you are going the independent publisher route, then you are going to have to tackle it head on, one book at a time. Aaron feels that hunger, discipline and talent must all be present for success to occur.
So what’s next for Aaron? 2009 looks to be a very interesting year as Aaron has scripts, films and reality television shows all in the works. You can follow Aaron on Twitter at www.twitter.com/relentlessaaron His website is www.relentlessaaron.com
Xpress Yourself Publishing- Standing Out From the Crowd
Xpress Yourself Publishing, LLC, founded by Jessica Tilles, is truly an up-and-coming independent publishing house. Just last year, the company received The Independent Publishing House of the Year award from the African American Literary Awards Show. Xpress Yourself Publishing has quickly cultivated a nice selection of books on an impressive array of topics, ranging from “thought-provoking literature and commercial fiction, business books, mystery, romance, erotica, spiritual, contemporary and neo-soul lit.”
Here is a bit of background on the company and some of its highlights to date:
In 2001, Jessica launched Xpress Yourself Publishing as a self-published author, publishing her national best-selling titles. In 2006, she published fellow authors Bill Holmes, Kenda Bell and Michael J. Burt. Bill Holmes’ debut novel, One Love, peeked at #4 on the Essence Best Seller’s List in July 2007, followed by Kenda Bell’s, For Every Love There Is A Reason at #8 in August 2007. As publisher of Xpress Yourself Publishing (now affectionately known as XYP), she is helping to mold the literary careers of 35 talented authors, which includes two ESSENCE Best Sellers, award-winning authors, several award nominees, and a finalist for the 2008 NAACP Image Award nomination in the Best Debut Novel category. Annually, XYP publishes 10 to 20 titles.
We were lucky enough to sit down with the company’s founder, Jessica Tilles, for an interview. It is always interesting to learn what inspires creative people to tackle the world of publishing. In Jessica’s case, she began attending publishing workshops where she met three authors, Brenda L. Thomas, Collen Dixon and Jamillah Ellis. She credits this trio of gifted authors with helping motivate her to create Xpress Yourself Publishing.
Jessica also credits advice given to her by her parents with her success. Her parents were quick to lend the very sage advice, which was “learn from the mistakes of other.” Incorporating this advice, Jessica says that she keeps her “ear to the ground and her eyes wide open.” Jessica says that she is constantly studying what others in the publishing business are doing and saying. She keeps that input close to heart.
Any entrepreneur is going to face obstacles and the publishing business is, of course, no different. Like many entrepreneurs, Jessica’s main obstacle was financial. She wondered where she would get the money to print her own book. In a stroke a genius, Jessica opted for a fundraising campaign and one of her first targets was Joe Corbis Pizza. Joe Corbis Pizza is deeply involved in fundraising in the Maryland area. Before she knew it, Jessica had enlisted the help of her friends and family to sell pizzas to their friends and coworkers. By the end of her fundraising, she had raised over $5,000, $2,500 of which went to printing of the first 500 copies of her own book Anything Goes. The other $2,500 she had raised from the fundraising went to marketing and promotion.
No doubt Jessica has created a unique publishing company with Xpress Yourself Publishing. She prides herself in the fact that she is available to her authors 24/7 and responds to their emails and calls as soon as possible. While she never forgets that the publishing business is, at its core, a business, she feels that the family-like environment at Xpress Yourself Publishing really helps her publishing company stand out from the crowd.
So what does the future hold for XYP? Jessica says that 2009 is looking bright indeed and that there are many “irons in the fire.” She is excited about the number of great writers and fantastic works at XYP and expects great things for XYP and all of its writers soon.
The success story of Xpress Yourself Publishing is nothing short of inspiring. Jessica’s success shows the strength of determination and belief in a goal. Additionally, never underestimate the power of mentors. In Jessica’s case, she was able to receive guidance and advice from authors whose opinions she admired and respected.
Blackface by Q.B. Wells
Blackface by Q.B. Wells
This book tells the story of Black.
