Interview with Fallen Author Quiana

UM: Can you Introduce yourself to readers?

I’m Quiana, a new author from Philadelphia! Writing is a passion of mine that I am eager to share. It’s been a long time goal of mine since age 17 to become a published author by the age of 25, so I am very proud to have met that goal and to deliver a great story to my audience.

UM: How did you get involved in publishing?

Well, I consulted with several authors that I know to decide if self publishing was the best option. I was proud of my completion but had no Idea how to go through the publishing process. I did a lot of research! I decided to go with self publishing due to the amount of freedom it allows, it’s just a lot of work.

UM: What prompted you to write Fallen? Anything based of true events?

The story is not based upon true events, however people can relate, I think that is why my readers love it so much. The plot just came to me one day in my living room after I already started another novel. I felt strongly in my heart that Fallen should be my first novel, and so far it has proven to be a good choice. There aren’t many stories, if any, about this new wave of cougars in the dating world. Fallen explores that type of a relationship with the upsides and downfalls. Throw sex, lies, and adultry in it and you have a very captivating story!

UM: Who is the audience for the book? What do you hope they take away after reading?

I have had young, old, white and black readers so far who all loved the story! I am very proud to say my audience range with this story is wide. Fallen was intended to be a story for mothers. Mothers who like myself, gave up youth in exchange for stability or to raise a family. Ramae, the main character, spends a lot of time reflecting back and wondering if things could have been different. I think for men and women, we have a hard time fighting selfish temptation, and thinking that we missed out on something. I want my readers to take the lesson of thinking before acting from this story. Is lust and youth worth risking for stability? Should we be accepting of the life that we have chosen or is it never to late to live our dreams? These are questions people deal with on the daily bases.

UM: Who was your favorite character? Why?

Well of course I have to say Ramae! As the main character she expereinces several transformations, which always makes a plot great. You see her at her strongest and weakest, you root for her while secretly wishing for her downfall. You will find yourself identifying with her internal conflicts, while wondering what is she thinking! But I also love her friend Porscha because she reminds me of myself! The fun friend who will always tell it how it is! I love her character because she doesn’t sugar coat things with Ramae, she focuses more on being a true friend not a good one.

UM: DId you have any challenges while writing the book?

With Fallen being my first book the greatest challenge was sticking to it! I had to remind myself that this was something that I’ve wanted for a long time and if anytime was the right time it would be 2011! I had prayed for time off from work to write my first novel, and when God blessed me with it I knew it was time to focus! Being a single parent also created challenge. I would feel guilty for giving up hours to writing somedays.

UM: Whats Next?

My next novel will be Uptown’s Princess! I am working on it now and I hope to release it in the spring. There will also be a sequel to Fallen in the future, and I would love to turn it into a stage play! Hopefully 2012 will be a big year there are lots of plots in my head that I am ready to put on paper.

UM: Tell readers how to contact you or attend some of your events.

You can always follow me on twitter @authorquiana, facebook Author Quiana, or my website www.Quianawrites.com which has my email listed! Readers should also checkout my video blog on my about me page to get a better sense of me as a person! My website also has info on my upcoming book party in Philadelphia and will have postings for radio interviews, book signings, and other events.

To have a chance at selling your book on amazon or online, you need reviews. Lots of them. And if you’re like me, you hate pushing all your friends and family to review your work (is it really fair to ask them?) and leave comments. So most authors do this:

1) Search online for book reviews, indie book reviewers, self-published book reviews, how to get book reviews, etc.

2) Email or contact those reviewers asking them to take a look at their books and comment.

Here’s why that doesn’t work. First of all – those few sites that offer reviews are probably swamped with hundreds, or thousands of book review requests. They may not get to yours. If they do – most of those sites are PR1 or maybe PR2 (I’ve checked) and I’m willing to bet that the majority of people who found those sites were looking for someone to review their book, rather than searching for recommendations of books to buy and read. Does the review do you any good? (Yes…if you convince them to post on amazon. More on that later).

Here’s a better way to get reviews – while avoiding “book review websites”.

1) Find bloggers (or websites, but blogs are easier) who are in some way related to your book, or who may like your book, or who have reviewed other books in a similar genre, with a Page Rank of three or more. You can use “google blogs” to search for them. Be creative! If your book is set in LA, write to bloggers in LA or LA tourism sites. If your main character is a lawyer, contact lawyer blogs. If your character is a witch, write to wicca blogs, etc. Find some basis of connection.

Why PR3? Once a blog hits PR4 they receive a lot of advertising requests, free books, etc. PR3 is low enough that they won’t be totally swamped, and might actually respond favorably. But if they do post, their link to your site will be more valuable (and their review will rank higher).

2) How to ask for the review: Tell them who you are, that you’re looking for creative ways to promote your book, and ask politely if they’d be interested in receiving a free copy. If they like it – no strings attached – you’d appreciate a review or comment on amazon.

What NOT to do: A few months ago I sent out about 1000 emails – the emails were long, had lengthy descriptions of my book reviews, and several links. I got very few responses – because it seemed a lot like spam. So don’t do that! Make your emails short and punchy. Make them personal. By the way, I like the term “Indie author” more than “self-published.” You can even use it to your advantage. Here’s a sample:

Dear _____, I found your site searching for blogs about _____. I’ve recently written a book about (very short description – your one sentence book plug) and (reason your book is related somehow to this blog). I’m an indie author and am looking for creative ways to promote my book. I noticed you (like, do, support, etc…show them that you’ve looked over their blog and actually know something about them). I think you might enjoy reading it, so I’d like to send you a copy. You can check out the details on this page: (link to your page….with lots of details, description). If you give me your mailing address I can ship one to you. There’s also a PDF review copy here (another link).

There’s no obligation of course, but if you like it I’d appreciate a short review or post on your blog, or an amazon comment.

Sincerely,

(author name)

Don’t make it too formal. Make it casual and personal, like you’re writing to a friend, not a stranger. If you only have kindle and no print file, you can send them to a link that has several ebook options available, including PDF … however, you should have a print copy. I print and ship mine directly from createspace… it’s pretty cheap and very easy. Most people prefer a book and if you actually send them one, they are much more likely to comment or do a writeup. (If you find a site you really want to be on – dig around and try to find their mailing address. Send them a copy first and say “I’ve already sent you a copy, hope you like it!”) In general, you don’t want to ask them to do you any favors. You want to do THEM a favor first, without expecting anything back. Send them a book because they might enjoy it, not so that they can promote you (why should they?)

Getting reviews is a numbers game. Big publishers send out a minimum of about 500 review copies. While most self-pubbed authors can’t afford that, what we can do is send out 10 or 20 book to perfectly chosen niche-blogs, while at the same time directing hundreds of other blogs (by email) towards our online digital copy (yes, you should have copies of your book available for free in different formats on your website, and you should let people know they can read them for free and that you’d appreciate a review).

In the beginning of the game, it isn’t about profit – so don’t worry about it. In the beginning, it’s about getting buzz. You need comments. You need support. After you have that – THEN you can worry about selling. But without it, why should anyone buy from you?

PS) If your book is not professionally edited, if your spelling and grammar stinks, if you have a homemade cover that looks like crap, then your campaign to get reviews won’t work. You are asking people to put their own integrity and reputation on the line – it doesn’t matter if your writing is amazing; they will feel embarrassed if they recommend a poor quality product, and you shouldn’t ask them to.

Derek Murphy is the author of Jesus Potter Harry Christ.

Reprinted from “The Book Marketing Expert newsletter,” a free ezine offering book promotion and publicity tips and techniques. http://www.amarketingexpert.com

by Shennandoah Diaz

Writers are an enthusiastic and passionate bunch, but when it comes to marketing, we see more confused faces, blank stares, and resistance than in any other industry. It’s easy to be idealistic about writing a book, but when it comes down to it, publishing is a business, and authors who want to sell books need to be on top of marketing. To offer some guidance on the topic, here are the top five mistakes we see authors make in their marketing efforts.
#1 Not Doing Any Marketing at All

The worst thing you can do as an author is nothing. Publishers and bookstores alike are concerned about bottom lines and profit margins. They won’t risk their money on a title with no marketing support. Even if you do manage to get it into bookstores, if you don’t drive people in to buy your book, you may be stuck with hundreds of returns as the books that never sell make their way back to the warehouse (leaving you looking like a dud not worth publishing again). In many cases, you have roughly three months from the date of publication to prove the strength of your title. If it doesn’t move, you can say goodbye bookstore and hello backlist.
#2 Waiting Until They’re Published

Everyone wants a bestseller. Did you know that bestseller status is based on velocity of sales and not on the total amount of sales? That velocity is built largely on preorders from retail stores? Retail stores start making their purchase decisions as many as six months before the date of publication, which means you have to prove you have the followers before you even have a book. You need to start building your author platform now. It takes three months to get traction, six months to see results, and a good year to build up a decent platform. Don’t wait.
#3 Expecting the Publisher to Do It All for Them

Again, publishing is a business. If you go out and start a business, you don’t expect the bank who fronts the loan to do marketing for you. Publishers take on titles based on the assumption that you will actively sell your book, and they are expecting you to deliver. Even though this can be frustrating, it’s your career hanging in the balance if the book doesn’t sell.
#4 Automating Everything

Too many people—not just authors—think that marketing is automated content. It’s not. I’m all for re-purposing content and streamlining processes, but a constant stream of one-way ads and promotional posts is a cop-out. Today’s market demands engagement. They want direct access to the real you in real time. Don’t set your marketing on cruise control.
#5 Not Making It Professional

Last but not least, too many authors plop a DIY website with no content and a few weak profiles on the Internet and attend one writer’s conference and call that being a professional author. You have to dress for success, and your marketing materials have to be up to snuff. You need to invest in professional websites, vibrant materials, and a professional appearance so you always make a great first impression. Any author with the intention of getting into Barnes & Noble should expect to spend at least $5,000 to $10,000 on marketing.

If you are an aspiring author, I implore you to take heed and put some thought and money into your marketing. To succeed in retail, you need great marketing in addition to a great book. Don’t leave it up to chance!

Shennandoah Diaz is president of Brass Knuckles Media, an uncensored PR & Marketing firm catering to creatives and the avant garde. Passionate about education, Diaz empowers creatives by sharing articles and teaching workshops on marketing, social media, and publishing. Learn more at www.brassknucklesmedia.com or at www.shennandoahdiaz.com.

Reprinted from “The Book Marketing Expert newsletter,” a free ezine offering book promotion and publicity tips and techniques. http://www.amarketingexpert.com

Whether you’re a debut author about to launch a book (congrats!) or a writer trying to get published (good luck! I hope you do!) or a sophomore or seasoned author who’s thinking of biting the publicity bullet (yes, you should!), there are things to know about publicity in advance.

I love the phone calls and emails I get from authors and writers who are thinking about publicity. I love that they are taking initiative and getting answers, they are preparing to give their book the best chance and they are eager and full of questions about publicity – what is a publicist? what do you do? will it sell books? can you make me a bestseller?

Inevitably, there are similar questions that pop up – and I’ve addressed those here – in case these help you understand what publicity is, what it isn’t and what it can and can’t do for you as an author.

5 Things You Should Know About Publicity Before You’re Published or Before You Hire a Publicist

#1 Publicity is Awareness but not Sales & Marketing

Many authors admit they know nothing, or almost nothing, about publicity – except that they know they need to do it. More often than not, publicity is confused with sales and marketing. Publicity is not sales. Publicity is not marketing. Yes, they go hand in hand. Yes, they can (and should) be synergetic. But publicity (also known as PR) does not guarantee sales. Is there a correlation between when a media hit (book reveiw/feature/blog mention) happens and sales? Yes. Usually. Almost always. But, publicity is about creating awareness and chatter about your book. Sales and marketing is about moving that sales needle. Everything from the book cover design, language on the book, colors on the cover, genre, endorsements – and much more – are well researched by sales and marketing teams to motivate people to buy that book. Publicity is about getting the media and audiences talking about a book, creating visibility for a book – and thus will generate awareness of the book and the author, and also traffic to find more out about the book either to bookstores, the author’s website, or booksellers online. And, hopefully, once there, the sales and marketing of the book (the cover, the colors, the language, the endoresements!) and what the consumer sees when they arrive at that site, will make them purchase it. So…. publicity is not sales and marketing. They are completely different animals – but both very necessary.

#2 Publicity doesn’t happen overnight

Publicity doesn’t happen overnight. In fact, it’s a very long-term and strategic process. When you open up the newspaper or pick up your favorite magazine and read an article, or even see a segment on the Today show, chances are that story has been in the works for months and involves a lot of people – including a publicist spearheading it – and a lot of moving pieces and parts that take up time. Even book features and book reviews are the same way – and moreso in some cases because book space is limited and reviewers are getting pitched hundreds of books a day. There are two types of media: short lead (online, broadcast and newspaper) and long lead (print magazines/print media). Yes, short lead media allows for the feature to be published quicker, but both take a lot of back and forth and advance planning. A solid publicity campaign takes six to 12 months to execute. Be patient! Be persistent! Be realistic! In order to give your book the best chance, realize that publicity is a long term strategy.

#3 Publicity is an investment

There’s a terrible catch 22 when it comes to publicity – you gotta spend money to make money, and even then, there’s no guarantee. Often times, authors know they need publicity and they know it’s going to cost money but they need the money from the book sales in order to pay for the publicity. Yet, they need the publicity in order to create awareness of the book so people will be motivated to check it out and consider buying it. It’s a terrible conundrum. Legitimate publicists do not work on commission – I’ve been asked more than once if I would consider working off a model where I make money if and only if the author makes money. Again, see #1. Publicity is not sales. It’s like starting a business – it’s an investment. You’re paying a publicist for the effort and the work done on the publicity campaign, not on sales success. Try and find a budget that’s reasonable for you – and know it’s an investment in your book and in your long-term career.

#4 Relationships matter…and they don’t

Many times authors will ask me what kinds of relationships I have with media. There are lots of people in the industry who will say you need a publicist who has relationships because that’s the only way to get coverage. Is this true? No. Is it important to have media relationships? Yes (it’s a sign of a good publicist for sure). Is it the only way to get coverage? No. You should definitely ask this question when interviewing a prospective publicist, but don’t let people get you down that you can only get coverage if you’re on a first name basis with an editor in chief. What relationships get you is this: when I pitch media that I’ve worked with for a long time and have relationships with, I know they are going to open my emails and thoughtfully read and consider my pitch. Are they going to guarantee me coverage because I have a relationship with them? No. But, because they know me and my work, they will open it and respond and consider my angle because they know I bring them stories that matter, stories that are relevent to their audience and stories that are well thought out and comprehensive. A good publicist has relationships, builds them over time, doesn’t abuse them, and gets coverage for clients in media even when they don’t have an in or a relationship – that’s the sign that they pitched a really good story, so good that the editor bought it whether they have a relatinship or not. So yes, ask a publicist what kind of relationships they have, but more importantly ask them what kind of results they have.

#5 Buyer beware

Last, a word of warning because I have seen this happen more than once – be careful of scams. There are a ton of publicists and publicity firms out there. If it feels like a sham, if your gut is telling you it’s a scam, if it’s too good to be true, it likely is. There’s no guarantee in publicity. If someone is guaranteeing you XXX amount of media hits and interviews and agreeing to reward your money back if you’re not completely satisfied, then that’s not a legitimate or professional publicity route. If they’re promising to blast out your book to thousands of media – that’s a pitch machine and not a personal, professional publicist working to get you the best, most appropriate and targeted opportunities and exposure for your book. If you’re allowed to pay with a credit card or required to pay in full all up front – that’s not legitimate and you could very well lose all that money. I’ve seen it happen. So, interview, ask questions, ask for references and to talk with clients, follow up on those references and talk to real people. Be smart and take your time – you want a PR partner who you feel can passionately stand behind you and your book, don’t get fooled or scammed by shiny promises.

Crystal Patriarche is founder of Sparks PR Agency, a full-service boutique agency that provides strategic public relations to business clients through its BizSparksPR division and book publicity and consulting to authors through its literary BookSparksPR division. She’s also a journalist whose articles on books, entertainment, beauty, health, motherhood and careers have appeared in many national magazines, newspapers and websites. For more, visit

Reprinted from “The Book Marketing Expert newsletter,” a free ezine offering book promotion and publicity tips and techniques. http://www.amarketingexpert.com

UM: Introduce Yourself to Readers.

KS: My name is Kai Storm, I am the author of Alani’s Bigger Hustle. It’s my first novel, written in 2008 and published in July 2011.

UM: Tell us about your book Alani’s Bigger Hustle.

KS: Alani’s Bigger Hustle is about a young panamanian girl who grew up in the drug game, came to America and met a pedofile/drug dealer and used him to get/overtake the game in her special way.

UM: How would you describe your writing style?

KS: The best way to describe my writing style is turning a nickle into a dollar. In other words I take a small, insignificant real fact and turn it into a whole fantasy. That’s what makes my stories so real.

UM: What are some of your favorite books?

KS: Coldest Winter Ever and Their Eyes were watching God

UM: What type of reader would enjoy your book most? What do you want readers to take away after reading your book?

KS: Any type, there are numerous life lessons written into the fantasy/fictional story of Alani’s Bigger Hustle and the moral of the story is to always follow your dreams because they can come true, that’s what my book represents to me.

UM: Who is your favorite character? Why?

KS: The main characters, Alani and Baker because their love/trust for each other is so real and genuine.

UM: What challenges occurred while writing the book?

KS: No challenges, the story lived within my since I was 12. The real challenge was getting published because I was first signed to a company that did nothing with my novel then I found a reputable company who published me within six months.

UM: What’s next?

KS: The sequel. Everyone that has read ALANI’S BIGGER HUSTLE has asked me for the sequel and I am about 60-80% into it. I also have two book signings in Philadelphia on 12/10/11.

UM: How can readers connect with you for signings etc.?

KS: On Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Youtube, Linkedin, just google me and you will find me, lol!

HERE’S THE LINK TO AMAZON AND KINDLE, & KINDLEGRAPH:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/alanis-bigger-hustle-kai-storm/1103960669

http://www.amazon.com/Alanis-Bigger-Hustle-ebook/dp/B004XN00C8/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1317831229&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B0069U4XOY

UM: Introduce yourself to the readers.

R.J. Champ – I’m the fresh new author and creator of the hot new urban thriller A Beautiful Satan, which is my first release under DC Bookdiva Publications. I’m a newcomer to the urban industry and I’m bringing a fresh new vibe that will enlighten the urban genre with my unique creative style. A Beautiful Satan is my freshman project, which is fire!

UM: Tell us about your book A Beautiful Satan.

Well, A Beautiful Satan is a thugged-out psycho-thriller with a fresh new vibe that’s my signature trademark. The story centers on infidelity and puts a sadistic twist on the subject of cheating. Heartbreak, murder and mayhem come full circle in this sadistic saga where the main character, Angel Rising has a duel personality, a secret alter-ego name Natasha, and Natasha is meticulously stalking and murdering loose women who are involved in some form or fashion with Angel’s husband – Jovan, who is a prolific womanizer, to say the least. Jovan’s antics and his womanizing ways set his wife off, sending her alter-ego on a hellish killing spree within our nation’s capital.

UM: How would you describe your writing style? Who are some of your favorite authors?

My writing style is urban with a dark creative twist that is intriguing and captivating and exciting for my readers. Every time I pick up the pen I challenge myself to bring something fresh and different to my readers…stories they can feel…stories they can identify with…stories that arouse the senses.

My favorite authors; at the top of my urban authors list, I would have to say Donald Goines. His writing introduced me to urban literature, and from there I gravitated to other urban authors such as Dutch, K’wan, and Wahida Clark.

UM: Who is the audience for your book?

Well, A Beautiful Satan is an urban thriller, so my target audience are readers in the urban genre; also readers who enjoy reading thrillers, the kind of story that’s dark, captivating and exciting. I’ve labeled my books Urban Adult/Urban Universal…pretty much anyone who enjoys a good read will enjoy A Beautiful Satan.

UM: What do you want readers to take away after reading the book?

Well, this particular novel A Beautiful Satan, my intention with this story was to highlight the effects of infidelity in a relationship, how it literally destroys the soul of the innocent partner. The story shines the light on psychological abuse, and the adverse consequences which are brought on due by infidelity. This story is meant for entertainment purposes, however, there is a lesson to be learned from this dark and twisted plot, beware, infidelity can transform a woman, literally bring out the darker side you never knew existed.

UM: Who is your favorite character? Why?

Well, from a man’s point of view I’d have to roll with my man Jovan—he really puts it down when it comes to being a playa…He has the look, the dress, the money, the cars, the swag—He’s the quintessential player through and through.

UBM: You have a long impressive resume writing novels. In 2010 in an
interview with The Urban Book Source you stated you were retired. Can you elaborate why you retired?

OT: I smile right now as read this, but I never said I retired as a
“writer” I only spoke about my retiring from writing “urban fiction.” At the time,
I was very much interested in writing international thrillers and other
content, which I was able to with the children’s book “12 Brown Boys,” the epic
business novel “Pecking Order” the nonfiction book for entrepreneurism with
“The Equation” and the erotic short story book with “Dirty Old Men.” So I
was still writing, just not writing urban fiction anymore. So folks took that
“retired” word and ran with it without really looking at what I was saying.
I was also trying to go into film and television at the time.

UBM: Why the comeback?

OT: Well, now that you realize that I was never retired in the first place,
the so-called “return” is all about alerting the public marketplace that
I’m back active with new and interesting material again. But I’ve been in the
lab over the last 2 years trying to see what new directions to take.

UBM: Can you tell us about your latest project Corrupted?

OT: CORRUPTED is a fictional/factual account of all that’s going on in the
current book publishing industry, particularly with black authors and black
books through the eyes of one popular and successful editor, “Vincent
Biddle.” The book has a dozen main characters in it, and every move that they all
make is all real. I wrote the book to make a timely assessment on the
struggles that the current crop of African-American authors are going through to
continue their writing and publishing careers, where it basically comes down
to doing ANY and EVEYTHING that you need to to stay active.

UBM: What do you want readers to take away from the book?

OT: As the summary says, the readers will get to see the full dark side of
the publishing industry, where it ain’t all nice. Believe that! It’s a real
stressful struggle to remain successful in any audience-driven arena. When
you’re hot, you’re hot, but when you’re not . . . things can surely fall
apart on you. Now they get to see that.

UBM: Who is your favorite character in the novel?

OT: Good question. But as an author who is still writing this “serial”
ebook, week by week, to post one chapter at a time every Friday, I can’t take
any sides with the characters. I have to love ALL of them to give them each
justice. So that’s what it is. I like all of their perspectives, and each
perspective is very important to understand the full industry.

UBM: A lot of your books are about issues. What is the issue in Corrupted?

OT: You hit the nail rigt on the head with that. I LOVE to write about
different subjects for each and every book, and CORRUPTED is about the real deal
of human industry. Decisions amd sacrifices are always made in industry
that people often don’t understand. And in a hard American economy like this
one, every industry is going through tough times, including professional
football, basketball, music, film, television, you name it. So now you get to
really read about the publishing industry and how the economy effects those who
are in it. Ain’t not just books and writing. It’s about business. And don’t
you ever forget it!

UBM: Corrupted is being sold by subscription or by chapters, how did you
come up with such a unique pricing structure?

OT: Easy. I was not finished writing the book when I came up with the idea
for the summer. But with the ebook idea, I figured, why not publish a
chapter at a time then and sell it for $1. And if I write 25 chapters, it would
be like the price of a regular hard back. In the meantime, a new reading
audience would stay with me for 3-4 months of reading about the same characters
in the same book from the same author, like watching their favorite
television programs. Then my manager came up with the web site idea for folks who
maybe don’t have ebook technology, or may not want to keep downloading
chapters each week. And there you have it, a new publishing model to build and
maintain a dedicated audience.

UBM: What is your opinion on ebooks? Will they be the end of the paperback
or a new period in publishing?

OT: I’m using the ebook technology to my advantage right now, where I can
sell a chapter as soon as I finish it instead of having to wait for a full
book to be complete. But ebooks can only phase out traditional books when
everyone has the new technology to read them. So that may take a while to
happen. In the meantime, I still love the packaging of traditional books myself.
To write and publish a new book and then hold it in your hands is still
special feeling to me, but we’ll have to wait and see how special that process is
to everyone eles. So we will see in the next 5 years.

UBM: How has the industry changed since your last novel?

OT: More self-published authors. Less attention to mainstream author with
names. Less excitement for new book releases. Less money each book. Less
sells each new book. Less book stores to sell from. Less tour and marketing
money. Less confidence from editors and publishing houses. Less genres to read
black books, outside of urban street lit, black erotica and your tradictional
relationship dramas. And we still can’t get the black film deals that white
books can get. So there’s a lot less than more for black books. And for
white books, there are more film deals, more ebook sales, more paranormal
writers, but less money accross the board for them all as well. I mean, the whole
industry is a part of the overall American economy of less.

UBM: Does race play any issue in the industry?

OT: Oh, you already know it. And I talk about all of the race factors from
the first page to the last page of CORRUPTED! It’s all up in there!

UBM: What authors have influenced your writing or business?

OT: Richard Wright, Chester Himes, Iceberg Slim, Walter Mosley and Toni
Morrison have had the biggest impact on my writing styles. And Terry McMillan,
Michael Baisden and Zane have the biggest impact on my business models.

UBM: How can readers learn more about Corrupted and your other titles?

OT: Simply view my web site @ www.OmarTyree.com, Twitter, Facebook,
Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble or Google CORRUPTED by Omar Tyree and wham! You have it!
That’s the speed of the information age in year 2011.

Omar Tyree, a New York Times best-selling author, a 2001 NAACP Image Award
recipient for Outstanding Literature in Fiction, a 2006 Phillis Wheatley
Literary Award winner for Body of Work in Urban Fiction, and a 2010 HBCU
Legends Award recipient, has been cited by the City Council of Philadelphia for
his work in Urban Literacy, and has published 19 books with 2 million copies
sold worldwide that has generated more than $30 million. With a degree in
Print Journalism from Howard University in 1991, Tyree has been recognized as
one of the most renown contemporary writers in the African-American
community. In the Spring of 2008, he founded the Urban Literacy Project (ULP) to help
fight the lingering issue of illiteracy within the urban American
community. He is also an informed and passionate speaker on various community-related
and intellectual topics. Now entering the world of international business
and seminars, urban children’s books, stageplays, feature films and
songwriting, Tyree is a tireless creator and visionary of few limitations. For more
information on his work and titles, please view his web site @
www.OmarTyree.com

A Perfect Picture: Interview with Hank Willis Thomas

Interviewed by Dana Rettig

Someone once stated that a picture is worth a thousand words. A
picture does not just remind us of our past and present. It reminds
us of who we are as individuals as well as our perspective on things
that make life bittersweet in a poetic form. New York City native,
Hank Willis Thomas is the recipient of the 2007 Renew Media Arts
Fellowship and Artadia Fellowship. He has won numerous other
photography awards including the New York Foundation for the Arts
Fellowship. He has exhibited nationally and internationally known
galleries and museums such as PS1, the Studio Museum in Harlem, the
Zacheta National Museum of Art in Poland, the Yerba Buena Center for
the Arts in San Francisco and lastly, the 2006 California Biennial at
the Orange County Museum of Art.

Hank Willis Thomas was commissioned with Cause Collective to create a
video installation for the Oakland International Airport. Currently,
he is collaborating with Ryan Alexiev on public installation at the
University of California, San Francisco. More information on Hank
Willis Thomas and his projects can be found at
www.hankwillisthomas.com and www.causecollective.com

UM: Tell me a little bit about your photography background. What
inspired you to become a photographer?

HWT: Pictures inspired me to become a photographer. I was allured by
them before anything else. It also didn’t hurt that my mother,
Deborah Willis is a photo curator and historian. I’m just following
in her foot steps.

UM: Name two people that you believe are motivators (role models) in
the photography world.

HWT: I couldn’t name two and be fair to myself. So I’ll say two that
have known me a long time: my mother, Deborah Willis and Carrie Mae
Weems.

UM: How does it feel to know that your work is nationally/
internationally recognized worldwide?

HWT: It’s crazy. Mostly because I still have so much to learn about
the world and art in general. It’s great to have international
opportunities, but the burden is realizing how little you don’t know.
I don’t want to ever come off as arrogant or too misinformed and since
so much of my work is political in nature, that can be a mine field,
you know?

UM: You told me via email that you are currently in France. Is this
your first time being in France? If so, please describe the feeling of
exploring France for the first time.

HWT: No, I’ve been here a few times. I am doing a residency here at
Cité des Arts in the center. It’s cool to be here because I like not
knowing the language and realizing that being black here means
something than being black in the U.S. or Senegal or Vietnam. Each
place I go I gain a greater sense of self. It makes me realize how
small major issues in the U.S are when you look at them from a global
perspective.

UM: What is your perspective on black art in other countries,
specifically Paris?

HWT: I think in the U.S. and the U.K. people of African descent are
more visible in their mainstream art scenes (though many would argue
that it still isn’t enough) . In South Africa and Angola there are
major issues happening internally but people are engaging with Europe
more than the U.S. I haven’t been to Brazil. I think artists of color
in Europe are just more aware of global issues. Perhaps I’m misguided
on that one though because there are a number of prominent African
artists in the U.S. dealing with global issues as well. I think
“black art” anywhere is still just contemporary art.

UM: What is your definition of black art? Compare black art to modern-
day art.

HWT: Is there a difference? Aren’t black artists working today in
greater numbers and with greater visibility than ever?

UM: Besides photography, what are your present and future endeavors?

HWT: I consider myself more of an artist or photo-conceptualist than
a photographer. There are too many good photographers now. I’d rather
deal with photographs on a more conceptual level. What do they mean?
How can existing images be remixed with others to say something new?
How does framing and context affect our interpretation of an image?
How can I translate something from a photograph into a painting, video
or sculpture? What can words say that pictures can’t when they are
framed as art? Basically, I’m just doing what I’ve always done.
Asking questions that lead me down amazing paths.

Jennifer Samuel
Studio Manager

Hank Willis Thomas Studio
www.hankwillisthomas.com
www.causecollective.com
www.aperture.org/pitch-blackness.html

King by Treymane “GS” Johnson

Reviewed by Pathfinder

If you’re a lover of stories about the gritty streets of the inner city, then “King”, a fast paced action filled novel by Tremayne ‘GS’ Johnson might be to your likening. It tells the story of a young immigrant Deon “King” Toure, who arrives from the South American country of Guyana, with his mother after his father, a corrupt general, drug trafficker, and murderer goes on the run.

Upon his arrival to his new country, Deon is quickly greeted and looked upon by his peers as an outsider in his Brooklyn neighborhood. It wasn’t long before he’s befriended by an elementary schoolmate, Jayson aka Jay-Roc. Taking him under his tutelage, Jay-Roc introduces his young prodigy to the hard knock reality of the gritty underworld of their Bed-Stuy neighborhood, where drugs, guns, fast money, sex, death, loyalty, betrayal and respect ruled. Deon now acclimated to the ins and outs of the drug game, along with his mentor Jay-Roc, set up a crew that would wreak havoc on their rivals and anyone who gets in their way as they seek their fame and fortune.

I lived for some time in the same Brooklyn neighborhood where the story takes place; and I must say, the author did a wonderful job of taking me back to my Halsey Street, Ralph Avenue, Broadway and Putnam Avenue neighborhood. If you’re from Bed-Stuy, you will certainly love the trip down memory lane. The believability of some of the events that took place while Deon and Jay-Roc were in elementary school was difficult for me to digest. Perhaps if the events and lifestyle they had led up to that point had taken place in high school, it would have been more believable. But I just couldn’t relate to it, nonetheless, there were moments when I was totally engrossed in the book.

Posturing, pretense and self-importance comes into play as Deon, Jay-Roc and their associate’s end up becoming victims in the gritty concrete jungle called Bed Stuy. A plethora of issues derails and grips their lives, as friends become rivals, and the women in their lives are no different; as distrust, loyalty, forgiveness, cheating, love, money, and respect couldn’t prevent the inevitable.

In spite of the fast paced action, which I liked, “King” was a quick read. Yet there were moments where certain events and situations would appear without a clear indication of why it occurred. A good editor would have made a huge difference. The narrative could have been much clearer. At times the sentences needed continuity, but instead are cut short in order to begin a new one, thus disrupting the story’s flow. Also, the narrative at times clearly should have been a part of the dialogue, but that wasn’t the case. Nevertheless, it was an exciting read and I enjoyed it. If Mr. Johnson can find himself an editor, it would be a great asset.