Writer's Life Chats

The GRAMMY-NOMINATED songwriter/ producer, Alvin Garrett, was born and raised in Tuscaloosa, AL and now resides in Birmingham, AL. Alvin received his nomination in 2012 for writing the song, “Bring Your Praise”, which was featured on Gospel Album of The Year nominee, Trin-i-tee 5:7. He also won a Stellar Award in 2012 for his contribution to Urban Gospel Album of the Year winner, Deitrick Haddon. Currently, the hit single, “I’d Rather Have A Love,” written by Garrett and performed by Joe, is making noise on the Billboard Urban AC charts. Alvin has displayed his creative versatility by writing and producing across a broad range of genres including Pop, R&B, Gospel, and Contemporary Jazz.

K. Elliott aka The Well Fed Black Writer, published his first novel, Entangled, in 2003. Although he was offered multiple signing deals, Elliott decided he had what it took to self-publish. With that, he founded Urban Lifestyle Press, printed his own books and went to work. Bookstore by bookstore, street vendor by street vendor, Elliott took to the road selling his story. His work did not go unnoticed as he sold 50,000 units in his first year and made the Essence Magazine Bestsellers list. 

Since Entangled, Elliott has published five titles of his own and two on behalf of authors signed to Urban Lifestyle Press. For one book, The Ski Mask Way, Elliott was selected to co-author with hip-hop superstar 50 Cent.

Author/Publisher Aaron Bebo discusses distributuion and Urban Lit. 

 

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Born Anthony Augustus Whyte and grew up in the Bronx, Anthony Whyte attended UMD. He graduated from Lehman College and was a former military personnel. Whyte worked at ACS child welfare investigator/caseworker. He was always writing. First he did poetry as a child then magazines as a teenage to adulthood. Next came short stories. While taking writing classes at NYUSCE, Whyte met Susan Shapiro and became a full time member of the Tuesday Night Workshop. He wrote Ghetto Falsehoods in 1996. Hip Hop Literature was alive, and Anthony Whyte became Hip Hop Lit, penning several tomes (thirteen) under his own label Augustus Publishing. Formed in 2005 with business partner, Jason Claiborne, the independent publishing house has flourished in a sea of literature where others have drowned. Whyte places this success squarely on the shoulders of being original. The company boasts several titles and includes imprints, Vibe Books and Uptown Books. Both offer nonfiction titles. A health and fitness writer, Whyte is also editor-at-large for Heart & Soul magazine.

Author and Publisher JM Benjamin

Barbara Barnes-Bey is a former New Jersey resident who now resides in Washington DC. Barbara is a motivational speaker as well as a certified Law of Attraction practitioner. She uses techniques to help people with low or no self esteem to learn to "love" themselves, which is where it all begins. She says that one of the most powerful affirmations that one could ever use is simply to state with conviction: "I Can", or I Can Do it!" She says: "You will be surprised how your life will change with those two words. Of course there is more to it than that, but since you have to start somewhere, this is where you should start.

My story is not unlike a lot of men and women that came from the struggle. Struggling mother, dead beat dad that I only saw once my whole life. I grew up fast and became independent at an early age. I've lived my whole life surrounded by the things I write about. I have truly seen and done it all. After spending most of my twenties in and out of prison I decided there had to be a better way. I made a change for my kids and for the man above that kept me alive and breathing through it all. I write because I have a creative itch that I feel I will die if I don't scratch. Writing is my air. I am King Benjamin...you can call me KB!

According to Wikipedia Urban fiction, also known as street lit, is a literary genre set, as the name implies, in a city landscape; however, the genre is as much defined by the socio-economic realities and culture of its characters as the urban setting. The tone for urban fiction is usually dark, focusing on the underside of city living. Profanity, sex, and violence are usually explicit, with the writer not shying away from or watering-down the material.

Join Kisha Green, Aaron Bebo,Tremayne Johnson, Mike O,  Blacc Topp and JM Benjamin as w

Shannon Holmes was born and raised in New York City's most northern borough; the Bronx.  Holmes' entrance into the literary world was anything but ordinary. Armed only with a G.E.D. and the desire to change his life, Mr. Holmes crafted his first novel and signed his first literary contract from prison, while serving a five year sentence for various drug convictions. This was truly an amazing feat when you consider Mr. Holmes had never even written a short story in his life. He truly made the best of a bad situation.

He first achieved success with his first novel 'B-more Careful', which has gone on to sell a half a million copies to date. This may not sound like a lot of to the general public, but in the literary world Mr. Holmes is platinum. By producing such lofty sales numbers, Shannon was able to parlay the success of his first novel into a two book, six figure deal, with publishing giant Simon & Schuster.

Avoiding the sophomore jinx, Shannon Holmes crafted the critically acclaimed 'Bad Girlz', which sold fifty thousand copies in its first week. His next novel 'Never Go Home Again' was hailed as best work... With this he achieved yet another milestone, he became the first author of the street genre to have his novel printed in hardcover. Since then Mr. Holmes has signed an even bigger deal publishing deal with St. Martin's Press, it's rumored to be in the high six figures, for two novels.

Join Erica Mena and Kisha Green as we discuss Erica's debut novel, UNDERNEATH IT ALL and her other projects. 

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