Writer's Life Chats

Urban fiction, also known as street lit or street fiction is a literary genre set 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.

According to Publishers Weekly Street lit, urban lit, or hip-hop lit—whatever you may call it—the popular and controversial genre generally focused on crime, sex, and violence set in African-American neighborhoods.  It is also a multi million dollar industry.

Join Kisha Green as she chats with Best Selling Author, Al-Saadiq Banks, Shaun Sinclair and Aaron Bebo.

Jae L. Pettigrew is an innovative and award winning poet.  Raised on the Southside of Chicago, experiencing the trials and toils of inner-city living, Jae was affected but not defined by her upbringing.  She chose to channel her energy in a positive direction.  Her intent was to touch and inspire liberal minds through her God-given talent, writing.  Jae is truly an inspiration.Being an intellectual and driven writer, Jae was destined to become an author.  In 2009, she shared her first work, “Through Her Eyes”, a collection of raw but riveting unabridged poetry.  This work is a compilation of thought-provoking quotes providing the reader glimpses into her soul. Jae’s most recent work is entitled, “Tranzparent”.  This jewel was birthed out of events, situations and circumstances taking place over a 7-year period in Jae’s life.  With zeal and a commitment to share both the authentic rawness and unbridled truth of these experiences as they poured out from the depths of her being, has once again allowed her readers a glimpses into her soul. In each passionate piece of poetry, intellectually stimulating quotes and deliciously satisfying short stories, Jae’s honesty leaps from the pages and befriends your heart.  Jae is regarded as an outstanding and motivating leader in business and business development.This tenacious and inspiring woman is an active member of organizations that uplift and empower women. She is the founder of “Woman’s Worth”, a non-profit organization focused on promoting self-awareness, self-love and self-respect in women. By providing strong and positive mentoring opportunities, women are given tools encouraging self-improvement and academic achievement.

Dawn Michelle Hardy has been called a “literary lobbyist” by Ebony magazine for her ability to help authors reach their readership using strategic promotions, win awards and garner national and local media attention. She has dual roles in the book publishing industry as both publicist and literary agent. She founded Dream Relations, PR & Literary Consulting Agency in 2004. Additionally, in 2011 she joined Serendipity Literary Agency where she aids in shaping  the careers of platformed writers. Some of her clients at Serendipity include Jean McGianni Celestin, co-writer of the Nat Turner biopic The Birth of a Nation, Kent Babb, Washington Post sports writer and PEN Literary Award finalist for Not a Game: The Incredible Rise and Unthinkable Fall of Allen Iverson, Clay Cane, entertainment editor at BET.com and director of Holler If You Hear Me: Black and Gay in the Church.

As a publicist she works with both fiction and non-fiction authors including New York Times bestseller D. Watkins, author of The Beastside: Living and Dying While Black in America, Tia Williams, former magazine beauty editor and author of The Perfect Find and Clint Smith award-winning poet, Ted Talk conference speaker and contributor to The New Yorker.  

While actively building her client list at Serendipity Literary Agency, Dawn likes memoirist who can capture a larger narrative through their personal story and strong hook, best-in-class professionals and educators in a variety of fields, an engaging and outspoken cultural critic, pop-culture, sports or music enthusiast with a ‘hip’ idea from an untold vantage point.  Creatives who use art as activism. Loud millennials, women and multicultural voices looking to better the world through their writing.

Former drug addict, ex-con, kidnap victim and stripper…serious titles, huh? Yeah, well, with over 17 arrests, and 23 years of addiction, Cynthia Miller-Scott has worn them all, at one point or another, but none of it, absolutely NONE of it, even    BEGINS to describe this awesome mother of 5. Cynthia Miller-Scott is just a go-getter. She’s a wonder on heels and a hustling giant who literally knows what it means to take nothing and build it into something.         

Cynthia isn’t one of those who grew up wanting to be an author, or who felt that she’d write a bestseller and live happily ever after. No. Trust me, Mrs. Miller-Scott is much too practical and down to Earth for that. This isn’t the tale of some sweet little ghetto angel who grew up AROUND the madness; it wasn’t her cousin, a boyfriend or her brother and them that she SAW in the mix. This isn’t a woman who went to school and got good grades then lived a basicly normal life in the ghetto AROUND all of the madness. No. Cynthia is one of those rare hood chicks who came off of the porch, out of the yard and got rigit there in the mix with the best of them. She played in the mud and found comfort in the filth, and just when people thought they had her all figured out, she changed. She burst like a flame: went down into the soot and emerged in Arizona like a phoenix. Now, how prophetic is that?

Join Kisha Green as she chats with Publisher, Aaron Bebo about his new anthology, NEW YORK SHORTIES. The contributing authors will also be announced on the show.

New York Shorties is a collective of short stories in which New York is the backdrop to each plot. Each author leads you into the mind state of a resident from The Rotten Apple. Each story will thrill you, engage you and without a doubt provoke thought. So tune out the loud sounds of the city, and tune into New York Times, in New York Shorties.

Ordained into ministry in 2001, Marcia L. Boynton is the Owner-Operator of Marcia L. Boynton Publishing located in Monmouth County, New Jersey. The self-publishing company is pleased to provide original, humorous, inspirational Christian literature, including fiction, non-fiction and bible studies. Visit www.marcialboyntonpublishing.com for more information. The author studied theology at Georgian Court University, New Jersey, and serves in the global, online Christian women's ministry, BWE, Inc. as a prayer intercessor and teaching Elder of Saturday morning's "Women of the Bible Teaching Series and Bi-Monthly Book Club." An anointed psalmist, Marcia released a compilation of original psalms entitled "Psalms From The Gap - Glory To God," in 2014, which followed up a #1 international gospel house tune, "Leave It To Me," both on Trower Music Group. She is currently writing psalms and hymns for release in the near future. Marcia gives all glory to God for blessing her abundantly, more than she could ask or imagine, and for healing her brokenness after years of homelessness and poverty. Her testimony is as King David's, "It is good for me that I was afflicted," and as the Apostle Paul's, "I have come to know Christ in the fellowship of His suffering." Through the foolishness of the cross, this servant is honored to accept her call to write, teach and preach the gospel and to lift up Jesus Christ in order that He may draw all men to Himself. The author lives in Monmouth County, New Jersey and enjoys spending time with her three daughters and two grandchildren.

Writing under the pen name of Peter Mack, literary genius,

Isiko Cooks celebrates women and their desire, motivation

and dedication in the pursuit for peace, power and position

in life and love. Isiko Cooks encourages the discovery of a

woman's self worth through his writing. The sex, violence,

money and murder detailed in his novels merely serve as a

hook for a larger conversation about life and its reward in

the struggle. Coining the hash tag #LiveRichDieReady, he’s

become a master of the urban narrative.

After being arrested for drug trafficking and distribution in

2005, Peter Mack penned his first novel, HoodSweet

(Seaburn Publishing Group, 2007) while in solitary

confinement. He has gone on to author and publish 15

novels which span popular genres while canvassing the

tapestry of his upbringing and exploring the dynamics of the

relationships between men and women. Isiko counts Walter Mosley as one of his early influences for his

topical narratives and varied styles of writing.

Mr. Cooks is the 2015 PEN American Center book prize winner for his autobiographical novel, FILTHY.

Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, Cooks worked as a former 2nd grade teacher and corporate

professional. He is a father of one which he co-parents with international motivational speaker and author,

Lisa Nichols. Despite his incarceration, Isiko has maintained a strong and tender bond with his son,

Jelani, speaking with him weekly.

Imani Wisdom is the founder of Pink Noire Publications.  Based in Indianapolis, IN, Pink Noire is a groundbreaking company with an unpredictable brand of literary storytelling.   Wisdom is also the creator of Pink Noire Blog, which hosts inspirational posts for the soul, along with social commentary.  Born and raised in “Indy,” Wisdom spends her days overseeing a family of five, writing short stories and books, cooking vegan dishes, running 5Ks and mini-marathons, and enjoying quality time with her friends and family.

Wisdom is a graduate of Ivy Tech Community College, earning a degree in Paralegal Studies. She is a prolific storyteller whose works depict an honest portrayal of societal issues. As a blogger and author, she has received numerous honors including 2012 nominee for Poet of the Year (AAMBC Book Club), March 2012 Up and Coming Author (The Writer’s POV Magazine), September 2011 Blog of the Month (The Writer’s POV Magazine), and February 2011 Editor’s Pick (BlackShortStories.com) for her short story, The Shattered Mogul. Her works include Zion’s Road: A Love Story about Faith and Redemption, and her upcoming debut novel, The Journey of Ruthie Belle.

Victoria Christopher Murray always knew she would become an author, even as she was taking an unlikely path to that destination. A native of Queens, Victoria first left New York to attend Hampton University where she majored in Communication Disorders. After graduating, Victoria attended New York University where she received her MBA.Victoria spent ten years in Corporate America before she tested her entrepreneurial spirit. She opened a Financial Services Agency for Aegon, USA where she managed the number one division for nine consecutive years. However, Victoria never lost the dream to write and when the “bug” hit her again in 1997, she answered the call.Victoria originally self-published her first novel, Temptation and in 2000, Time Warner published that novel. Temptation made numerous best sellers list and remained on the Essence bestsellers list for nine consecutive months. In 2001, Temptation was nominated for an NAACP Image Award in Outstanding Literature.Since Temptation, Victoria has written over twenty other adult novels, including: JOY, Grown Folks Business, The Ex Files, The Deal, the Dance and the Devil and the popular Jasmine Cox Larson Bush series.

Victoria has received numerous awards including the Golden Pen Award for Best Inspirational Fiction and the Phyllis Wheatley Trailblazer Award for being a pioneer in African American Fiction. Since 2007, Victoria has won nine African American Literary Awards for best novel, best Christian fiction and Author of the Year — Female. After four nominations, Victoria finally won an NAACP Image Award in Outstanding Literary Work for her social commentary novel, Stand Your Ground.Several of Victoria’s novels have been optioned to become movies, including The Deal, the Dance and the Devil and the Ex Files series.

Shaun Sinclair is the author of Forbidden, Flame In Lust, and Skin Deep. He is the creator of Gangsterotica, a sub-genre of books that seamlessly blends Crime Fiction with Erotica. A native of Atlantic Beach, South Carolina , he has also worked as a Law Clerk for six years. He uses his experience as a law clerk to make his stories pop with authenticity. Mr. Sinclair is the founder and owner of Pen 2 Pen Publications. His company's motto, "Putting Power into the Pen" is also its mission statement, as Mr. Sinclair rediscovered his gift of penmanship while incarcerated. He strives to use his success as motivation for others to triumph over adversity, and gives back to his community through the Sinclair Literary Scholarship, which awards worthy high school students for literary achievement. He is also a contributor to the legendary Urban Lifestyle Magazine, Don Diva . The father of two resides in North Carolina.