San Diego – For two years now, Imperial Hustle Entertainment CEO, Defiance, has remained true to his moniker. His online and print publication, The Resource Magazine, has consistently gone to the edge of hip hop, tackling socially and politically relevant issues right along side topical hip hop fare, like music, celebrity interviews and independent artist profiles. Hailing out of San Diego while repping Los Angeles’ Inland Empire area, The Resource Magazine pushes the envelope with a controversial range of topics.

In a continuing effort to move beyond established parameters, the magazine publisher is announcing the launch of yet another trailblazing magazine. HHS Magazine makes its debut on March 10, 2013. With Trinidadian beauty Cavel voluptuously gracing the cover, it might seem the new rag is typical eye candy content. But Defiance, loyal to his brand, will present knowledge about the inner workings of the model industry based on key fundamentals for aspiring models.

With The Resource Magazine, Defiance has tackled topics ranging from health issues associated with laboratory vaccinations in children and the prison industrial system’s multi-billion dollar organization to the contamination of food by genetic modification. Alongside these topics are interviews with Nappy Roots, Freeway Rick Ross, 40 Glocc of Gunit, Skullgang (of Dipset), Horseshoe Gang (from Crooked I), Kalenna of Diddy Dirty Money (of Bad Boy), Aone from Maybach Music Group, DJ King Assassin, Dj Far, Kokane, and The Outlawz.

A radio host, online author and musician, Defiance originally created The Resource Magazine based on his point of view as an emcee. Offering the raw alternative news that he had been gamed with his whole life, The Resource provides urban intelligence for the independent culture. OG Cuicide, a suicide awareness advocate from Compton, graces the current seventh volume and anniversary issue of The Resource Magazine. He is also the founder and designer of One West clothing and owner of the video company CG Films.

“Ultimately, our vision is for HHS to extend our outreach even further and explore beauty from a wider perspective and more informative dimensions. With the enchanting Cavel gracing our premier cover, we are giving a nod to women of color, a trend that hip hop seems to be moving away from,” offers Defiance. Cavel, a native of Trinidad, is one of urban entertainment’s hottest models.

Blazing the path as an urban handbook of sorts, The Resource Magazine continues to enlighten with information to arm oneself mentally, while getting educated globally. Get a hold of both the new issues now at www.imperialhustle.com.

Harold “Noonie G” Ward
Releases New Book and Re – Releases DVD
“Gangster with a Heart of Gold: The Noonie G. Story”
Narrated by Kanye West and Common

Chicago – As street gang violence in Chicago rages out of control, law keepers and politicians continue to toil with solutions. A generational saga, not many can relate to the back-story causes that rest at the root of this very tragic dilemma. With history dating as far back to the influence of the original gangster Al Capone, a recent NPR story aptly noted that many of Chicagoland gangs are “older enterprises than Microsoft and Yahoo.”

Harold “Noonie G” Ward is one man who can intimately relate with the violence at both the cause and effects levels. “Noonie G,” as he is popularly known, is a former high-ranking member of the Gangster Disciples, a Chicago area gang reported to be one of the largest criminal organizations in the United States. Once considered a prominent force of terror on the city’s South Side, Ward has been on a mission to change the effects of causes he understands and relates to on a very personal level.

The devastating rise in violent gun deaths has prompted Ward to announce the re-release of his DVD alongside the new release of his book, both titled, “Gangster with a Heart of Gold: The Noonie G. Story.” Motivated by a strong sense of responsibility and desire to inspire positive change, Ward has pledged to donate 5000 copies of the books and DVD’s during the holiday season to organizations around the country committed to curbing street violence and uplifting inner city youth. “Gangster with a Heart of Gold: The Noonie G. Story” is narrated by Chicago natives Grammy Award winner Kanye West and celebrated hip hop artist and actor Common. Both artists provide the book’s foreword as well.

From convict to conqueror, pistol to pen, Ward serves as a legitimate role model and real life urban legend for today’s misguided youth. A self made entrepreneur, politician, community activist and leader, Ward is a native of Chicago’s Altgeld Gardens, one of the toughest housing projects in America. The DVD chronicles his street life, criminal enterprises and rise to a life of rightful endeavors with Atlgeld Gardens serving as the backdrop.

A vivid and heart wrenching testimony to the laws of survival and success, “Gangster with a Heart of Gold: The Noonie G. Story” was produced by Block 8 Productions and directed by Coodie and Chike who are best known for their music video work with hip hop artists Kanye West, Pit Bull, Lil’ Jon and Mos Def. Award-winning journalist Adam Matthews helped shape the film’s narrative and wrote Common’s script.

While the film captures and portrays the essence of gang life in Chicago, Ward’s life growing up, family ties, imprisonment, his rise in the Gangster Disciples and his transition out and beyond, the book is a more personal narrative from Ward offering straight from the streets life advice and motivation.

Ward’s personal story is an encouraging tale. The former gang leader has completely transformed his life and dedicated his path toward making a way for others to follow. Political prisoner and founder of the Gangster Disciples, Larry Hoover, hand picked Noonie Ward to implement a new direction of change and betterment for the community at large, with “Growth and Development” becoming the new battle cry.

“Street violence is not going to go away overnight,” Ward acknowledges. “It is difficult to understand what these young people are dealing with if you haven’t been there and lived that life. I’m not proud of my past, but it is what it is and because of it, I now have a unique platform to engage the possibility of change. It crushes my heart to know that it’s a war zone out here. Every time a child is killed, a part of me dies with them. I’m a soldier out here now trying to make a change. If my personal story can help someone then I know God is using me and I’m a better man more for it. I’m giving away my books and DVD’s to help get the word out on the streets that there is a better way and we have got to end the violence.”

Ward is serious about pulling others up with him. Utilizing the hip hop community as his vehicle, he has garnered a list of noteworthy accomplishments to his credit over the years. He actively engages the efforts and support of several hip hop luminaries. Cee-Lo, from NBC-TV “The Voice” made a personal appearance at Ward’s Chicago book signing recently and has committed to assisting with the holiday book giveaway. He partnered with recording artist Trey Songz to create the Songz for Peace Foundation, joined with rapper/actor T.I. to speak to youth in schools and hosted a toy drive for Chicago children with hip hop artist Wakka Flaka.

Ward’s early accomplishments include working with President Barack Obama as an activist in Altgeld Gardens, and organizing Chicago’s first National Gang Summit for Peace attended by Russell Simmons, NFL legend Jim Brown and Minister Louis Farrakhan.

As a true product of the street life, Ward possesses the unique ability to connect with youth on a genuine level. With contracts granted to him by Arne Duncan, the U.S. Secretary of Education, he regularly visits local high schools speaking to the students and conducting workshops about violence and various life issues. Determined to implement change, he has ran for the political offices of City Alderman, State Representative and Cook County Commissioner in Chicago.

Organizations requesting books or DVD copies of “Gangster with a Heart of Gold: The Noonie G. Story” for the holidays can send an email request to jazzmynepr@gmail.com.
Harold “Noonie G” Ward can be reached via twitter at https://twitter.com/therealnoonieg (@TheRealNoonieG) or via his Facebook fan page, “The Real ‘Noonie G’” at https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Real-Noonie-G/218589698275155?ref=hl . “Gangster with a Heart of Gold: The Noonie G Story” both the DVD and book are available on Amazon.com.
Check out the film’s trailer at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsHw51S2mRs .

Timothy Allen Smith’s “CAPTIVE” is nominated by
Villanova University and the University of Wisconsin
for prestigious reading list selections

Los Angeles – What happens when a single, transformational event alters the course of history, when foreign policy is driven by fear? Looking back eleven years later, is what happened more important than how we reacted to it? If the right lessons weren’t learned, are we in danger of repeating history?

Award-winning playwright turned author, Timothy Allen Smith answers these questions and more in “CAPTIVE,” a riveting new novel from Twenty / 20 Books, based on his acclaimed stage play of the same name. In “CAPTIVE,” Smith masterfully parallels the events of 9/11 and ultimately, challenges the reader to see how fear can be the most dangerous terrorist and our minds the most restrictive prison of all.

“CAPTIVE” is the story of nine strangers, taken hostage and held in a room together. By unfolding a sequence of events that intersects the lives of these individuals, from various ethnic backgrounds, Smith expertly creates his own little societal melting pot. By locking them in a room together with no way to escape, Smith leaves them with only one thing in common…fear.

“CAPTIVE” debuted as a touring stage play in 2003, playing to packed houses across the country. Audiences became enthralled by Smith’s vision of an alternative to the deafening beat of war drums dominating public discussion after 9/11. The overwhelming response compelled Smith to create a vehicle that would allow him to expand on the themes of cultural sensitivity and diversity in a post 9/11 world.

The idea for a trilogy was born, with “CAPTIVE” as the first of three novels, following the hostages from the night of their ordeal, on through the rest of their lives as they cope with the aftermath. Definitely a thinking man’s book, Smith offers the reader a hopeful vision of a future where endless wars and senseless bloodshed are not the only alternatives.

In light of recent, real life events, i.e. the Colorado theater shooting and Sikh Temple massacres; “CAPTIVE” could not be more relevant and, as such, has been nominated by Villanova University and the University of Wisconsin for their “One-Book” and “Big Read” programs respectively.

In “CAPTIVE,” what begins as an innocent night at the theater quickly turns into the unthinkable. Smith pulls no punches in taking the reader into the room and allowing him to be a fly on the wall as the hostages react, not only to the situation, but more importantly, to each other. Racial tension, homophobia, and even age come into play as heated discussions and accusations soar and hit like bullets. The characters represent all walks of life including the young and affluent conservatives, Mark and Amber O’Conner; ultra liberal academics, Lisa Woodward and Walter Curtis; born and raised inner city kids, Toshia and Dexter Swindell; the Spanish speaking, Eleodora and Lena Gonzalez; and Robert Cohen, a former marine with a few secrets of his own.

A seasoned playwright, Smith made his first ‘book mark’ as the co-author of Melvin Childs’ “Never Would Have Made It – The Rise of Tyler Perry, the Most Powerful Entertainer in Black America (and What it Really Took to Get Him There).” A native of Philadelphia, Smith’s bloodline offers him a mixed perspective on the world. As the nephew of Eugene Carl “Bo” Baynes, the recently deceased founder of the Black Mafia in Philadelphia, his background is tempered with views that run the gamut of observation. With a penchant for propelling thought and discussion, he includes in “CAPTIVE” a list of “Book-Group Discussion Questions” designed to elevate the reading experience.

“At its core, ‘CAPTIVE’ is about the questions we didn’t ask after 9/11,” reveals Smith. “This isn’t about any crazy conspiracy theory but let’s be honest, at the time there simply was no appetite for the discussion of an alternative response to the march to war. Now here we are 11 years later, and nothing has changed. We’re still being driven by fear and, even worse, we’re still at war. The question today is, have all the bullets and bombs really made us any safer? I believe fear is a bigger threat to our freedom than Al Queda ever was, and my vision for this trilogy is to make people less afraid. Simple as that.”

Smith plans to continue the storyline with his next work, “A Line in The Sand,” which will follow the lives of the survivors as they adjust to life after their ordeal. Ultimately, Smith hopes to reveal that when we are no longer prisoners to our fears, we can become captive to a true vision of freedom and make positive choices that benefit society as a whole.

“CAPTIVE” takes hostage at www.captivenovel.com. View the book trailer at
CAPTIVE book trailer .

A.A. Jones is many things to many people. Her roles include wife, neighbor, friend, dog trainer, yoga instructor, Pilates coach, pole dance teacher, and unbeknownst to most, stripper. At 37 – Jones is not your stereotypical college student – moonlighting on the side to make ends meet. She is a real life housewife, desperate, trying to save a marriage from financial doom and in the end, trying to save herself. Her story is everywoman as she struggles to come to terms with her life and in the process finds self-empowerment and moves closer toward inner peace.

Jones’ “Tilt Diary of a Virgin Stripper” is more than a day-to-day account of a woman thrown into the underground world of stripping, sex and drama. It is the intimate, soul- bearing memoir of a woman making her way in a man’s world and owning her power. Revealing, titillating and yes erotic, “Diary” is not merely a confessional. It is the story of a phoenix rising. In the vein of bestsellers “Fifty Shades of Grey” and “Wild,” “Tilt Diary of a Virgin Stripper” taps deep into the secret sanctum of femininity, revealing a latent hunger determined to be fed.

In “Tilt Diary of a Virgin Stripper” we find Allison Jones as your seemingly typical, happily married suburban housewife. A native of Croatia, she originally came to the States to pursue acting. Having supplanted her career for her husband’s quest for happiness, she finds his American Dream is imploding. Taking on job after job to do all she can to help, it is just not enough. After much research, she finds the answer to their financial woes.

It sounds simple enough. She will moonlight as a stripper to help make ends meet. As a yoga instructor and pole dance teacher she has the body and the skills to succeed and most importantly, she has her husband’s blessing.

Jones’ journey takes her to Tilt, a fully nude gentlemen club. Per her European upbringing, the nudity is not a real challenge, and since her dance skills are phenomenal, Jones imagines this new adventure will be a no-brainer. However her entrance into the world of club life uncovers more than just her bare skin.

Jones brings the reader up close and personal as she goes down the rabbit hole into the maze of the underworld. In the process, not only is a new personality unleashed inside her, but the veil is removed off a marital relationship she tried hard to believe was idyllic. Jones’ sexuality is ferociously ignited and she is forced to come to terms with a powerful predator that had remained dormant, lulled to sleep in a lackluster marriage. The new found magnetism she commands over men in the club is also an energy that she now has to battle within.

Jones’ diary details her reconciliation of the two halves of her life; her role as Allison, the righteous housewife; and Jones, the siren stripper and seductress. Stripping off layers, exposing skin, Allison Jones realizes she had buried more than just her dream of acting. Life as an exotic pole dancer bares the truth about her marriage, her inner most desires, and who she really is, which is much more than just the perfect housewife.

Women around the world are tapping into their true strength and sexual power. In dance studios across the nation, pole dance and pole fitness is replacing the typical treadmill exercise routine. As also evidenced by the runaway success of the E.L. James’ erotic fiction paperback, “Fifty Shades of Grey” and Cheryl Strayed’s “Wild,” more and more women are exploring and unleashing their inhibitions. There is a movement rising and “Tilt Diary of a Virgin Stripper” is propelling the occasion. A.A. Jones has generously provided a road map of her sexual revolution and it is a transformation that is sure to liberate many.

Climb the pole with her at http://tiltdiary.wordpress.com/ and start jonesing at http://www.youtube.com/user/TiltTV1.

New York – She’s baaaack! Author Madison Taylor, the mastermind behind the skillfully laced trilogy “Scattered Lies I, II, and III” has returned! And she has not missed a beat with her pen. This time dishing a dose of danger so delectable, her readers are destined to drool in longing desperation as they weave their way toward the plot’s end. Her fourth book release in less than five years, Taylor’s latest fiction fantasy is “WWW.com.” No longer publishing under her own independent company, Influential Writers Publishing, Taylor is celebrating her growing success under the banner of 5 Star Publications with her latest novel!

Taylor has firmly established herself in the world of urban lit fare with a keen knack for entwining people, plots, and unlikely ploys together. With her “Scattered Lies” trilogy, she deftly grew her fan base, book by book, entangling readers in an escalating whirlwind of passion, suspense, and drama.

With “WWW.com” however, Madison turns up the intensity with a storyline that literally pushes the reader out of this world into the expansive space of virtual reality. In “WWW.com” Taylor unapologetically whisks the mind to the outer limits as she rampages the senses with scenarios that fuel and unleash the imagination.

In the novel, Ramon Ramirez and Daniel Munger are the most feared men in America. Spearheading Shark Enterprise, better known as The Secret Society, they expertly engage the Internet as their playground for deception. The one rule of their secret community is that there are no rules! A “click” can get you whatever you want, from sex to money, and even murder.

But in “WWW.com,” with the W’s standing for World Wide Web, you will be introduced to Chance, Seven, Justice and Patience; four unlikely heroines whose paths cross in a lethal synergy to bring these men down! These ladies prove that the entry into cyberspace can be even more dangerous when you don’t know who is behind the “click.”

Bronx, NY native, Madison Taylor once again expertly converges her knowledge of the streets with her Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. Her writing style deliciously seduces with precise attention to detail, inventive plots, unexpected twists, and toe curling dilemmas.

“‘WWW.com’ is one of my most wicked works,” shares the author. “I believe my readers will have a special appreciation for these women as they courageously take matters into their own hands for the greater good. I find that aspect of the tale particularly liberating. In addition, by tackling the realm of cyber space, I’ve expanded my dimensions for suspense, terror, and even retribution. We know about the mean streets out here, but what about the deadly paths in the cyber world? ‘WWW.com’ takes you way out there. It is then up to the reader to find their way back home,” reveals Taylor.

For more information about Madison Taylor’s “WWW.com,” and to secure copies, visit http://www.5starpublications.net or www.iammadisontaylor.com .

For author appearances and wholesale information, contact LaQ’uita Adams via ladams@icon5star.com .

Madison Taylor can also be reached at www.twitter.com/madisonme and at www.facebook.com/iammadisontaylor .

San Francisco – Many remember Tracey “Big Tray Deee” Davis as part of the legendary west coast rap group, Tha Eastsidaz, which featured him alongside Snoop Dogg and Lil Goldie Loc. The group gained platinum success with their debut album, “Snoop Dogg Presents Tha Eastsidaz.” With his rap career cut short in 2003 by a 12 year prison bid however, many have long counted the former lyricist out of the game.

But talent and perseverance are qualities a prison cell cannot easily contain, as proven with LeNoir Publications’ debut release of “Streetz Gon’ Cry,” a gritty urban tale co-authored by none other than Big Tray Deee alongside another incarcerated gangster turned author, Anthony Barrow. “Streetz Gon’ Cry” literally blends another component into West coast gangsta’ rap, detailing the real life scenario behind the lyrics.

Blazing in the trails of urban literary giants like Chester Hines, Iceberg Slim and Donald Goines, Tray Deee and Barrow present a street saga laced with drugs, murder, gang warfare and a cast of nefarious characters. With South Central Los Angeles as the backdrop, the authors convincingly elaborate with first-hand experience about what they know.

“Streetz Gon’ Cry” is a fictional account of the King Crips and the Vernon Boys, who have an on-and-off rivalry. Both sets have their vision locked on controlling the cocaine trade in the Crenshaw District. Protagonist, Carter, a notorious, ride-or-die hustler from the Vernon Boys, is fresh out of the state penitentiary and on a mission to reclaim the streets. During his absence, acts of betrayal have placed his hood on the brink of implosion. With his mentor, Wolf, directing traffic from behind the walls of a federal prison, Carter plots his ultimate takeover to assume authority of the street’s illicit cash flow. Plot twists and turns pump and jump like the hydraulics on ’64 Chevy cruisin’ Crenshaw Boulevard. It’s a ride that will make you buckle up and hold on.

Growing up on the gang active east side of Long Beach, CA, Tray Deee started gang banging and breaking the law at a very young age, spending his late teens and early 20′s in some of California’s most violent high-level penitentiaries. Tray Deee started writing rhymes as a hobby in 1988, entertaining his homeboys with tales of gang banging and crime as they sat locked away in the penitentiary.

His extensive vocabulary and clever wordplay made his songs stand out, and the encouraging response caused him to continue writing lyrics. That gift propelled him to fame as he contributed to major motion picture soundtracks, including “Gang Related,” “Gridlocked,” “A Thin Line Between Love and Hate,” “Baby Boy,” and “Rush Hour II.” As an act, his group Tha Easidaz opened for the highest grossing rap tour in history, “The Up in Smoke” tour. Cites Big Tray Deee, “My rap skills are just the icing on the cake. As an author now, I can give my fans and readers an even clearer understanding of the underworld activities of the Wild West with much more intrigue and detail.”

Anthony Barrow became enamored with gang-banging and hustling early on, pledging allegiance to the Crip gang that controlled his neighborhood. His father was close friends with legendary Los Angles hustler Tracy Morrow aka “Ice-T.” Anthony saw up close how crime “pays.” His first hand exposure to several other street bosses fueled his thirst for cash and the finer things in life.

During his teenage years he became part of a circle that executed daring bank robberies. His eventual capture lead to a lengthy prison sentence. Currently behind bars, Barrow was inspired to share his worldview about street life. “I am a fan of street lit,” expresses Barrow, “but I have yet to come across a book that fully exploits what goes on in these mean L.A. streets. I lived it so I figured who better to tell the real deal.”

An introduction by JD of Ice Cube’s legendary rap group “Da Lench Mob” brought Barrow and Tray Deee together and “Streetz Gon’ Cry” was born. A highly charged, unapologetic tale fueled by two street savvy brains, “Streetz Gon’ Cry” explodes with conflict, danger and suspense.

Get your take on the action now at http://www.LeNoirPublications.com/ ! Watch the book trailer at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qS_Pvlfh2Ww.
STREETZ GON CRY by Big Tray Deee and Anthony Barrow – Official Book Trailer

Kansas City, MO – From Kobe Bryant to the Kardashians, celebrity scandals make the world go round. They generate tons of publicity and elicit even more conversation, gossip and thought. On some deep psychological level, they feed our illusions of personal innocence and validate our innate sense of self worth. But what about our own scandals, and those of our friends and our neighbors? They may not make the national headlines but are often even more outrageous than the ones we read about!

Author/publisher James M. Robinson has the answer and antidote to this very query. With the launch of his publishing house Marriage Guns & Roses; the creation of a new literary genre called “reality novels”; and the debut release of his first work, “Hard vs. Soft Sexual Conflicts,” Robinson is poised to turn urban lit and erotica on its proverbial head. He is succinctly providing a solution to the dilemma of addressing events sensational enough for headlines, but sans the celebrity involvement.

“Reality Novels” are a concept coined by Robinson to describe true stories, shocking in nature, told in book format. With the creation of Marriage Guns & Roses, he hopes to provide an avenue for the exploration and publishing of stories, presented by everyday people, who otherwise would not have access to a venue to tell their tales. The criteria are the occurrence must be true, extremely controversial, explosive and challenge the reader’s believability factor! Marriage Guns & Roses seeks to solicit true scandals from real people, turn them into published novels and then eventually short films.

Robinson jump starts the campaign with his own “reality novel,” “Hard vs. Soft Sexual Conflicts.” Revealing an escapade that positioned him in the middle of high drama between some of his very close friends, Robinson takes us to his hometown of Kansas City in the midst of the real estate boom in the early 2000′s. Changing the names to protect the guilty, Robinson weaves a tale so salacious, the reader is hooked at the very onset.

With the volatile ingredients of sex, lies, blackmail and yes, videotape, we are plunged into his world of upscale urbanites and whisked behind very closed doors. A roller coaster ride of real life performances unveils itself as Robinson finds himself in the middle of friends who have uncovered details that have turned them into enemies amongst themselves. A nymphomaniac wife, cheating on her husband with his friend might not seem very risqué, considering everyday headlines, but factor in Robinson’s gritty storytelling approach and this scandal quickly propels to epic proportions.

“I have found that sometimes the twists and turns of real life situations far outweigh the ‘wow factor’ of many of the celebrity scandals we read about. In my own personal circle I have been floored by some of the transgressions that have taken place right before my eyes! I know these stories are the tales folks want to hear about so I thought I’d create an outlet for it. Not everyone can get in the National Enquirer or Star, but with Marriage Guns & Roses, now everyone will have a fair chance at revealing a scandal close to them,” explains Robinson.

“My own personal tale is so funky and so raw, I can barely believe it myself, but I witnessed it firsthand,” he adds. ” When the individuals involved find out I’ve gone public with the story, I may have to leave town,” he chuckles, “but a big part of what makes a scandal a scandal is the reveal!”

To read the juicy details of Robinson’s own shocking disgrace, take a peak at http://www.marriagegunsandroses.com and get your copy of “Hard vs. Soft Sexual Conflicts.” If you think you have a true life scandal that has the ingredients of intrigue, ruthlessness and conflict and you are ready to take it public, contact Robinson for a confidential interview at scandal@marriagegunsandroses.com. View the book trailer at

http://www.youtube.com/user/MarriageGunsRoses.

Atlanta, GA – When author Edrea Davis debuted her fictional saga, “SnitchCraft” in hardcover back in 2007, everyone from readers to activists to academics took note of this creative approach to advocacy. Davis cunningly fused hip-hop with a civil rights agenda to offer a glimpse into the corrupt environment created by the use of informants and underscore the unfairness of racially biased sentencing guidelines.

Last year President Obama signed legislation reducing drug sentencing disparities, but the law was not applied retroactively. Dogon Village Books celebrated the new sentencing guidelines becoming retroactive November 1, 2011, with the release of the ebook version of “SnitchCraft,” updated with new information and facts.

“I am happy about the progress made on sentencing reform. Reducing the disparity between powder and crack cocaine from 100-to-1 to 18-to-1 is a positive step,” said Davis, a volunteer with the November Coalition (http://www.november.org), an education foundation working to end the drug war injustice. “The release of my ebook at a time when thousands of federal inmates become eligible for release from prison is a reminder that if we continue to raise our voices for education over incarceration we will chip away at the remaining disparities and the corrupt snitch system as well.”

Praised by civil rights legend Dr. Joseph E. Lowery for, “shedding light on deep-rooted problems plaguing the Black community,” “SnitchCraft” juxtaposes the themes of family, spirituality, and social justice against the backdrop of a popular Southern California nightclub battling escalating gang violence. It uncovers the street life escapades behind the dynamics of snitching, while questioning the morals and values that are often convoluted with the issue.

“SnitchCraft” pushes the boundaries of typical ‘urban lit’ fare however. Davis incorporated a unique “After the Book” section with a reader’s guide of discussion questions, suggestions on how to become active in your community, and an index of leading organizations focused on criminal justice reform and other issues impacting the Black community.

The engaging read even landed on the required reading list in a curriculum guide at the Yale National Initiative of the Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute. According to the guide, the introduction to Criminal Justice course incorporated the book because it looks at the present day social phenomenon of snitching, police corruption and the use of paid confidential informants in solving crime.

The novel revolves around flamboyant nightclub owner, John “JC” Powell. JC is making more money than he can count, providing for his entire family, and on the verge of winning back the love of his life, Candace Banks. When he is arrested, convicted, and imprisoned based on the testimony of someone he trusted, JC struggles to clear his name and get back over two million dollars in assets seized by the government. As the pieces of the puzzle come together in a surprising courtroom drama, JC realizes that he is caught up in a ruthless game, playing against a criminal justice system set up to win by any means necessary.

“Snitchcraft” is available online at Google Books, Amazon Kindle, Apple iPad iBookstore, Smashwords, and at other online retailers. For more information on “Snitchcraft” go to http://www.snitchcraft.com or www.dogonvillage.com and view the book trailer at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-91GCbGx7CE.

Philadelphia – The words “queen pen” and “boss lady” can conjure up many images. One might think of an icy, cold-blooded gangstress who is heartless about the business at hand. Yet, the sparkling, green eyes belonging to Thelma Wright paint a different picture. Though rumored at one time to be the most powerful and dangerous Black woman in Philadelphia, discreetly running a bi-coastal drug empire that her husband left behind, Wright’s green eyes reflect a pensive view. Peering into them, we feel the love, the loss, the pain and the retribution of a mother, a wife now widowed and a yes, even a friend. Simply stated, Thelma Wright was married to the mob … the Black Mafia to be exact. But nothing is ever that simple.

With her poignantly, introspective release of “With Eyes From Both Sides – Living My Life In and Out of the Game” as told to and written by C. Alease, the former boss lady invites us not only into her world, but into her mind, her heart and her soul. The woman, quietly heralded by some as the Black Griselda Blanco, minus the murder, was on the lead track of the notorious Black Mafia, a gang which ran Philly’s drug trade throughout the ’80′s and into the ’90′s. Married to drug kingpen, Jackie Wright, one of the top heroin wholesalers in the city at that time, Wright was privy to a life that on the surface, most would envy.

Like Blanco, Wright was respected as a no nonsense woman who stayed on top of the product. At her peak, she was grossing top dollar and living the high life, attending championship fights via private jets, going on European shopping sprees and driving a fleet of customized Mercedes Benzs. She also enjoyed taking cruises to the Bahamas and speed boating in Miami.

“With Eyes From Both Sides” however, Wright takes us beneath the surface of the fast lane into the real. The product of a middle working class Black family, Wright attended Catholic school and was a star athlete as a child. Life was never difficult for her and she came from a stable and loving, two-parent home. Wright’s story is not your typical tale of abuse or abandonment. In fact, it was the strength of good parenting and strong family ties that saw her through her darkest days.

So how did she end up entangled in one of the Black underworld’s most notorious gangs? It was the attraction for men who had achieved financial status and success that was the bait that lured her into the ‘game.’ Like most inner city communities in an era past, the fast life was the road many initially, well intended Black men traveled to acquire seemingly quick and easy riches.

Wright’s novel is a ride down memory lane, as we flashback to the tone of those times. Nostalgia colors our remembrance of days long past, as she recalls childhood games on the schoolyard in her elementary years to her high school graduation, her first job and her first boyfriend even.

Through her vivid recollections, we gain recognition of the heart behind a woman who loved so hard that her eyes were blinded to the cold reality of truth. In a world cluttered with deceitful dealings, pain and continual loss, Wright closed her inner eyes and saw only a facade of what was real.

“There are really roads, highways to this life, with fast lanes and slow lanes and some with banked curves and circles around which we are driven. My story is a warning for women who think that the fast lane is the road less traveled, and therefore the best one to take. It is a cautionary tale for the inquisitive, middle of the road wanderers, who stumble at the fork, wondering what it might be like. But above all, it is a prayer for women all over the world who wish to know the truth of the matter,” reveals Thelma Wright. “If you are in the ‘game,’ get out, because it will destroy you.”

Thelma Wright’s “With Eyes From Both Sides – Living My Life In and Out of the Game” is more than your cautionary urban fiction lore. It is the real life drama of a woman who played the game in full and survived to tell about it. But even more so, Thelma Wright is ‘everywoman’ who has ever loved someone, but had to learn to love herself first and foremost.

See what her eyes reveal at http://www.ThelmabWright.com and purchase “With Eyes From Both Sides – Living My Life In and Out of the Game” there or wherever good books are sold.

A book launch and signing party for Wright will be held Saturday, July 30 from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at the Recess Lounge in Philadelphia. The Recess Lounge is located at 125 South Second Street.

NOTE TO MEDIA: Thelma Wright is available for interviews at jazzmynepr@gmail.com. For review copies of “With Eyes From Both Sides,” send name, media outlet and mailing address and requests will be forwarded to the publisher for mail out .

Scattered Lies

New York – It’s not often that a new author can hold a reader’s attention through a series of separate releases, yet fiction writer Madison Taylor;the mastermind behind “Scattered Lies I” and “Scattered Lies II” has managed to do just that! With the creation of her literary trilogy from Influential Writers Publishing, she has cultivated a mounting fan base that is quickly developing into a cult following. Taylor will finally quench the curiosity of swelling inquiries when she releases “Scattered Lies III” on July 1, 2011, culminating the surging suspense created with her two previous novels.

Developing her storyline on the concept that success built on a foundation of lies is not really success at all, Taylor has compellingly intertwined the lives of five successful urbanites to create an intriguing tale of suspense, passion and mind-boggling plot twists. Where “Scattered Lies I” initiated the theme of “Where lies are the reality of the truth” and “Scattered Lies II” followed up with “Lessons can’t be learned when lies prevail,” “Scattered Lies III” drives the point home with “The Truth Finally.”

In “Scattered Lies III” the five protagonists, chameleon Denise Taylor; rap icon, Tony Flowers; the sophisticated Gabrielle Brightman, pop diva Christina Carrington and the gorgeous young Morgan Marciano continue with their separate but intersecting lives, finally coming to terms with their masked actions of dishonesty and deceit. Madison cunninglyimmerses us into a world rich in urban fantasy while driving home inescapable life lessons. “Scattered Lies III” drips with drama, dances with danger and rivets with retributions as one by one; truth uncovers a trail of viciously scattered deceptions, destroying everything in its path.

“There comes a time in our lives when redemption is the only chance of salvation,” conveys Taylor, “and for our beloved characters in the Scattered Lies series, ‘Scatter Lies III’ is the climactic conclusion to situations that finally had to play themselves out. My readers have patiently waited and anxiously anticipated ‘Scattered Lies III’ and they will not be disappointed. By the same token, new readers will be able to come on board with ‘Scattered Lies III’ and still enjoy a great story as well as get the lesson.”

Madison Taylor, a native of Bronx, NY, has consistently displayed an ability to explore and exploit the demons of human nature in a realm of seemingly everyday life. With a B.A. in criminal justice and currently in graduate school obtaining a MPA in Public Administration at Ashford University, her characters seep into our own worlds and come alive with their day-to-day dilemmas. Madison Taylor writes like an insider who knows what tangled webs we weave behind the pretenses of truth. She is currently working on her next novel www.com.

In “Scattered Lies III” revelations initiate events that alter, and even end the lives of those involved. This tumbling of the house deceit will echo thunderously ending this trilogy with one last stand. But for Madison Taylor its just the beginning as there is no doubt “Scattered Lies III” will leave readers clamoring for more!

Join Madison Taylor online and secure your copy of “Scattered Lies III” along with “Scattered Lies I” and “Scattered Lies II” http://www.Influentialwriterspublishing.com . “Scattered Lies I & II & III” are also available online wherever books are sold including Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com.

NOTE TO MEDIA: Review copies of “Scattered Lies III” are available via e-book and hard copy. Send your preference to jazzmynepr@gmail.com and send name, media outlet, and address for hardcopy. Madison Taylor is also available for interview

New York – On April 4th, music producer and popular New York DJ personality Mister Cee was arrested for sexual lewd acts with a man. On April 17th, “straight” rapper Lil B sent the Hip Hop world into a frenzy when he announced plans to title his upcoming album, “I’m Gay.” Then on May 15th, CNN’s beloved news anchor, Don Lemon ‘came out’ and went public revealing he’s gay. But on June 14th, when entertainment industry insider and best-selling author Terrance Dean releases his anxiously anticipated debut novel MOGUL (Atria Books Original Paperback – June 2011; $15) these revelations will all make sense.

Though fictional, MOGUL goes deep inside Hip Hop to reveal just how rampant homosexuality reigns in an industry that on the surface purports hyper-masculinity as its calling card. MOGUL follows Aaron “Big A.T.” Tremble, a young music icon, as he juggles money, fame, women and running a record label, while indulging in a clandestine relationship with his hot superstar artist, the sexy hunk, Tickman. MOGUL gives readers the inner behind-the-scenes moves of a community of down low and gay industry companions, known as ‘the family,’ who support and propel Big A.T. as Hip Hop’s most beloved producer.

MOGUL is the explosive factor that ties together the recent rash of real life homosexual media reveals. Society is not as ‘straight’ as it seems!

Terrance Dean
A rollercoaster read MOGUL will incite speculation as Dean paints a true-to-life portrait of the entertainment business and its many personalities. His larger-than-life characters hint at real life celebrities. The drama reads like the events of today’s fast paced headlines. And the sex sizzles off the pages. Dean’s debut fiction release centers him as a novelist grounded in the game. Interestingly, amid the excitement, passion and suspense, Dean writes with truth and sincerity that evokes compassion for his characters. He keeps the reader entertained, while at the same time dispelling the many misaligned preconceptions about what one thinks they know about not only the entertainment business, but the world of men who love men.

Dean’s Hiding In Hip Hop: On the Down Low in the Entertainment Industry from Music to Hollywood(Atria Books – May 2008) tore the lid off the down low culture within the testosterone-driven world of Hip Hop. Uncovering a secret dimension in a world notorious for its larger-than-life masculine swagger, Dean bravely unmasked elements of a prominent gay sub-culture within the confines of Hip Hop. The book was a memoir which freed the author as he came to terms with his own sexuality.

Dean has since solidified his stance as a no-holds-barred gay author. His book, Straight, From Your Gay Best Friend – The Straight Up Truth About Work, Relationships, and Having a Fabulous Life! (Agate Bolden Books – October 2010), and advice column with the same name at www.HelloBeautiful.com, have since endeared him to an audience that recognizes he keeps it real at all costs. On the surface, it may seem sensationalistic, but his pure intentions for self-liberation, self-love, and self-worth are always right beneath the surface. In fact, his first book, Reclaim Your Power! A 30-Day Guide to Hope, Healing and Inspiration for Men of Color(Random House/Villard – May 2003) laid the foundation for the journey Terrance Dean finds himself traveling with his work. His third book. Visible Lives: Three Stories in Tribute to E. Lynn Harris(Kensington/Dafina Books – May 2010) for his dear friend and mentor, New York Times best-selling celebrated gay author, the late E. Lynn Harris, further showcased his commitment and stance as a writer dedicated to a community that will continue to be heard and acknowledged.

“‘MOGUL’ is a story that I’ve wanted to tell for a long time, and I’m happy it’s finally being told. There are many gay men and women in the entertainment industry who silently work behind the scenes without recognition. As someone who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade, I feel people have a misconstrued and delusional idea of what celebrities lives are like, and what the industry is like,” reveals Dean.

“I want to invite readers into this world of power, seduction, and fame showing at what costs, and length, a person will go to rise to the top. Besides, I also feel it’s important we start a serious conversation and dialogue about homophobia in Hip Hop, and within the Black community. We’ve done so much when it comes to repealing, ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’ in the military. I feel it’s time to repeal the same within the entertainment industry, particularly amongst Black celebrities who are afraid to come out for fear of backlash,” adds Dean. “Its no longer about ‘hiding in hip hop.’ Its time to bring it all out.”

Terrance Dean is hosting two forums in support of the release of MOGUL. The panels, “Young, Black, Gifted and Gay…Powerful Men In The Entertainment Industry,” will be in New York on Tuesday, June 14 at the Center For Fiction, 17 East 47th Street, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.; and in Atlanta on Thursday, June 29 at Outwrite Bookstore, 991 Piedmont Avenue, Northeast, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

MOGUL: A Novel is currently available for pre-order online, and in bookstores everywhere on June 14. Keep up with Terrance Dean at www.mrterrancedean.com; www.terrancedean.blogspot.com; and on Twitter: @terrancedean.

NOTE TO MEDIA: Terrance Dean is available for interview at jazzmynepr@gmail.com. For review copies of the book forward name, media outlet and mailing address. Requests will be forwarded to the publisher.

Los Angeles – Lorna Clarke Osunsanmi aka Lorna O. is not your average love coach. She is a life changer with an uncanny knack for vividly identifying self-help strategies. Her witty yet practical style underscores a nurturing demeanor that is a gateway way to big advice. Lorna knows first hand that you can’t just dish about dating and relationships without laying a foundational base within to achieve what it is you are seeking outside of yourself. Lorna Clarke Osunsanmi is that gentle but resolved push that propels you over edge into a realm of unlimited possibilities. She is the calm before the storm that changes everything. http://www.lornaonline.com

With the release of “Becoming Bold” from Trafford Publishing, Lorna O. unleashes a straightforward guide for delving deep and mining one’s inner audaciousness. With the goal of unmasking and releasing latent deterrents to success, “Becoming BOLD” serves as the definitive guide to self-actualization and transformation. By going for the gusto, we set the pace for achieving ideal love and life.

“When a lion sees its prey, it goes after it. A board meeting is not held, a discussion doesn’t break out. No one in the history of mankind had to train a lion to be bold,” explains Lorna O. “It’s already in its DNA. I think that same primal, gut instinct is in the human DNA, but somewhere the bold instinct switch in our DNA got turned off. Some of us are able to flip the switch and reignite the spark but others need a little help. Living boldly empowers us to be productive, effective and successful in all areas of our life.”

“Becoming Bold” chronicles how Lorna O took those steps in her own journey toward realizing her dreams. Anecdotes and lessons from others, as well as mantras of encouragement add flavor to the guide, instilling motivation and inspiration in the reader. With chapters titles like “Roar,” “Do!” “Rest Easy while Walking Fast,” and “Illiusions of Loves Divine,” “Becoming BOLD” is a blast of stimulation.

A film and television producer working in Hollywood, Lorna O. graduated magna cum laude from Texas Woman’s University. The native Christiansted, St. Croix U.S. Virgin Islands is the byproduct of parents who have sustained a 40-year marriage. With two older and younger siblings in 20 and 10-year marriages, respectively, Lorna has seen and heard the gamut of ups and downs in both relationships and marriages.

She has hosted “Yin N Yang,” a dating and relationship talk show for six years, currently airing in Miami, FL on Good Day Broadcasting and is working on a reality show with community of cheerleader mothers and daughters called Pom Pom Moms. The happily married advice diva continues to live bold daily and has plans for a series of additional inspirational books.

Be BOLD and uncover Lorna O’s guidance at http://www.lornaonline.com and http://www.mylobsterforlife.blogspot.com.

NOTE TO MEDIA: Lorna O. is available for interviews at jazzmynepr@gmail.com. For review copies of “Becoming Bold” send name, media outlet and mailing address to jazzmynepr@gmail.com as well.