Author Spotlight: Wahida Clark

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

If you are fan of adult Street Lit., then you are familiar with Wahida Clark’s books.  Penned the “Queen of Thug  Love Fiction,” Clark’s style of writing has set the standard for Street Literature.  Some of her best selling novels include:  Payback is a Mutha, The Golden Hustla and Justify My Thug.  Now she has ventured into another arena:  young adult literature.  The new book series is called, “The Wahida Clark Presents Young Adult Series (YA)” targets readers from ages 14-18.  Teens will now have a series of their own that will feature realistic characters and problems that they can relate to.   The overall goal of this series is to carry the message that every deed has a consequence. 

Author, Wahida Clark

I’m excited about this series because like Tamika Newhouse, Ni Ni Simone and Earl Sewell, Clark is committed to presenting a responsible solid story that teens can learn from.   Below is a brief interview between myself and the very busy Wahida Clark.  

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Miss Domino: First let me tell you from a school librarian’s perspective, my 12th grade girls are in love with your books that you have written from your adult catalog.  Why did you create Wahida Clark Presents Young Adult?

     Wahida Clark:  One of my inspirations for writing was that I saw how I could inspire our youth to read. This applies to my Young Adult Line as well.

Miss Domino:  Wahida tell me about some of your new Young Adult authors, how you discovered them and a brief synopsis of their stories?

     Wahida Clark:  - Rashawn Hughes, the author of Under Pressure, at the age of twenty-two, was convicted and sentenced to twenty years in prison for a shooting in a street altercation where a man lost his life.  While in prison Mr. Hughes has dedicated himself to being responsible, to showing that life once set on its course can change. He began honing his writing skills in 2000 after taking a brutally honest look at his life and situation. He wanted to create a way to keep the memory of his victim alive and do something that would make his family proud of him. So he decided to pen Under Pressure.

     - Charmaine White is an 18 year old student at Spellman.  She simply reached out to me with her manuscript and we liked it.  She simply enjoys writing.

     - Gloria-Dotson Lewis currently pursuing her degree in Social Work. She is a married mother of three and is dedicated to creating a non-profit organization geared specifically toward African-American teen girls. Her goal is to create an environment that will empower, encourage and educate young women with the skills they need to make responsible choices that will lead to a healthy, successful future. 

     We have other new Young Adult writers that will be debuting soon.

Miss Domino: Writing for the Teen audience is tough.  A writer must be very observant of content and messages conveyed in the story.  I've read all three books and they are page turners that teens will enjoy.  On average, how long did it take to develop and produce the books for publication?

     Wahida Clark:  It takes us 5-6 months per title.

Miss Domino: What has been the response from teens, parents and librarians about the books?

     Wahida Clark:  Great responses! Looking forward to touching more lives. 

Miss Domino: What are some of the challenges have you experienced from a publisher’s position while developing these books?

     Wahida Clark:  There haven’t been a lot of Young Adult book lines in the black community. My challenge is to increase the availability.

Miss Domino: Do you believe it was easier to produce a book for a teen audience than an adult audience?    

      Wahida Clark:  They are about the same.

Miss Domino: Your writers did a really good job in relating to the teens today.  Their references to speech/language, music, interests and most importantly problems that teens experience were well researched.  Why do you think it is important for today’s writers to relate to their audience?

     Wahida Clark:  You won’t sell books if you can’t relate to your audience.  Simple as that!

Miss Domino: With three books in your teen catalog, what can we expect from Wahida Clark Presents in 2012 for teens and adults?

     Wahida Clark:  A lot more!

Miss Domino:  What Street Lit titles are sitting on your bookshelf right now?

     Wahida Clark:  The Coldest Winter Ever by Sister Souljah, Standing at the Scratch Line by Guy Johnson, some Donald Goines, Tracy Brown, Nikki Turner, the list goes on . . . I am a book junkie with all genres on my shelves.

Miss Domino:  What is in the near future for you?  i.e. – speaking at conferences, book fairs, webinars etc.

     Wahida Clark:  All of the above and then some! I must admit, I have grown my company at a pace faster than I can keep up with.


School and Public Librarians:  Wahida Clark Presents - Young Adult Series books are now available through Children's Plus in library binding!  

Review: Cookie: A Forth Worth Story by Tamika Newhouse

Oh how I love Christmas Break!  Over the last couple of days, I tuned out the stress, read and conducted author interviews.  This post begins the first of the book reviews so enjoy!

     LaToya 'Cookie' James and Lyric James are like oil and water.  Cookie is the quiet and reserved sister and Lyric is the boisterous older sister that is the "It Girl" within their social circle.  Raised by a tough bible-gripping, churchgoing single mother, the girls experience the fast life and learn some harsh life lessons along the way.   Readers quickly learn that Cookie is the responsible one of the two sisters.  She takes on adult responsibilities by running the household caring for their bed-ridden mother.  Lyric on the other hand cares more about 'self', parties hard and runs the street with various boys from their neighborhood.   When Cookie decides to 'come out of her shell', her life changes dramatically.

     "Cookie:  A Forth Worth Story" is a cautionary tale that will keep the reader turning the page.  The sisters often find themselves in risqué situations that they can barely get themselves out of.  A rape of a best friend, and the death of another friend forces Cookie to realize that life is not as easy as she thought it would be.   The story honestly describes what happens when a young girl grows up too fast and the painful consequences that are experienced.   

Author, Tamika Newhouse

     Based on a true story, author Tamika Newhouse vividly tells a gripping story that many of today's teens can relate to.   Newhouse is the author of "The Ultimate No No" and the CEO of Delphine Publications.  Like other adult Street Lit authors that now write for a teen audience, Newhouse has written a responsible solid story.   She takes the reader to the edge and yanks them back without describing events of the story in a graphic manner.  Teens will enjoy reading "Cookie: A Forth Worth Story," because it's highly relatable and a fast read.  Moreover, the story will generate discussion among teens and really force them to think about their choices in life.

     Newhouse leaves the reader wanting more at the end of the story.  I was so relieved to learn that the sequel "Cookie Too:  Lyric's Song," will be released in early 2012.   I plan to include this book in my high school library collection in 2012 for my die-hard and picky teen Street Lit readers.   In addition, I highly recommend that other librarians purchase the book for their library collections as well.  The book will surely be a hit with teens and will generate discussions for days to come.

43rd Annual NAACP Image Awards

     Founded in 1909, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, (NAACP) is the nation's oldest and largest civil rights organization.  From the ballot box to the classroom, the thousands of dedicated workers, organizers, leaders and members who make up the NAACP, continue to fight for social justice for all Americans.

    
     The 43 Annual NAACP Image Awards ceremony will be held on March 4, 2012.  The Image Awards celebrate and honor outstanding people of color in film, television, music and literature.  I'm so pleased to announce that two of my colleagues/friends are being considered for this year's nomination.   I am asking all of my friends and colleagues to support the social media campaign for both of these authors.  Please keep in mind, the campaign raises the awareness of the nominee’s submission and heightens the chance for a final nomination.  The final nominations will be announced January 2012.

     
     Vanessa I. Morris book, “The Reader’s Advisory Guide to Street Literature,” published by ALA Editions, has been submitted for nomination for Outstanding Literary Work - Instructional.  Morris is the Assistant Teaching Professor at The iSCHOOL at Drexel’s University’s College of Information Science and Technology in Philadelphia.  She is the country’s foremost Street Literature Scholar and writes frequently on her blog, Street Literature.   Her work is referenced and used heavily by school, public, special and academic librarians.   The book has helped me  and my peers gain a better understanding of the genre and has served as a helpful resource when making purchases for my teen patrons.  Essentially, Morris has created a reference masterpiece for those who wish to learn more about Street Literature.  The interesting historical facts of the genre, effectiveness and current use of Street Literature is heavily discussed.  

     
    National Bestselling Author and Award-Winning author, Earl Sewell, has written nineteen novels and has had his work featured in several anthologies and magazines.   Sewell’s, “Keysha’s Drama” series published by Kimani Tru is very popular with pre-teen and teen readers.  “Maya’s Choice” has been submitted for nomination for Outstanding Literary Work - Teen/Young Adult Category.  You can read more about Sewell on his website at www.earlsewell.com.  The students that attend my high school are crazy about Sewell's teen book series.   My library currently has multiple copies of his books and they are always in circulation.  I've also had the pleasure of having him speak to my students during one of his book tours where he was received well by the teens.  I call Sewell one of those 'observant' authors that is keenly aware of the emotional and social challenges today's teens face.  He is a young adult author that has the gift of cleverly weaving a good story that teens will enjoy without preaching.

Please support both of these authors in their quest for a nomination.  Both authors are committed to producing books that help us all understand teens just a little better.  Just click on the following link for the Facebook NAACP Image Awards page, (http://www.facebook.com/naacpimageaward) then click on the ‘Like’ button and post your support on their wall, it’s just that easy.  That’s all for now!

   Vanessa I. Morris

Earl Sewell   

An Early Christmas Present...

LMC Christmas Tree

     The Christmas break for a Library Media Specialist is just a wonderful time where we can relax or as the kids say, 'chillax' without no one calling our name.  Yes, rest and relaxation is definitely on the agenda.  I'm looking forward to Christmas for several reasons:
  - Sleep and more sleep
  - Read and read even more books
  - Attend  One-to-One Apple classes on Michigan Avenue...whoo-hoo!
  - Catch up with family and friends who are ticked off that I haven't called
  - Finally, adopt another cat so that Domino will have some company during the day

Christmas Display

   
     Today I received some really good news.  After generating some statistical data on my library circulation,  I learned that my students are  really checking out allot of books.  Those of you reading this and are librarians understand how easy it is for a librarian to loose track.  We just circulate and shelve and circulate and shelve as fast as we can to meet the needs of our patrons.  Between the months of August - December, my students have almost surpassed the total number of books checked out last year.  In other words, in June my students would have checked out more than double the number of books check out last year.  This news was definitely a early Christmas present!


From the suggestion of a good friend, I would like to share a video slideshow of my library called, "The Library Inside of a School", click the link enjoy!