11 posts tagged “the street life series”
Conversations Book Cub February 2008 Pick:
The Street Life Series: Is It Suicide or Murder?
By Cyrus A. Webb, Executive Director Conversations Book Club
In January 2008, Kevin M. Weeks, the author who has been on the minds and lips of readers and critics for some time now, took time out to speak with Conversations Book Club. When you read his debut novel called "The Street Life Series: Is It Suicide or Murder?," it is evident that he wants the novel to be a conversation with the reader---and it is. The main character, Teco Jackson, is the total package: the man whom women want and love---and the man whom men hate but can't help but respect.
Talking with the author, however, you get a different picture. In his first live interview since the book's release in 2006, Kevin M. Weeks comes across as quiet yet confident, but also as someone who believes strongly in himself. Though he is currently serving time in the Georgia Department of Corrections, it is obvious that his mind and talent are free to roam throughout the world.
Right out of the gate, I asked him about the success he has enjoyed with the book. "It has been great." He responded excitedly. "With the book, I am re-branding myself and showing what I am capable of accomplishing. " Kevin is not just respected by book lovers, but those who are critics in the industry as well. "That has been extremely surprising in some ways." He admitted. "Being accepted in the publishing industry is not easy."
Where did the idea for his writing career come from? "I started off mentoring some of the younger men in the prison system." He told Conversations. "They told me that they enjoyed hearing the life experiences I shared with them and that I should write them down." That started what is becoming to be known as The Street Life Series®.
"At first, I sent out some query letters to publishers and was turned down because I didn't have the tools to meet the submission guidelines. Then, I decided to put the book out myself; so, I had to do my research and learn about the business. Friends were too busy to help. Fortunately, I found sponsorship from those who believe in the vision for the series."
Kevin goes on to tell us about the main character, Teco Jackson. "Teco seeks a certain lifestyle. However, his world is full of manipulations and he is on a mission to survive." Kevin wants readers to know that no good can come from living the street life. "I want readers to ask themselves the question that is posed in the book. If a person lives the street life and is killed, was that person a victim of murder or did the person commit suicide for choosing to live the street life?"
The obvious question is how much of the writer is in Teco? Kevin answers this way: "I put a lot into my characters. I know the world that Teco is from. When I am writing these stories, I draw upon situations, people, and settings from my past."
Through his book, "The Street Life Series: Is It Suicide or Murder?", you see so many ingredients that equal a great read: mystery, suspense, romance and moral lessons that can be taken away at the end. That is explained when Kevin talks about the books in his collection. "I read a lot of authors, but I especially like James Patterson. The writing technique he uses to describe crime scenes makes his writings understandable. This is something I aspire to do as well."
Many in Kevin's situation would have just felt sorry for themselves. Why did he decide to better use his time? "When I study and learn, you can't take away the fact that I know what I know. Being incarcerated allows me the time to sit down and focus on what I need to do in order to be a successful and productive citizen in society. Self publishing means that I have to do most of the work. I have to read each book seven or eight times and find ways to make it better. Going through obstacles in my life and knowing that I can deal with whatever comes my way have strengthened me."
Conversations Book Club chose "The Street Life Series: Is It Suicide or Murder?" as one of its "Best Kept Literary Secrets of 2007" as well as its book of the month for February 2008. Others have also recognized the value of the novel. To all of this, the author says this: "I want to thank you, Cyrus, and the Conversations Book Club for your support. The awards are a form of validation for what I am doing with the series. At first, I didn't realize the impact I was having, but now I know."
To get your copy of the book in "The Street Life Series", visit http://www.kevinmweeks.com.
[See Yahoo Groups Conversations Book Club] – Cyrus A. Webb, Executive Director. Copyright 2008. Conversations Book Club. All Rights Reserved. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/conversationsbookclub/message/306 .
Reprint Permission Granted by Cyrus A. Webb.
In January 2008, Xlibris Corporation released the sophomore novel "The Street Life Series: Is It Passion or Revenge?" by Kevin M. Weeks. The Street Life Series® is a collection of Crime Fiction novels and categorized under the Mystery genre. Also, under African American Literature, The Street Life Series® novels are classified under Urban Fiction / Street Lit.
New York Book Festival Award Winning Author Kevin M. Weeks is known for his storytelling ability. The Street Life Series® chronicles main character Teco Jackson’s action packed life as Teco chooses exciting careers. Travel with West Philadelphia (West Philly) native Teco across the world and see how he responds as crime happens all around him.
In “The Street Life Series: Is It Passion or Revenge?,” male exotic dancers in P.G. County and the surrounding D.C. area are turning up dead while Teco Jackson rises in popularity as the crowd’s all time favorite performer. Each club scene is theatrical and fun to read. Will D.C.’s #1 female Detective, Hanae Troop, snag the delusional killer who leaves behind colorful murder weapons? Are these crimes of passion or revenge?
Available today at Xlibris Corporation [www2.xlibris.com/bookstore/bookdisplay.asp?bookid=41408]. Coming March 2008 to Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com and other online bookstores.
Click Here [www2.xlibris.com/bookstore/book_excerpt.asp?bookid=41408] to read an excerpt.
For more information, visit www.thestreetlifeseries.com or email info@thestreetlifeseries.com To purchase copies of the book for resale, please call Xlibris Corporation at (888) 795-4274 extension 7876.
Author Kevin M. Weeks announces United States Patent Trademark Office (USPTO) trademark approval for the use of the name "The Street Life Series,” which is a collection of crime fiction also known as urban fiction novels that chronicle the action packed life adventures of main character Teco Jackson. Other examples of trademarks for a literary series are Harry Potter® by J. K. Rowling and Chicken Soup for the Soul® by Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen. In an article titled "The Value of Trademarks to the Literary Entrepreneur," Tonya M. Evans-Walls, Esquire states, "Trademarks registered under federal and state laws as well as certain unregistered trademarks under common law enjoy exclusive rights."
For more information, reference the article titled “The Value of Trademarks to the Literary Entrepreneur” by Tonya M. Evans-Walls, Esquire: http://www.literarylawguide.com/thevalueoftrademarkstotheliteraryentrepreneur.pdf
To read the entire Press Release visit: http://christiannewswire.com/news/598165276.html
It's truly an honor to be featured on the cover of DisilgoldSOUlL Magazine. Check it out at: http://disilgold.com/urbanauthorreview.html
Peace,
Kevin M. Weeks, Author of The Street Life Series
Cyrus Webb, Conversations Book Club Executive Director, conducted a book review of The Street Life Series: Is It Suicide or Murder? by Kevin M. Weeks, an African American Author. In the publishing industry the debut novel is categorized under crime fiction under the Mystery genre. Under the Mystery genre the classification is Ethnic. Also, the novel is also categorized as Urban Fiction or Street Lit by many in the industry.
The Crime fiction / Urban Fiction Book Review of Is It Suicide or Murder? is below and is also posted on the "Read My Lips Project" BLOG.
Conversations reviews Kevin Weeks' "IS IT SUICIDE OR MURDER?"
Author Kevin Weeks, though incarcerated in Georgia during 2006 and 2007 has managed to weave and release a literary tale that has reached all over the world through his debut novel "THE STREET LIFE SERIES: Is It Suicide or Murder?"
The book which chronicles the journey of Teco Jackson (aka Homicide) allows you to walk the streets of Philly with him and know the characters that become his closest friends and worse enemies. From page one, Weeks shows a natural ability to create characters that seem as real as those in our own lives, which makes you feel as though he is writing from his own experience moreso than a fictional world. He takes you through the dialect and slang of the times, as well as allows you to get into the minds of the characters that are sure to stay with you long after the story ends.
Apart from being an entertaining read with everything from fast women, fast money and betrayals, "Is It Suicide or Murder" also offers lessons that resonate with you on many levels. When Teco loses a friend to a drug overdose (p.21), we see a more "human" side of the suave street hustler. There are also the moments when Teco's conscience eats at him over choices that he has made---and he wrestles with his personal demons in hopes of doing what he knows to be the right thing.
The book also reminds us about the extent that some will go to in order to get what they want. One quote that will stick with me is this: "Either you become what they are or you die from being in the way."
Though only in the industry for one year, Kevin has solidified himself as a force to be reckoned with. The YOUnity Guild of America recognized him as the "Best New Urban Author of the Year 2006". His awards in 2007 include "2007 New York Book Festival Award", "2007 Hollywood Book Festival Honorable Mention" and being recognized as one of Conversations Book Club's "Best Kept Literary Secrets 2007".
Congrats to Kevin Weeks for a job well done. He has already raised the bar for good writing and has written a debut that makes us eager for the next installment in "The Street Life Series."
For more information about Weeks and his next novel "Is It Passion or Revenge?", visit http://www.thestreetlifeseries.com.
Posted by The Street Life Series Team
The Street Life Series: Is It Suicide or Murder?
ISBN: 1425711049 (Trade Paperback)
ISBN: 1425711057 (Cloth Hardback)
As I was speaking with a friend about the topic of "Keeping Our At Risk Youth Out of Prison," I mentioned that adults need to not only understand our youth but also overstand our youth. To my surprise, not many people have heard the term overstand, which was derived from the old school hip hop generation.
A smile creases my face when I think about some of the things I would do as a teenager. When my parents asked, "Why did you or didn't you do this or that?", I would shrug my shoulders and reply, "I don't know." Think about how many times you have heard this from your son, daughter, niece, nephew, or grandchildren. Safe to state, my parents did not have a clue as to what was going on with their son. It was sort of cool though, because neither did I. I displayed motion with no objective and behavior of a born traveler without a plotted destination.
Understanding our youth is to try to determine why they behave a certain way. Overstanding our youth looks beyond what intellectually makes logical sense. Perhaps we can be more overstanding than understanding. Overstanding connects at the creative thinking level with our youth. Why are they attracted to certain music? Why do they prefer to dress a certain way? I would venture to say that it's all about expressing themselves. The benefit of being able to comprehend the arts of expression is worthy of exclaiming, "Wow!"
Someone once told me that a teenage boy was watching MTV and Outkast's music video came on called "The Way You Move." In the video there is the sexy lady standing beside the car. Instead of turning the channel, the adult decided to ask the teenager, what did he like most about the music video. To his surprise, the teenage boy said "the car." In this scenario, the adult was trying to overstand the teenager. As a result the adult took the teenage boy to Borders Book Store and bought the teenage boy a lot of magazines about cars. The teenager became an avid reader of car magazines and ended up taking the magazines to school to read during home room.
No rule or boundary prevents the expansion of intellect. As vast as the thoughts, the universes concur. Many times I realize that all life is the same. It's birthed, it consumes, it gives birth, and it dies, repeating the process all over again infinite times. I reflect on the statement of a renowned 13th Century Poet named Rumi who said, ". . . speak a new language, the world will be anew . . ." People learn to understand and overstand. There are too many words in the dictionary that begin with the prefix "mis," which represents the concept of incomplete thoughts. Connecting with our youth in new creative ways is the beginning to overstanding.
Plan! Dream! Wonder! Ponder! Play! Romp! Incite! Excite! Grow! Invite! Travel! Remain Perfectly Still! Love! Like! Listen! Watch!
It's time that we overstand our youth in order to understand how they feel.
Peace out,
Kevin M. Weeks, Author
The Street Life Series (www.thestreetlifeseries.com)
Over the next few weeks on vox.com, I will be doing a series of entries about “Keeping At-Risk Youth out of Prison.” Many in society and city officials look solely to decorated tenured faculty for answers on methods to keep our youth out of prison. Then, there are those who conduct studies but have never visited prisons themselves, let alone, visited their own incarcerated family members. I strongly believe that the best way to deter our youth is to hear the voices of those behind prison walls. Many incarcerated are willing to reach out and give back, but they have been told that they are a menace to society. My goal is to share my thoughts in order to help those parents who need ideas about reaching out to their at-risk son or daughter. Sure, I believe we need more “Scared Straight” programs, which are organized visits to prisons for at-risk teens. Until we have more programs, here is what I believe parents can do today.
Point #1: Pay Attention.
Some parents are so busy with building a foundation for their teenagers that parents have lost focus on the things that really matter. Just look at the most recent high profile celebrity teens or young adults who have served time in jail this year; and you will see what I mean. Parent’s patience is tested time and time again because of their teenager’s sprouting and inquisitive minds. Answering the questions who, what, when, where, why, and how makes a tremendous difference. The reason why is simple. Youth trust those who satisfy their curiosity. If you are calling me crazy, then that’s good. I’ve sparked your interest.
Not until I questioned my past did this truth become apparent. When I asked myself, “What did I really want out of relationships with adults when I was a teen?” “How did I end up trusting others more than even some family members?” As a teenager, I turned to those who took the time to answer my questions. Parents talk about having a “date night” with their spouse or significant other. When was the last time you had a one on one dinner with your son or daughter? Taking the time out for just the two of you to address concerns and answer questions makes a difference. I’m not talking about drilling your teen with questions. I’m talking about a penalty-free conversation. I’m convinced you have to do this before you find the gold “grill,” which you didn’t buy, hidden in the back of your teen’s dresser drawer. By the time you find the "grill" or something worst, your son or daughter is already having their questions answered by someone else.
So to all parents and teenagers, shut down the computer, turn off the TV, stop playing Video Games, and hang up the cell phone. Look at the activity calendar on the refrigerator and pick a night bi-weekly to take your son or daughter out to dinner, just the two of you, one on one. You will be surprised the things you will learn from each other after a few weeks of this new family ritual.
Check back for Point 2.
Peace,
Kevin M. Weeks, Author
The Street Life Series
The Street Life Series: Is It Suicide or Murder? ISBN: 1425711049
The Street Life Series: Is Passion or Revenge? Coming Winter 2007-2008
One of the most rewarding aspects of being a murder mystery and urban fiction author is reading feedback about your work. Last week, I received a book review from a book awards competition; and I just couldn't resist posting it on Vox.com. The review reads as follows:
"The Street Life Series: Is It Suicide or Murder? is a very strong debut novel in the urban fiction genre. The plot was engaging, and the pacing was well suited to a novel of this type. The dialogue came off as very convincing, and did a good job propelling the story. The author (Kevin M. Weeks) has a very accessible prose style, which makes the book just plain fun to read. Weeks successfully conveys a sense of realism necessary for a convincing genre novel, through both dialogue and narrative. He excels at combining dialogue and descriptive passages, and keeps the story moving along nicely. The novel will be enjoyable to a wide audience." -- Judge, Writer's Digest 15th Annual Self-Published Book Awards.
Today, I read an article in a July 2007 back issue of the Broward Times titled, "Let's Take Charge of Our Own Destiny." From my posts lately, you might have come to see that this topic is near and dear to my heart. This news piece covered topics such as hip hop media images and education, citing that there is a high-school dropout rate of around 50 percent in the black community. Even on television and on the radio I've heard the question asked, "Who are today's black leaders?"
As a black author, there is a quote in this article which I found inspiring by Robert Beatty, Broward Times Publisher and Bryan Monroe, Vice President and Editorial Director for Johnson Publishing Company. They stated, "You don't have to be an executive, a publisher, or any other kind of high level person to [take charge of your destiny]” They added, “You can make a difference right where you are.”
When I share the vision of The Street Life Series, people's eyes light up. See, the main character Teco Jackson may have started out gangster. However, with every novel in the series, Teco "takes charge of his own destiny." This is why at every conference we have attended, someone will come up and ask us if we have an outreach program.
At the Atlanta For Sisters Only conference, we started a campaign titled, “Stay off The Streets,” which included a coloring sheet and free key chains for children. Grandparents came to the table to hear The Street Life Series vision and to get a coloring sheet for their grandchildren. We are working on some other outreach projects behind the scenes now, which I will share with you in the next few weeks.
For tonight, I'll count my blessings. The Street Life Series: Is It Suicide or Murder? is listed in the prestigious 2007 MosaicBooks Bestseller List. I am truly honored to be listed with distinguished authors. I thank everyone who supports The Street Life Series by purchasing books.
May I demonstrate daily what it means to “take charge of one’s destiny.”
Peace,
Kevin M. Weeks
This past weekend, The Street Life Series attended the Hip Hop Journalism Association Conference & Convention (HHJA) in Miami, Florida. Simply put, the speakers were phenomenal.
Hip Hop Scholar, Researcher, and Author Dr. Edgar Tyson discussed his analytical study on the many facets of Hip Hop centered on perception versus reality. Hip Hop Journalist and NPR Commentator Jimi Izrael spoke about the definition of Hip Hop Journalism in music, print, and culture. Florida International University Assistant Professor Dr. Valerie Patterson led a workshop on the ethics of Hip Hop Journalism. Then Emmy Award Winning Author & Producer P. Frank Williams shared his experiences and journey as a Hip Hop Journalist.
There were many views expressed at the conference. The message that resonated with The Street Life Series team was the following: Let our music, art and writings encapsulate the old school hip hop culture, such as being innovative in finding the 21st Century rendition of breakdancing, where rivals settled the score through nonviolent means of dance and graffiti art. In addition, Hip Hop is global and all inclusive. We also celebrate hip hop artists, DJs, and writers with physical disabilities.
Attending the conference reaffirmed my commitment to include old school wisdom and to preserve the fundamental elements of New Jack Swing in fiction. Also, I embrace the HHJA mission of quality and integrity in my writings.
So as my grandmother would say, "Don't throw the baby out with the bath water." There are past, present, and future journalistic stories to document in regards to hip hop. Bottom-line, if you read, write, draw, sing, or compose music about hip hop, you missed valuable sessions and workshops.
Join the HHJA today and attend the next conference in 2008.
Peace,
Kevin M. Weeks, The Street Life Series
