Writer's Life Chats

Being in love with the written word since pre-school, Allyson began writing poetry in her teens, but it would be years before she floated on cloud nine . . . into the world of writing to entertain and inspire others. Once writing explicit romance, she now dedicates all of her writings to God with the prayer that her stories will touch the hearts of her readers.   Isaiah was born with the gift of the written word and began writing and publishing at a very early age. He dedicates his life to writing stories that glorify God and taking it where it’s needed most, the streets.   Allyson and Isaiah met online themselves, where they remained friends until God revealed to them that they were to be man and wife. They have been married for almost three years. The happy couple is striving to build ministries that will glorify God and uplift their community.

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 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 adult novels, including: JOY, Grown Folks Business, The Ex Files, and The Deal, the Dance and the Devil, and the popular Jasmine Cox Larson Bush series.  In 2012, Victoria joined ReShonda Tate Billingsley to write collaborations which pits Victoria's Jasmine character against Rachel Adams, a first lady created by ReShon

In southern Dallas, Texas, Sunny Giovanni-- or "Gio" as she likes to be called-- was born on the fifth day of June in 1989. Born to a mother who was a teacher and a graduate from Texas A&M University you couldn't so much as watch a Disney movie if you hadn't read the book beforehand. Gio has had a very strong history with literature, diversifying from poetry (winning placements in oratorical contests), to thriller short stories as a way to vent her frustrations. The pen was handed down to her from an older sibling as a means to focus her negative energy and anger into something different but was used as a way to alter her own situations. As a preteen Gio witnessed how much her writing could touch someone when she left one of her prized spirals in a classroom without knowing. Two weeks after it went missing someone brought it back to her asking for more, letting the young author know that almost everyone she knew read the story, but without knowing it was her in the story she had written. Sunny Giovanni

Nika Michelle is originally from NC and currently resides in Atlanta, GA. Her love for books started at a very young age and inspired her passion for writing. Blessed with a vivid imagination, she would share her short stories with her classmates in middle and high school. In 2002 she graduated from Fayetteville State University with a BA in Communications and English/Literature. During her time in college she completed her first novel "Forbidden Fruit", an urban tale that spins a web of love, lust and greed. Her other titles include Forbidden Fruit II: A New Seed, Forbidden Fruit 3: The Juice, Forbidden Fruit 4: The Last Drop, Forbidden Fruit 5: The Final Taste, Black Butterfly, Black Onyx: The Sequel to Black Butterfly, Black Magic: Book 3 of the Black Butterfly Series, Black Lace: Book 4 of the Black Butterfly Series, Zero Degrees 1, 2 and 3 (collaboration with Leo Sullivan), The Nookie Ain't Free, The Nookie Still Ain't Free, The Empress, Bout That Life: Diablo's Story (A Forbidden Fruit Prequel) and Love

Join Kisha as she chats with some of Urban Fiction's greatest story tellers. 

Join Kisha as she chats with Eva, who in a short time has become an erotica author but before that she was and still is a  foot goddess. Chat with her about how she became one and hear some of her sexy stories. 

Native New Yorker, Cheryl “Cherry Bomb” Winley was born and raised in one of the most affluent counties in the eastern most part of Long Island. The progeny of scholarly and dignified parents, Cherry’s childhood not only mimicked richness and decadence it encompassed balance and an avid love of the English language. However, being gifted with a passion for English and poetry wasn’t her only reward; Cherry’s parents would reward her every action with monetary treats. By the age of 15, Cherry’s lifestyle would consist of limitless credit cards, fine dining, cars, and shopping and more shopping. The excessive gratification from her parents would in turn increase Cherry’s desires and by the age of 16 she would meet her first real boyfriend, a drug dealer, who would change the suburban girl into a lady and a hustler’s wife. Fast money, fast living, diamonds, designer brands and fancy cars; Cherry’s years as a young adult would be a ‘glamorous life’. Cherry decided to pen her strategy, thus, her authorial debut I A

With three books under her belt & currently working on her 4th, Author Lakia Nichole continues to embark on this literary journey with gratefulness.  She still considers herself relatively new to this highly competitive business, but dubs her works as "page turners". Lakia's novels are a certain breed of literary material with an "out of this world" imagination that she incorporates in her storylines.

Do you have questions about BDSM and other fetish tops? Join Kisha as she chats with Author, Shakir Rashaan as he discusses his lifestyle and 50 Shades of Grey and more. This is STRICTLY for the  grown and sexy, so grab you wine and enjoy the show.   Known for his mind-twisting plots and unique prose, Shakir Rashaan rolled onto the literary scene as a contributing writer to Z-Rated: Chocolate Flava 3 in 2012.  His raw, vivid, and uncut writing style captured the attention of the Queen of Erotica herself, Zane. A year later, Rashaan made his debut with The Awakening, opening to rave reviews and a recommended read accolade inside of USA Today’s Happy Ever After literary blog. The follow-up in the Nubian Underworld series, Legacy, has garnered even more success, with its third installment, Tempest, poised to burn up the pages, making the series one of the most unique in the erotica genre. Upcoming projects from Rashaan include the upcoming Kink, P.I. series in 2015 and a few new projects being developed

K’wan has been featured in:Vibe, Pages, King, The Library Journal, Entertainment Weekly, The New York Press, and Time Magazine, to name a few. K’wan was also the recipient of the 2012 and 13 Street Lit Book Award Medals (SLBAM) in adult fiction for Eviction Notice and Animal. His credits also include featured commentary in the award winning Documentary Iceberg Slim: Portrait of a Pimp (produced by Ice-T) as well as a reoccurring guest role on TV-One’s Celebrity Crime Files. K’wan currently resides in New Jersey where he is working on his next novel.  

Terri Avery is a 30-year veteran of the radio business. She started her career at radio station WWRL in New York City as an intern. She was then named assistant music director and worked part time on the air. Her career took her to Dallas where she worked as a midday on-air personality at KKDA-FM, later becoming music director and then assistant Program director. After 10 years at KKDA, she added more credits to her resume in Texas working at KMJQ in Houston as program director, before returning to KKDA as Operations manager and entertainment reporter for the then, local, Tom Joyner Morning show. She’s done a stint in the record business with Mercury records before going to WWIN/WERQ in Baltimore. Soon after, becoming Director of Programming for Radio One. After 6 years, she went to work at the National Association of Broadcasters in Washington, DC. After a year there, she got recruited to work for Davis Broadcasting in Columbus, GA as Program director of WFXE, WOKS, and WKZJ. In 2001,Terri, then got rec

Meet J.M. Benjamin; He is a successful, prolific & impacting author hailing from Plainfield, New Jersey. He is also the C.E.O. of A New Quality Publishing as well as an entrepreneur, community activist, mentor and motivational speaker. J.M. spends most of his time traveling worldwide, sharing his redemptive story with places such as schools, juvenile & adult facilities and religious organizations, in hopes of saving and changing lives of others, receiving numerous of accolades and recognition for his efforts. After serving a substantial amount of time in prison, J.M. was released with a new plan, new direction and new product. His 2006 freshman novel, Down In The Dirty opened doors he never imagined and solidified him as an urban novelist. Since then, he has gone off to pen 10 more tales such as his Essence Best Selling novel series, Ride Or Die Chick, which was recently picked up by Carl Weber’s publishing company, My Manz And ‘Em, which has been adapted into a screenplay by Sundance Film Festival w

“This is gangsters, guns and drugs. I don't think it gets much scarier than this,'' said Assistant District Attorney Mary Ellen Karst in asking for the maximum prison term for Rumont TeKay, age 18, a high ranking member of a notorious street organization out of Chicago.  Like many of his peers, Rumont took to the street life at the impressionable age of 10 years old. After his initiation, he quickly climbed the ranks within the organization and became one of its largest distributors in the cocaine trade by age 18. Eight months after his eighteenth birthday, Rumont was convicted of the largest cocaine bust in the county’s history and received a minimum mandatory 35 year sentence, as a first time offender.  While his back was against the wall and hope was bleak, he found solace in the elements of another writer's storylines. His inspiration flared and Rumont TeKay put his mighty pen to paper and hasn’t let up since. Through it all, he has learned that hope never dies just as long as one breathes life into i

Clay Thomas Williams started writing at an early age. It was a form of expression for her. She started with poetry, and then joined a songwriting team, and became a member of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) and the writer’s café.org.  It was a natural progression to pen a novel. Clay Thomas Williams has been a fan of the literary arts for quite some time. After continued prodding from her Publisher, Upnext Media Group, And Then There Were None became a reality. As Clay explores her imagination, her goal is to entertain the world one book at a time! Additionally, Clay Thomas Williams is a freelancer, writer and copy editor for an exciting nationwide informative motorcycle magazine; IRIDE magazine based out of North Carolina. Clay Thomas Williams lives by the philosophy that every bit of fiction has a hint of the truth, and life experiences good or bad, create and shape the beautiful, brilliant woman she is. She resides in North Carolina with her family and has hopes that one

 An ambitious young woman, born, bread, and raised in Dallas, TX, we introduce to you M’Hogany. From a very young age, she’s put thoughts to paper and let her creative side roam free. “I wasn’t like most girls keeping journals or diaries. Whatever I thought, I put to paper.” With a few poems suggested for publishing in her early childhood, she decided to pursue other venues of artistry. “Music is my life. I eat, sleep, and breathe all things musical. You can catch me singing almost anywhere.” As she embarks on the road of literature, she delves back into writing putting it all on paper.  Expect future works from this young writer and keep an ear at the ready as she embarks on her musical and literal endeavors.

Tressa “Azarel” Smallwood, CEO of Life Changing Books and co-founder of The Best Sellers Project is a former teacher who received her BS degree from University of Maryland Eastern Shore, and earned a Masters of Arts in Teaching degree from Bowie State University. Her love for writing sparked a career change in 2002. She resigned from her teaching tenure in the Prince George’s County public school system to fulfill her dream of becoming an author.  After writing her first novel, “A Life to Remember” written in an attempt to help change lives of young men, she launched her own publishing company, Life Changing Books affectionately known as (LCB) under the name of Azarel.  Now with over one hundred titles published to date, LCB is one of the most successful independent publishing companies in the publishing industry.   Best selling titles under LCB’s roster includes Azarel’s titles, Bruised and Daddy’s House, along with the Dirty Divorce series, the Millionaire Mistress series and the award winning memoir, Left

Carmen Chloe is passionate about recognizing the discord between males and females as it relates to relationships.  Getting the conversation started in an attempt to discover why there is such a disconnection among the sexes is her mission.  Completely understanding the plight of the single woman, she is dedicated to offering insight and tips to singles worldwide to assist them in making better decisions in life and love.  Never one to preach or offer unrealistic advice, she speaks solely from past experience. Writer, blogger and upcoming author, Carmen Chloe, first discovered her passion for writing at the age of ten when she was assigned the task of rewriting “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” as a class project.  She earned her Communications degree with a specialization in Public Relations from the University of Miami.  After moving to Atlanta, she became a teacher in one of the cities underserved school districts.  This led her to earn a Master’s  degree in Teaching.  Deciding to walk in her true destiny, Carm

WILLIAM FREDRICK COOPER is the author of the critically-acclaimed SIX DAYS IN JANUARY, the Essence/Black Expressions Bestselling novel THERE'S ALWAYS A REASON; and the author of ONE SEASON IN PINSTRIPES, a sports memoir chronicling the 2009 championship season of the New York Yankees.    dynamic speaker known for giving enlightening radio interviews, he has edited several award-winning novels and contributed to national periodicals such as Ebony Magazine and New York Times Bestselling Anthologies.  A Brooklyn native  and the father of Maranda Nicole Cooper, stop by Cooper's Facebook page (www.facebook.com/wfcooper), listen to some great music and say hello.  

Born in Baltimore, Maryland and raised in Peekskill, New York, Ty Marshall, is one of the hottest new writers in the Urban Fiction game. His authentic depiction of the streets based off of real life and real world experiences set him apart from the pack. His ability to write fiction from a real place makes him special, but it’s the seamless way he weaves the two worlds together that makes him an undeniable talent. Ty recently joined Official Writer’s League (O.W.L.) where he will stay true to the company’s mantra and demonstrate the highest level of storytelling with the help of O.W.L. founders Ashley & JaQuavis. His debut novel, Eat, Prey and No Love is scheduled to be released in Fall of 2014. Ty is a proud father and husband that resides in Georgia.

Authors Khara Campbell and Lakisha Johnson