| Author |
Message |
    
Troy
Regular Poster
Username: Troy
Post Number: 405
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, September 23, 2006 - 11:51 pm: | 
|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Elaine Garza ¡ñ 512.382.9017 ¡ñ egarza@vibe.com
or joan schulhafer ¡ñ 212.407.1551 ¡ñ jschulhafer@kensingtonbooks.com
VIBE STREET LIT ACQUIRES THE FIRST NOVEL FROM RENOWNED RAP ARTIST C-MURDER FOR PUBLICATION IN DECEMBER
VIBE Media Group and Kensington Publishing Tap
DEATH AROUND THE CORNER as the Inaugural Title in New Co-Venture
New York, NY (September 21, 2006)¡ªVIBE Media Group and Kensington Publishing announced today the acquisition of the first title in the VIBE Street Lit franchise, Death Around the Corner, by famed rapper C-Murder. The inaugural title will be released in trade paperback on December 26, 2006.
¡°Death Around the Corner exemplifies what VIBE Street Lit is all about, bringing the phenomenon of urban fiction to the next level,¡± says VIBE Books editorial director Rob Kenner. ¡°We couldn¡¯t have asked for a better title to launch with. C wrote every word of this book by hand, mailing it out chapter by chapter from behind bars. When the book was almost finished, several chapters were lost because of Hurricane Katrina, but they were recovered months later. The author really poured his heart and soul into this one. When you read it you will understand why this is a story that needs to be told.¡±
¡°Death Around The Corner is a terrific title to launch with,¡± says Laurie Parkin, Kensington vice president and publisher. ¡°The initial list was coming together beautifully. Then we got the gift of this strong, high-profile first novel by C-Murder along with all the advantages that it brings¡ªnot just to one outstanding title, but to the whole program.¡±
The deal, negotiated by Rob Kenner on behalf of VIBE and Kensington, with Richard Joseph Esq. of Los Angeles on behalf of the author, is for all formats, including book club, first and second serial, and North American and world rights in all languages.
As part of its promotional campaign, VIBE will maintain a dedicated book Web site, deatharoundthecorner.com, containing exclusive photos, audio, video, contests, exclusive DATC merchandise, and a blog with the latest news and information about the book and its author. Excerpts from the book, along with an exclusive interview with C-Murder, will be featured in VIBE magazine¡¯s January issue. An extensive promotional campaign is also in the works, which will be coordinated with the promotional push for C-Murder¡¯s Screamin 4 Vengeance album, on Priority Records. ¡°We are excited to relaunch Priority Records with C-Murder¡¯s new album,¡± says Executive Producer Andrew Shack. ¡°We¡¯ve sold millions of records together in the past, C is like family here, and we congratulate him on his book deal. This novel will show just how multitalented he is.¡±
Death Around the Corner is a work of fiction, written during C-Murder¡¯s recent incarceration. It is the story of a young man named Daquan growing up in the troubled but close-knit community of New Orleans¡¯s Third Ward. It is a cautionary tale of how easily an innocent youth can become a hardened criminal in the harsh environment of the CP3. The seductive allure of fast cash, sex, and violence leads to a world where even the closest friends are not who they seem to be.
As the author writes in the book¡¯s epilogue, ¡°I survived and stayed true to my man¡¯s memory, ¡¯cause I thought y¡¯all oughta know, ya dig? Just in case there¡¯s any young Daquans out there, always remember, no matter where you go or how far you get, death is always¡right around the corner!¡± While the novel evokes a lost world that is fast vanishing in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the struggle depicted here is a universal one.
Corey Miller, aka C-Murder, grew up in New Orleans¡¯ Third Ward in the notorious Calliope Housing Projects and went on to turn his pain into music. C-Murder made his rap debut in 1995 as part of the group TRU, including his brothers Percy and Vyshonne, aka Master P and Silkk the Shocker, respectively. The Miller brothers went on to form No Limit Records. Together they became the most powerful force to put Southern hip hop on the map during the mid-1990s. In 2001 C-Murder established TRU Records. His most recent album debuted at number one on Billboard¡¯s independent chart in 2005. His highly anticipated album Screamin 4 Vengeance will be released on Priority Records in early 2007.
ABOUT VIBE MEDIA GROUP
The VIBE Media Group is a leading music/lifestyle media company that publishes the award-winning VIBE magazine, the preeminent brand in urban and music culture, which was founded by Quincy Jones in 1993. Additional VIBE Media Group properties include VIBE VIXEN magazine, which was launched in 2005 and reaches over 4.5 million women; vibe.com; Comcast¡¯s VIBE video-on-demand channel; The VIBE Awards; and the wireless content service mVibe.
ABOUT KENSINGTON PUBLISHING
Kensington Publishing Corp., located in New York, was established in 1974. The company remains the only independent, full-line publishing house in the United States. The company publishes fiction and nonfiction in all formats¡ªhardcover, trade paperback, and mass market. Its imprints include Kensington Books, Citadel Press, Dafina Books, Zebra Books, Pinnacle Books, Lyle Stuart, Aphrodisia, and Brava.
Kensington Publishing is well known as the leader in African-American publishing and distribution, including the market leader, the highly regarded Dafina Books imprint. Dafina¡¯s nationally best-selling authors include Carl Weber, Mary Monroe, and Mary B. Morrison, and its roster of ¡°urban¡± authors includes Daaimah Poole and Wahida Clark. Among the company¡¯s distribution clients are Urban Books and its partner Q-Boro Books, and Genesis Press. Recently Kensington and Urban Books LLC began a new joint venture, the imprint Urban Soul.
|
Troy
Regular Poster
Username: Troy
Post Number: 406
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, September 24, 2006 - 10:47 am: |
|
When I read this release I could not help but think: Ok, now Kensignton has jumped on the bandwagon.
For some reason I just can not get hyped about a new book entitled Death Around the Corner by an author named C-Murder. It just seems wrong on some level...
Now here is the twist; when I got the release I replied by encouraging the sender to check out AALBC.com's advertising services. Now how schizophrenic is that?
Lord help me.
|
Renata
Veteran Poster
Username: Renata
Post Number: 1330
Registered: 08-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, September 24, 2006 - 12:39 pm: |
|
Chances are, I won't be reading it, either. HOWEVER...I will say that at least the guy took the time to do SOMETHING constructive with his time in jail other than write to his mother and beg her for money.
I had a friend with a brother in jail once. I offered to send him some books (or have them sent to him from the publisher) to help him learn a language or just some good, positive books. He declined. So what did he do in all of the time he was there (12 years)? Absolutely NOTHING.
ANYWAYS....if C-Murder were a brilliant writer like Iceberg Slim (whose subject matter and vulgarity is DISGUSTING and I can't stand him, but his writing is just too fucking spectacular), I could probably see myself reading his work.
But if the rest of the work is anything like his epilogue (yall oughta know, ya dig?), I can't see myself reading an entire book written like that. |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 5182
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, September 24, 2006 - 06:19 pm: |
|
It's not surprising that established publishing houses are capitalizing off the cash cow of hip hop street lit. Let's face it: this genre has taken its place on the shelf alongside noir detective pulp fiction. A sign of the times. Maybe an outfit like Kensington will be instrumental in giving reader's the courtesy of proofing reading C-Murder's manuscript, treading the fine line between whipping it into shape while maintaining its edgy "vibe". We can only hope that this gritty category will just occupy a small niche in the larger venue of black literature. |
Emanuel
Regular Poster
Username: Emanuel
Post Number: 246
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, September 27, 2006 - 10:51 am: |
|
No surprises here since Kensington is the parent company of Urban Books and C-Murder was a famous rapper before going to prison. They are capitalizing on his hip hop fame and what's hot in AA literature today. |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 5253
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, September 27, 2006 - 10:55 am: |
|
Somebody needed to have proof read my post on this subject, didn't they? LOL. |
A_womon
Veteran Poster
Username: A_womon
Post Number: 1362
Registered: 05-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, September 27, 2006 - 02:14 pm: |
|
Well Troy,
You felt the same way about Vickie Stringer's books when she first dropped, but I saw that "let that be the reason" was a featured book on your home page not long ago, and if I'm not mistaken, Thumper (if it wasn't you Thumper don't get in my case-just forgive the error!) gave her new novel two thumbs up review! |
Troy
Regular Poster
Username: Troy
Post Number: 411
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, September 27, 2006 - 09:20 pm: |
|
A_woman, we are selling Triple Crown's titles directly. I'm just not promoting it on the homepage anymore.
I'm not Thumper. But if Thumper gave it the thumbs up (which I don't recall) you can bet your bottom dollar it is a solid book.
I think it is the authors name, the title of the book and that just rubs me the wrong way. Plus as Emanuel mentioned the book is a result of a deliberate and potentially lucrative combination of famous person, and hot genre -- and that is fine. And hey if Vibe/Kensignton buy advertising C-Murder's book will be on the homepage too. I'd just have to find something to balance thing out.
I'm not naive enough to think that all books will have some socially redeeming value.
Of course it is a beautiful thing that C-Murder made his time productive while on lock down. Pretty soon unless you have a record you will have no credibilty as an author...
OK, maybe I'm in a bad mood or something.
|
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 5275
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, September 27, 2006 - 09:53 pm: |
|
That's something to think about, Troy. The idea that having a record might become a prequisite to writing a book. And what's really ironic is that the word "record" can be taken in the context of either having been incarcerated, or having cut a rap album. |
Troy
Regular Poster
Username: Troy
Post Number: 416
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, September 27, 2006 - 10:21 pm: |
|
Cynique, think about all of the authors getting most of the press today. I would bet money, if someone did the analysis, that they would find half of the ink is given to Black authors is given to those that have been jailed...
Look I'm a big supporter of several of these formerly incarcerated authors, I just think some of the authors, who managed to stay out of jail, need to get some press too.
|
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 5279
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, September 27, 2006 - 10:53 pm: |
|
Yea, Troy, as it has been said, prison is like a finishing school. Guys go there and start writing "journals" out of boredom and end up with book contracts. And, of course, it has now become the publi$hing business, where skilled talent just languishes in the limbo of rejection letters. |
A_womon
Veteran Poster
Username: A_womon
Post Number: 1367
Registered: 05-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 28, 2006 - 08:23 pm: |
|
Troy,
I ain't been in jail--but seein as how I been a faithful member of dishyeah boa'd You gonna put my book up on de front page? HMMMMMMMMMMM??
Troy I wasn't trynna put you down,(well ok maybe just a smidge, but in a good hearted way) just makin a statement about VS's books is all... |
A_womon
Veteran Poster
Username: A_womon
Post Number: 1368
Registered: 05-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 28, 2006 - 08:32 pm: |
|
Troy, I know you're not Thump==I said that about Thumper in case he read the thread... |
Troy
Regular Poster
Username: Troy
Post Number: 421
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, September 30, 2006 - 02:24 pm: |
|
A_womon PLEASE send me an email troy@aalbc.com with the ISBN of you book. Put "A_woman" in the subject.
Of course I'll give you a freebie and give you a discount on any additional services that you decide to purchase in the future (this applies to any other long term posters on this board out their too).
I don't follow the boards enough to know who you are in the physcial space, but I do know you've been around a minute, of course I'll support! |
Yvettep
Veteran Poster
Username: Yvettep
Post Number: 1332
Registered: 01-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, September 30, 2006 - 09:42 pm: |
|
Is there a chance that anyone from this genre will emerge as a true talent (whatever that might be)? I'm thinking of someone like the late poet Etheridge Knight.
I think chances are high that IF there will emerge another Black home-grown, from-the-streets type he will be more likely to come from a prison setting than a college MFA setting. But just from the little that I know of some of this work, it sounds like these authors are using their prison status as some sort of "street cred" and not as a more, I don't know, existential frame for their work on other topics.
But I could be wrong.
Does anyone know of any prison-based writing programs that could create thhis kind of art? I know there was a well received program in a women's prison that resulted in a play and film. (I am blamking on the name right now...) That might be what we need to harness some of this creativity. |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 5317
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, October 01, 2006 - 04:46 pm: |
|
I think this is a possibility, Yvette. Talented people end up in prison just like other types do. And the output of a talented inmate may very well embody the mechanics of good writing as well as raw creativity. With time on his hands, it's conceivable that a prison artist could very well take the time to learn the craft of writing. Or maybe even know it already. Cream does rise to the top. And the street genre, of course, is inherently compelling. |
A_womon
Veteran Poster
Username: A_womon
Post Number: 1369
Registered: 05-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, October 02, 2006 - 09:13 pm: |
|
Thank you Troy! My book isn't out yet. I went the traditional route and got myself an agent (finally, one accepted my project last month)so of course you know that the agent has to sell it to a publisher.
BUT just as soon as that's done, you will be one of the FIRST to get a complimentary copy!
Thanks SO MUCH!! |
|
Email This Page