    
H_i_c_k_s_o_n
Newbie Poster
Username: H_i_c_k_s_o_n
Post Number: 27
Registered: 05-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, February 07, 2007 - 09:50 am: | 
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GHETTOHEAT
November ’06 - January ’07 Preview
“W-H-O-O-O!”
“…TURN ON THE HEAT, AND BUILD SOME F-I-R-E. TURN ON THE HEAT, AND BUILD SOME F-I-R-E”
“YOU-GOT-TA!”
“TURN ON THE HEAT”
“HEY!”
“ AND BUILD SOME F-I-R-E”
“F-E-E-L-S GOOD NOW!”
“TURN ON THE HEAT”
“W-H-O-O-O!”
“ AND BUILD SOME F-I-R-E”
“FEELS-SO-GOOD”
“TURN ON THE HEAT”
“HA!”
“ AND BUILD SOME F-I-R-E”
“I GOT-TA DO IT!”
”TURN ON THE HEAT, AND BUILD SOME F-I-R-E”
“IN THE MORNIN’”
“TURN ON THE HEAT”
“HEH”
“ AND BUILD SOME F-I-R-E”
“JUST WAKE ME UP WHEN YA—”
TURN ON THE HEAT, AND BUILD SOME F-I-R-E
“HOLD ME CLOSE AND”
“TURN ON THE HEAT, AND BUILD SOME F-I-R-E”
“WHEN-YA-SHAKE-YA-HIPS!”
“TURN ON THE HEAT, AND BUILD SOME F-I-R-E—”
“WHEN YA SHAKE YA HIPS, YOU GONNA JUST”
“TURN ON THE HEAT”
“HEH!”
“ AND BUILD SOME F-I-R-E”
“WHEN YA HOLD MY HAND, YOU KNOW THAT”
“TURN ON THE HEAT, AND BUILD SOME F-I-R-E—”
“WHEN YOU MAKE ME F-E-E-L SO GOOD!”
TURN ON THE HEAT, AND BUILD SOME F-I-R-E
“A-Y-Y-Y-E, LORD—YOU GOT-TA”
“TURN ON THE HEAT—”
“YOU MAKE ME FEEL GOOD”
“AND BUILD SOME F-I-R-E”
“W-H-O-O-O-O-O-O-O!”
“TURN ON THE HEAT, AND BUILD SOME F-I-R-E”
—JAMES BROWN, TURN UP THE HEAT AND BUILD SOME FIRE
S-S-S-S-S-S….
O-o-o-o-o-o-h, the heat is up high, people. It’s hot-to-def up in this piece right now! Sizzling. L-o-r-d have mercy—good God! And I can’t turn it down it. I won’t to turn it down: TURN IT UP! S-S-S-S-S-S… W-O-O-W-E-E! Yes! Can you feel it? HOT DAMN!!!
“IT’S-SO-IT’S-SO-HOT-HOT! I’M-BURNIN’-I’M-BURNIN’-UP-UP!”
S-S-S-S-S-S….
That’s that GHETTOHEAT®! THE HOTNESS IN THE STREETS!!!™
A creative force to be reckoned with, worldwide. Blazing across the globe, promoting literacy to the masses. Encouraging everyone to read more books. S-S-S-S-S-S…. The intensity: rising higher-and-higher; so is THE GHETTOHEAT® MOVEMENT! Folks, prepare yourself for “the hotness”, as I present to you, the newest member of the GHETTOHEAT® family: the lovely, the talented, the magnificent, the oh-so-fabulous, MIKA MILLER, author of AND GOD CREATED WOMAN. A GHETTOHEAT® PRODUCTION.
A •••••, A WHORE, A BASKET CASE AND A DYKE!
AND GOD CREATED WOMAN, a sophisticated, provocative story that chronicles the evolutionary journey of four flawed African-American women, as they overcome their individual struggles, and survive to become beautiful and stronger. Meet the four feisty, fascinating females:
Tristan, a beautiful, successful, financial guru who’s emotionally bankrupt: “Men call me a •••••! Because when it comes to business, I’m a man-eater.”
Mekka, the bold, sexy, exotic dancer who’s a single-mother of two: “Some people call me a hoe because I strip for niggas and hustle for cash.”
Shawn, a neurotic, Afrocentric, neo-soul goddess, who’s an elementary school teacher with substance abuse issues: “Some people call me desperate. The truth is, I’m a basket case, a borderline alcoholic; I hate being by myself…”
Melanie, the cool, sassy, hardcore “‘round-the-way girl” with a sexual identity crisis: “I can see that he’s trying to figure out whether I’m a girl or a guy. It’s not easy to tell.”
AND GOD CREATED WOMAN is a ground-breaking tale of perseverance, filled with many moral messages. Taking readers on an emotional journey with enticing plots, twists and turns, Tristan, Mekka, Shawn and Melanie are forced to realize the true essence and beauty of a woman.
Excerpts from AND GOD CREATED WOMAN by MIKA MILLER
A GHETTOHEAT® PRODUCTION
MEKKA
Some people call me a hoe because I strip for niggas and hustle for cash.
Yeah, I turn tricks.
I tell niggas, “If the price is right, then the deal is real.” My momma used to say, “As long as you got a pussy, you sittin’ on a goldmine. Never give your shit away for free.”
If that means I’m a hoe, so be it!
None of these bitches pays my bills or puts food on my mutha…fuckin’ table, so •••• ‘em!
God didn’t give me the type of brains where I can understand all that “technical” book shit. In elementary school, I was never good at math and, to tell the truth, I was never that good at readin’ either.
It’s not like I didn’t try.
It’s just that, when it came to school, nothin’ really registered. In high school, I tried to learn the secretarial trade. I figured that if I had some sort of technical skill, that I could at least get a halfway decent gig after I graduated. Well, it turns out that typin’ and shorthand was just another thing that I failed at.
So bein’ somebody’s secretary was out of the question.
With no real education or skill, I had to settle for minimum wage jobs. My first job was workin’ as a maid at a five-star hotel. After about two weeks, I got tired of cleanin’ after rich bitches that shitted all over the toilet seats, and hid bloody tampons all over the goddamn place!
And I wasn’t ‘bout to work in nobody’s fast-food restaurant. So I had to come up with a new plan. And that’s when I met this f-i-n-e-ass, Puerto Rican muthafucka by the name of Ricky.
Ricky was a straight-up thug. He had tattoos all across his chest and stomach like Tupac and shit. When I met Ricky, I had two kids. I was single, workin’ my ass off as a hostess in a restaurant and braidin’ hair on the side.
I was finally maintainin’, you know, gettin’ money. But I was always workin’, so I didn’t have no time to enjoy my kids or my money.
Ricky came on the scene and promised me all kinds of shit. He was like, “Baby, you ain’t gotta work that hard, why don’t you lemme take care o’ you and nem kids.”
Ricky had my head gassed up, for real!
Plus he was layin’ the pipe on the regular. Fuckin’ me real good wit’ his fine ass. So one night, after Ricky got finished eatin’ my cooch, he was like, “Baby, I’ma take you to Philadelphia wit’ me. You an’ the kids can come wit’ me, and I’ll hook ya’ll up wit’ errythang.”
Me, bein’ naive, I followed his fine ass all the way to Philly and shit, and the nigga started trippin’! Beatin’ me up, knockin’ me all upside my head, accusin’ me of cheatin’...which I wasn’t. Ricky started kickin’ my ass to the point that I was too ashamed to go to work with black eyes and busted lips, and I eventually got fired.
Long story short. After a while, I finally had enough. I packed me and my kids up and went to a shelter. I didn’t know no fuckin’ body, I didn’t know shit about Philadelphia—all I knew that I was broke and I needed a place to stay for me and my kids.
So I went to the welfare office….
TRISTAN
Men call me a •••••!
Because when it comes to business, I’m a man-eater. My mind thinks faster than theirs, my competitive edge is sharper than theirs, my will is stronger than theirs.
Men call me a •••••.
Because I am a machine—I seek and destroy the competition. I close the million-dollar deals. I call the shots.
Men call me a •••••.
Because I’m not a traditional woman, I don’t fit into their mold. I don’t cook, I don’t clean and I don’t take their mess. I go where I want to go, I do what I want to do, and I say whatever it is that I want say...all without the assistance, or permission, from any man. And they can’t stand it.
So they call me a •••••….
I say, if the best word that men can conjure up to antagonize me with is “•••••”, then I’ll be that…we all know that obedient and docile women are never the kind to make history.
I used to take offense to the word “•••••”, but now...humph...I take it as the highest compliment. Do you know what I tell them? I tell them “•••••” stands for: “Being In Total Control of Herself.” After all, with my high-end, six-figure salary, I can afford to be a “•••••”! I can also afford my newly-renovated condominium on Rittenhouse Square, my summer home in the Hamptons, my lodge in Namibia, my chauffeur-driven Bentley, and my Gucci, glitz and glamorous lifestyle.
The stigma of a being labeled a ••••• is clearly a double standard. Why is it that every time a woman, such as myself, climbs the ladder of success, stands at the top of the financial hierarchy, and makes a name for herself, without taking shit from any man, she has to be considered a •••••?
If the aforementioned attributes is what qualifies someone as being a “•••••”, then I must pose this question, is billionaire, real estate developer, Donald Trump a •••••? Is rebel and gazillionaire, Richard Branson, owner of Virgin Airlines a •••••? Was oil industrialist and investor, John D. Rockefeller a •••••? If not, then why me?
Oh well, no sense in losing sleep over it. Que sera sera.
I can only be me.
I have always grabbed life, and men, by the balls. Men may not like me, but they will respect me. What men fail to realize is that I didn’t always have it like this.
I started out as a stockbroker. I got my Series 7 license while I was at Harvard Business School. When I graduated, with an MBA, my first job was at Merrill Lynch in Manhattan.
I remember the first day I’d walked onto the New York Stock Exchange trading floor. I was meek, skinny, and nervous like a little baby bird, walking out into a sea of vultures and buzzards. The energy was chaotic—men yelling, phones ringing, ticker symbols changing frantically. I was being pushed, poked and prodded, bombarded, elbowed and shoved, until I found myself standing smack dab in the center of the trading room floor.
I felt like the room was spinning.
I felt lost.
And abandoned.
But most of all, I felt powerless.
I went through my first day without making one transaction. At the end of the day, my boss, Donny, took me to dinner. I’ll never forget it.
He told me that, “The trading floor is a ‘man’s world’, maybe you should rethink your role.” Donny also told me, in so many words that, I was too “pretty” for that line of work. He meant it as a compliment, but I’d interpreted his statement as an insult.
MELANIE
I never cared much for dick.
Pussy has always been my thang!
When I was thirteen, there were two dykes that lived on my block. At the time, I didn’t know they were dykes; I didn’t even know what the word “dyke” meant. All I thought was that, the two ladies, who were “roommates”, lived across the street.
One was named Miss Tanya; the other, Miss Gloria. Miss Gloria was the pretty one, not that Miss Tanya wasn’t pretty, it’s just that, Miss Gloria had a more conventional type beauty: pretty face, pretty smile and long, pretty hair. Tonya, well, she was a bit rough around the edges, but back then, so was I.
Miss Tanya wore baggy clothes, like me. She wore her hair in cornrows, like mine (before I chopped all my hair off), and Miss Tanya had a swagger in the way she walked, like me.
Miss Tanya walked like a man.
And talked like a man.
She was confident, and strutted like a peacock. Miss Tanya always wore Dickies work suits and denim coveralls.
Miss Gloria was more dainty and feminine.
She shimmied when she walked, kinda like Jackee did on the TV show, 227; always wearing tight sweaters and painted on Sassoon jeans.
Miss Gloria always smelled like fancy perfume.
Miss Tanya always smelled like motor oil.
Miss Gloria hosted Tupperware parties.
Miss Tanya worked as a janitor at Temple University, who also drank Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer.
Miss Gloria liked to drink hot cocoa with marshmallows and eat iced apple pie a la mode. That’s the one thing that she and I had in common. Now, come to think of it, that’s probably why we bonded so quickly.
When “the dykes” first moved on the block, it was wintertime. I remember because, three weeks after they moved in we had this huge snowstorm, and the block was snowed in. School was closed, so my sister, Tristan and I were stuck at home, while my dad braved the weather and went to work at the hospital.
I got up early that morning, threw on my rainbow-colored snowsuit, and raced outside to make some dough; shoveling out sidewalks, stoops and walkways for the folks on the block. It snowed for two weeks straight, so I made plenty of holiday dough that year; not to mention the fact that I got cool with most of the neighbors, especially with Miss Gloria….
Whenever Miss Tanya was home, she always shoveled her own walkway, but there were those rare occasions that she had to work, and I would step in and “fill her shoes”.
On those days, I always saved “the dykes’” house for last, because Miss Gloria tipped the best, and always made me come inside for hot cocoa and apple pie when I was done. We’d also sit in her living room and listen to albums. Miss Gloria and I would dance and lip sync, or play cards until it was time for me to go home for lunch.
I loved those snow days.
Soon, the winter season went away, and spring appeared. Shoveling snow transformed into mowing lawns, and in the fall, mowing lawns turned into raking leaves. It didn’t really matter what the season was, Miss Gloria would always invite me in….
SHAWN
Some people call me desperate. The truth is, I’m a basket case, a borderline alcoholic; I hate being by myself and my luck with men is shitty.
I’m clutching my sleek, silver cell phone in the palm of one hand, and a scotch on the rocks in the other. I want to call Mike, but I’m trying to muster up enough will power to sustain the urge.
What did I do that was so wrong that would make him not want to talk to me anymore?
I scan the room to ensure that none of my colleagues are around to witness my drunken, self-induced pity party.
It’s happy hour at Zanzibar Blue, the premiere venue for world-renowned live jazz music and fine dining, located along the prestigious Avenue of the Arts. It’s an upscale restaurant with an intimate atmosphere, where corporate types go to unwind after work.
I sit alone at a table for two, within the semi-private topside dining room, and I wonder what Mike is doing now…
He hasn’t answered my chirps since I told him about those dreams I’ve been having about being pregnant. Shit, Mike knew that he was taking a chance by sleeping with me without a condom. If he thought that I was a slut, then Mike would have never taken it there.
Right?
…I mean, one minute he was talking marriage, the next minute Mike’s acting as if I don’t exist, just because I told him about my pregnancy dreams.
He still hasn’t called me….
I’ve even written Mike a letter…or two...or three, and he won’t even respond to that.
I don’t understand why Mike’s tripping.
I cooked breakfast for him, wrote him poetry, and even bought Mike a shit load of clothes.
Why won’t he talk to me?
…What did I do wrong?
I let Mike •••• me the same day we’d met, and he was sprung! Talking about, I’m so sexy this, I’m so pretty that, blah-blah-blah, now, he won’t even talk to me.
I just have to try harder and make Mike realize how much he needs me in his life. I have to make him understand that were good together.
Why can’t Mike see that?
…All I want is to be happy. I want to be in love, and I want someone to love me the way Allen Payne loved Jada Pinkett in Jason’s Lyric. How he took her out on picnics, washed Jada’s feet, made butt-naked love to her in the grass, and was romantic and gentle—Allen worshiped her. I want Mike to want me the same way.
Why does this always happen to me?
Why? Why? Why?
I’m a beautiful person.
Right?
…I mean, I deserve to be loved. I’ll make Mike see. If I’m pregnant, he’ll have to take care of his responsibilities. Then Mike will understand that this is a blessing.
Maybe I ought to call him now.
Mike has to answer sooner or later. If I’m pregnant, he’s gonna have to face me eventually.
•••• Mike!
•••• me.
Why does this always happen to me?
I dial his number and Mike’s machine immediately picks up. His prerecorded message plays: “Hey, yo, what up? I’m not available at the moment. Leave me a message and I’ll holla back. Or hit me up on my two-way. You know the deal.”
B-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-p!
I whisper into the phone. All the while, I’m checking the door for any signs of someone who could bust me.
“Um, Mike. It’s Shawn. I just wanted you to know that I’m fine. I had another dream last night about the baby. It was a boy, and he looked just like you.
“Just because I might be pregnant, doesn’t mean you have to treat me this way…I love you…I love you Mike. We may have only known each other for a month, but I do love you. You’ll see...please call me.
“I, um…wrote you a letter. You should get it tomorrow. I’ll be home all day tomorrow because it’s Saturday, and I haven’t made plans. Stop by if you want to—”
“’CAUSE I’M A WOMAN—PHENOMENALLY. PHENOMENAL WOMAN, THAT’S ME!”
MIKA MILLER is a native of Philadelphia, who’s a loving mother, a conscientious novelist and an extraordinary woman. A savvy entrepreneur who wore many hats in the stringent world of corporate America, specializing in the areas of retail, corporate, and municipal finance, she’s now pursuing her career as a full-time writer at GHETTOHEAT®.
In between juggling motherhood and enjoying family life, while being a lover of the Arts and crafting her own creative works, MIKA MILLER also devotes her time empowering women worldwide through an organization called Phenomenal Woman; assisting in healing and rebuilding the lives of women, spiritually, emotionally and financially.
AND GOD CREATED WOMAN is MIKA MILLER’s debut novel, in which she’s currently penning the sequel.
To mail comments or questions to MIKA MILLER, send all correspondence to:
GHETTOHEAT®
P.O. BOX 2746
NEW YORK, NY 10027
ATTENTION: MIKA
or e-mail her at: MIKA@GHETTOHEAT.COM
AND GOD CREATED WOMAN by MIKA MILLER in stores February 22nd!!! Pick up copies at: B. Dalton, Barnes & Noble, Borders, Borders Express, Waldenbooks, all African-American bookstores and everywhere else where books are sold.
Order AND GOD CREATED WOMAN on aalbc.com, amazon.com, b-dalton.com, bn.com, bookhousecafe.com, GHETTOHEAT.COM, qbr.com, soulonwheels.com and theblacklibrary.com. Preorders are now being accepted up until March 31st, in which you can order AND GOD CREATED WOMAN by mail by sending a check/money order for $10, plus $4 for shipping and handling (Add an extra dollar for each additional book ordered. CONVICTS GET FREE SHIPPING) to:
GHETTOHEAT®
P.O. BOX 2746
NEW YORK, NY 10027
Please be sure to make payments out to GHETTOHEAT®. Receive FREE SHIPPING when ordering on GHETTOHEAT.COM. Also note that orders received postdated after March 31st will not be accepted for the discounted price of $10. Thanks in advance for your support!!!
READINGISSEXY!READINGISSEXY!READINGISSEXY!READINGISSEXY!READINGISSEXY!READINGISS EXY!READINGISSEXY!
Hey sexy. Yes, you, reading that book by GHETTOHEAT®. What’s your name? …I’m so attracted to your sexiness right now; can I talk to you for a little while? READING IS SEXY, and being “sexy” is a state-of-mind, and I must admit, I am turned on by your intelligence. Look at you, just turning them pages, reading quickly, wanting to get to the climax of the story. Damn! You are so sexy…keep reading—you’re making me very excited! So excited, that I must meet you in person—at the “READING IS SEXY” tour. Keep on reading, baby, just promise that you’ll show me some more of you’re sexiness at my book signing on:
7.21.07 @ 11am-7pm The Harlem Book Fair 2007, Section S53
West 135th Street, New York, NY
6.16.07 @ 2pm-8pm Borders Express
MIKA MILLER, SHA & HICKSON’s Book Signing
2000 Route 38, Cherry Hill, NJ
6.9.07 @ 4pm-6pm As The Pages Turn Book Club
MIKA MILLER’s Book Discussion
Café 3801
3801 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA
6.4.07 GHETTOHEAT®: 4TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY
5.26.07 @ 1pm-7pm B. Dalton Bookseller, Livingston Mall
MIKA MILLER, SHA & HICKSON’s Book Signing
112 Eisenhower Parkway, Livingston, NJ
5.25.07 @ 12pm-5pm B. Dalton Bookseller, Union Station
MIKA MILLER, SHA & HICKSON’s Book Signing
50 Massachusetts Avenue NE, Washington, DC
5.19.07 @ 1pm-7pm Waldenbooks
MIKA MILLER, SHA & HICKSON’s Book Signing
880 N. Military Hwy, Norfolk, VA
5.12.07 @ 1pm-6pm Borders Express
MIKA MILLER, SHA & HICKSON’s Book Signing
123 Christiana Mall, Newark, DE
5.5.07 @ 2pm-8pm Borders Express
MIKA MILLER, SHA & HICKSON’s Book Signing
2000 Route 38, Cherry Hill, NJ
4.28.07 @ 4pm-7pm Karibu Books, Prince George’s Mall
MIKA MILLER & HICKSON’s Book Signing
3500 E. West Hwy., Hyattsville, MD
4.28.07 @ 12pm-3pm Karibu Books, Forestville Centre
MIKA MILLER & HICKSON’s Book Signing
3282 Donell Drive, Baltimore, MD
4.27.07 @ 5pm-8pm Karibu Books, Security Square Mall
MIKA MILLER & HICKSON’s Book Signing
6901 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD
4.21.07 @ 1pm-7pm B. Dalton Bookseller, Livingston Mall
MIKA MILLER, SHA & HICKSON’s Book Signing
112 Eisenhower Parkway, Livingston, NJ
4.20.07 @ 12pm-5pm Bookman (Street Vendor Signing)
900 23rd Street, NW, Washington, DC
4.14.07 @ 4pm-6pm As The Pages Turn Book Club
(6-Year Anniversary Celebration)
Café 3801, Invitation Only
3801 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA
4.13.07 @ 3pm-6pm Empire Books
MIKA MILLER & HICKSON’s Book Signing
6106 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA
4.13.07 @ 11am-3pm Empire Books (Street Vendor Signing)
MIKA MILLER & HICKSON’s Book Signing
30th Street and Market Street, Philadelphia, PA
4.7.07 @ 2pm-6pm Borders Express
MIKA MILLER, SHA & HICKSON’s Book Signing
1061 Green Acres Mall, Valley Stream, NY
3.31.07 @ 1pm-7pm B. Dalton Bookseller, Newport Mall
MIKA MILLER & HICKSON’s Book Signing
30 Mall Drive West, Jersey City, NJ
3.30.07 @ 2pm-6pm Borders Express, Gallery Mall
MIKA MILLER, SHA & HICKSON’s Book Signing
9th & Market Street, Philadelphia, PA
3.24.07 @ 12pm-8pm Mejah Books, I-95 Tri-State Mall
MIKA MILLER, SHA & HICKSON’s Book Signing
333 Naamans Road, Claymont, DE
3.23.07 @ 3pm-6pm Empire Books
MIKA MILLER & HICKSON’s Book Signing
6106 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA
3.23.07 @ 11am-3pm Empire Books (Street Vendor Signing)
MIKA MILLER & HICKSON’s Book Signing
30th Street and Market Street, Philadelphia, PA
3.23.07 @ 11am-7pm Massamba (Street Vendor Signing)
SHA’s Book Signing
164th St. & Jamaica Avenue, Jamaica, NY
3.16.07 @ 11am-7pm Massamba (Street Vendor Signing)
SHA’s Book Signing
164th St. & Jamaica Avenue, Jamaica, NY
3.17.07 @ 4pm-7pm Karibu Books, Iverson Mall
SHA & HICKSON’s Book Signing
3737 Branch Avenue, Hillcrest Heights, MD
3.17.07 @ 12pm-3pm Karibu Books, Forestville Centre
SHA & HICKSON’s Book Signing
3282 Donell Drive, Baltimore, MD
3.16.07 @ 11am-7pm Massamba (Street Vendor Signing)
MIKA MILLER, SHA & HICKSON’s Book Signing
164th St. & Jamaica Avenue, Jamaica, NY
3.15.07 @ 11am-7pm Massamba (Street Vendor Signing)
164th St. & Jamaica Avenue, Jamaica, NY
3.10.07 @ 1pm-7pm Borders Express
SHA & HICKSON’s Book Signing
1365 N. Dupont Highway, Dover, DE
3.10.07 @ 1pm-7pm Liguorious Bookstore
MIKA MILLER’s Book Signing
2385 West Cheltenham Square Mall, Philadelphia, PA
3.9.07 @ 5pm-8pm Mejah Books, I-95 Tri-State Mall
MIKA MILLER & HICKSON’s Book Signing
333 Naamans Road, Claymont, DE
3.9.07 @ 11am-2pm Borders Express
MIKA MILLER & HICKSON’s Book Signing
1625 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA
3.8.07 @ 11am-7pm Massamba (Street Vendor Signing)
164th St. & Jamaica Avenue, Jamaica, NY
3.3.07 @ 2pm-6pm Borders Express
MIKA MILLER, SHA & HICKSON’s Book Signing
1061 Green Acres Mall, Valley Stream, NY
3.2.07 @ 11am-6pm Borders Express, Gallery Mall
MIKA MILLER, SHA & HICKSON’s Book Signing
9th & Market Street, Philadelphia, PA
3.1.07 @ 7:30pm-8:30pm Brownstone Books
SHA & HICKSON’s Book Signing
409 Lewis Avenue, Brooklyn, NY
2.24.07 @ 1pm-6pm Mejah Books, I-95 Tri-State Mall
MIKA MILLER’s Book Signing
333 Naamans Road, Claymont, DE
2.24.07 @ 1pm-6pm Waldenbooks
SHA & HICKSON’s Book Signing
7749 East Point Mall, Baltimore, MD
2.23.07 @ 5pm-8pm B. Dalton Bookseller, Newport Mall
SHA & HICKSON’s Book Signing
30 Mall Drive West, Jersey City, NJ
2.23.07 @ 3pm-6pm Borders Express, Gallery Mall
MIKA MILLER’s Book Signing
9th & Market Street, Philadelphia, PA
2.23.07 @ 11am-2pm Borders Express
MIKA MILLER & HICKSON’s Book Signing
1625 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA
2.23.07 @ 11am-2pm Borders Express, Gallery Mall
SHA’s Book Signing
9th & Market Street, Philadelphia, PA
2.22.07 @ 11am-7pm Massamba (Street Vendor Signing)
164th St. & Jamaica Avenue, Jamaica, NY
2.22.07 GHETTOHEAT® PRESENTS: AND GOD CREATED WOMAN
2.17.07 @ 1pm-7pm Waldenbooks
880 N. Military Hwy, Norfolk, VA
2.16.07 @ 11am-3pm Borders Express
1625 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA
2.15.07 @ 11am-7pm Massamba (Street Vendor Signing)
164th St. & Jamaica Avenue, Jamaica, NY
2.10.07 @ 1pm-7pm Liguorious Bookstore
2385 West Cheltenham Square Mall, Philadelphia, PA
2.9.07 @ 12pm-5pm B. Dalton Bookseller, Union Station
50 Massachusetts Avenue NE, Washington, DC
2.8.07 @ 11am-7pm Massamba (Street Vendor Signing)
164th St. & Jamaica Avenue, Jamaica, NY
2.3.07 @ 1pm-7pm B. Dalton Bookseller, Livingston Mall
112 Eisenhower Parkway, Livingston, NJ
2.2.07 @ 11am-3pm Borders Express, Gallery Mall
9th & Market Street, Philadelphia, PA
1.21.07 @ 2pm-5pm Derrick L. Briggs Book Club Presents: HARDER
Billie’s Black Lounge & Restaurant
271 West 119th Street, New York, NY
12.23.06 @ 2pm-10pm Waldenbooks
5324 Kings Plaza Center, Brooklyn, NY
12.22.06 @ 3:30pm-7:30pm B. Dalton Bookseller, Gallery Mall
10th & Market Street, Philadelphia, PA
12.22.06 @ 11am-3pm Borders Express
1625 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA
12.21.06 @ 12pm-5pm B. Dalton Bookseller, Union Station
50 Massachusetts Avenue NE, Washington, DC
12.17.06 @ 2pm-7pm B. Dalton Bookseller, Newport Mall
30 Mall Drive West, Jersey City, NJ
12.16.06 @ 1pm-7pm B. Dalton Bookseller, Livingston Mall
112 Eisenhower Parkway, Livingston, NJ
12.15.06 @ 6pm-8pm Hue-Man Bookstore
2319 Frederick Douglass Blvd., New York, NY
12.14.06 @ 3:30pm-7:30pm B. Dalton Bookseller, Gallery Mall
10th & Market Street, Philadelphia, PA
12.14.06 @ 11am-3pm Borders Express, Gallery Mall
9th & Market Street, Philadelphia, PA
12.10.06 @ 2pm-7pm B. Dalton Bookseller, Newport Mall
30 Mall Drive West, Jersey City, NJ
12.9.06 @ 2pm-6pm Borders Express
123 Christiana Mall, Newark, DE
12.8.06 @ 7pm-8:30pm Barnes & Noble
SHA’s Book Signing
290 Baychester Avenue, Bronx, NY
12.3.06 @ 2pm-6pm Borders Express
1061 Green Acres Mall, Valley Stream, NY
12.2.06 @ 2pm-6pm Shades of Nubian
7 Station Plaza, Hempstead, NY
12.1.06 @ 12pm-3pm B. Dalton Bookseller, Union Station
50 Massachusetts Avenue NE, Washington, DC
11.30.06 @ 7:30pm-8:30pm Barnes & Noble
SHA’s Book Signing
675 Sixth Avenue on 8th St., New York, NY
11.26.06 @ 9pm-2am Escuelita, featuring Harmonica Sunbeam ($15 Admission)
301 W. 39th Street, New York, NY
11.25.06 @ 12pm-8pm Mejah Books, I-95 Tri-State Mall
333 Naamans Road, Claymont, DE
11.24.06 @ 2pm-9pm Waldenbooks
5324 Kings Plaza Center, Brooklyn, NY
11.22.06 @ 12pm-6pm Henry (Street Vendor Signing)
125th Street & Lenox Avenue, New York, NY
11.19.06 @ 2pm-7pm Waldenbooks
5324 Kings Plaza Center, Brooklyn, NY
11.18.06 @ 2pm-7pm Waldenbooks
5324 Kings Plaza Center, Brooklyn, NY
11.17.06 @ 5pm-8pm B. Dalton Bookseller, Newport Mall
30 Mall Drive West, Jersey City, NJ
11.17.06 @ 11am-3pm Borders Express
9th & Market Street, Philadelphia, PA
11.11.06 @ 5pm-8pm Karibu Books, Pentagon City Mall
Pentagon City Mall, Arlington, VA
11.11.06 @ 12pm-4pm Karibu Books, Forestville Centre
3282 Donell Drive, Baltimore, MD
11.4.06 @ 1pm-7pm Waldenbooks
1404 North Parham Road, Richmond, VA
11.3.06 @ 3:30pm-7:30pm B. Dalton Bookseller, Gallery Mall
10th & Market Street, Philadelphia, PA
11.3.06 @ 11am-3pm Borders Express, Gallery Mall
9th & Market Street, Philadelphia, PA
WORD?:
1. “WHO YOU CALLIN’ A •••••?” On September 21st around 3pm, SHA: FIRST LADY OF GHETTOHEAT® was outside on “The Ave”, signing copies of her suspenseful thriller, HARDER, at Massamba’s vending table, in Jamaica, Queens; one week from SHA’s release date. It was a cool, sunny fall day, and SHA was out connecting with the folks, while I was there meeting and greeting the people, handing out flyers and bringing many to the table to check out her book. I just so happened to approach this girl, one who was not quite feeling SHA, for whatever reason. I handed her a flyer and said, “Hey, did you get a chance to meet your new author from queens, SHA: FIRST LADY OF GHETTOHEAT®?” The girl’s response: “You mean that ••••• who was out here last week wearin’ the red, green and yellow jacket? I don’t wanna meet her—•••• her and her book!” The girl replied before ripping up the flyer and walking away; never once she looked SHA in her face. Me being who I am, asked, “You kiss your mama with that mouth? Love, why must you be so disrespectful?”
SHA, not realizing what was happening, being busy autographing copies of HARDER, overheard the rude girl’s comment and retorted: “What? Who is she talking to?” as she began to rise from the table. I immediately interjected by stating: “SHA, you know people from around-the-way who don’t like you are going to hate on you. Don’t feed into their negativity. Many will try to discourage you because you’re doing something positive with your life. Pay that chick no mind, continue with your book signing.” SHA quickly regrouped, and began signing more copies than before; being fueled by the recent event. It was then when I first witnessed the GHETTOHEAT® rising in SHA, she being fully motivated by the foul-mouth girl’s hatred and disgust for her. All of this to say, not everyone is going to be supportive of you and what you do, yet you must always keep your eyes on the prize, and at times, learn how to feed off of other’s negativity; taking their bad energy and flipping it, in order to become a much more positive and productive individual. Crabs in a barrel live to pull you down into their misery—misery loves company. Yet, once you understand their motives and agendas, it becomes much easier to shake undesirables off, and continue with your goal. Press on!
2. HARDER, the debut novel by SHA: FIRST LADY OF GHETTOHEAT®, is making a major impact worldwide; SHA selling out her first shipment shortly after the release. See what readers are buzzing about, pick up a copy of HARDER at your local bookstore, or order it online today! Also, log on to GHETTOHEAT.COM, and check out the event page to see when SHA will be doing book signings in your hometown during the READING IS SEXY tour.
3. The READING IS SEXY tour continues to the end of the year, as SHA and I will be going HARDER until Christmas Eve, “Bonnie and Clyde” style. Part 2 of the tour continues on February 2nd, two days before my birthday, where our newest member, MIKA MILLER, author of the witty and sophisticated novel, AND GOD CREATED WOMAN, will be joining us. MIKA MILLER, SHA, and myself, HICKSON, will be touring, signing copies of our books while meeting you all—as we face the nation. See you soon!
4. “IF I WAS YOUR WOMAN, AND YOU, WERE MY MAN. YOU’D HAVE NO OTHER WOMAN, YOU’D BE WEAK AS A LAMB...” AND GOD CREATED WOMAN by MIKA MILLER, in stores February 22nd. Preorder today!
5. “M-Y LOVE, DO YOU, EVER D-R-E-A-M OF, CANDY-COATED R-A-I-N DROPS, YOU’RE THE SAME, MY CANDY R-A-I-N.”
—SOUL 4 REAL, featuring HEAVY D. CANDY RAIN remix
I’ve been told by many of you through phone calls, letters and e-mails, as well as by store managers and street vendors that CONVICT’S CANDY, the controversial novel by DAMON “AMIN” MEADOWS and JASON POOLE has been successfully selling out like crazy on the streets and in the stores, in which it’s almost impossible to keep the novel on shelves, or obtain copies of the book. Worldwide, thanks again for your support!!! People, have no fear, a new edition of CONVICT’S CANDY is now being revised by myself, and will be available in the new year. There will be more “Candy” for everyone, and trust, it will be “sweeter” than ever! Oh, word on the street is JASON POOLE is coming home soon….
6. “AIN’T NO SMILIN’ ON RIKERS ISLAND!” Shout out to the entire Bureau of Prisons. What’s up my knuckleheads!!! Didn’t I tell you
damn convicts that I would write you all just as soon as I had a free moment? Just when I finally had a chance to return the last letters I’d received from you since last June, in which I wrote a lot of you back, a large duffel bag full mail on top of that has been presented to me. Well goddamn! I guess you do have love for the HICKSON! Thanks people, I appreciate all of the love and supported you all have given me and my people here at GHETTOHEAT® from day one. And I see a lot of you have even sent letters to “AMIN”, JASON POOLE, DRU NOBLE and SHA as well. When writing SHA, I ask that you continue to be respectful when submitting your letters to her, as she’s a lady; FIRST LADY OF GHETTOHEAT®: THE HOTNESS IN THE STREETS!!! I know how some of you can get very “carried way” when writing me…and at times, well, I won’t get into your requests…just know that I am watching you. Feel free to show MIKA MILLER some love, also. You can forward letters to her attention at the P.O. Box address listed below.
Once again, manuscripts are also still being reviewed—many were read, many of you will get a response next week. Thanks again for your submissions. Others who haven’t mailed in their manuscripts but are interested in having it reviewed, also send your submissions to my P.O. Box address; Attention: HICKSON. Much success to you all.
An exclusive interview with DC Bookman and HICKSON of GHETTOHEAT®.
July 2006
I sat down with HICKSON, CEO of GHETTOHEAT® to discuss the book CONVICT’S CANDY, and to get the 411 on his next projects!
DC Bookman: HICKSON, you are the publisher of the newly released book, CONVICT’S CANDY, can you tell our readers a little about GHETTOHEAT® and the book?
HICKSON: GHETTOHEAT® is my publishing company which I started on June 4th, 2003. It wasn’t my original plan to pursue, since I was working in the fashion industry at the time. I was working as Naomi Campbell’s personal wardrobe coordinator for five years, then went on to work as a production coordinator for all of the big designers worldwide, before quitting the business the day before the 9/11 tragedy. It was then where I began writing as a form of expression and escapism. I was dealing with a lot at that time, in which the writing process was therapeutic for me. CONVICT’S CANDY is written by my two artists, DAMON “AMIN” MEADOWS and JASON POOLE, Essence best-selling author of LARCENY. The two contacted me in April 2005, telling me about the book. I was really impressed with DAMON “AMIN” MEADOWS and JASON POOLE wanting to write a book from federal prison that deals with HIV/AIDS awareness, as well as what really goes on behind the prison walls. I feel the two are doing a great justice for the urban community, especially to those who are still ignorant to the fact of the transmission of the deadly virus.
DC Bookman: How did you come up with the title, or did the writers come up with it?
HICKSON: “AMIN” came up with the title, CONVICT’S CANDY. “Candy” is the name of the pre-op transsexual in the story, one who gets arrested one week before the scheduled sex change operation. Without giving too much of the story, “Candy” looks exactly like a woman, being forced to be housed with male inmates within the facility. That alone should tell you what was going on in the prison. Keep in mind, this is a true story. Things were changed around to protect the guilty parties.
DC Bookman: What other works has your company published or is looking to publish?
HICKSON: The first book that I published was my own, titled after my company, GHETTOHEAT®. It’s a collection of hardcore poetry that deals with many social issues within the inner-city. The beauty about the book is that it’s sequential, so it actually seems though you’re reading a novel, with characters that meet up from time-to-time. I’m finishing up the last few touches on my first novel, SKATE ON!. The story takes place in Harlem in the 80s, based on three teenaged girls from the Polo Grounds Projects, learning life on the gritty streets, all while venturing to the most notorious roller-skating rink in the world—The Rooftop! SKATE ON! Takes you back in time to a place when life was less chaotic. HARDER, written by SHA: FIRST LADY OF GHETTOHEAT® is being released this fall. The story is based on a young teenage girl named, Kai from South Side, Jamaica, Queens, with ambitions of taking over the entire New York City drug trade on her own. The story is going to get the attention of a lot of people, as it deals with Kai growing up, and her struggle to survive against all odds. Soon after, SONZ OF DARKNESS, written by DRU NOBLE will be released. It’s an urban sci-fi tale about two brothers who were separated early on as children, but brought back together by conflict. The story is well written, and most refreshing, not your typical “ghetto” story.
DC Bookman: What are your future plans for GHETTOHEAT®?
HICKSON: To do everything in a major way; stay tuned!
DC Bookman: What books are you currently reading and what authors to do you admire?
HICKSON: Truthfully, I haven’t had time to read any new books, due to the fact that I’m constantly reading manuscripts. Authors that I admire—my own! (Smile). Log on to GHETTOHEAT.COM and check them out.
DC Bookman: Tell me a little about HICKSON, and the things that interest you.
HICKSON: HICKSON is a man who lives with integrity, marches to the beat of his own drum, one who is here to make a difference in life—with hopes that his legacy passes on.
DC Bookman: Well, thank you, HICKSON, I appreciate your time, and will be looking out for more from you.
HICKSON: Thank you.
Everyone, I want to wish you a joyous holiday and a happy new year in advance. May this year bring you peace, prosperity and happiness to the fullest. I myself am extremely looking forward to 2007, as I sense a lot of great things happening. For one, I’m planning to step up my game, and bring you more GHETTOHEAT® productions for your enjoyment. Secondly, I predict that I’ll be introducing you to more artists in the new year to come, and that THE GHETTOHEAT® MOVEMENT will continue to increase tremendously, with a larger, diverse audience, growing quickly from ghetto-to-ghetto worldwide. I anticipate my hustling skills improving, and spreading the word on the importance of reading more across the globe. I hope that you’ll stick around with me to see what all happens. Nonetheless, I’m sure that it will all be interesting.
In the meantime, did you feel the “hotness” in this newsletter? Quiet as kept, things are steaming up here at GHETTOHEAT®, one way or another; I’ll elaborate further in ’07. People, I want you to fully embrace our newest family member MIKA MILLER, the new literary ingenue of AND GOD CREATED WOMAN, a novel I’m sure that will touch your heart. MIKA put her all in her debut novel, and you will feel it, as you will be dazzled between each page. AND GOD CREATED WOMAN will be in stores February 22, 2007, so out for it then. Until then, continue with your participation in THE GHETTOHEAT® MOVEMENT, continue to send in your e-mails, letters and comments, whether good, bad or indifferent to me, and to the rest of my artists, as we all love to hear from you, and please, most importantly, spread the word about GHETTOHEAT®: THE HOTNESS IN THE STREETS!!!™. I’m going to sleep, people. One! (Wink!)
DROPPIN’ JEWELS: Never bite the hand that feeds you!
HICKSON
CEO of GHETTOHEAT®
Publisher of GHETTOHEAT®, CONVICT’S CANDY, HARDER, AND GOD CREATED WOMAN, SONZ OF DARKNESS, SKATE ON!, GHOST TOWN HUSTLERS & SOME SEXY
GHETTOHEAT
P.O. BOX 2746
NEW YORK, NY 10027
GHETTOHEAT.COM
GHETTOHEAT: THE HOTNESS IN THE STREETS!!!
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