FEATURED AUTHOR: Wahida Clark

Wahida Clark was born and raised in Trenton, New Jersey. She is no stranger to the hard work and sacrifices that breeds success. This Jersey girl owned and operated multiple businesses in Trenton, NJ and Decatur, GA. She decided to write street fiction while incarcerated at the women's Federal Prison Camp in Lexington, Kentucky.


She was crowned the Queen of Thug Love Fiction by Nikki Turner, the Queen of Hip Hop Fiction. Wahida's style of writing is the 'TEMPLATE' for street lit.


Wahida is the first Street Lit author to land multiple publishing deals with two major publishers all while serving an eight and a half years federal prison sentence. She says it wasn’t easy.


At press, she has just completed the follow up to Payback is a Mutha, entitled, Payback With Ya Life and is now working on ‘Thug Luvin’, part 4 to her ‘Thug ‘ Series. She is also Vice President of the non-profit organization, “Prodigal Sons and Daughters,” a re-entry program for those previously incarcerated, as well as support group for at-risk youth.

The Golden Hustla


All of Georgia law enforcement is aware that WMM Advertising-also known as "We Make Millionaires"-is one of the biggest and hardest-to-penetrate fraudulent telemarketing firms in the state. But when a tape recording of a man's death surfaces that may involve WMM, Atlanta homicide detective Danny Houser realizes that he may actually have the smoking gun needed to go after the firm. All he needs is someone inside WMM to sniff out the company's secrets. Soon he sets his sights on Alexis Greenspan, aka Nina Coles, the telemarketer's top sales associate. Approaching retirement, Houser will do everything in his power to manipulate Coles and solve this one last case...no matter who gets hurt in the process.


How did you start out your writing career?


I worked in the prison library so I was surrounded by books. Books that I knew that I could write just as well or even better. I discovered that writing was something I could do while incarcerated. I saw that I could establish a cushion for when it was time for me to step into the free world.


What did you learn while writing this book?


I’ve written ten books. Each one teaches me discipline.


What did you hope to accomplish with this book?


It’s a step up and I want to broaden my audience.


Is the “writer’s life” what you thought it would be?


I didn’t know that along with the celebrity comes nonstop work. I didn’t know that writing was so much work. Completing a book is just the beginning.


Which five characters (can be from books, movies, or TV shows) would you invite over for dinner and why?


Mr. and Mrs. Obama, Uncle Yah Yah, Donald Trump and Dr. Cornell West. Knowledge, wisdom and understanding attracts me and I can get all of that hands down from these 5 greats.


What are three things you wish you’d known before you reached where you are now?


1- The amount of discipline it takes to write


2- The business side of writing


3- More prepared for controversy


Can you give us one do and one don’t for those aspiring to be a writer?


1- Don’t be lazy


2- You have to read and you have to write


What one thing about writing do you wish other non-writers would understand?


It’s serious. It is not a game.

What was the best advice you’d ever gotten about the publishing industry? The worst?


The best advice was that I could do it. The worst would be self-publishing. Self publishing is a real heavy load.


What is something readers would be surprised you do?


Love basketball! To watch not play. lol

If you could be a character from any book you've read, who would you be?


Uncle Yah Yah, the 21st Century Man of Wisdom


Our theme this month is Men In Fiction. What male writer are you reading?


Al Dickens and I hope to squeeze in Eric Jerome Dickey’s latest. He is one of my absolute favorites.

Oprah always asks, What do you know for sure?


I’ve only learned what I have yet to learn.


Can you give us a sneak peek of your next book?


Visit my website http://www.wclarkpublishing.com/ and sign up as a member. The members are the only ones privy to sneak peeks! J


How can readers get in contact with you?


http://www.wclarkpublishing.com/, www.facebook.com/wahidaclark, www.twitter.com/wahidaclark
ireadwahida@wclarkpublishing.com


Wahida Clark

PO Box 8520


Newark, NJ 07108


Leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of Golden Hustla.


If you enjoyed this post, please consider becoming a member of SORMAG's community - Join Today