KaShamba Williams
Urban Book Source
March 2007

Please join us in celebrating Women’s History month as we spotlight one of our leading ladies in Urban Fiction.

UBS: How long have you been writing? And how long has it been since you started in this industry?
KaShamba: I started in 1999 but didn't have anything professionally published until 2003.

UBS: Through the course of several interviews with authors, both established and upcoming, we stumble across the same issues over and over regarding the beefs between publisher and author. With your industry experience, what do you think the problem is? And how can it be fixed?
KaShamba: Authors not thoroughly reading their contracts and not doing the research needed to learn the business. Study the craft and read your contracts. Don't be so quick to sign. Let the contract marinate for a few days. If the company wants you, they're willing to wait those extra days.

UBS: What do you think is the cause of the sudden burst of authors being signed to the major publishers? Do you think the authors that sign these contracts, are making the best choices?
KaShamba: The cause is the green... money green! Majors want a piece of the pie, if not all of it. Urban Fiction is continuously advancing and is becoming the number AA genre. If they are motivated by money, of course they are making the best choice for their families. There's money to be made in this industry. Again though, they need to read the contract thoroughly before they sign that contract.

UBS: What is some advice you would give a self-published author or aspiring author in this industry?
KaShamba: Stay focused and don't lose retrospect of why you decided to pursue a career as an author.

UBS: What clauses in a publishing contract can be the most confusing to a new author? What should he or she be wary of in a contract?
KaShamba: Royalties and paying back the advancement (if they receive one). Most think an advancement is some sort of bonus. They don't understand it is what it is - an advance on money that you haven't made yet that has to be paid back!

UBS: What is the title of your latest novel and what does it deal with?
KaShamba: My new title that will be released in '07 is Mind Games. Imagine being 25-year-old Serenity Wells. She’s trying to raise her two children while living in the basement of her mother’s house with her husband Kyron, who’s finally home from a 3-year prison bid. When it comes to beauty Serenity ups pageant standards. Ironically, when it comes to insecurity and lack of trust, Kyron tops them all. Their lives wouldn't be that bad if Serenity hadn't cheated on him, and to make matters worse, had a baby on him!

Serenity's tired and so is Kyron of trying to make their young marriage work. However, when both of them invite extra curricular activities in, the love returns. Or, does it? Will love overrule betrayal, or have they been playing Mind Games with each other?

UBS: Do you have any favorite authors? If so, can you name a few?
KaShamba: Lolita Files, Gloria Mallete, T.D .Jakes. Also, I appreciate most Urban Fiction authors.

UBS: What do you say to those bashing this genre of writing?
KaShamba: What's to bash? You either like it or you don't. That's all it is. I'm not fond of science fiction but you won't here me downing or dogging the author's out. It's ridiculous if you ask me.

UBS: Lastly, where do you see this genre/trend 7-10 years down the line?
KaShamba: Books last a lifetime, why wouldn't this genre? I don't consider it a trend. I consider it an addition to literature.

KaShamba Williams is the author of Blinded, Driven and several other bestselling titles. For more information, visit: www.kashambawilliams.com

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kent powe :

Posted 827 days ago

DEAR SISTER KASBAMBA MY NAME KENT POWE# JA-2463 AND IAM FROM NYC AREA. ME BEING A WRITER MYSELF I HAD TO EXPRESS MY THOUGHTS WITH YOU ABOUT YOUR BOOK- DRIVEN. I READ IT AND NOTICE SOME THINGS YOU COULD OF DONE BETTER. 1# BIG MARV YOU POTRAYED HIM TO BE THIS STAND UP GUY THAT SOLD DRUGS, PIMP WOMEN AND HAD RESPECT FROM EVERYONE. PLUS ALL THE WOMEN WANTED TO GET CLOSE TO HIM, BUT YOU HURT HIS CHARACTER WHEN YOU ALLOWED HIM TO BE STABBED 31 TIMES TO DEATH BY A GUY WHO OWED HIM MONEY FROM DRUGS. THAT TOOK AWAY EVEY THING YOU BUILT HIM UP TO BE. HE DIED LIKE A REGULAR STREET PUNK. 2# LORETTA WAS GIVING 18 YRS IN PRISON FOR DRUGS. YOU SHOULD OF LET HER BE RELEASE AFTER 9 YRS BECAUSE THIS WAS HER FIRST OFFENSE. PLUS PEOPLE DONT DO ALL THERE TIME IN FEDERAL PRISON,IT'S ALWAYS EARLY RELEASE FOR FIRST TIME OFFENDERS. 3# STAN WAS GIVING LIFE IN PRISON FOR MURDER. THEN YOU REMOVED HIS CHARACTER RIGHT OUT OF THE BOOK. YOU SHOULD OF ALLOWED HIM TO SET UP SELLING DRUGS IN PRISON. HAVE BIG MARV VISIT HIM ABOUT SELLING FROM JAIL.HAVE STAN HOOK UP WITH ONE OF THE PRISON GUARDS IN ORDER TO GET THE DRUGS IN. MAKE GOOD AND THAT WAY STAN CAN PAY FOR HIS LAWYER ECT..... SISTER KASBAMBA I'AM WORKING ON A BOOK. I'TS ABOUT A 17 YR OLD SPANISH FEMALE RUNAWAY AND I'TS CALLED SWITCH BLADE. THE BOOK HAS LIFE, CHARACTER, AND ALL THE ELEMENTS NEEDED FOR IT TO BE TRULY A BEST SELLER . LET ME KNOW IF YOU INTERESTED AND IF SO, MY RETURN ADDRESS IS KENT POWE # JA-2463 SCI SMITHFIELD-1120 PIKE STREET HUNTINGTON,PA. 16652 GOD BLESS YOU.
NFLEKGRENGDVMNOIJDYFEMV;P'[DOHNFEYUQWE;'GPSJYCWN B,

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