K'wan Foye
Urban Book Source
January 2006

Born to a poet/painter, K’wan was destined for creativity from birth. Like most children of the ghetto, K’wan got sucked into the streets before realizing his talent. He didn’t start writing until 2001, after a small run in with the law, and a short stint in a county jail. It was in prison that K’wan discovered his knack for storytelling. K’wan continues to reside in Harlem, NY, where he consistently crafts his tales.

UBS: We really enjoyed your first novel, Gangsta. What inspired you to pen that tale? Lou-Loc was a well developed character.
K’wan:Gangsta was a novel that pretty much penned itself. It started as an argument between my daughter's mother and I. I was imagining what she would be like if she were a character in a book, and that’s how I got the idea for Martina. Martina needed someone to annoy, so I created Lou-Loc. Lou-Loc needed someone to tell his problems to, so I developed Gutter. And so on, and so on. The story was developed while my mother was in the hospital. I would just write as therapy, but by the time she died I had penned a whole novel.

UBS: How long have you been seriously writing?
K’wan: I've been seriously writing since 2001. I had written a vampire novel in 1996, but that was just for fun. I shelved it back then, but it'll be published soon. Book one is called Prophecy and book two is called Blood Lines.

UBS: Which book did you have the most difficult time writing?
K’wan: The book that was the hardest for me to write was Hoodlum. Originally it was two books: In My Father's Name & The Good Son. At the last minute the publishing house decided that they didn't want a sequel, so I had to combine the two books. I had to remove almost thirty thousand words, but the story came out pretty good.

UBS: Throughout our research it was brought to our attention that you have formed a publishing company (Black Dawn Books); can you tell us a little about this? Do you have any writers you're looking at or have already signed?
K’wan: Yes. I started Black Dawn, Inc. in early 2005. We do publishing, author management, ghost writing, etc. Black Dawn Books is the publishing division. We currently have two authors; Derek Vitatoe, and Sonny F. Black. Derek's novel, With These Hands is the first book to be published. It's about a serial killer preying on the Sorority sisters of Central Michigan University. It's a real page turner. Sonny's novel is Lazarus. It's the story of a young man and his pregnant girlfriend who are brutally murdered. A voodoo priest raises the young man from the dead with the help of a revenge demon called Azul, in an attempt to give the man his life back, Azul changes the terms of the deal. He thrives off revenge and chaos and uses Lazarus as a killing tool.

UBS: What are your upcoming titles?
K’wan: I have a bunch of upcoming titles. Eve will be out in March. Hood Rat will follow that. Gutter (the sequel to Gangsta) will hopefully be out at the end of the year, followed by Diamonds & Pearl, Outlaw, The Vow, Men of Respect, Trouble Man, and several other untitled works.

UBS: Do you have a problem killing off your main characters?
K’wan: Yes and no. Sometimes I get so wrapped up in a character that I want him/her to appear in other works, but in some cases their deaths make a better story.

UBS: You've been nominated in our 2006 Author Eye Candy Poll. How does this make you feel?
K’wan: I'm very flattered. I mean, I know I'm not a mud duck or anything like that...lol, but I don't put much stock in my outward appearance.

UBS: How do you feel about the urban fiction genre?
K’wan: Right now, it's kind of watered down. I love the fact that urban fiction and its authors are finally being recognized, but you also have a lot of people invading the genre that don't need to be here. There are quite a few authors who weren't doing urban fiction until it got popular. Now they're street? Knock it off. If you're a bubble gum writer then write bubble gum. Don’t come to the same genre that you thumbed your nose at.

K'wan is the author of Gangsta, Road Dawgz, and Hoodlum. For more information, visit: www.kwanfoye.com or www.blackdawnbooks.com

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Neicy :

Posted 70 days ago

K'WAN!! I love your books! Me n my sisters get so into them that we feel like we kno the characters! I have five of your books which include the whole Hood Rat novel! R u gonna make any movies based on any of your books? Cuz if so can I say the Hood Rat novel would be a killah! Keep writin cuz we will keep readin!

ms.detra young :

Posted 317 days ago

I really enjoyed gansta after I had to reread the first few pages again because u do totally different writting than I am use too reading beause you have to become your characters in your book too really understand and comprehend your writing and I you are very gifted sweetie keeP up the good work

africa :

Posted 339 days ago

Hey. K'wan I jusy wanted to say we Love You. Meaning myself and my daughters. Keep up the good work. We are your fans forever. Hurry with your next book. We aee waiting. LOL. Love You so much.

traday :

Posted 447 days ago

Anybody who says this man can't write is just ignorant....I love all his books and although I read gutter b/4 ganster...its always sold out so I have to just have something by kwan...keep doing what u do...a real fan....not a hater...and ralph get a life....hoe ass nigga!!

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