Against the backdrop of city unrest and machine politics, Tantrum is a gritty urban score about a politician's remarkable fall from personal grace, punctuated by a brief rise to public glory. It reveals the internal conflicts of a young man at war with both inner and outer demons. In between, discover a dramatic mix of compelling personalities as suspenseful, intriguing plots quickly unfold. Tantrum: an explosive political thriller, wrapped in fiery multi-narrative by a city gripped in extreme violent rage and unstable transition.

Urban Reviews:  Where did the idea for this novel come from?
Charles D. Ellison:  Initially, about 10 years ago, Tantrum was a candid collection of personal essays on my experiences in the world of politics. Working on Capitol Hill, living in Washington, D.C. and rubbing elbows with influential lawmakers left me somewhat jaded and downright cynical about the political process. But, it also evolved into an extended opinion piece about society, pop culture and where we were going as a people. There was interest from a small publisher, but they went defunct shortly after the contract was signed.

Everything happens for a reason. A year later, after a re-read of Ward Just's Jack Gance then Professor Derrick Bell's And We Are Not Saved and his follow-up Faces at the Bottom of the Well, I drew up this idea about a young protagonist who rises to political power, but is faced with all sorts of personal, philosophical and professional dilemmas. The genius in Bell's approach was that he created fictional situations and characters to make points about society, politics and culture. Drawing from my own personal interest in science fiction and crime sagas, I figured: why not create a dark, witty political thriller in which the characters express different perspectives about themselves and the world around them? Dirty, historic, edgy and very urban Philadelphia was the perfect setting for it. I then created this edgy story line, using some of the essays as dialogue in the book.

Urban Reviews:  What made you want to get into writing? Is it something you see yourself doing long term?
Charles D. Ellison:  Writing has been a passion since wiping my runny nose from age 4. My grandmother taught me how to read and I spent most days venturing into the local North Philly Logan library devouring books. It all started with Mark Twain and stories on King Arthur - and then I discovered comic books.

I came from a family with a deep passion for jazz and classic Black literature. Plus, it helps being raised in a city like Philadelphia, known for its long, proud tradition in creative arts. So, I was turned on to Goines, Hurston, Himes, Hughes, Cullen, DuBois, Morrison and others at a very early age since I could read and comprehend at an advanced level. It was James Baldwin's Go Tell It on The Mountain at age 9 which suddenly sparked an interest in creative writing. I identified with the character John Grimes, his existence in a big unforgiving metropolis. And, then, Maya Angelou's I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings - I met her at a book signing in downtown Philly at age 12, hung out in her limousine while my aunt took photos. She was mad cool, patient - as if we'd known each other for years. And the most prominent thought from that day was thinking how much I wanted to be a writer like her. It's the ideal life.

Urban Reviews:  What things did you do to help prepare yourself for the book business?
Charles D. Ellison:  My career as a professional political writer and commentator have been a tremendous asset in learning about the writing business. I didn't take any classes, but the annual Writer's Market Guide is a strong primer on the literary industry. Plus, I'd read or watch interviews of successful authors. Stephen King's On Writing is a good, inspirational piece on the writing world. I'd recommend the Writer's Market Guide as an essential read for any budding author breaking into the publishing industry.

Urban Reviews:  How do you feel about being a male author in an African-American Fiction market that is mostly dominated by female writers?
Charles D. Ellison:  That's an interesting question deserving of a panel discussion or conference. The reasons for that are multifaceted. But, it's a beautiful thing that Black people are writing at all. While teaching me how to read, my grandmother stressed how important it was for Black people to read. There was a time, she used to say, when it was against the law for us to read or write "and I'll be damned if you don't know how to." There's a certain amount of pride drawn from being part of the Black literary experience.

Urban Reviews:  With so many books coming out these days, what things are you doing or have you done to promote your book?
Charles D. Ellison:  Between my weekly radio show on Sirius/XM satellite radio, frequent commentary in the Huffington Post, Politico and The Root, I've got quite a bit of name branding out there. I'm able to bridge my academic work into the promotion of Tantrum. Since it's a political thriller, my work in politics offers a certain sense of credibility to the book. The publisher, Ghetto Heat, is doing a fantastic job keeping me busy on the book touring circuit. My publicist - The P|Rme Group's Veronica McDonald - actually read and dug the book (note: if you get a publicist, make sure they read the book first). Plus, I really dig the touring component: getting out there and meeting people. It's like a political campaign, pure viral marketing. Taking it to the streets.

Urban Reviews:  Are you working on or have any ideas for any upcoming projects?
Charles D. Ellison:  I love politics, so you'll be seeing quite a few political thrillers from this author over the duration. There's no field of human endeavor as dramatic as politics. There's a sequel to Tantrum and I'm conducting research on a third novel with a female protagonist. There's some non-fiction in the next few years. Each novel will be set in Philly - even though I've transplanted to Washington, D.C., Philadelphia is a great town, full of culture and grit. And it's a very political machine town.

Urban Reviews:  Do you have any favorite authors or books?
Charles D. Ellison:  Since watching Forrest Whitaker in the cult classic Ghost Dog about a modern Black samurai hired by Italian mobsters, I've found myself religiously reading The Hagakure by Tsunetomo Yamamoto. It's a very simple, elegant read full of great short stories about the code of the samurai. Recently, I got hooked on Richard K. Morgan's Altered Carbon series, this British cat who writes some of the best science fiction ever written, primarily because he puts a political edge in it. Can't wait for this cat's next book. Ryan Gattis' King Fu High School - check that out. But, I'm a lifetime Ralph Ellison fan, having read Invisible Man several times. Chester Himes If He Hollas Let Him Go. Brent Wade's Company Man is the modern follow-up to that, and was actually one of the inspirations for Tantrum. Again, I couldn't put down James Baldwin's Go Tell It on The Mountain. Anything by Toni Morrison grabs my attention. On the real, I thought Terry McMillan's Disappearing Acts was way ahead of its time when I read it at age 14. George Jackson's Blood in My Eye was a favorite. Big up to Todd Craig for his experimental urban score Torcha' - lot of folks sleeping on that piece; I got a signed copy from him at Harlem Book Fair 2008 and couldn't put it down. Classic stuff. Another major favorite of mine: The Emperor of Ocean Park by Stephen Carter. There's quite a few favorites, so I know I've missed a few.

Urban Reviews:  What are some of the biggest lessons that you've learned about the literary industry?
Charles D. Ellison:  Most important: understand the process, from editing to distribution and sale. Make it your business to understand the business. It's also very important that you have a transparent, supportive publisher that keeps it one hundred with you at all times. Also: don't write a book just so you can say you wrote a book. The next phase is to push it: you need to have the energy, both physical and mental to push your book. Don't be afraid of book signings - being on tour is the most important element. And, when you're on tour, don't ever sit down. Even if you're at a book store or fair or expo for an entire day, call up your Zen and engage the people non-stop. Be active - and exercise. The only way for people to know about your book is if you engage them - sitting down at a book signing indicates lack of confidence in your book and yourself. It's one thing to write a book - but, can you sell it? And, lastly: a support system that includes family and friends. This is absolutely crucial. My greatest challenge is finding that balance between touring, writing and raising a family.

Urban Reviews:  What else would you like to share with us about yourself or your novels?
Charles D. Ellison:  Writing is a meditative, spiritual process. And, it's a challenge to transition from fact-based commentary writing back to creative writing. Honestly, I draw quite a bit of inspiration listening to hip-hop: the hard, heady, intelligent underground stuff you find in DJ crates: Madlib; MF Doom; Dumhi; Oddisee; Akir. I can't listen to the Top 40 radio spun stuff. Plus, I dose on jazz, reggae, dub, ska - music with thought to it. If you read Tantrum, you might find a certain poetic, punchy cadence in the writing style. When I'm writing, I search for a flow.