David L is an author and publisher who holds a Bachelors Degree in Communications and Human Relations and a Masters Degree in Social Work with a concentration in clinical administration.

In the fall of 2004, he self published his first novel It's Like Butter, Baby and became one of New York City's best-selling self publishers.

His new release entitled Over Your Dead Body is set in present-day New York, written in character-specific dialogue to effectively capture the essence of it’s realism to urban America. Over Your Dead Body stands alone in two ways: First, it provides a passionate backdrop of just how fragile an institution like marriage can be. Secondly, it clearly reveals that there is indeed – a thin line between love and hate.

David has authored several published articles relating to race relations and "How To" articles in becoming a self-published author. David also works with emotional and behavioral challenged youth.

Urban Reviews:  Tell us about Over Your Dead Body.
David L:  My new novel chronologically follows a husband and wife over the course of one calendar year. Each chapter strategically reveals a portion of that year and the calculated demise of their marriage and once-loving relationship. Each character uses every trick in their arsenal to gain the upper hand on the other. Even their two children are nothing but pawns in their game of “cat and mouse.” I cover the whole range of emotions with each character: rage, betrayal, jealousy, and especially – revenge. My primary objective was to portray a slow, methodical break up of a once happy couple and the repercussions of what could happen if there is no communication in that relationship.

Urban Reviews:  What inspired you to write this novel and to become an author?
David L:  My inspiration for this novel was a large billboard promoting the ease of a quick and inexpensive divorce that I noticed one day driving on the I-95 highway. I was traveling back to New York and witnessed the same billboard several more times before reaching my destination. Between the multiple larger-than-life billboards and the unfortunate increasing statistics of divorce, I wanted to pen a novel that would show others the other side of what could possibly happen during the course of a bitter divorce. My inspiration to become a published author was twofold: first, to leave a legacy on the world as an established writer with an ability to create works of art universally appreciated, and secondly, to broaden the writing scope of authors and the reading scope of readers everywhere.

Urban Reviews:  You released this novel under your own publishing company Total Package Publications. Why did you choose to go this route for your book?
David L:  I released my second novel Over Your Dead Body due to my previous experience with POD (print-on-demand) publishing. Although I do not consider my initial venture into POD as negative or positive, I definitely received an immediate wake up call on what it means to be your own publicist, literary agent, editor, and every other role imaginable. I knew after my first book was released that unless I was going to creatively control all aspects of the book manufacturing process, I would have to take control of my own career as well as the shelf life of my novels.

Urban Reviews:  Do you have any upcoming projects in the works?
David L:  My next novel (as of yet untitled) is almost complete and I expect a release date some time around spring 2008. The main character finds out one night that her husband was brutally murdered in a hotel room by his bi-sexual lover and begins a serial killer-like murder spree of her own.

Urban Reviews:  What are some of the strengths and weaknesses of self-publishing?
David L:  Like most things in life, there are strengths and weaknesses in the literary world that is self-publishing. What stands out as a definite strength is the creative control one has as a self-publisher. You control your release date, your body of work, and most importantly, your creative direction for your novel. Conversely, a weakness to self-publishing is the amount of work that is required in order for your novel to get any type of media attention. Major publishers and their imprints almost always are given the priority when it comes to shelf space within a bookstore or interview coverage. A self-publisher has to work twice as hard in order to establish that credibility with the aforementioned sources.

Urban Reviews:  What is the biggest thing you've learned about the literary industry?
David L:  Don’t burn your bridges! There has been many a time in which I wanted to verbalize my frustrations with a street vendor and/or book-related professional. You do that and your name and consequently, reputation will be tarnished!

Urban Reviews:  What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
David L:  My advice to aspiring authors is to follow Nike’s advice and Just Do It! That may sound like a typical cliché, but I’ve never heard a slogan that relates more to what it takes to make it work for you. All books, scripts, ideas, etc. begin with a vision and a well thought out plan. If writing a book is your “thing,” then it begins with one word. That one word will quickly form a sentence, which will bring forth a paragraph. Before you know it, you will have pages of material to call your own. The rest is history!

Urban Reviews:  What do you want people to know most about you?
David L:  That my overall mission in this literary business is to create “one fan a day” and write what I feel is intelligent, well thought-out fictional material. It is a very humbling experience to know that someone has requested an autographed copy of my literary work and I do everything possible to portray my appreciation. I also personally respond to all of my email correspondence and try my best to write a personalized comment to anyone who purchases a book from me and continues to “tell the world my name!”