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Urban Reviews: Tell our readers about Against The Grain.
Freeze: Follow young Arkadian Frost as he and childhood friends rob banks
to obtain money just to survive. After going to prison where he was
forced to be a man, Arkadian came home with ambitions of being The
Man. The only problem is that his best friend, Mike is already the
man and will not bow out gracefully. Greed and a secret divides
their crew. Friends become enemies. People die. The only person he
can trust is his woman ShuShawn, who is his ride or die chick.
Together no one can stop them, except maybe the Feds…. who were
watching everything.
Urban Reviews: Where did the idea for this novel come from?
Freeze: Honestly, It was a Jay-Z song. I'm inspired by
greatness. Only a few rappers are great storytellers. In my opinion,
Jay-Z is the best. Music and television inspire me.
Urban Reviews: What made you want to get into writing? Is it something
you see yourself doing long term?
Freeze: I discovered a passion for writing while I was doing
a nine year bid in prison for selling drugs. I use to charge guys to
write letters for them. So I guess my biggest inspiration was the
guys that I did time with. I'ma good listener. I listened to a
million and one war stories in prison. And I also looked at them and
knew that I needed to do something different with my life so I don’t
come back and have to hear a million more. I'm not sure how much
longer I'ma be doing this. I think I'll write four more books and
I'm done. Move out the way for the new writers. I wanna take it to
the next level. Omar Tyree gave me the game. He said we as
black writers need to pull together to get our books on the big
screen. I'm hoping that my book will open other doors for
me....television, plays, movies.
Urban Reviews: What things did you do to help prepare yourself for the book
business? (read books, take a writing class, learn about publishing
rights, etc)
Freeze: I promise you....I don't have any professional training nor
have I taken a writing class. I was listening to my radio about 2
a.m. one night while I was on lock-up 23 hours a day and Coming Of
Age (Da Sequel) came on. I started thinking about my main
characters. I asked the officer to turn my light on in my cell. By
the time they bought breakfast around I had the first 50 pages to
Against The Grain finished. All I kept thinking was that I wanted it
to be as good as The Coldest Winter Ever.
Urban Reviews: You are signed to the Nikki Turner Presents imprint. Can you
tell us how you got your publishing deal?
Freeze: I submitted two short stories to Triple Crown for a book
called The Game. At the time Nikki was down with them. She was the
one that chose my short story (Free Money) for the book. We kept in
contact and became friends. When I came home, Nik held me down and
told me she got me once her thing popped off. It's been a few years
but she kept her word and I'm here now. Shout Out to Nikki Turner.
Urban Reviews: With so many books coming out these days, what things are you
doing to promote your book?
Freeze: Since I don't want to just be another author with a book on
the shelves that nobody knows about I staying on my publicist Cory.
She's a Godsend. I've passed out 10,000 flyers. I've done book
signings. Just came off a five city tour. I've done radio. I use
MySpace. And I'm at all the major functions. Nikki Turner, Seven and
I are planning a book signing tour for early next year. I'll also be
at BET's Spring Break. I wanna change the traditional way these
publishers promote and market new authors. I wanna do the syndicated
morning shows, 106 & Park, MTV and all that.
Urban Reviews: Are you working on any upcoming projects?
Freeze: Yeah, I working on my new book, DICK....A Gift & A Curse.
Then I'ma put out Against The Grain 2: Guess Who's Back. I'm also
working on a movie called Heavy Weight On The Block with my team
SlamTime Ent. It's like 90% done. I work with at risk youths too.
Trying to save them from the gangs. So, I'm just grindin' right now.
Urban Reviews: Do you have any favorite authors or books that you enjoy
reading?
Freeze: Too many to name so I'll just give you my top five. Of
course, Nikki Turner. Standing At The Scratch Line by Guy Johnson is
my all time favorite. Sister Souljah, S.C. Dickens (Didn't See This
Coming) and Darren Coleman (Do Or Die). I like his style.
Urban Reviews: Name one thing that you would have done differently in regards
to your literary aspirations?
Freeze: Nothing. Everything has fallen into place and is going
well. Against The Grain just went into a second print. Something
like 20,000 books now in circulation. I'm good.
Urban Reviews: What else would you like to share with us about yourself
or your novels?
Freeze: I'm very grateful to everyone
that has bought my book and to the hundreds of people that email me
everyday telling me how much they loved my book. I put a lot of time
and energy into writing it. Didn't want to give you any garbage. So
tell a friend to tell a friend. Send copies to the troops. And if
you know Oprah or Will & Jada Smith....please give them my book. I
want the world to read my baby....Against The Grain.
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