Reading is back in style, bringing in profits for the big publishing houses and self publishers as well. Stephen King helped popularize the trend while several authors such as Dean Koontz and James Patterson followed. Today a new genre is sweeping the nation attracting new fans by the thousands ... a genre known as urban or street literature.
Donald Goines and Iceberg Slim are legends of the game, two of the most recognized authors of this ever growing urban genre. Their twisted tales came from the heart, gritty stories of hard - knock living that sparked not only controversy but interest. Some twenty years later many new talents have kept the drive alive.
After Sister Soulja's groundbreaking, best selling novel, The Coldest Winter Ever, several have literally followed a similar path to success. Even with noted success by a few authors, many still found it next to impossible to acquire a worthy publishing deal. In the late 1990's Vickie Stringer, a street hustler recently released from prison revolutionized the industry by exploring independence and financial freedom. By extreme hustling she eventually raised money and self published, not only gaining mass fanfare but establishing the multi-million dollar empire known as Triple Crown Publications. Stringer learned to capitalize on what appeared to be a reoccurring fad and set the standard for many publishing houses who produce the same hardcore genre of books.
Writing has sprung a contagious affect in the urban world as hundreds of new authors emerge every year; so many that the critics are now asking: has street literature become saturated with the same type of books? Just how long will it last? With more aggressive ways of advertising and reaching this growing audience it's hard to fight the fact that this popular brand of books could be around to stay.
Contel Bradford was born in Detroit, Michigan where he still resides. He is an active freelance writer and currently writes numerous articles and develops web content for various clients. He is also the author of novels such as Dark Decisions, Dangerously in Love, Consequence: Crossing the Gentlemen, Thug Nation, and the extremely erotic ebook, Hot in Here.
Mr. Bradford recently wrote his first nonfiction book entitled, The iPod & iTunes Handbook: The Complete Guide to the Portable Multimedia Revolution, soon to be released with Atlantic Publishing Inc. Contel is currently working on an anthology featuring some of Detroit's hottest authors which will be released some time in the summer or fall of 2008.
