 Mike Sanders:
Blowing Up From the Pen
by Seth "Soul Man" Ferranti
February 2008
Mike Sanders is in the feds doing a bid, but he hasn’t let that stop his hustle. This North Carolina kid is doing his thing, with two books out, Hustlin’ Backwards and Snitch and a third, Thirsty, on the way. His novels have gained much acclaim andthe streets are definitely feeling him and his Down South drug-game stories.He’s had some ups and downs in the industry though and he decided to share his story with The Urban Book Source.
Seth: How many books do you have out and what are the titles?
Mike: I currently have two novels in publication. The titles are Hustlin’ Backwards and Snitch.
Seth: When did you first put out your books?
Mike: My first novel Hustlin’ Backwards was published in December of 2004 and my second novel Snitch, which is the sequel was released in May of 2006.
Seth: Who published them?
Mike: Both novels were published by Black Pearl Books, Inc., which at that time was a respected up and coming publishing house.
Seth: What is your relationship with the publisher?
Mike: My relationship with Black Pearl right now is non-existent. I’m currently entangled in a legal battle with them for failure to comply with the terms of our contract. The way Black Pearl has dealt with and continues to deal with this matter is very unprofessional.
Seth: What do you think of the game?
Mike: I think the book game today is just as shady and crooked as the music industry. Everybody has an agenda. If you’re not on top of your business, you are going to get shitted on. Today the urban market is flooded and saturated with so many books that the consumer is getting discouraged to spend their money because a lot of the stories they are reading is redundant. Nobody likes repetition. That’s why it is up to us to change the game and bring something fresh to the industry.
Seth: What are you working on/doing currently?
Mike: I’ve completed my third novel, which is titled Thirsty. I’m looking forward to releasing it this year with a new publishing home. This novel is not the typical “drug dealing story”, it shows many dimensions of the street and it also shows my versatility and growth as a writer. I’m excited about releasing it. There is no specific date of release as of yet, but it is dropping soon.
Seth: What are your future plans?
Mike: My future plans are to continue to drop hot novels with interesting plots and twists which keeps my readers satisfied. I also plan to open a publishing company, which will give a lot of talented authors, which are trapped inside the “belly of the beast” the opportunity to have their voices heard. I was blessed with the opportunity and I would like to see more brothers and sisters in the struggle become published authors. There are so many talented writers locked behind these walls.
Seth: What authors do you like?
Mike: I enjoy reading Eric Jerome Dickey. I like conscious reads as well like Robert Green’s 48 Laws of Power and Carter Woodson’s The Mis-Education of the Negro. I also like Wahida Clark, Quentin Carter and K’wan—they bring freshness to the Street Lit game.
Seth: What made you want to write?
Mike: To be completely honest the thing that made me want to write was the fact that I knew if certain authors could write “gangsta novels” who have never lived that life then I could definitely do it with no problem. Writing street novels came naturally for me because I incorporated experiences from my own life and those who I’d been around my entire life into my books. Once you’ve lived that lifestyle and witnessed everything there is to see in the streets, putting it on paper seems to become second nature.
Seth: Where are you from and what are you currently doing a bid for?
Mike: I was born and raised in Charlotte, NC, the Queen City. Conspiracy to sell and distribute cocaine based crack.
Seth: Anything else you’d like to let readers know?
Mike: I want to thank everyone who has supported me by purchasing a Sanders urban novel. However, I encourage then not to purchase another book from Black Pearl with my name on it. My novels will be re-released soon through a new publisher along with my third book, which is titled Thirsty. Be on the lookout for that. I’m also looking forward to meeting many of my readers as soon as I am able to do a tour. 2008 is going to be a beautiful year. Thanks to Seth and The Urban Book Source for allowing my voice to be heard. Much Love. Stay up.
Seth Ferranti is a contributing writer for The Urban Book Source and accomplished journalist having written articles for Don Diva, Slam, King, Feds and many more. View more of his articles at: www.gorillaconvict.com
THE URBAN BOOK SOURCE IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY COMMENTS THAT ARE POSTED. IF A COMMENT IS DEFAMATORY, PLEASE CONTACT US AND APPROPRIATE ACTION WILL BE TAKEN.
|
