It’s been a year and some change since an Essence Bestselling Author has hooked up with the legendary Martha Stewart for a chat. Especially since Ms. Stewart sought her out. Well for Wahida Clark, she has more than that to look forward to in the upcoming year. 2007, Lord willing will see not only the release of her highly anticipated fourth novel, Thug Matrimony, a release from the Federal Prison Camp in West Virginia where she is serving 125 months for conspiracy/money laundering, mail and wire fraud. Her accomplishments in spite of her situation merit the standing ovation, some white roses and a legion of fans on the magical day when she walks out of prison. Wahida chose Jarold Imes for her interview to address her fans, literary critics and to show that there is love behind these bars.
Jarold: Wahida, tell me about your upbringing? What was life like before the sentence? Wahida Clark: What’s average? I came up in the hood and you know how that is. Survival of the fittest. Welfare, food stamps, government cheese, weed, boosting, partying. I had the average dysfunctional family, (smile). I always had a roof over my head and clothes on my back. Single parent home in the projects, Donnelly Homes, until I was about 9 or 10 then we moved to the West Side of Trenton with my Aunt Ann and Uncle John. May he rest in peace. That was all love. Before I was incarcerated, I was running my businesses and working a 9 to 5. Ironically, working the 9 to 5 is how I caught my case.
Jarold: So I take it that you went to trial? Wahida Clark: I took my case to trial and loss. That’s right. This sista here lives by the code: Death before Dishonor. However, I lost two appeals so I don't hit the bricks until 07.
Jarold: Hmm, Death before Dishonor. So you don't have any love for those who snitch? Wahida Clark: Not at all. When everything is going good, they eating, balling, and getting paid, taking care of their families, it's all gravy and they are happy to play their part. But as soon as the shit hits the fan their weakness and hypocrisy gets put on blast. The sad thing is without snitches the government 98% of the time doesn't have a case. Snitches tell the things that the government wasn't even aware of. If everyone on my case would have stood tall we all would have walked.
Jarold: So how has prison affected your views on life? Wahida Clark: I appreciate being with and having a family that much more. I no longer take the simple things in life for granted. Freedom. My physical freedom is truly valued. If you have been locked down, or did time with a loved one you understand what I’m saying.
Jarold: How are you being treated by guards and inmates? Wahida Clark: My fellow inmates show me lots of love and support. The guards, I stay out of their way and treat them with respect, so they can only do the same for me.
Jarold: Everyone is fascinated with the fact that you got to roll with Martha Stewart. Tell us what she was like? Wahida Clark: I didn’t hang out with her. I met with her on several occasions. She put together a Business Seminar, with us allowing the guests to pick her brain. And I met with her to go over my business plan for my publishing company. She gave me some very valuable feedback. Martha is cool. She did her little five months like a trooper and was always willing to help you out if she could. Plus my agent used to date her niece and told her to look me up when she got here. Which she did. The first day she hit the compound she was asking who knows Wahida Clark. By that evening I had got the message and I went to meet her. I thought she was going to be standoffish. But she was the total opposite, to my surprise.
Jarold: So how did the inmates treat her? Wahida Clark: Whenever I got with her it was always on a business tip. So I didnít always see how the rest of the population was treating her. You always gonna have your haters and I would hear different comments. But me? I'm not a hater. I’m a congratulator. I’m trying to get where she is. She is big time. Certified Gangster for real. Whenever you can do time and turn on the preview channel and see your TV show getting ready to air: That’s Big! Whenever you can do time and your magazines are coming out every month: That’s Big! Whenever you can do time and two major retail chains that carry your products merge and you make a billion: That’s Big! Whenever you can do time and your stock from your company is steadily rising: That’s Big! Whenever you can do time and when you set your foot out the gate and a TV show is waiting for you: Thatís Big! Whenever you can do time and bounce on your own private jet: That's Big! You get my point? I think she’s a brilliant businesswoman.
Jarold: Speaking of business, tell us about your upcoming projects and Thug Matrimony. Wahida Clark: Well, I have an anthology coming out called, What is Really Hood? Vol. I. It is an Anthology of five blazing hood stories, by Victor Martin (A Hood Legend), Shawn “Jihad” Trump, Bonta, myself and introducing Mo Foxx. Everyone is on lock. Then in April '07, the highly anticipated, Thug Matrimony drops. Ninety-eight percent of my readers, hit me up and say, “Wahida, we love Payback is a Mutha, but…whats up with Snake? Angel's Wedding? Is Trae dead? Please don’t leave us hanging like that.” Well, all of the answers are in the highly anticipated Thug Matrimony.
Jarold: How do you keep your ear to the streets that is in literary business? How do you know what is going on with your books? Wahida Clark: I read, I watch, I learn, I study. My team at home is whats really good: my husband, my sisters-in-law and my daughters, Hasana and Wahida.
For more information on Wahida Clark, visit www.wahidaclarkpresents.com and/or myspace.com/wadhidaclark. Write to:P.O. Box 8250, Newark, NJ 071
Comments page 3 of 8:
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Cherelle Gordon :
Posted 840 days ago
Im Waitin for THUG MATRIMONY 2....I wanna kno whats good wit trae and Tasha(roz)
stephanie hoke :
Posted 843 days ago
when is Thug matrimony 2 coming? I love all your books and just order "pay back with your life".
Janea :
Posted 860 days ago
Girl, this book was awesome. I couldn't put it down. I finished this book in like a day and a half. I even read it again. All your books are so good. I am ready for the next one. Keep writng how you write. I am hoping to one day write my own book. Anyway Go girl
sadi :
Posted 868 days ago
hey gurl wats good wit you well dis that sadi just to let ya know ya books are off the hook
Erica The Next Writer 4 Da Hood :
Posted 870 days ago
YO WATS HOOD WAHIDA GIRL YO U R DEFINITELY DA TRUTH IM REALLY FEELIN UR BOOKS. AND I LOVE EVERY THUG NEEDS A LADY AND ITS SEQUELS. ME AND MY GIRLS BE TALKIN ABOUT UR CHARACTERS AS IF WE KNO THEM. AND I LOVE KAYLIN AND ANGEL(RED).BUT I WANT 2 BE A WRITER 2 IM 17 AND I ALREADY WROTE 2 BOOKS (THEY MADE NEED A LIL WORK BUT ITS ALL GULLY) MY FREINDS SAY I MAY BE THE FUTURE U TERI WOODS OR MAYBE JUST ME BUT I LOVE UR WORK AND HIT ME UP AT MYSPACE.COM/LADYJIGGA05 TO GIVE ME SOME POINTERS ON HOW TO BECOME A SUCESSFULL WRITER GOOD LOOKIN AND IM WAITIN ON THUG MATRIMONY 2 HOLLA AT UR GURL E 1
valerie g.(bellstar) :
Posted 876 days ago
Wahida you the woman that put the"h" in hood I'm your #1 fan and supporter , so keep that pen hot and bring us sommoe
kye :
Posted 879 days ago
Wahida you did your thing with books girl you got down to the nitty gritty...lol...but you are my favorite author and I love your books they are the true defintion of the streets....when can we get sequel to Thug Matrimony and a movie!!!!!!!!
Jessica :
Posted 887 days ago
Gurl you really did ya thing in all of your books just like yo other fans this gurl here loves all of the books you wrote.The books was so intresting it had a sista waiting just to turn to the next page.The emotion, the intensity, the drama,the passion all of the these things were in their right places it was never boring well not to me.You had me looking for a man like the ones in your story.Not only was the men on point but the female characters also they were all going through it but all was strong.Out of all of the books I thought Thug Matrimony was my favorite. So, when will you come out with the movies to give us a face to these bodies even though my thoughts gave a face I would love to see the story on the big screen ya know. Keep up the good work
tiff :
Posted 895 days ago
your every thug need a lady and thug matiromy had a sista lookin for a thug in hi and low places. lmao i was applyin for a thug like chicks do for food stamps keep up the work gurl
MelissaCarter :
Posted 906 days ago
HELLO, I LOOKING FOR YOU NEXT BOOK? THIS ME MELISSA CARTER. HOW YOU BEEN DOING? I FIND. CAN'T WAIT FOR NEXT ONE! TALK TO LATER! BYE, TAKE CARE OK! MELISSA CARTER!
Tiffany Pleasant (Young Girl) :
Posted 924 days ago
Yo, I done read alot of books,but your books,your novels are the truth. Whenever I read one of your books, I can't put it down. I be up all type hours of the night girl cause I be so eager to see what's gone happen next. Keep doing your thang wit that pen. You got so much talent. I'm looking forward to another "Thug Matrimony and others to come." You truly are a pitbull in a skirt. U gots to have tough skin in this industry and you handling yourself very well. To all your haters, tell them keep hating cause you loving it.. It Ain't Nothing But "Motivation."
Tab :
Posted 941 days ago
I read all your books & followed how you were writing from early on in your bid verus when you were getting ready to be released... you are definitely by far my favorite author & now that you are free can't wait to see what direction you take your fans in..... when you wrote Thugs & the women who love them you were experimenting.. Every Thug needs a lady your were seasoned & with Thug matrimony you were coming home & I was able to tell the difference in your writing .... You definitely keep the fans wanting more PLEASE don't be like a certain author & keep us hanging for YEARS for the next book or books
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It’s been a year and some change since an Essence Bestselling Author has hooked up with the legendary Martha Stewart for a chat. Especially since Ms. Stewart sought her out. Well for Wahida Clark, she has more than that to look forward to in the upcoming year. 2007, Lord willing will see not only the release of her highly anticipated fourth novel, Thug Matrimony, a release from the Federal Prison Camp in West Virginia where she is serving 125 months for conspiracy/money laundering, mail and wire fraud. Her accomplishments in spite of her situation merit the standing ovation, some white roses and a legion of fans on the magical day when she walks out of prison. Wahida chose Jarold Imes for her interview to address her fans, literary critics and to show that there is love behind these bars.
You truly are a pitbull in a skirt. U gots to have tough skin in this industry and you handling yourself very well. To all your haters, tell them keep hating cause you loving it.. It Ain't Nothing But "Motivation."