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 4 of 8:
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Kristen :
Posted 798 days ago
I have read Thugs and The Women Who Love Them, Every Thug Needs A Lady, and Thug Matrimony at leat 5 times each!!! I love them!!! The characters are so real it's like you know them personally. And Kaylin and Trae...I think every girl that reads this book is gonna want a man like them. WHEN IS PART 2 OF THUG MATRIMONY COMIN OUT!!!! I can't wait for it. And lets not forget Payback Is A Mutha and Payback Wit Ya Life. For those who haven't read it you need to go cop both of them.
nichole :
Posted 808 days ago
I loved thug matrimony... i read it n a day!!! Please let me kno when vol.2 is coming out.....
Angela Bryant :
Posted 811 days ago
Wahida, I am probably your biggest fan, I even got people at my job reading your books who never thought about reading your books before. But girl, pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeease don't keep a sista hangin, tell me when is Thug Matrimony 2 coming out because i am ready hear some more from my fine a** boyfriends Kaylin and Trae (no disrespect to Angel and Tasha) Ha Ha. Anyway I am looking forward to collecting all of your books. Just a thought by the way, I would looooooove for you to do collaboration with Nikki Turner because both of are my number one writers and I make it my business to collect each and every book written by you two. Congratulations on your success and Keep bringing that reality hood fiction girl, cause I can't get enough.
Pearleen Rice :
Posted 812 days ago
Wahida i love your books!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They are amazing i just can't get enough of trae and kaylin they character seems so fine and i love their swagger. Keep up the good work and i can't wait for thug luvin
Brittany :
Posted 813 days ago
I'm going crazy right now! I read Every Thug Needs A Lady, and searched for Thug Matrimony to tie up all my loose ends, but whats this? Wahida says to look for Thug Matrimony Part 2? Help this sista out! When and where can I find it?!?!?
MELISSA CARTER :
Posted 822 days ago
ME, AGAIN TO SAID TO YOU. AND HOPE EVERYTHING IS GOING WELL? I FIND DOING PRETTY GOOD. THIS LOOKING FOR TO NEXT BOOK IN JULY! CAN YOU GIVE US WHAT GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN TRAE AND TASH COME BACK HOME? CAN YOU TELL US GOING TO HAPPEN WITH " k " AND ANGLE? AND DID SHE HAVE, AFTER SHE AND " k " AFTER SHE HAVE THE BABY? DO THINGS GET BETTER BETWEEN THEN? HAD TO GO THOUGHT ALOT OF THING THIS GET, ANGLE TO MARRIED? AFTER SNACK COME IN THE PICTURE. IF YOU CAN GIVE US SO HIND ABOUT TO HAPPEN IN 2009 BOOK. WHAT WILL BE THE NAME OF THE BOOK. IF YOU GET ONE , IF YOU DON'T ARE YOU GOING TO LET US TO PICK OUT THE NAME OF THE BOOK? TODAY IS TUESDAY 10, 2008. MY NAME IS missycarter91971, THANK AGAIN
MELISSA CARTER :
Posted 824 days ago
I HELLO, IS MELISSA ONE OF YOUR FAN! I GOT NEW BOOK, I I CAN'T FOR YOU TO COME WITH A PART TWO ? WHERE YOU LFET OFF, WITH WITH 'k' AND ANGLE. AND TASH AND TRAE. WHERE IS HAVE ANTHER BABY. K AND ANGLE HAVING ONE TO. I READ THE BACK OF YOUR BOOK, WHERE TRAE HAVE TO COME BACK? I WANT TO YOU WHAT GOING TO HAPPEN? what did angle have, was a girl or boy? WHAT GOING TO HAPPEN NOW? EN-MAIL ME BACK OK THANKS AGAIN! AGAIN!
DIAMOND YOUNG :
Posted 828 days ago
MS. WAHIDA CLARK I LOVE YOUR WORK. I CANT KEEP MY HANDS OFF OF YOUR BOOKS. EVER PAGE I TURN I SEE A WHOLE NEW STORY. I CANT WAIT TO SEE YOUR MOVIES AND READ YOUR OTHER BOOKS.
ms.brown :
Posted 833 days ago
MS. CLARK,I PICKED UP YOUR BOOK THUGS AND THE WOMEN WHO LOVE THEM'' IN THE NYC TRAIN STATION, DEC.05 I'VE BEEN HOOKED EVER SINCE. I'M ALSO FROM TRENTON N.J. FROM THE SAME NEIGHBORHOOD (JEFFERSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL) YOUR TALENT IS BEYOND WORDS I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THE MOVIE..
Kelis :
Posted 836 days ago
Hello Wahida, Girl, I enjoyed your book so much! I was intro. to it by a cousin of mines and I have to say girl you have a talent....!!! All that hard work I think you should decide to make a movie over pay back is a mutha!! That's some real life situtations...and if you could sell over thousands of books you could do the same w/your movies girl....!!! Just a suggestion because I love watchin tv and to get some to read a book is a lot hard then getting someone to sit down a watch a show!! Because I'm trying to SPREAD the word about your books girl!!!!!! keep up the good work!!!! And soon then later you will be on a high level then Martha Stewart!!!!!!!!! on tha real!!!!!
MELISSA :
Posted 838 days ago
TO , WAHIDA CLARK I GOT NEW BOOK. I WAS REALLY GOOD. I CAN'T WAIT FOR YOU TO COME WITH CONTINUS WITH PAY BACK WITH YOUR LIFE. I WAN'T WAIT! I FIND THIS WORKING AS USUALLY. I HOPE I SPELL IT RIGHT? HAPPY HOILDAY WITH YOUR FAMILY. AND TAKE CARE. I GIVE YOUR BOOK TO MY FRIND AT WORK, SHE THINK YOU ARE GOOD TO. I GIVE ALL THE BOOKS FROM THE BEGIN. I CANN;T WAIT FOT THE NEXT ONE TO COME IN JULY. I LOOKING FOR THE ONE WITH TASH COMING BACK TO TOWN, WHEN HE GOT A CALL FROM HIS, PARENTS. SEE WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, THANK FOR BRING THEM WITH ANOTHER BOOK! TALK TO YOU LATER MELISSA AT missycarter91971@yahoo. com. TALK TO LATER, BYE!!!!!!!
Twanette :
Posted 839 days ago
Gurl, I love U, N U inspire me to do wut I do. Yea I beenta O.C a cuple times but dat only make me stronger. I'm waitin' on volume 2 of Thug Matrimony. I heard it was already out but all I Can do iz wait N C. I'm twelve right now and started written my own book. My Frinz readin' it, all of wut I have already written and dey buggin me to keep written. I gotta go. My boo callin' me but holla back.
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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.
Girl, I enjoyed your book so much! I was intro. to it by a cousin of mines and I have to say girl you have a talent....!!! All that hard work I think you should decide to make a movie over pay back is a mutha!! That's some real life situtations...and if you could sell over thousands of books you could do the same w/your movies girl....!!! Just a suggestion because I love watchin tv and to get some to read a book is a lot hard then getting someone to sit down a watch a show!! Because I'm trying to SPREAD the word about your books girl!!!!!! keep up the good work!!!! And soon then later you will be on a high level then Martha Stewart!!!!!!!!! on tha real!!!!!