As Hot Fun in the Summertime winds down, over the next several days, APOOO will interview and profile readers of Urban Fiction via a ‘Take 5 With APOOO’ moment.  Up first is Darnetta Frazier, resident APOOO member and reviewer affectionately dubbed ‘Queen of Urban Fiction.’  Since it is the weekend, relax, get comfortable, grab something to drink and spend the next 5-10 minutes getting to know Darnetta, as well as gaining insight as to why urban fiction is one of her favorite genres.

Greetings Darnetta and welcome to Take 5 With APOOO!  We thank you for taking time out of your busy day to chat with the readers of APOOO.  So, without further ado, let’s start today’s interview.

APOOO:  Name FIVE of your favorite urban fiction authors.
Darnetta:  Wahida Clark, Mark Anthony, Vicki Stringer, K’wan and Deja King

APOOO: What are the last FOUR urban fiction books you read?
Darnetta:Betrayed by David Givens, Stained Cotton by Quentin Carter, True to the Game III by Teri Woods and Street Legends by Seth Ferranti.

APOOO:  Tell us what THREE elements are critical to a good urban fiction tale.
Darnetta:  Outside of the usual luxuries readers want (tight plot, proper editing, character depth, etc), good urban fiction should be/have:  realistic drama; triumphant moments ; paint real pictures of the hood.

APOOO:  What TWO upcoming urban fiction books are you looking forward to reading before the end of this year.
Darnetta: 1) Midnight: A Gangster Love Story by Sister Souljah;Queen Bee by Mark Anthony.

APOOO: If you could have dinner with only ONE urban fiction author, who would it be and why.
Darnetta:  I would love to have dinner with Mark Anthony.Though he is one of my favorite street lit authors, I have a personal issue with the content of one of his books (which he is aware of). And I would jump at the chance to talk to him face-to-face about it.

APOOO:  How did you discover urban fiction?
Darnetta:  It’s been years, but I remember sneaking in the attic and finding my parent’s Donald Goines and Iceberg Slim books (along with some really inappropriate reading for children…lol).  I was mesmerized by the grittiness and realness of it (even though I am not sure I would have used those words back then).  Then for years, I only read non-fiction.  I thought if a book could not help make me better, then why read it?  Eventually, I had a friend force me to read A Hustler’s Wife by Nikki Turner and I loved it.  After AHW, I picked up The Coldest Winter Everby Sister Souljah (which had been out for a while by then) and that is what hooked me.  I became more obsessed when I stumbled into Vickie Stringer’s ‘Imagine This.’  And even was a little upset to find out it was the sequel to ‘Let That Be The Reason.’  So I had to get that book as well.  I read TCP books when they only had about five titles on their order forms…lol Now there are about 3 pages.  I have been on the street lit train ever since.  

APOOO: What was the first urban fiction tale that you read?
Darnetta:  Black Girl Lost by Donald Goines

APOOO:  Why do you consider urban fiction one of your favorite genres?
Darnetta: Urban fiction feeds my craving for adventure in reading that no other genre has been able to do.  Sure there is adventure in other types of reads, but I like for the people in these adventures to look like, speak like, and have similar problems as me, my neighbor, the local dope boy, the corner store owner…my people, kwim?  I want to feel some familiarity to them besides what the author has given me.  And urban fiction has given me all of that.
The other reason it is my favorite genre is because of people like Vickie Stringer and Yasmin Coleman (yes, you) and Mark Anthony and all the others who realize that African Americans need to encourage and support each other.  But what I see happening within this network of support and encouragement is another divide.  That division seems to be an US versus them thing where urban fiction (them) is like the unwanted stepchild and I refuse to buy into it.  People are, in fact, supporting UF documented by the number of units being purchased, but there are not a whole lot of US unwilling to admit that we indulge in it for fear of being looked at a certain way, or cast off like we are not serious about reading.  Those of US who believe that UF is detrimental to our youth and/or society by allegedly glorifying drugs, prostitution, and money are sadly missing the entire point.  The point is romance provides happy endings, erotica provides sexual arousal, mystery provides intrigue, so why is it NOT okay for street lit to provide tales from the hood?  UF authors have the right to write these stories just as any other author and I am showing my support of them and their rights by buying, reading, and reviewing their novels.   

Darnetta: They reflect small aspects of my life story.  Not so much by the drama in the tales.  But in each story I have ever read there is a longing for something.  Whether it is the longing for money, love, power, or simple acceptance, it is that longing that is similar to my life and the lives of many African Americans, in and out of the hood.  And there are characters that I can say I really know.  From the dope boys who pass out toys during Christmas, to the little girl who confuses sex for love, these are accurate reflections of those around me.

 Darnetta Frazier is an Ohio-born, spoken-word poet who has composed poetry since she was able to hold a laddie pencil. As reviewer for A Place Of Our Own (APOOO) and aspiring novelist, she dabbles in the literary scene from all perspectives. She has been published on www.thebacklist.net, interviewed on www.blogginginblack.com, and is currently submitting fiction manuscripts to publishers while juggling daughterhood, sisterhood, wifedom, parenthood, and of course, writing. Outside of family and all things literary, Darnetta overindulges in Hip-Hop, dabbles in computer graphic design, and creates handcrafted cards, candles, and jewelry.

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