Over the last 7 years, author Nikki Turner has put glamour and grit in the life of even the dullest housewife with her tales of love, sex, money, and murder. Often referred to as “The Queen of Hip-Hop Fiction,” the Richmond, VA native is busy promoting her latest novel, Relapse. In an interview with City Scenes Magazine, The New York Times and Essence magazine best selling author speaks on her publishing company, working with 50 Cent, and gives advice to writers hoping to be the next Nikki Turner:
CSM: How did you come to writing this genre of books?
NT: Well actually, I was an avid reader, and I always used to go to the bookstore looking for books similar to the ones I like to read, and there were no books like that. So I decided, “Hmmm, maybe I’ll write a book that I want to read.”
CSM: What was your first book?
NT: A Hustler’s Wife.
CSM: Was that on the The New York Times Best Seller list?
NT: Back then, our books weren’t going to The New York Times, but it was on Essence’s list for over a year at #1.
CSM: How do you come up with the characters for your books?
NT: I put a lot of thought into them. I want them to be real life people with life experiences and life situations, so I put a lot of thought into coming up with them.
CSM: Are any of the characters inspired by people you know?
NT: Loosely based combined with my imagination. Sometimes something can happen, big or small, and I can be like, “Okay, now what if this didn’t happen, and that happened?” And I just mix it up and be like, “Hmmm, maybe I can put it in a book.”
CSM: Tell us a little bit about your publishing company – it’s under Random House, correct?
NT: It’s like a label; do you know how it was like Def Jam and Roc-A-Fella?
CSM: Yes.
NT: Well its like Random House and “Nikki Turner Presents…”.
CSM: Give us some of the titles released so far by the publishing company.
NT: Gorilla Black, which is by Seven, Against the Grain by Freeze, Numbers by Dana Dane, and Invincible by Styles P.
CSM: Now you mention Dana Dane and Styles P…tell us a little bit about how your collaborating with hip-hop artists began?
NT: I think it kind of started with 50 [Cent] because he wanted to write a book with me, and I just think that maybe I’m kind of like the closest thing, you know, people know, “I want to write a book, let me go see Nikki Turner.”
CSM: How was it working with 50?
NT: He was an absolute jewel. He was very easy-going; he let me drive as far as the creative control of the book. What his people wanted me to do and what I wanted to do was a little different, but he was like, “Let her do what she do, let her get in her comfort zone and do what she do so it can be great.” And just the whole writing process, it was a good one. I never had any problems with him. And the thing with him is he’s a beast when it comes to business; he always dropped little jewels to me.
CSM: Whenever I read your books, I envision them on the big screen; any plans for that to happen in the near future?
NT: Oh yeah, there’s always plans for that. A few of my books have been optioned; even Death Before Dishonor, the book 50 and I did together was recently optioned. So you know, we’re just waiting; Hollywood moves slow.
CSM: Now we talked about this previously…in your books, there are repercussions for all of the characters and their actions. Why do you think that is important?
NT: Because in life, there are repercussions. You can’t give the world s*it and expect to get sugar back.
CSM: Tell us a little bit about the latest book, Relapse?
NT: Relapse is about Beijing Lee, who is a very successful, renowned concierge at a huge hotel chain, and she only caters to the rich and famous clients, and some of their requests are very bizarre. But she makes it happen; she can make anything happen. The only thing she can’t in her own life is make her love affair with this guy work. He’s like a drug to her; he gives her the highs of the highs and the lows of the lows. They break up, go back together, break up, go back together, and every time they break up, it’s not like they break up tonight and go back tomorrow. It’s long periods of time in between them breaking up, and every time she goes back, she keeps asking herself why do I keep going back. When they break up, she goes through the withdrawal, rehabs, and you know, staying clean, not calling him, not being around him, and then he shows back up, and it’s like a relapse.
CSM: Why make Beijing a concierge?
NT: ‘Cause I just feel like it was amazing. I didn’t want her to really be an assistant; I wanted her to be an upscale assistant, and you know she can make it happen. That’s a concierge, they make it happen, and a lot of us, we sleep on the concierge.
CSM: Can we expect to read about Beijing again?
NT: Of course.
CSM: How would someone go about submitting a piece to your publishing company?
NT: Well “Nikki Turner Presents…” we’re not taking any submissions. I am bombarded with submissions so I’m not taking any unsolicited submissions right now. But hopefully we’ll open up for submissions at the top of the year.
CSM: When you’re looking through submissions, what makes you look twice?
NT: Of course when I open it, I don’t want to see mistakes in it off the break. It has to be a story that’ll make me stop whatever I’m doing – I’m a reader by nature – so you know, if something grabs my attention in spite of all the other crazy stuff I’ve got going on, then it’s a keeper.
CSM: Does “Nikki Turner Presents…” only cater to this genre of books?
NT: Basically, this genre, but this genre to the next level.
CSM: Any advice for aspiring writers?
NT: I think before they submit anything to anyone, they should have it in the best possible condition. Proof read it; don’t just rush through it. They should really take the time to make it the best possible piece it can be.
Be sure to get your copy of Relapse wherever books are sold.
Written by A.D. The General
