A Street Girl Named Desire: A Novel (37 page)

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

 

To God, who continues to carry me from internal darkness and into the everlasting light. Continue to use me as you see fit, and I will continue to warn others of the consequences of their actions.

To my four beautiful children, Steven (the handsome baller), Treasure (America's next top model), Trevor (the pretty boy genius), and Justice (the future heartbreaker). Thank you for being the motivation in my life and giving me the strength to do what I do. Daddy loves you!

To my sisters and brother, what can I say? I guess I'm never going to live up to your high expectations.

To the entire Sellers family in Maryland and D.C., y'all might as well change my name to Treasure E. Sellers the way you guys took care of me and accepted me in your family. Carvelas, I gained another brother in you and I will forever— forever, black man—be fiercely loyal to you and your family through hell and high water. Dolly, in that brief time we had together you gave me a mothers love, something that I hadn't had in years. I could never repay you for what your family so freely gave me. My sister Tiah, we have the perfect brotherand-sister relationship; we yell and scream at each other one day, love each other the next. Thank you for not being a
punk, and for telling me the truth about myself when necessary. Love you.

To Liza, you are the sweetest person I know and you prove this to me over and over again with your actions. You have always been there for me whenever I needed you, and would ride or die for me if I asked you to. You are truly the best girl I never had. Love you.

To the mothers of my children: Nichele Gadson, Kimberly George, and Sandra Vera, I know we haven't always seen eye to eye, and I'm sure I caused you plenty of hardship and pain. I have no excuses. I can, however, assure you that I'm no longer the cold-hearted person I once was and have suffered a great deal to get where I am today. The change is very evident in this open statement, admitting my wrongs for all to see. Once upon a time you fine ladies loved me unconditionally, but I was unable to love you back the same way and it's my loss. You all did a tremendous job raising my children to become the fine individuals they are today and I'm truly thankful. I'm not asking for a sudden change of heart, but with my deeds and actions, I pray that in time you'll find it in your hearts to forgive a wretch like me.

To Ms. Nakea Murray, you know you had to be among the first. Thank you for absolutely everything. There are not enough words in the English language for me to say what I really feel about you. But the closest words I can conjure are “A TRUE FRIEND,” and I thank God that I have a person like you in my life who doesn't want anything from me but success. I said it before and I'll say it again: All you Pretty Ricky's and all you Gooches better beware, “cause she got too many brothers! Passion, stay beautiful.

To all the people at Random House who showed me it's not always all about business, but personal growth and understanding: Jane von Mehren, Kim Hovey Lisa Barnes, Brian McLendon, Crystal Velasquez, and Thomas Wengelewski.

I would especially like to thank the beautiful Ms. Melody Guy. It still amazes me to know that there are people like you who can understand and trust in someone even though he couldn't trust himself.
When I felt down and out, your gentle, kind words gave me the strength to get up and plod on. I can't thank you enough for being not just my senior editor, but a proven friend. I thank you. To Danielle Durkin, thanks for all the little notes of encouragement. They meant a lot. I would also like to thank Dreu PenningtonMcNeil for reading my mind and giving me such a perfect cover.

To my agent, the unstoppable Ms. Tracy Sherrod, a smile is on my face right now as I think of your wonderful smile and your contagious laugh. But I'm not fooled by your cute face and smile because I know you are a strong business woman. You shared things with me in confidence that made a world of difference to my understanding of not only this business, but life. Thanks for being strong and assuring and unafraid to tell me how it really is. Thank you, Ms. Sherrod.

This section is for my closest friends in this book industry. Thanks for the many conversations we had and I look forward to politicking with you all soon.

To Hickson, my Harlem homedude, and one of the closest and realest cats that I know. Thanks for the countless discussions we had, both business and personal, but most of all thank you for allowing me to be me—good, bad, or indifferent. To Brandon McCalla, now, you already know what it is. Yo, me and you rode together in this business and have been down ever since. We saw each other through all our women drama, business drama, and every other drama in between, and continue to do so. You are the single most underrated writer I know, but your time is coming real soon, trust me!

To Kashuan, you are my baby, for real. You also stood by me no matter what and checked me hard when I needed it. I want you in my life forever because you truly got my back no matter what! Peace to your beautiful family; to your sister, Queen Pen; your mother; and your cousin in North Carolina, Carol, who showed me love.

To Ms. Teri Woods, I'm honored to be your friend and even more honored to know a down-to-earth person like yourself. You were right about everything you told me regarding this business. Thank
you for showing me how to absorb this sometimes overwhelming industry. Forever loyal!

To Tu-Shonda Whitaker and my homegirl Danielle Santiago, I'm proud to be part of your world and happy to know two of the literary geniuses of our generation. Brother James, in N.C., thanks, baby! Brother Zaire in Philly peace!

To Deshuan Taylor, the ultimate hustler, you know I had to put you in a class by yourself. You are one of only two people I met who can hustle hard like ya boy! See you in the Millionaire Boys Club.

To the other person in this business who can keep up with my hustle, Richard Jenty Congratulations on your baby girl; I'm proud of you. To my homedude Kwan, yo, you my dude for real and thanks for always keeping it gangsta and grimey just the way we do it. To Anthony Whyte, Mark Anthony, Eric Gray, Shannon Holmes, Leondrei Prince, Al-Sidiq Banks, Therone Shellman, K. Elliot, and JoJo, certified hustlers in this game, make money!

To my mentors, Ms. Nikki Turner and Ms. Ebony Stroman, thank you both for inspiring me and showing me that I could become an author. I can't thank you enough. Kiki Swinson, when you gonna stop playing around and come on and become Mrs. KiKi Blue? To Anna J., if I ever want to know the truth about something or myself all I gotta do is call you because you would tell me just that—the truth, even if it hurts. Kashamba Williams, the female Trump. Dwayne Murray, I'm so proud of you and your beautiful wife, Angela. T.N. Baker, Kavan Brown, Azarel, T Styles, Lady Sha, my protégée Jasmine—Harlem here! The female hustler Yazmine, keep doing the do!

To Patrice and Turtle, the Bonnie and Clyde of Brooklyn. Thanks for being the good people you are and staying my friends. Give your beautiful girls a kiss for me. Love y'all always. Lil Dollar, you about to blow up!

To Norma (I know you smiling). Thanks for everything and showing me love from the very beginning when I entered into this business. Good luck in your promo business and tell The Whispers
Treasure said whud up! Adrianne from Newark, you think I forgot you, boo? Thanks for the constant unwavering love you have shown me over the years. I love you for that and I'll never forget you. See you soon.

To the Marsh family, also in Newark. Thank you for accepting me and showing me love with all the home-cooked dinners and cookouts. Andrea, you still got my heart on lock and I'll always will be there when you need me.

To Mother Montrose, Ms. Hemmingway Ms. Adorno, and Mr. Shaw, thanks for all the good work you do for so many soldiers. It doesn't go unnoticed. Larry, Glennsy Michelle, Yvonne, Ms. Shirley, and Anthony, thank you all for the many conversations you endured. To Ms. Wright, thanks for being understanding of my plight; I learned a lot from you. To Benny and all the staff in the PTSD unit, thanks for screwing my head back on. To my dude Omar Muhammad, thanks for saying out loud what most people are too afraid to say. Stay real.

To my good friend Rodney Williams from Yonkers, thanks and I look forward to us hooking up in the future. To Joe Prelli, my buddy from the beginning. We went through a lot and are still standing. Thanks. To John Wiggins from Jersey City, holla at ya boy. Big Chalae, it ain't over. Big Keith and Chris. Big T, thought I forgot?

To
Don Diva
magazine for informing the street on what it really is. Thank you for supporting me.

To Black Star Videos, you brothers are pioneers and about your business. When you were at your other spot uptown, you were the first people who took my book, and many other people's products for that matter, and gave us a chance. Continue to build your empire and I will always be there to support you.

To the staff at Hue-Man Bookstore & Cafe, my home base, all I can say is thank you for everything you do for me. And finally, thanks to Karibu Books for always supporting me and having signings in your store.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 

T
REASURE
E. B
LUE
was born and raised in Harlem. He formerly worked with the New York Fire Department as a supervising fire inspector in the Bronx. He now devotes himself full-time to writing and promoting his novels.