First and foremost, I'd like to thank Mr. Eric Monte for writing the screenplay for the classic urban American film, Cooley High. Much respect, big brother. I'll make sure that they know your name. ERIC MONTE!
I'd like to thank my initial readers, Pamela Artis—as always—and Corey B. King for your advice and guidance on the text. I'd like to thank Vance De-Bose, Bill Jolly, Johnny Chrome, and my new right-hand-man attorney, Keino Campbell, for your valuable information on the music industry.
I'd like to thank my great editors, Geoffrey Kloske and Cherise Grant, my top-notch artist Christopher B. Clarke, my visionary art department Jackie Seow and Rochelle Jackson, my out-of-the-box publicity department Aileen Boyle and Rebecca Davis, my make-noise-at-all-costs advertising with Mark Speer, the keep-pushing-me-to-the-top sales department, and to all of the people who I don't get a chance to talk to every day—I still love you guys. I'd also like to thank the two big chiefs who push all of the buttons that allow me to keep doing what I'm doing at Simon & Schuster, Carolyn Reidy and David Rosenthal. You guys have given me a fair deal. Even-steven. Nicole Graev for making sure that I receive all of my important mail and faxes on time. And copy editor Isolde C. Sauer.
I'd like to thank the magazines, newspapers, and radio stations who were kind enough to give me any itty-bitty piece of your space or time. I know how you guys like to only give it up to the “important people.” Hopefully, I'll be there one day. And to all of the distributors, retail stores, and book vendors who continue to stock, push, and report my book sales each new year. Now you guys just have to order more, more, and MORE!
I'd like to give a big shout out to all of my family members and good friends, who have remained in my corner—and me in yours. And last but not least, I'd like to thank all of the passionate readers out there who continue to support my work. For the record, I want to let you guys know that I do not plan to merely entertain you with my hard work and toil. I plan to enlighten, inspire, educate, and wake up all of the sleepers out there to the true realities of our cultural world. Nor do I plan to be just “one of” the many writers who you support. I plan to be “one of the best.” And with your continued support and word of mouth, we want to push the folks in Hollywood to start paying serious attention to us for future films.
And it don't stop. And it won't stop. So I'll see you at the book stores and libraries at the same place, same time next year, for the publication of Leslie, an urban horror story, by yours truly—Omar Tyree.
P.S.: I'm still doin' it, Mom! I'm still doin' it! All the way to the top!