ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
To my Blood fam: Mom, we did it! I love you to death lady, And I pray that my accomplishment makes you smile for all the years I made you sad.
To my first cousin Cherie I hope you enjoy reading as much as I enjoyed writing
Parkeya I’m so proud of you, Pooda. College girl, keep doing big things—Remember what I told you many moons ago—education is gangsta. I love you.
Chale and Tashiem I pray that neither of you make the mistakes that I made in my growing years. Know that I lived it for you and I’ve done the research, so that you never have to. Stay focused, stay directed and like always—stay in school. Love you to death won’t let no trouble come your way.
To Charmainne and Deshaun may Allah bless y’all with endless happiness and Charma keep striving.
To my cuzzo Rasham (Boobie) I love you and pray that you have the world in your hands. Stay up!
To my street fam: B.J. the streets is yours my neezie. I don’t care how old you get—you still my baby boy. Curtis you pretty boy uptown’s cutest. Doreen, I told you I want to grow up and be just like you :). Ladelle and Tutu y’all give meaning to the word “gangsta”. Lou Dingo make the bitches wanna purr! You know I know. Monique “Booga” Gary and John “Fix It” Powell, thank you for being there during my dark days. My appreciation goes a lifetime.
Leon I can never thank you enough for standing by me through all my bids and bull-shit. You are stuck with me for life.
Maleek and Raheem on 140th—thanks for keeping dough in my pocket.
To the old-timers on 143rd, Ms. Cherbin, Brother and Pope your warm hellos and greetings always put a smile on my face. Thank you for not judging me.
Joyce “Juice” Copeland you know the love I have for you is eternal. I want nothing but the best for you. Gangestress, stay up.
To my Casat sistas who encouraged me to keep writing and to keep hope alive. Rachelle Venable you are one of the loyalest women I know and I pray that I can get up wit’ you again. I love you Sissy and you helped me to stay hungry in this game.
Joyce Sanders my hopes go out to you and yours that your struggles are few and your victories are many.
Wendy Dupree when its all said and done I’ll get up wit’ you in da town. Thank you for being a dedicated reader on this novel and arts 2 and 3. Your laughter made me want to write more.
To the rest of my Casat sistas who read the book when it was on lined paper and urged me to hurry up, because ya’ll wanted more—I love ya’ll to death. Katrina Houser, Janice Jenkins, Tracy Ligon, Tasheema McNeil and India Scott. I pray that we never see each other behind the wall again. I wish all you ladies the best.
Ms. Tucker thank you for the work that you put in on this project in your spare time. I wish you a peaceful journey in your recovery.
Mr. Carter in the law library thanks for allowing me to use the typewriter, when all the other officers were hatin’. I appreciate that.
To all the peeps behind the wall stay up and do something positive wit’ your time.
Last but far from least I wanna give a xxtra special thanks to Anthony White and Jason Claiborne. Dam, I don’t even know where to start. :)J. First ‘nuff thanxs for puttin’ me on and letting me get my feet wet. I owe you guys everything for introducing me to the world of urban fiction. Wow, I’m getting teary eyed….. Jason, thank you for doin’ the damn thing on the cover and the bookmarks. You said it would happen and it has.
Anthony, thank you so much for being tolerant wit’ me through all my immature outbursts. I guess you understood what I was goin’ through. Thanks for not abandoning me.
Leah Whitfield I extend my gratitude to you for doing the editing and also exercising a lot of tolerance wit’ me. Thank you for letting me understand what the word “change” means in editing dialogue.
To anybody I missed put your name here __________.
To all the readers I know that you will enjoy this novel. Get at me through Augustus Publishing and know that this is Part 1 of a trilogy. Look for Part 2 “When Love Turns to Hate” and Part 3 “Good Things Gone Bad”, coming soon to a hood near you.
One Million,
Sharron
Thanks to the Augustus Manuscript Team for their tireless work and contributions in making my dream a reality. Thanks to Leah Whitney Tamiko Maldonado, Yasmin Sangari,