Kevin M. Weeks’ personal story is just as intriguing and suspenseful as his debut novel. He was born the second of four children in West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He spent most of his youth in and out of foster homes and juvenile detention centers. Deep inside, he always knew he would be accomplished, especially when he was chosen to be in a documentary for the Boys Village of Maryland, a youth facility of the Maryland State Department of Juvenile Services. Years later, Kevin M. Weeks spent countless hours researching the publishing industry in order to become a self-published author, even though he is currently serving time at the Georgia Department of Corrections in Atlanta, Georgia.
He says, “With the past behind me, I have found a new career in writing. Sitting down to pen my first novel, I found it difficult to stay focused,” said Kevin M. Weeks. He added, “I shifted my priority to mentoring young men, who were coming into the system, about not taking the same path that I took when I was their age. I was shocked by their interest in the wisdom I was sharing with them about life in general and was encouraged by them to complete my novels. With a renewed passion, I started to write again.” Thus, the result was him branding a series of novels called The Street Life Series. The debut novel is titled The Street Life Series: Is It Suicide or Murder?
The Street Life Series is a collection of urban fiction/murder mystery novels. Books2Mention Magazine provides the following book description to book clubs: The Street Life Series: Is It Suicide Or Murder? is an urban tale depicting street life and the deadly game that unfolds. Teco “Homicide” Jackson joins the Strictly Business crew selling drugs in Philadelphia. He becomes the right hand man of Mujaheed Bashi Fiten who is the leader of the group. Teco is a smooth talker and has many women vying for his attention. He is considered the enforcer of the crew and soon gets caught up in more drama than he bargained for. Eventually, a power struggle develops within the crew, as GQ, a female member, desires to take over and run things her way. Bashi becomes missing in action during the same time that Teco gets arrested. When Teco is released from jail, he goes on a quest for answers and discovers some gruesome and shocking evidence. Will Teco continue to participate in the Strictly Business crew or will he choose to take his life in a different direction?
The Street Life Series has been well-received in the marketplace, because the novel puts readers right on the streets while including old school wisdom about staying away from a street life of drugs and fast money. Nine months after publication, Kevin M. Weeks became an award winning author: YOUnity Guild Best New Urban Author of the Year 2006 and a 2007 New York Book Festival Award Winner. In addition, The Street Life Series website won an award as a Product Information Finalist in The Stevie® International Business Awards, which is the only global, all-encompassing business awards program honoring great performances in business. Heather Covington, Founder of YOUnity Guild of America, states, “We advise all urban lit lovers to read The Street Life Series. Entertaining, Engaging, Authentic and a WINNER!” Also, The Street Life Series is listed in the “2007 Reads for your Opulent Reading List” by Booking Matters Magazine (Shunda Leigh, Editor-In-Chief). Not bad for a debut author.
Weeks took pleasure in working with Xlibris throughout his publishing experience. “Xlibris was and still is a great launch pad for my publishing career. Their entire staff is the most patient team of people I’ve ever known,” he said. Kevin M. Weeks continued, “One of the positive experiences for me in my relationship with Xlibris was that there has always been one Xlibris official who was my principal contact and to whom I could go with any problem or issue. I am fortunate to have found a partner such as Xlibris.”
Asked if he’d recommend Xlibris to other hopeful writers, he emphasized, “I already have recommended Xlibris to others; and I continue to work with Xlibris myself. My goal is to position The Street Life Series as a lucrative series for a major publishing firm to sign in the near future. Until then, I’ve personally scheduled for Xlibris to publish my next two books in the series.”
The second novel in the series is scheduled to be self-published later this year. The title is The Street Life Series: Is It Passion or Revenge?
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