They say sometimes you have to go through deep valleys to get to the mountaintops of success. Veteran street lit author and publisher Wahida Clark’s rise to fame is one that includes a valley of nine years in prison. While incarcerated, Clark decided to make the best of her time, learning all she could about writing a book, securing an agent, and getting published. Upon her release in 2007, she kept the momentum going.
Her story of triumph has been highly publicized, going from prison inmate, to having books on The New York Times and Essence bestsellers lists, to starting Wahida Clark Presents Publishing, with more than a dozen authors under it’s umbrella. Clark recently expanded her empire by inking a deal with Cash Money Content for her latest release, Payback Ain’t Enough (Cash Money Content; $14.99).
BlackEnterprise.com caught up with the “Queen of Thug Lit” to talk second chances, family business, and expanding her brand into filmmaking and more authors.
BlackEnterprise: You began writing while serving time in prison. What was the process to go from writing to getting published while incarcerated?
Wahida Clark: I was working in the law library, and while looking through a magazine, I read a sidebar about an author in prison who wrote a book called B-More Careful. My job was to open the library, and as I was looking at all the books on walls, I began to visualize my name on spines. I said to myself, ‘I’m going to write a book.’
When you make one step, the universe opens up for you. A young lady came to serve time, and her career on the streets was working as a literary agent. She requested to give a class on publishing and creative writing. When they posted the sign-up sheet for classes, I was the first to sign up. I became a student of the game. I learned that you had to write query letters and draft a synopsis.
I got rejected many times. I decided to take a chance and write author Carl Weber to ask for advice. He actually wrote me back. He’d started a publishing company, and I sent him the manuscript for my first book. It was so long that we cut it into a series, and there you have Thugs and the Women Who Love Them and that series.
After my first books were published, my name started ringing bells. Other aspiring authors began to contact me to get put on, and I told them that when I got home, I was going to start my publishing company. I’d studied about how to do that and had my business plan ready.
You’re now a veteran in the publishing world and have found longterm success. How were you able to remain successful at doing something some naysayers initially saw as a fad?
Wahida Clark: You have to love your craft, and I write for my readers. My readers have been able to take the journey with me and grow with me. Writing series has helped a lot because you can pretty much pull from each book. I’m able to continue the series as to how my readers would want to see. My goal is to write where you can’t put the books down and you get into the vividness of the characters. Readers will call it out when you don’t keep it authentic. They keep it 100 and they keep it real. If they come across something that is unbelievable, they’re quick to say that is unrealistic.
Let’s talk Cash Money Content. How did you end up working with them, and why did you think that deal was a smart move for your latest release?
I got a call from my agent who told me that Cash Money was starting a publishing company, and they wanted to
ad3">Today’s literary world has become very digitally focused. How have you used digital media and the Web to advance your business?
It’s really a plus. Everything is much more accessible. There’s social media, e-mail blasts, Websites. When I was in prison, there was just letter writing, so this is definitely better for business. I embrace the digital wave and use it daily to promote my books and brand.
Let’s talk about family. How do you balance your personal life with running a publishing company?
[When I went to prison], I had businesses, owned property, and was married with two daughters. Today, I’m still married, and my husband and daughters work in the business. One is a graphic designer and the other runs our catalog business. They also go into youth houses and prisons for mentorship and speaking, and my husband is also an author. It can be hard to balance all of it, but I’m fortunate to work with family. They travel with me. We do book signings together, so we all make it work.
In addition to being a publishing CEO, you work with convicts and ex-convicts to aid with reentry. What would be your top advice for those looking to successfully reenter society?
That’s a hard role. You have to be persistent, be consistent, and be committed to not going back to prison. Find something that you love to do and do it. You have to hang tight. It’s definitely rough. You’re starting over from scratch.
While you’re in prison don’t waste time. Get your college degree, take courses, and get certified in something. It’s not a game. Before you get out, utilize that time and make the best of it or it’s really going to be hard when you get out.
What’s next for Wahida Clark and your brand?
We’re working on a play for Every Thug Needs a Lady, and also movie ventures for my other books. We’re always expanding our writers roster. I like people who are motivated, who hustle like me. When they reach out and they’re passionate about their work, and the manuscript is good, then I will definitely give them a shot, just like I was given a shot.