Meet author Reginald L. HallStrebor on the Streetz
In Love with a Thug A Novel
In Love with a Thug A Novel
During college, Juan Jiles fell in love with Darnell, who convinced Juan to help him rob one of Philadelphia’s largest banks. During the heist, Darnell is killed and Juan escapes with more than $175,000.
After mourning the lost of his lover, Juan begins rebuilding his life and uses the money to open a popular celebrity hair salon.Then along comes Bryant Thompson, a street thug with drugs, drama, and deception in tow. Juan falls head over hills for the hustling, muscle bound Bryant and soon succumbs to Bryant’s addictive world. Juan’s life starts to spin out of control and he realizes that his meeting Bryant didn’t happen by chance.
A story of a man doomed by p assion, In Love with a Thug is by turns a humorous, tragic, and hard-hitting look at the cost of destructive love and the price some pay for true happiness.
Intimate Conversation with Ella Curry, of EDC Creations, and Reginald L. Hall
Ella: Reginald L. Hall finish this sentence: I am Powerful because...
I am Powerful because..... I am powerful because I have the ability to open society’s eyes as a gay author without being ridiculed and disrespected by today’s society. I am powerful because my voice is powerful and can be heard.
Ella: Reginald, tell us about your passion for writing.
My passion for writing is opening up a whole new world in my brain and placing it on paper for the world to see. My vivid imagination will take me far in the literary game. I will be putting on my boots and began stomping with the big dogs.
Ella: Reginald, where are you from? How did you start your writing journey?
I am from Philadelphia. I started my writing journey when I was eighteen and went to prison. I went to Jail for the first time for eight months and kept a diary of all that happened. That diary eventually turned into my first Essence Bestseller Memoir Delaware County Prison. That lead me to the deal that I have today with Zane at Strebor Books/ Simon & Schuster. That Book is called In Love with a Thug.
I am from Philadelphia. I started my writing journey when I was eighteen and went to prison. I went to Jail for the first time for eight months and kept a diary of all that happened. That diary eventually turned into my first Essence Bestseller Memoir Delaware County Prison. That lead me to the deal that I have today with Zane at Strebor Books/ Simon & Schuster. That Book is called In Love with a Thug.
Ella: Who are your two main characters and what do you like most about them?
Well in the book In Love with a Thug the two main characters are Juan Jiles and Bryant Thompson. The thing I like most about Juan was that he is a go getter. He knew what he wanted to do and what it was he wanted to accomplish and through all that went down in his life he accomplished all what he set out to do. Now Bryant on the other hand was different. The thug. I would say the most I like about him was that he wouldn’t stop at nothing to get what he wanted.
Ella: What makes your book stand out and would entice a reader pick it up?
The thing that makes my book stand out is that it’s real. It’s something that we all go through in life. From finding the right person, to getting crossed by different people in your life to accomplishing goals that we set out for ourselves. The thing that would make the reader would want to pick it up begins with the catchy title In Love with a Thug…
Well in the book In Love with a Thug the two main characters are Juan Jiles and Bryant Thompson. The thing I like most about Juan was that he is a go getter. He knew what he wanted to do and what it was he wanted to accomplish and through all that went down in his life he accomplished all what he set out to do. Now Bryant on the other hand was different. The thug. I would say the most I like about him was that he wouldn’t stop at nothing to get what he wanted.
Ella: What makes your book stand out and would entice a reader pick it up?
The thing that makes my book stand out is that it’s real. It’s something that we all go through in life. From finding the right person, to getting crossed by different people in your life to accomplishing goals that we set out for ourselves. The thing that would make the reader would want to pick it up begins with the catchy title In Love with a Thug…
Ella: Ultimately, what do you want readers to gain from your book?
What I would like my readers to gain from this book is to be mindful that there are brothers out here that are on the down low even if there thugs or hustlers. The down low lifestyle does not discriminate.
Ella: What is the one most surprising thing you have learned in creating books?
The most surprising thing that I’ve learned was there is a whole new world inside my mind when it comes to creating a scene and turning it in to a full fledge novel. Also, learning that I have a creative mind and can share it with others.
Ella: What would you say has been your most significant achievement as a writer? I would say that my most significant achievement as a writer is knowing that there are people out there that are buying my books. Knowing that what I create in the privacy of my own home is now public and is on bookshelves in store across America. From the first book that I wrote and taking it to the mom and pop stores and placing the books on the shelves myself and watching them sell is a great achievement for me.
Ella: What advice would you give a new writer? Would you change anything about your journey? What I would give a new writer is insight about the business. Just because a writer is anxious about getting a book deal or getting their work publish, please read the fine print in the contracts. At this point I wouldn’t change anything about my journey because of the ups and downs made me the bestselling author I am today.
Ella: What can we expect from you in the future?
What it is you can expect from me in the future is to continue writing my books and to expand my creations into television and movies. The sky is the limit for me.
Ella: How may the readers contact you?
You can learn more about me and my novels by visiting my website at: http://www.reginaldsworld.com/ or www.myspace.com/reginaldsworld or you can email me t: reginaldhall5413@aol.com
