{Photo courtesy of Aliya S. King}
Some writers write because it's the only way they can reveal their own story. Others write because they've witnessed something remarkable that needs to be shared, and in sharing they open up a new world to those who'll read their work.
For years, Aliya S. King opened up the world of hip-hop to her readers. King penned articles on some of hip-hop's biggest stars for many magazines, including Billboard, Vibe and The Source, among others. As a music journalist, King gained the respect of the artists she covered. This led her to co-author Keep the Faith with singer Faith Evans. The memoir later made it onto The New York Times' bestseller list.
On a recent Friday evening inside Baltimore's Tremont Plaza Hotel, King opened up her hotel room to a group of up-and-coming writers, aspiring writers and wannabe writers. In town for a conference, King wanted the opportunity to connect with people who would benefit from an honest discussion about what it takes to become a successful writer. Her only requirement of those in the room was that they honor confidentiality and that those sacred moments of candor stay with those inside the hotel room.
{King seen here talking with a guest. Photo by Krishana M. Davis}
Still, there were plenty of moments for the public, as the self-avowed social networking queen tweeted and uStreamed during the meet and greet. King told young writers not to be afraid to make sacrifices early on in their career. "I'm all about the scraping. I'm all about the hustling. I'm not about the taking it easy," she said. King also shared some of her own setbacks, and said one of her primary reasons for success is in persistence. "I just put one word in front of another until there's a sentence," she said of writing.
While she still freelances for numerous publications, most of her time (when not juggling the responsibilities of being a wife and mother) is spent authoring books. In addition to the Evans memoir, King also co-wrote Original Gangster with Frank Lucas, the infamous New York city drug lord whose empire spanned the globe.
Now King will try her hand at fiction. In July she'll release Platinum, the story of four women who are either married, engaged to, dating or otherwise involved with some of the biggest stars in the music industry.
We'll have more on Platinum as the release date approaches, but for more information on King, visit her website at aliyasking.com.