Williams - Harlem Boyz

So here we are at book number two. This has been an incredible journey so far. I still want to thank everyone for all the love and support I got from my first book Scandalicious . I am so humbled and grateful for all the wonderful things that have happened as a result of it all.

So Harlem Boyz is finally here! It was truly a labor of love. I started writing this story back in the fall of 2008 and worked on it over the course of the next two years and completed its first draft in late 2010. It didnt come so easily but I enjoyed the challenge. When I decided to make New York City the backdrop of the story, I had to really research some key places in New Yorkmore specifically Harlem. Being that I lived there briefly, I was able to do a better job at that. Most of the places you will find the characters in are real places. The streets they live on, the restaurants where they eat, the subway lines they catch, the parks and so on and so forth. I want you to be able to read this book and feel like you are watching a movie or even better, walking the streets of New York. Now I did take some creative license with some things but it all blends well. These characters deal with real situations that we all face. It is my hope that you will embrace them and appreciate their experiences. So much of my own life story went into this book. This isnt my autobiography but each of these four main characters represents a piece of who I am. And Im very proud of the story Ive created for the world to see. I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

First, I give thanks, honor, and praise to God whom I call my creator. I simply say thank you and I am glad that we still know each other. Weve had our ups and downs but Im still here and youre still there for me. I know no one has my back like you do. It took a while for me to see that but you showed me what the real deal is. Thank you for my life and this gift. A special rest in peace always goes to my father who is up in heaven, John Hemby AKA J Hassan El-Amin. I still feel your presence and hope I am making you proud. To my mother, Ms. Cassandra who is still here with me, loving you is like food to my soul. I thank you for pushing me to continue to write and always supporting my writing even when I thought of it as nothing more than a hobby. I hope you and Abu are proud of your little son. All 63 of me! To my big sister Quiana, thank you for everything. My parents raised me into the man I am but it was my sister Quiana who gave me the wings to fly. And now Im flying because she taught me how.

To my editor, Jessica Barrow-Smith AKA my second pair of eyes, what can I say? My book is all buffed, polished, and shining because of you. I feel like thank you isnt enough. You are a blessing to me. Thank you so very much! To my third pair of eyes, my homie from Willy P, Zellie Thomas, thank you for your last minute edits. You rock!

To all of my people who read this book before publication: Shawn, Mina, Jess J, Michael, Aunt Mauri, Taj, & Mommy, I thank you for all your feedback and for being my first audience. Special shout out to Seychelle & Khalilyou guys pulled me through and pulled me back from the edge at one of my darkest hours. I am eternally grateful to you both. I love you both for life. Thank you for teaching me how to fly again.

To all my folks who hold me down, yall know I love yall. If I sat here and named everyone I would forget someone, so Im thanking everyone now. Yall know who you are and you know what you mean to me. Where ever we know each other from, you know I got love for you. EO 4 Life! Sunnyside Terrace stand up! This tall Jerzee Boy is on the move!

To Uncle Phil & Aunt Audrey for all your love, wisdom, and support you have given me. You are both amazing! I will always love you both dearly. And Uncle Phil, you were there when I had to go pick up those copies of Scandalicious from the printer at the last minute. If you sell those copies I gave you on Ebay, were gonna have to fight! (Chuckle)

Special shoutouts to my fellow authors who have given me words of wisdom and encouragement far and wide: Damon Darrell, Stanley Bennett Clay, Takerra Allen, Geoff McClanahan, K. Murray Johnson , Michael A. Lewis, James Earl Hardy, Jerrice Owens, Lee Hayes, Daryl T. Sturgis, and all the other authors I have waxed politics with, I thank you. I still consider myself a newbie as a publisher so all of your help has not gone unnoticed.

Shoutout to all the press and media outlets that showed me love: The staff of the East Orange Public Library, The Air it out girls Staxx Cordero & Lorene Martinique, J. Blair Brown, Glenys Colclough of Prominence Magazine, Tyler Johnson & Andrea LaTrell of Future Icons, Tamika Newhouse of Kontrol magazine, Ro Jay of Middle Child Promotions, Phillip Esteem of Pride Index, Rashawn The Professor Chisolm, Kindle Reading Club, The Future Best Selling Authors club, Embellish book club, Black Debonair Reading Lounge, Fine Success magazine, Slyce book club, my applebuddy Leigh Darden and all of the outlets who have pumped up the Armani Williams/Jerzee Boy Publications brand. Yall helped me get on the train and thankfully the wheels have not fallen off. A very special thanks goes to my Facebook mama Rosemary Leverson AKA Mama Rose who has a very special place in my heart and introduced me to several new readers.

To my oh so sexy, oh so fly, and oh so beautiful cover models who embody the characters you are about to read about, Khalil Muhammad, Jeremy Burnett, Khadish O. Franklin, and Shaun Willis Bentleywhat can I say? I was honored that you all said yes without my having to twist any arms. I love you guys and thank you.

To my cover designers, James Grant AKA Jay Williams, you are one of the best visual artists I have ever seen. Please continue to do what you do because you are excellent at it. To the man, the visionary, and the legend, Sudan Martin AKA Su Incredbl, my brother you are still in-fucking-credible. Expect your phone to ring every time I publish a book cuz damn, you can certainly show up and show out! Love you bro! BK stand up!