Novelist and publisher, Vickie Stringer, speaks out on publishing and offers advice to new writers.
Vickie Stringer is a novelist and a leader in the Hip-Hop literature genre. Her international publishing company, Triple Crown Publications (TCP), became international in April 2005 when her novels were translated and released in Tokyo, Japan. She is also a successful literary agent who is an inspiration and motivator to aspiring authors and self-publishers. Stringer has revealed the secrets to her success in her book, How to Succeed in the Publishing Game.
In 2004, Stringer founded The Valen Foundation, a nonprofit organization named for her son, to reunite and restore bonds between children and their incarcerated parents.
In this second part of Vickie Stringer’s interview, she gives her insider’s view of the publishing industry.
Sharyn Skeeter: How and when did you decide to start a publishing company?
Vickie Stringer: Triple Crown was started out of necessity. When I couldn’t get a book deal to save my life at time. In order for my first novel, Let That be The Reason to have life, I had to self-publish. TCP was designed to shelter my first novel.
Skeeter: As an African-American woman did you have to overcome any obstacles in doing this?
Stringer: Certainly, there were and still are many challenges breaking through the literary industry doors.
Skeeter: What do you want to accomplish as an author?
Stringer: To create memorable characters/stories that stay with my readers forever.
Skeeter: Why do you think so many new African-American publishing companies have started in the past decade? How has the market for books by African-Americans grown?
Stringer: They are emerging because of opportunity and I think it is wonderful. I see it as small businesses trying to thrive. And for African-Americans self-employment is a good thing.
Stringer: Triple Crown seems to encourage new authors. What advice would you give writers who want to break into urban fiction?
Stringer: Any and all advice that I have to give can be found in my book How to Succeed in the Publishing Game. I wrote this book because of the demand for knowledge. I would get hundreds of emails asking for help, so, I wrote this book dedicating it to the novice author or publisher.
