Synopsis:
Being the daughters of the most notorious drug kingpin in the Midwest, hustling runs through Beau and Bella Jones’ veins thicker than blood. But when their father is killed, the sisters are left to fend for themselves. Accustomed to the lavishness their dad’s criminal activities once afforded them, they refuse to allow their quality of living to deteriorate. So Bella and Beau do what they were born and bred to do—they hustle.
Hustling is easy, and for years the sisters live luxuriously doing just that. But chaos ensues when someone fails to stick to the script. A brush with death is all it takes for Beau to want to abandon the hustle for a peaceful, normal life. Bella, on the other hand, does not see quitting as an option. She remains knee-deep in the game until she falls in love and wants out.
But ghosts of hustles past soon return to haunt them, threatening to tear their worlds apart and ultimately ruin them. Bella and Beau have two choices: either hustle their way out of catastrophe, or watch their happily-ever-afters become casualties of the hustle.
Nonstop parties, sex, and fast living are all a part of the game’s allure. But the crazed stalkers, deadly car chases, and murders that come along with it are much more than the sisters bargained for. Bella and Beau quickly learn that what started out as a means to an end doesn’t mean anything if you have to risk losing yourself and everything you love in the process.
__________________________________
About the Authors:
Donisha Derice is an up and coming author bringing her creativity to life by penning tales of fiction. Born and raised in Indianapolis, IN, Donisha had only dreamed of being two things: a lawyer and a writer. Receiving degrees in Paralegal Studies, Criminal Justice, and Public Management, she worked as criminal defense paralegal for over four years. After realizing she no longer desired to become an attorney, Donisha decided to follow her other dream. Her first novel, The Hustle, was completed while Donisha’s plate was full with motherhood, college, and her full-time job. Writing a book and receiving a publishing deal all within a year, Donisha knows she has found her true passion and calling—and it is in writing.
Jai Darlene is an army brat who traveled all over the world with her family before settling down in Fort Wayne, IN. She later moved to Indianapolis and obtained a juris doctorate from Indiana University School of Law, where she discovered an aptitude for writing, earning herself a spot on her school’s Law Review. After practicing law for five years, Jai discovered her artistic talent through using her creative skills to litigate countless jury and bench trials. This inspired her to pursue her passion by harnessing her imagination to make fictional characters come to life.
__________________________________
Author Q&A:
What makes The Hustle different from other urban fiction novels?
It’s not just urban. It is a tale of two lives that many people from different backgrounds can relate to. We have all made bad choices and mistakes thinking we can get away with it. This story shows how our past can always affect our future.
Are there any parts of the book drawn from your own lives and experiences?
Donisha: Yes, for the Beau’s character she is loosely a physical description of me—especially the bowlegged part. My grandma does say I am very bowlegged. Also, Beau’s love of music, especially Tupac; I reference Pac and his music a few times. One of the important details of the book (I don’t want to give away too much,) but when I was around 19 or 20 one of my uncles sat me down and told me about an over the counter product that if placed in a drink has the same results of a date rape drug. Another thing is that Jai is an attorney and I am a paralegal that once dreamed of being an attorney, so one of the characters having a legal profession made total sense.
Jai: Not really. I will say I have had my fair share of bug-a-boos and was even followed once. It was pretty scary, but nothing to the extent of what Bella went through. And I definitely never tased or pistol-whipped anyone. But I do wish to have a purple pistol like Bella.
If you could pick any actors to portray the characters of The Hustle in a film adaptation, who would you choose any why?
Okay this is a good one:
Beau – This one is easy. Taylour Paige (Ahsha from Hit the Floor.) she is an up-and-coming young actress and definitely has the look.
Bella – To fit the look of Bella it is hard to come up with a young actress, but we think Evelyn Lozada from Basket Ball Wives’ daughter, Shaniece Lozada, has the look. Maybe she will start acting by the time our movie comes out. (Fingers crossed.)
Clifford – Rick Ross definitely was our inspiration for this character. We wanted readers to think of a big handsome guy, but we don’t know any more since he’s been losing so much weight. We may need him to put on a couple of pounds.
Real – Lance Gross…no explanation needed J. He is a good actor that is growing and evolving into different roles.
Beau and Bella’s dad, Beaunifide Upendo Jones – We definitely will have some flashbacks with him just to have Dennis Haysbert play this role. He has the voice and he is fine.
Give us an idea of your writing process, working together as co-authors.
We both visualized each chapter in our minds as if it was a movie scene. When it came to writing, we each wrote one of the characters and had meetings to discuss which direction each sister was taking to make sure we were flowing well. It was amazing how easy it was for us to write together. When we disagreed, we’d just throw on the boxing gloves and duke it out until one of us tapped out. No, just kidding. We would talk it over and if we couldn’t agree, whoever’s character it was won. It is just really fun to have someone to develop the story with. It is also good to have someone there to pull you back when you go too far. (Side-eye, talking about you, Jai.)
When you’re not writing, how do you ladies like to spend your free time?
(Look at each other and laugh.) Writing is what we do in our free time. We are both very busy with our lives.
Jai: I am attorney, enough said. But seriously, there is a large amount of time that I put into my legal work. So in my free time I don’t do anything but write because that is what I love to do.
Donisha: My downtime is also spent writing. I am a single mother and my children come first. So after taking care of them and all the fun and games with them, I write. I have great family support so when my family has the kids, I just love writing.
What inspires you to write?
Jai: There is no greater inspiration than life and love. It’s funny how an idea will just pop into my head out of nowhere. It must be God. For instance, I can see a homeless person on the street and imagine his story and his life if it was a book. I see everything as a story.
Donisha: God and my imagination and my love of stories inspire me. I find it amazing how God works in our lives and I love seeing it and knowing it could be nothing but God. So life and everything in it inspires me to write. The ups and downs, the journeys we take. I love to see a real life story and envision how it will play out.
What is next for you two?
Promoting our book. We want everyone to learn about The Hustle and enjoy our first (but definitely not our last) book. We are working on our next book now and have so many different ideas. We want to explore different genres and just have fun doing what we love and sharing it with the world.
__________________________________
Excerpt:
PROLOGUE
Bella
“You want to fuck me?” I ask the pasty-skinned white boy who is trying to sweet talk me out of my panties. He nods his head yes. “Well, at least go get me a drink first. Damn.” The boy runs off to get us drinks. I can tell from his eagerness that he is a freshman, just starting his college year here at Notre Dame. Eager to party, eager to get white boy wasted, and eager to fuck some hos. I glance at my sister and roll my eyes. Beau is with a tall white boy. To be so short she is steady attracting tall guys. I whisper to Beau, “Man, this is so fucked up. Daddy only left us 50 G’s.” I grit my teeth.
“Damn, Daddy didn’t get murdered on purpose. Shit, it’s not like he intentionally left us only with $50,000. The feds took everything when they killed him,” Beau whispers back. Beau is delusional. Daddy was the top drug lord in Indiana. Usually people in that occupation don’t have a long life span. Daddy should have known better and stashed away more money for us to survive on in case he was ever killed or jailed. Instead, he left two high school teenagers to fend for themselves. I don’t think I can forgive him for that.
Yeah, $50,000 sounds like a lot of money, but it really ain’t shit. After paying for rent, private school tuition, and other living expenses, that $50,000 is dwindling quickly. I’m not trying to be homeless and hungry. So here we are, hustling just to get by; letting strangers be all up in our faces and touch us. It creeps me out. I will never forgive our father for leaving us like this.
“How much money do we have left?” I ask Beau as I watch the pasty white boy making his way through the crowd of partygoers with two red plastic cups filled with spiked punch.
“Not much. Did you have to buy that hooker outfit?” Beau asks, gesturing to the Prada dress I’d bought earlier that day.
I shrug my shoulders. “What? It was on sale.” The pasty white boy finally makes his way to us. “Kenny likes my dress,” I say loud enough for him to hear me over the music. The dress was an investment to catch the attention of rich white boys and it is paying off. I rub his chest to prove my point as I grab one of the red cups from his hand.
“My name is Kevin. And, oh yeah, I love it.”
I take the other cup from his hand and give it to Beau. “Kenny. Kevin. Whatever. In an hour or so your name will be Oh, God! Oh, God!” I laugh and the tall white boy Beau is with looks at her with excitement. I can see from the imprint in his pants he is ready to leave this kegger and get the real party started.
Beau
I watch Bella get into the driver’s seat of Kevin’s Jeep. “Greta!” I yell at Bella before she pulls off. She winks. I want to make sure she has her gun with her just in case shit goes bad. I got a little .22 strapped to my left thigh. I feel the cold metal and it makes me feel secure, even though I hate carrying guns. I know I have it if I need it. Shit, I should have reminded Bella’s trigger-happy ass to keep her hands off Greta unless absolutely necessary.
“Man, I’ve never done anything like this before,” Phil says as his long, skinny fingers grip my ass tight.
“Mmmm, me either,” I moan, rolling my eyes. This shit is crazy. What have I gotten myself into?
“What you say?” Phil yells into my ear. He is so gone. I am sure he won’t remember shit in the morning. “Umm, I got like $300 on me right now. That’s enough, right?” He starts digging in his pockets. Shit, if that is all the money we can expect to get each time, Bella and I are going to have to do this a whole damn lot or think of something else.
“What the fuck? Do I look like some low class bitch to you?” I stop on the sidewalk in front of his hunter green BMW. “My fucking shoes cost more than that.” I look down at my Valentino heels.
“Yeah, they do look expensive. They are nice,” Phil smiles at my shoes. Hell yeah. He’s in a Beemer, rocking a Rolex, and he can spot some expensive heels. He got money. “I got a lot more money at home, though,” Phil slurs.
That’s what I’m talking about. Show me the money. “Good, I’ll drive.” Phil walks closely behind me and I can feel that his dick is hard and ready as he presses it against my ass. I snatch the keys out of his hand. “Lets go,” I say, hopping into the driver’s seat.
I feel butterflies in my stomach as I drive. I can’t believe I’m doing this. This is not how I imagined life at 16. I am sure this isn’t how my parents imagined my life, either. Hell, I never thought I would be orphaned due to both of my parents being murdered by the time I was 16. Man, Bella and I have had some fucked up lives. Her mother overdosed when she was two years old. My mother was murdered when we were 10. And our dad was killed earlier this year. Fuck it. Here goes nothing.
I feel Phil’s hand on my thigh as we pull up to his apartment. I got undergrad and law school to think about and the scholarship I received isn’t going to cover all my expenses. Not to mention both my sisters and my grandma have to be good, too. Hustle it is, then. Bella and I got to do what we got to do to make this money.
Find the authors/Buy the Book:
www.facebook.com/donishaderice
www.twitter.com/donishaderice
www.instagram.com/donishaderice
www.facebook.com/jaidarlene
www.twitter.com/jaibunni
www.instagram.com/jai_darlene
www.facebook.com/hopestreetpublishing
__________________________________
Purchase links:
http://www.amazon.com/Hustle-Means-End-Donisha-Derice-ebook/dp/B00M8N1L32
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-hustle-donisha-derice/1120020741