Innercity Stories

The Thuggish Ruggish Bone- book four of Shut Up & Listen Series: Lonnie, the eldest of his siblings, seems lost to everyone around him. But he's never been more sure of himself and what he needs. On the other hand there's Dame- he seems the most put together but his world on the inside is full of turmoil. While so completely opposite they seem, these brothers, Dame and Lonnie, will soon find that at the core, down at the bone, they couldn't be more similar. no.1 in #innercity no.2 in #innerchild no.2 in #bougie

Brandon Bailey or BB as most of his family and friends call him is a self-described comic book geek, science fiction, fantasy, cartoon, nerd. BB is a black boy growing up during the 70's in Houston, TX and uses his vast imagination to not only negotiate the sometimes challenging inner city streets but also to create a persona that does not always equal what his family, friends or even society think a black boy can aspire to be. Join BB and his wonderful imagination as he explores, leans and sometimes teaches folks about the power of believing

> He was all smoke and danger - the boy they called Fire. She was quiet storms and locked journals - the girl they barely noticed, until she didn't blink. Nobody saw it coming. Not the notes taped to her door. Not the way their names started to rhyme. Not the love story that felt too risky to speak out loud. In a city that doesn't care who gets burned, Rain touched Fire - and everything changed. A story about scars, survival, and a love so unexpected... it might just save them both.

Writing is the only weapon Copper is willing to use. She prays she is never antagonized into anything more. Although her Dad inherited the barely affordable distressed property, she will always think of it as her grandfather's house. It is in this house, this inner-city community where she proudly, despite the distractions, write her first three books. Inspired by actual events, this is a revamped Behind the Scenes Nine-Year Journey of a published author! Episode One. Now A Limited Series. (WIP)

Poetry for the Homeless No judgement, just how it looked from one person's perspective.

In Stonebrook, survival is the only rule. Fifteen-year-old Ezra Thomas knows how to stay invisible-at home, at school, in the streets. But when a classmate is violently attacked and Ezra sees something no one else does-a shadow curling from the bully's mouth, whispering lies that feel alive-he's forced to face a truth he's not ready for: The war isn't just in the streets. It's in the spirit. Drawn into a hidden battle between darkness and light, Ezra begins to uncover secrets buried in scripture, echoes of ancient truths, and a calling that could break him-or save everyone he loves. With a frayed Bible verse in his pocket and fear gripping his chest, Ezra must decide: will he keep running from what he sees... or will he stand and fight? Even if the first battle is in his own soul.

Mechanic is a coming-of-age novel set in early 2000s Oakland, following sixteen-year-old JayJohnson as he returns home from juvenile detention and tries to rebuild his life under the reluctant mentorship of Reggie, his late father's old friend and the owner of a neighborhood auto shop. With one foot still tangled in the streets-friends chasing fast money and reputations-and the other stepping toward GED classes, honest work, and an emerging connection with Maya, an aspiring artist, Jay finds himself at a crossroads. As his world tests whether he can change, Mechanic explores the quiet resilience it takes to break cycles, build trust, and become the kind of man you weren't supposed to be.

Kevin Griffin is a lonely errand boy working for a powerful drug lord in a lethal underworld. He suffers severely from depression and anger as a biracial teenager with an incarcerated black father and an alcoholic white mother. With a cold-blooded mind, Kevin carries a switchblade knife as he collects debts from gamblers and drug buyers all over Massachusetts by boarding the Commuter Rail to complete his assignments.

In one fateful night two men's paths will collide. Christopher Davis is a hardworking man who works twelve hour shifts at a produce shipping company, he also is a young man with a beautiful fiancé and even more beautiful 4 month old daughter. Kamar Drew is a notorious criminal who's arrest record started when he was at the tender age of 14. He's recently released after serving a five year sentence for drug possession, after receiving his second strike Kamar has vowed to never return to prison no matter what he has to do. These two men will have to rely on each other to survive or at least see their families one more time

After Corbin's death, kinny feels as if something's changed in Oakland. He continuously uncovers pieces to what he finds, which leads him to venture all around the western side of the u.s. looking for awnsers, and trying to bring Corbin's death to justice.

Kendra Smithens spent her entire life believing that the technologically advanced city, New York, was the only way of living. And that the only way to make it better is to be upgraded from the rusty Outer City to the exclusive Inner City. But is it? Can she escape the heavily guarded New York using the help of a strange boy? Will she trust him enough to use his help? And will she finally find a place where she won't have to listen to the cogs?

In this one shot, Cara, the brilliant university undergraduate, battles poverty, discrimination and the inner city demons of violence and senseless killing while guarding her dream of a better life for herself and her family.

The Rea Estate family, now calling themselves the Gore family in honor of Dr. Gore, have become infamous heroes in Easternport, known by the Townies for their bravery in the South End fiasco, but to the Serpent Society who rule the city, they are deviants who threaten the authority of the government. And at the center of the Serpent aristocracy, Ian Fusch broods over the growing support for the wiley Gore family leader, Mikkel, who has been rounding up a strange group of "friends" on the dirtier side of Center City.

In the heart of New Orleans, inside a smoke-filled bar where regrets linger longer than the liquor, Tavon sits with nothing but memories and a past that refuses to let him go. Once a king of the streets, now just a ghost of everything he lost, he recognizes something dangerous in two young men chasing the same throne he once held. Chi and Halo think they're different. They think they're ready. Tavon knows better. Because the game doesn't change. It just waits. "Used To Be" is a raw look at cycles, consequences, and the brutal truth about a life that only ends one way.

Jay's life is shaped by the struggles of an unforgiving world. In a city where survival is never guaranteed, he's forced to confront difficult choices and the weight of his past. As danger looms and time runs short, Jay searches for peace in a world that offers little rest. A gritty, emotional story of hardship, resilience, and the hope for something better beyond the chaos.

She would do anything for him. He would do anything to keep her. Now, they realise just how different those feelings are, and who they benefit.

A collection of excerpts, poems, proverbs, quotations that I have read and had become a part of my inner city. Credits to the rightful owners.

Author's Note: This story is a blend of fiction and non-fiction. Some chapters are inspired by real letters written to me by my nephew in September and August of 2009, while others come from my own experiences and imagination. Together, these true and imagined moments create a portrait of survival, family, and street life. UnSaid Story Of Chico is an authentic urban drama based on the real life of my nephew, Robert V. Carstarphen aka Chico, a street fashion icon from Camden, NJ. Tall, handsome, and magnetic, blessed with perfect looks, and always impeccably dressed in the freshest streetwear. His style and confidence made him stand out wherever he went. The ladies are crazy over him. He made each one feel special. Chico's friends often tried to be him, imitating his unique swag and style. They admired his confidence and the way he carried himself, but no one could truly match the original Downtown's Finest. Their attempts to copy him only fueled their jealousy even more. Their envy grew quietly, turning admiration into resentment this is more than just a story. It's a tribute to Chico's resilience, charisma, and the harsh realities of the streets that shaped and, in the end, took him.

A 13 yrs old boy fighting to stay on the right path even though his present situation is pointing him to gangs,gun and a life of crime.

Taylor is just a regular girl trying to survive the harsh environment of inner city New York. With no money, no job, and no family, she resorts to the only thing she seems to be good at: stealing. Things look pretty grim, until one day, Taylor steals from someone much more important that she intended to, and her life gets turned around forever.