On the way up: two emerging authors succeed in the fast-paced world of literary entrepreneurship.

A wealth of books by new authors--mostly self-published--has filled the African American bookshelves over the past few years. With so many new titles, it is a daunting task to have yours stand above the rest. How can a self-published author survive in this market? Two up-and-coming authors have found the way to success in the urban/high-drama genre.

Darien Coleman: Teacher to Author/Publisher

In February 2003, Darren Coleman printed the first 5000 copies of Before I Let Go (NVision Publishing), and before the year was over, he had sold more than 30,000 copies. In July 2004, Amistad Press rereleased Before I Let Go as part of a two-book deal. About the same time, Coleman released his second self-published novel, Do or Die, which has already sold over 15,000 copies.

"I was a school teacher, working with second-and third-grade students when I decided to write," be says. "Although I had an interest in writing, I never thought about writing a novel--until I became a reader."

Coleman, a graduate of Bowie State College who lives in Prince Georges County, Maryland, credits an old girlfriend for the start of his career. "She was a voracious reader, and I began reading," he recalls. "I started with Trying to Sleep in the Bed You Made by Virginia DeBerry and Donna Grant (St. Martin's Press, October 1997), and continued with all of Eric Jerome Dickey's books. Not long after, I bought a computer."

It took Coleman one year to write Before I Let Go, while he was still teaching. "I met Shannon Holmes (B-More Careful, Teri Woods Publishing, December 2001) and he helped me research what I needed to do to self-publish. I didn't have it in me to go through all the agent-publisher rejection that I heard so much about. So I decided to do it myself.

"I can't give you a definitive reason for the book's success," Coleman says. "I think my novel is fresh, different and sexy." Coleman, who is now a full-time writer at 35, points to both his faith and attention to craft for his accomplishments. "My faith and word of mouth have made my book successful." Even though Coleman has a mainstream book deal, he plans to continue self-publishing. "I'll be publishing under the name of 'D."'

In 2005, Coleman will release the sequel to Before I Let Go, titled Don't Ever Wonder. "You can expect to see a book a year coming from my company."

For more information about Coleman, log on to http://www.darrencoleman.net/.

Michael Presley: Success in Sequels

Michael Presley has risen far above the crowd with his novels BlackFunk (April 2001), BlackFunk II: No Regrets, No Apologies (June 2002) and BlackFunk III: Whatever It Takes (June 2004). "I've wanted to write since I was a child," Presley says. He lives in New York City, but he does not like to disclose either his age or his occupation before becoming an author. "But it wasn't until I saw some of the movies by Spike Lee that I was inspired to write my novel." Presley wanted to present the images of positive black men. "I wanted to show us as professionals: doctors, engineers, lawyers--successful people with issues."

"When I finished the first book, I sent it to one agent and was rejected," Presley recalls. "That was enough for me. I did the research and decided to publish it myself, do it my way." To date, more than 100,000 copies have sold. "The book just took off," he says.

Like Coleman, Presley says that his best marketing has been word of mouth. Another belief Presley shares with Coleman is that a well-written story will always sell. "People either love my book or hate it, but either way, they talk about it. If you can get people talking, you can sell the book."

In 2002, Presley published BlackFunk II. "The response was so good, the readers just asked me to keep the story coming?' More than 50,000 copies of BlackFunk II have sold, and BlackFunk III has sold more than 15,000 copies. "I think this is the end of the BlackFunk series. In 2005, I plan on publishing a new book with a new title, Tears on a Sunday Afternoon."

Also, like Coleman, Presley has mainstream interest now. "I have an agent who is shopping my next book. But I will keep the rights to the BlackFunk series. That book will continue to sell forever."

Victoria Christopher Murray's latest book, Truth Be Told (Touchstone, July 2004), has been on BIBR's FLYING OFF THE SHELVES list, see page 72. Visit http://www.victoriachristophermurray.com/ for excerpts.