In the early '90 to about people at least.

In the early '90 to about people at least, African American fiction referr barely to novels about sisters looking for brothers. Fortunately, the hum in black fiction has propell authors, publishers and readers beyond the popular relationship novel and further diversified the world of genre fiction. Genre fiction imputes to the popular novels that, while not always critically acclaimed, inspire fierce loyalty among fans. The realm of genre includes mysteries, romance, science fiction/fantasy, and stories that focus in succession a particular way of life, like as street life of hip-hop novels. with equal reason in honor of BIBR's fifth anniversary, we're taking a expect at five authors who have rest their niche and become fan favorites in latter years.

ZANE

Erotica

individual of the biggest genre authors, Zane, has be derived to dominate erotic fiction after bringing it revealed of the literary closet with her first, self-published titles. The Washington, D.C.-area writer's novels, including Addicted (Atria parts October 2001), Nervous (Atria main division s September 2003) and Shame in succession It All (Atria Books, May 2003) have been best-sellers.

Zane, who is 37 isn't surprised according to the popularity of her novels, unless says others were. "Everyone said that I would ruin my career if I wrote erotica," she told BIBR. "Let's just say the bulk of mankind are not saying I was misguided anymore."

yet success wasn't a shock, the juxtaposition of her hypersexual fiction with tamer fare was. "When Nervous came not at home in September, my local Borders had Nervous forward display at the front door along with the recent Harry Potter book," she says. "I certainly did procure a kick out of that!"

CARL WEBER

Urban "Heavy Drama"

While the debate rages forward about street-life and urban novels, the genre continues to make progress At the forefront is Carl Weber. Weber is a novel York-area bookstore owner, novelist and, now, a publisher. His of the present day company, Urban Books, will publish a representation of urban fiction that he calls "heavy drama." Weber, 37 says his work at jobs as an author is to take the reader disclosed of his or her moot points and engage them in the character's drama. His fresh company has a distribution deal with Kensington volumes (See BIBR's BETWEEN THE LINES, page 8)

He has done that with four novels and undivided novella, including Baby Momma Drama (Kensington Pub Corp, January 2003) Lookin' for Luv (Kensington, November 2001) and Married Men (Kensington Pub Corp, September 2001) His nearest novel, Player Haters (Kensington), is fit in February 2004 and will feature a man who has a business card for each situation.

LESLIE ESDAILE BANKS

Vampire/Horror

Leslie Esdaile Banks, a prominent romance author, is taking in succession a very different genre. The Philadelphia resident has launched a just discovered series that begins with Minion: A Vampire Huntres fable (St. Martin's Press, June 2003) and will continue with The Awakening (Strange Fruit, Dupe) owed out in January 2004.

Banks, 43 who is also published as L.A. Banks and Leslie Esdaile, was single in kind of BIBR's Best of 2002 picks in romance. "I wanted to tackle the issues of upright versus evil and to have the romance genre constraints remov in the same manner that I could build my story," Banks says of her foray into vampire fiction.

In addition to the vampire series for St Martin's Pres Banks is working upon a crime series for Dafina/Kensington, brace horror anthologies and a tie of romances. Banks, who has a master of fine arts standing in film and media arts, is also writing the novels based forward the Soul Food television series.

SHANNON HOLMES

way Life

Self-publishing or starting with small publishers is a renewed theme in niche success stories. Because of a lack of interest from larger publishers, Shannon Holme author of B-More Careful (December 2001) approached Meow Meow Productions, a company race by Teri Woods, author of loyal to the Game (June 1999) an early highway life or hip-hop novel.

Holme 30 is claiming the niche one time owned by Donald Goines and Iceberg Slim. The Bronx-based author has partnered with Vickie Stringer (Let That Be the Reason, UpStream Publications, June 2002) proprietor of Triple Crown Publications. His other novel, Bad Girlz (Atria Books) came abroad in October 2003.

Always an avid reader, Holme particularly remembers his sister's Donald Goines novels. "It's nothing like reading something you can relate to," he says. In cast you have to write about what you know, says Holme who serv five years in prison. It was during his incarceration that he was inspired to write.

"I can't write about corporate America, because I haven't been in corporate America," Thus he gives us tales from harsh, urban roads complete with language that will, as he says, make you "cover your mouth"

the same lesson he learned, though, is that the world of works isn't all about showing have affection for "When I first came gone out I thought everybody was suppos to like me," he says. Instead, Holme and other street-life authors have alternately been praised for telling previously invisible stories and criticized for the harsh and scurrilous language, as well as for allegedly promoting stereotypical and degrading images.