"Just Say Yes" To His Music Biz Tell-All Novel!


Philly native and 2001 NAACP literature award winner Omar Tyree is about torock the publishing world with his eighth novel, Just Say No (Simon & Schuster, publication date 8/7/01) about two old high schoool friends and the temptations that they encounter in their current roles as a top recording artist and his manager, respectively. "The plot's twist and turns and the way these guys relationship changes as they work with each other in a turbulent
business is what I hope will make this a real page-turner," comments the erudite author.

What sets Tyree apart from other popular African-American novelists is his determination to base his books on real urban issues and to get men back into reading fiction. (Say the words "romance novel" or "relationship book" and he's bound to roll his eyes and sigh!) The high-strung writer remarks enthusiastically, "This is a real book about what happens when someone rises from the projects to be a top R&B or rap artist. The real artists, when they write an autobiography, leave out all the outrageous stuff like the sex and the drugs. Those books are so boring. I write about what really happens and I leave nothing out! I can get away with it." The 33-year-old Howard University graduate's most successful novel was Flyy Girl, which is still selling rapidly (there are already plans to publish a special deluxe 10th anniversary edition in two years)!

Tyree's private life is pretty mellow--he presently resides in Charlotte, NC with his wife
Karintha and their two sons, Ameer and Canoy. While when not working on a novel he is doing the college lecture circuit, inspiring bright African-Americans to try their hands at journalism and creative writing.Coming from a low income household, Tyree went to college on a challenge
grant scholarship program and won awards and accolades for his writing even back in his late '80s school days. Tyree's current project--projected for an August 2002 release date--is an as-yet-untitled "urban America horror" novel set in a New Orleans housing project where some of the Haitian-based inhabitants are practicing voodoo. "From now on, I will be releasing a new book every August. I want that month to be Omar Tyree month and I want people to be waiting with bated breath for each new book to come out. And I want each new book to break new ground in
the publishing business.

I want to outsell Terry McMillan and eventually, Stephen King." Modest? Not exactly, but Tyree has the talent to back up his outrageous goals. He's a man on a mission: turning African-American
literature (and the publishing business in general) on its ear--plus eventually turning several of his novels into movie screenplays!

He concludes with a smile, "I think when the next book comes out, Hollywood will already be interested in a screenplay for Just Say No. It's the kind of story that really lends itself to be an exciting movie because it is a great male bonding tale like Boyz In Da Hood or Cooley High. And the lead character will remind you of stuff Bobby Brown went through. I'm already
thinking about getting Usher to play (the main character) John Williams, better known as Lover Boy. But I am getting ahead of myself here! For now I'm just happy being a leader in the Black community of authors but I push myself to outdo myself each time."
'Nuff said?

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