Lola Welcomes Omar Tyree

A New York Times best-selling author and 2001 NAACP Image Award recipient for Outstanding Literature in Fiction, has sold more than 1.4 million copies of books worldwide. With a degree in Print Journalism from Howard
University in 1991, Tyree has been recognized as one of the most renown contemporary writers in the African-American community. He founded his own successful book publishing company, MARS Productions in 1992, before partnering with the publishing powerhouse of Simon & Schuster in 1995, to produce a consistent
stream of 13 novels and counting. Concerned with the lack of African-American male readership, Tyree started an Urban Griot book series, featuring more politically driven and edgier material for urban men to read. He then branched out from book publishing to start Hot Lava Entertainment, a synergy production company for books, music and film. Most recently, Tyree has begun the branding process of Flyy Girl Incorporated, based on his most successful and popular novel, with a national marketing campaign to publish an urban fashion magazine, while
highlighting models, photographers, stylists, clothing lines, and beautiful career women of color.

For more information on his various community-driven vehicles, please view his web sites at (OmarTyree.com) / (FlyyGirLInc.com) / (HotLavaEntertainment.com) / and (TheUrbanGriot.com).
In 2006, Tyree re-established his roots as a journalist and writer of articles on community, culture, entertainment, politics, an intellectual opinion, including the creation of thought-provoking short stories on
African-America. He also launched a book-related television program to reinforce the seriousness of
African-American literature.

Hello Mr Tyree, envisage yourself as a plant, which one would it be and why?
I'd be a palm tree willing to grow tall, stand out, and look pretty in great weather (smile).

Describe your writing style in one sentence
My writing style is blunt, informative, thought-provoking and always up-to-date with what's going on in society.

Without the naughty bits, describe your typical writing day
My writing day is pretty boring actually. I'll wake up, take my sons to school, answer pressing e-mails, and then go right to work on my latest book. Sometimes when I'm really feeling it, I'll stay up late at night to get more done. Too much goes on during the daytime. But it's all pretty much a boring process. The excitemet is how the ideas are put together to begin with. I always have great book ideas that mean something to the community; that and the income that I'll make from the books for my family allow me to stay focused to complete them all.

Name the most influential book you have read
Richard Wright's Native Son in high school was the book that really smacked me in the face as a young black man in America. That book is the bible for all Black American writing, hands down.

Do you have a writing stalker? (you know that crazy looking person who turns up at EVERY signing)
No I do not have a stalker. My personality and writing style is way too serious for someone to want to stalk me.
They are all too afraid of me (smile).

Describe your road to publishing stardom
I'm still not a star until I can get film deals done, but I'm popular because I was one of the first of the 90s generation, and I continue to write and speak to keep myself in the fold of things.

Can you remember anything remotely embarrassing about your very first book signing?
I haven't had many embarrassing moments in the book world. I can say that I spoke a little too harshly about Black Americans not taking contemporary books seriously enough in my first magazine cover story for Black Issues Book
Review. I wish I could take that interview back and be more thoughtful with my words, but that's about it. I said what I said, and I'll live with it.

A piece of advice you found useful as an aspiring writer…
Always finish what you start. It's that simple. Everyone has book ideas, but real writers are able to finish some of them.

And the best thing about being a published writer is…? (Feel free to be totally fickle and materialistic here)
I can actually make a living by using and sharing the ideas that are on my creative mind. That part of it is absolutely lovely! Wow!

Visit Omar's website!

© Lola Jaye