Omar Tyree Retires from Urban Literature

One Star Member Joined : 09 Jun 2008 Posts : 36

This is an interesting article. Tyree says he through with Urban Lit. The main reason seems to be that the genre is now calling the shots. Retailers are even getting into how gritty the title sounds as it relates to sales. This is the link to his article:

http://thedailyvoice.com/voice/2008/06/street-lit-000748.php

Has this author's readership pool been conditioned to expect one type of product that blurs out the talent of the individual author? Is this the first step in a return to a more diverse literature selection from these authors? The answers lies in what readers will buy.

Rooftop Diva – A Novel of Triumph After Katrina- ESSENCE bestseller

http://reviews.aalbc.com/rooftop_diva.htm

Fools’ Heaven – Love, Lust and Death beyond the Pulpit

http://www.therawreviewers.com/artman/publish/FoolsHeaven.shtml

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Subject: Re: Omar Tyree Retires from Urban Literature Sat Jun 28, 2008 10:08 pm

Tyree's article and the comments are interesting. I know little about the subject so anything from me would be irrelevant.
How do you categorize your own books, D.T.?
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One Star Member Joined : 09 Jun 2008 Posts : 36

My books are general fiction. They contain elements form all aspects of life and don't focus heavily on any one setting, ethnicity or subcultural lifestyle.

The Urban Novel is the hottest selling genre from African American authors, so much so that it almost a "mill" type environment. New authors are jumping in left and right to the point of saturation. Authors of more literary work are feeling the pain as consumers snap this stuff up and feel the major publishers are exploiting a vein in spite of the questionable material, editing and effect it has on readers. Much of this is very explicit in language and subject matter with a healthy dose of sex, drugs and crime framed in an inner city environment. Popular characters may exibit less than high moral values.

Tyree was one of the pioneers of this genre, but seems now defined by it and wants out.

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