The Vickie M. Stringer Collection


Book Description

From Vicki M. Stringer, “the reigning queen of urban fiction” (Publishers Weekly), three exciting novels that will keep you coming back for more. Let That Be the Reason Let That Be the Reason begins when a drug dealer abandons his girlfriend Pamela Xavier, leaving her with nothing but a stack of bills, an empty refrigerator, and an impending eviction notice. Backed in a corner and with no prospects in sight, Pamela decides to get her hustle on. Transforming herself into Carmen, she learns to deal with the streets, the playas, the drug lords, and of course the law—by any means necessary. In no time, she is running a call-girl service, a fencing operation, and a drug cartel—all while still being a mom. Carmen wants money, but she also wants happiness. The problem is, she doesn’t quite understand what real happiness is and what real love means—or what it all costs. Imagine This Imagine This continues the saga of Pamela as she does jail time and has to decide who she really is: Pamela, a woman who, more than anything, loves her son and wants to be there to raise him; or Carmen, the ruthless baller, who does the crime, serves the time, and honors, at any expense, the code of the street. The Reason Why Pamela was a naive coed from Detroit, going to classes by day and clubs by night. The hottest spot was Jazzy Jay’s and that’s where one of the guys slipped his gun in her pocketbook, knowing that the police who had just descended on the club wouldn’t check the girls for weapons. She didn’t know his name or anything other than he was cute and charming. But, when she tracked him down to return his property, she found out his name was Chino, his game was hustling, and his plan was to make her his woman—and give her more than she ever bargained for out of life, love, and the pursuit of money.




Let That Be the Reason


Book Description

From literary icon and Essence bestselling author of Imagine This and Dirty Red comes forth the classic urban novel that launched Vickie Stringer's wildly successful career -- Let That Be the Reason. This is the remix. Based on Stringer's real-life experiences, this epic tale has changed the face of contemporary literature and continues to resonate and provide voice to thousands of urban readers as a cautionary tale of will and redemption. Pamela Xavier is a young woman left for dead by her drug-dealing boyfriend, Chino. With stacks of bills, no food in the fridge, and a baby on the way, Pammy turns to the streets for survival. Her back against the wall, Pammy relies on her alter ego, Carmen, to guide her through the male-dominated game and to achieve what she thinks will buy back her life and her happiness: money. In no time, Carmen graduates from call-girl service to leader of a major drug cartel -- all to raise her son so he may never know her same pain and struggle. But with money on her mind, Carmen soon realizes that the perilous choices and consequences of the game come at a much higher cost than she could ever have imagined. Let That Be the Reason in this collector's edition, including additional chapters and dialogue, is a true-to-life saga of a woman's love, ambition to survive, forgiveness, and salvation.




Dirty Red


Book Description

This scorching novel from the celebrated urban fiction author of "Let That Be the Reason" and "Imagine This" tells a provocative tale of love, lies, loss, and the indomitable spirit of a woman called Red.




The Dirty Red Series


Book Description

From the "queen of urban fiction" (Publishers Weekly), Vickie Stringer, come three scorching tales of love, lies, and loss. Dirty Red Mischievous and manipulative, eighteen-year-old Red is an expert at deception with a provocative femininity. She employs her dirty ways—even faking a pregnancy with her boyfriend—to win a closet full of Gucci bags, a deluxe condominium full of baby accessories, a new car, and a book deal. But when one of Red's scams backfires and she winds up truly pregnant by her inmate ex-boyfriend, Bacon, she finds herself in more trouble than she's ever known. The drama truly unravels when Red's picture-perfect cons fall apart due to the power of—surprisingly—love. Still Dirty In Still Dirty, Red is again caught in a web of murder, theft, and deceit. We find her and her boyfriend Q running for a plane to Mexico after a violent fight with her ex-boyfriend Bacon, a released convict. Bacon is on their heels and determined not to let Red get away alive. Will Q come to her rescue once again? Or will he tire of cleaning up after Red's dirty deeds? Dirtier Than Ever Bacon returns from prison and suddenly Q is left for dead. With Q out of the picture, Bacon now has Red to himself. His sights are set on being the top hustler with Red by his side. He believes Red has finally changed when she reveals the truth about her past. But all comes to a head when the snooping detective, Thomas, suspects Red’s involvement in Q’s getting shot and the murder of Zeke, Q’s best friend. With two murders, a tumultuous love affair, and money on her mind, Red must make a decision . . . does she turn over a new leaf or revisit her dirty ways of old?




Imagine This


Book Description

Imagine This is the sequel to Vickie Stringer's bestselling Let That Be the Reason, her stunning debut novel based on life as she knew it in the shocking underworld of the sex and drug trade. Vickie Stringer has gained a legion of fans for her portrayal of Pamela, a.k.a. Carmen, a woman who had it all but lost out when the love of her life left her penniless and alone to raise their son. Pamela refuses to remain powerless, though. She pulls herself up, becomes a major hustler in the street game, gains independence, and makes big money -- but the consequences are more dreadful than she ever imagined. Imagine This continues the saga of Pamela as she does jail time and has to decide who she really is: Pamela, a woman who, more than anything, loves her son and wants to be there to raise him; or Carmen, the ruthless baller, who does the crime, serves the time, and honors, at any expense, the code of the street.




Dirtier Than Ever


Book Description

Following the phenomenal success of Essence bestsellers Dirty Red and Still Dirty, Vickie M. Stringer takes readers on another bumpy ride in Dirtier Than Ever with Red, Bacon, and Q—the crazy love-hate triangle who makes the series a favorite among urban fiction fans. Q wished that Bacon had killed Red when he had the chance. Red knew that Q’s career as a hustler was over and he was counting on starting a new legit business with the money he had made. He had once believed her when she promised that the money didn’t mean a thing and she would give it all up to be with him. Bacon returns from prison and suddenly Q is left for dead. With Q out of the picture, Bacon now has Red to himself. His sights are set on being the top hustler with Red by his side. He believes Red has fi nally changed when she reveals the truth about her past. But all comes to a head when the snooping detective, Thomas, suspects Red’s involvement in Q’s getting shot and the murder of Zeke, Q’s best friend. With two murders, a tumultuous love affair, and money on her mind, Red must make a decision . . . does she turn over a new leaf or revisit her dirty ways of old? Gritty, steamy, and intense, Stringer delivers another page-turning caper about a hustler in high heels who is Dirtier Than Ever.




Low Down and Dirty


Book Description

Dirty Red is back, and this time she’s on the run. Having apparently wounded all of her enemies, and even her beloved Q, Raven “Red” Gomez finds herself away from Detroit living the life of luxury in Arizona. She’s become a successful home broker with a bestselling book, and it seems as if all of her dirty tricks have finally paid off—from framing Detective Thomas to ruining Kera's freedom. Unfortunately for Red, she’s made more enemies than she can count, and she soon finds herself running across country in fear of them all while still being in love with Q. Everyone seems to have a reason to pay her the ultimate revenge, and even the most unlikely become partners if it means finally bringing an end to all of Red’s dirty schemes. In yet another fast-paced and spiraling edition in this bestselling series, Vickie Stringer writes about a woman who will do anything to save her life and the people who go so low in attempts to stop her.




How to Succeed in the Publishing Game


Book Description

Best-selling author and world-renowned publisher Vickie Stringer began her empire with one book,Let That Be the Reason.After enduring 26 rejection letters from mainstream publishers, Stringer began to explore the promising world of self-publishing. Stringer has distinguished herself as a Literary Renaissance Woman, boasting titles such as best-selling author, leading publisher, prominent literary agent and motivator to aspiring authors and self-publishers. In How to Succeed in the Publishing Game, Stringer reveals the secret to her success and unveils countless valuable tips and steps on how to become successful in the world of self-publishing: Utilize creative means of generating start-up capital Build winning relationships with editors, typesetters, graphic designers, printers Ensure that your book will flourish in the hands of the right distributors, wholesalers, bookstores Develop a steadfast marketing plan, brand and image that will sell itself Utilize the complete guide to dependable references and resources Harvest the benefits of a best-seller! "Ms. Stringer has entered the slightly more rarefied precincts of book publishing. And she's getting rich." -The New York Times "Mainstream publishers wouldn't touch her book. So Stringer printed 1,500 copies and took to the road. The book became an underground hit, and bookstores began to stock it." -Newsweek




Mina's Joint


Book Description

Once again she's back! Keisha Ervin, that is, with her spellbinding tale of love, family, money, and scandal. In this sizzling new story, Keisha introduces you to Mina Matthews. She is not your typical around-the-way girl; her dreams of making a life for herself outside the hood are now a reality. At the age of 25, she has her own full service salon, Mina's Joint, drives a CLK55, and is engaged to Andrew, the son of the mayor of St. Louis. To most, she has it all, but everything that glitters ain't gold. Mina's life is turned upside down when the man of her dreams and childhood sweetheart, Victor Gonzalez, re-enters her life. Suddenly everything that she thought was true turns out to be a lie. Will her loyalty to Andrew overshadow her love for Victor, or will the pasts of these two men bring her life to an end?




Dirty Love


Book Description

Red is back and still on the run. This novel is the last and finale installment in the Red Series Books.