« A New Review | Main | Happy »

Introducing the Deadly Viper Literary Squad (The DeViLS)

The following entry is for entertainment purposes only and is not meant to imply an alliance of any sort between the writers featured.

As you all probably know, I am obsessed with Kill Bill. I can recite the "as your leader" speech that O-Ren Ishii gives in part one. I can give you The Bride’s voice inflections on all her parts.

"I want him to know – I want him to know."

And yes, sometimes I think I know kung fu. So what if the only people who appreciate those skills are seven years old? But that’s beside the point.

Forget for a moment, if you will, the ending of Kill Bill. Forget the alliances and the enemies and who killed who. Imagine the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad when they were all co-workers -- friends at best.

Now imagine that they are all black.

And male.

And gay.

And write books.

I am very fond of three fellow gay black writers, but I don’t think I’ve adequately highlighted their work or their personalities in my diary yet. But instead of a regular, butt-kissing entry, I want to reintroduce you to all of "us" – the Deadly Viper Literary Squad (DeVILS). These are the four authors that you need to look out for in 2005. And hell yeah I included myself in that number! Shooot...I’m Cottonmouth, dammit.

---

Introducing Frederick Smith aka Copperhead

(Photo by Ibarionex Perello)

Frederick Smith is one of the most pleasant people I've come across this year. I really enjoy talking to him a lot because not only does he have great advice, he provides an example for me to aspire to. Sure, we're not that far apart in age. Yes, we're both on our first novels. But you know what? The man is traditionally published and I have loads of respect for that.

His blog is thorough. If you are interested in becoming a writer, READ HIS BLOG. I don't think he'd feel comfortable with me saying that his path is a blue print. But I can tell you that Fred is doing the vast majority of things the right way.

Go get 'em, Fred.

I have chosen Copperhead for Fred not because of a similar temperament, but because of that "lifestyle" that Vernita Green has. She's got the husband, the child, the house...yet she WORKED HARD for all of those things. She puts her bloody past behind her and is focusing on the present and the future. One of these days, maybe Fred will show me a more "ghetto" side like Copperhead has in her, but I doubt it. The man is very diplomatic and just really freaking nice.

Which brings me to me...

---

Introducing Rashid Darden aka Cottonmouth

Yeah, I know...I just HAD to put myself in the Deadly Vipers. What am I, Spike Lee or something?

I really identify with Cottonmouth from the Kill Bill films. She has an elegance about her that I really admire. All of her cohorts wear black while she wears white -- virgin white, which we know for both O-Ren Ishii and Rashid Darden is a huge joke. Like Cottonmouth, I look out for my friends and they look out for me. I am also sensitive as all hell, which leads to a mean streak. A really, really mean streak. Which is why it's best to just keep me happy. Not trying to be funny, just being honest.

Anyway, Cottonmouth is crazy as all hell and surrounds herself with loyal friends who are just as crazy. Case in point:

My close friend Nikki is Go Go Yubari. Nikki and I have known each other since 1997 and we used to embarrass each other in public all the time. (Like pretending to pass out on the floor of the student center.) That's the type of crazy I mean. Nikki is really and truly ride or die for me, and I respect that.

My man Dwayne is my Johnny Mo. He knows when to let me vent and when to tell me about myself. (But not too harshly, cuz I'm sensitive, lol) He is bold, strong, and kind, and really does look out for me. The man isn't afraid to wear his letters at a Pride event -- because he was, I did.

Go Go and Johnny Mo were the two people who helped me sell books if you were at DC Pride.

Who you didn't meet was my Sophie Fatale -- Shari. Sophie and Shari are both quiet, strong women who are intensely loyal, a value that Cottonmouth and I both demand. Sophie was always on the phone in the movies. Shari is always on the phone -- with me. We live for our "how tight would that be?" moments when we share our dreams and our hopes.

The Crazy 88...well, that's everybody else. I have so many people in my corner it don't make no sense. My Crazy 88 are my family, friends, coworkers, readers, frat brothers, sorors, anybody and everybody who loves Lazarus and wants to see me succeed.

But why "Crazy 88?" The people in my life aren't really crazy, are they?

Let's put it this way...Cottonmouth had her own set of issues in her childhood that created the person she was. She built her own empire by herself. She ran the Tokyo crime council in a way that was strict but fair....the Crazy 88 made sure that O-Ren didn't have to get her hands dirty. Oh yeah, she will slice your head off with a sword -- but the Crazy 88 ensured that she had to only sparingly.

Yes...those are the kinds of friends I have.

---

Introducing Brent Dorian Carpenter aka California Mountain Snake

Who better to play the role of Elle Driver than Brent Dorian Carpenter, a man whose laugh is both enchanting and sinister at the same time? I LOVE THIS MAN. As I've said elsewhere, meeting Brent at the 2004 DC Pride really inspired me to take the bull by the horns and get my own self-publishing thing together. Meeting him again this year really solidified my admiration of him.

I chose California Mountain Snake to represent Brent because, well.....they're both crazy as hell. But in a good way!

Brent thinks outside the box. He doesn't find a way, he makes a way. I respect his work ethic and his ability to talk with just about anyone. Brent gets the job done -- it doesn't matter who he has to piss off to get it done.

I love listening to him talk. He's so passionate about whatever news he is trying to hip me to. None of Brent's emotions are mild -- they are all on level ten of ten.

California Mountain Snake....yeah, that's him. Beautiful, honorable, and dangerous. ;-)

---

Introducing Alphonso Morgan aka Black Mamba

Last, but not least, I've got to introduce you to Alphonso Morgan, aka Black Mamba, the hardest working man in fiction. I've got to show deference where it is due. With him in this line of work, I could NEVER cast myself as Black Mamba.

I'm not going to go into a whole bunch of detail on who Black Mamba is...most people know the character had a lot of hardships, had been fucked over, and did what she had to do to get what she wanted. Well, like Black Mamba, there is a lot I can admire and identify with in Alphonso Morgan.

I love talking to him. It's like damn, can I be like you when I grow up? His work, of course, is on point, but his work ethic is even more on point.

The quintessential scene in Kill Bill that reminds me of Alphonso is this one:

Black Mamba is surrounded by the Crazy 88 and though to you and I, it may seem like a hopeless situation, Black Mamba handles each and every one of them. It is in that way that Alphonso can own a room as soon as he walks into it. Imagine hundreds of skeptical gay men in a room or a hotel lobby and see this one guy trying to sell a book nobody has heard of. Like Black Mamba, Alphonso will tackle each and every one of those people until he has conquered the lot of them.

I wish I had that level of charisma and charm. All I can do is look cute and virginal. lol

So, my hat is tipped to you, Alphonso. (Although I know you'll never read this.)

---

Well, that's my entry. I hope you purchase the work of these men, my favorites in the gay black writing world to date. Each one is different in their own way. You already know what sets me apart if you're reading this. Fred is traditionally published, but is no one's sell-out. His work brings something new and exciting to the mainstream. Brent is amazing as a human being and as a writer. The world of speculative fiction would be a boring place indeed without his presence. And Alphonso...the man who reinvented the blue print for self-published authors and for fiction itself.

These are my deadly vipers and I love them to death.

Frederick Smith, Author of Down For Whatever
Brent Dorian Carpenter, Author of four books, including Man of the Cloth
Alphonso Morgan, Author of Sons

Posted by Rashid on July 14, 2005 5:13 PM

Comments

Commented by fratman1906 on July 15, 2005 9:42 PM

Commented by Annie on July 19, 2005 7:22 AM

Post a comment

Name:

Email Address:

URL:
Remember Me? YesNo

Comments: (you may use HTML tags for style)