Ashley JaQuavis
May-June 2006

Born in Flint, Michigan, Ashley Snell and JaQuavis Coleman have survived the tumultuous streets finding their way to literary fame. At only 20 and 21, both Ashley and JaQuavis are in their third year of college balancing a full class load along with a demanding writing schedule, but love every bit of it.

UBS: How did you two meet?
Ashley: Read chapter one of Dirty Money. Real Talk…It’s a true story.

UBS: What made you two team up and write as a duo?
Ashley: Writing collaboratively comes naturally for us. Dirty Money was like 70% true. The scenarios and the emotions in that book are real. We lived through the hardships together so it was only right that we pen it together. The story would not have been complete if it had not been written by both of us. After its release Dirty Money sort of hit the ground running so we made the decision to keep our writing ventures intertwined. Men and women interpret things differently and we tell our stories from both perspectives which make them real and relatable.

UBS: Do you ever have disagreements on how a novel or a chapter should be written? How do you solve it?
Jaquavis: We don’t really beef about that. I know what my role is and she knows hers. If we influence each other’s work it would defeat the purpose of collaborating, we want to give realistic viewpoints from both sides.

UBS: Do you write exclusively as a team, or do you each have your own projects in the works?
Ashley: We both have aspirations to write separately but it will be in a different genre. We feel like we have a recipe that works for us when it comes to street fiction. If it ain’t broke why fix it? I can say that we are equally talented so when and if we do drop separately we still gon’ produce quality, page-turning stories.

UBS: We know you had other publishers interested in your work, what made you sign with Urban Books?
Jaquavis: Keep it real? We followed the money. Everything or everyone has patterns and we saw that Urban Books was steady growing and is continuing to grow. I think that influenced the decision the most. We are a part of a movement. Carl Weber also is a real thorough dude, and he kept it real with us from jump street and we respected that. When it came to making the decision, it wasn’t hard.

UBS: What can fans expect from you in the near future?
Ashley: I think the fans can expect to see a natural progression in our work. We want every story to be better than the one previous to it. We work hard to give our fans original plots that they will feel. Our readers can expect to keep getting real, original, and gutter titles that are well written and intriguing to the mind.

UBS: What is it like being in college and being an author at the same time?
Ashley: I’m not gon’ lie, it can be stressful at times. When we are not writing on a new idea we are studying. It can get hectic having so much on our agenda but I would rather have a full plate than an empty one so I am always grateful. At the end of the day, everything always seems to balance itself out though. Plus, we both know that once we get them papers in our hands it will open up so many doors for us. Not just in the book world but in the corporate world. We are always looking for a new hustle and them degrees gon’ speak louder than any words can ever do. So although it is tough, we both know that it is worth it and that our hard work will pay off.

UBS: What kind of reception are you getting from your peers?
Jaquavis: I always made it a point to always keep thorough people around me, so things haven’t changed much. Of course I get more “friends” now but I see through them and keep it moving.

UBS: We know you are currently on a book tour. Can you tell us what that is like?
Jaquavis: It’s cool. I enjoy meeting the readers, they are my motivation. To know that you “touch” people without actually knowing them is a wonderful feeling. The fans are the best part.

Related features/articles:

Ashley & JaQuavis Crack New York Times List

For more information on Ashley JaQuavis, visit: www.ashleyjaquavis.com

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AshBash :

Posted 192 days ago

I think that the haters on here need to STOP...i am pressed about the cartel 3, I think i would have been angry if you guys didnt give me a reason to buy the cartel 3, by not making the 2nd book the way you did....good job..and to ppl saying they not going to buy pt 3....TRUST THEY WILL PROBABLY BE THE FIRST PERSON STANDING IN LINE AT THE BOOK STORE!!....keep up the good work!!

Anne :

Posted 194 days ago

I have to tell you the both of you are some of the best writters in the biz. I have marked the calendar for every book both of you are coming out with and have bought every book you both have out. Keep them coming and I will keep buying. Thank you for giving me an outlet from work and everyday life.

Velvet :

Posted 211 days ago

All i have to say is i read Cartel 2 in oneday plus i have a full college load of classes. Waiting impatiently for part 3!!!!!!!!. Keep it up.

jeannelle :

Posted 214 days ago

I read The Cartel 2 in 2 days(only because I had school reading to do 2). I love your books. I am ready for the Cartel 3 to come out.....like now. I have one question. What is the book title for the part 2 of "Prada Plan". I have got to read that 2!! Keep up the good work and keep the books coming!!

dion :

Posted 221 days ago

I was given the cartel 1 and 2 as a gift from my boyfriend yesterday and at first I was so pissed that he would pick out such books for me but once I started I couldn't stop, I was hooked. Part 1 was soooo good I couldn't wait to read part 2 and to find out it was all a dream was jus mean lol. Is part 3 available because I will not be able to enjoy the rest of my weekend until I know what really happened to carter and miamor

Nicole :

Posted 236 days ago

My book club read Cartel 1 before I became a member and so they couldnt wait on Cartel 2..so I had to read both of them to catch up with my group....Cartel 1 was soooooooooo ridiculous I love it!! I read CArtel 2 last night!!! I was like....whatttttttt!! I love it too!! But I am tired of the suspense already when is 3 coming!! I was mad that everybody died!!! so i was glad that she only made it up in her mind to endure the torture!!! I need Cartel 3 like yesterday....!!!!

melo :

Posted 250 days ago

umm...idk why everybody dissin cartel 2...cuz i really enjoyed it!!! i thought it was well thought out and executed. i mean thats some scary shit to be gettin tortured and the only way you can see to get out is 2 imagine things and take your mind somewhere else. i loved both books. i love all yall books and have everyone i can find. i cant wait for cartel 3 to come out and we can learn what really is gonna happen. i think you 2 are really talented!!!! congrats on yall success. cant wait to see what yall got next!!

jay smv :

Posted 252 days ago

i loved the cartel 2 even though she was imagining things, i like how you left room for the reader to come back for more. i disagree with a lot of the commits about people not liking it. i beg to differ. because she was being beaten so bad, passing out and awakening you got to see the real her. you see she's a product of her environment(mia) so i sympathize with her, and when your paid to do a job, thats what you do diamonds are 4life. cant wait for three, cause i know its got to be coming to a head if she dont get out of there.

jada :

Posted 252 days ago

enjoyed both of the cartels, where can i purchase cartel 3

mz.drea04 :

Posted 267 days ago

i read all of your books i just have too say you all are good at what u do! but the cartel prt.2 sucked! u could have really done better that that! i wont give up though im a true fan i expect prt.3 will be off the chain! and im still am going to go buy it! my favorite of all time was supreme clientel!

letina :

Posted 268 days ago

i love the cartel. it was so good that i wanted more of it. everytime i was in class and supose to be doin my work, i end up turnin pages after pages. i cant wait for the cartel 2, i hear its good and bad, but if they knw like i know, they'll love it regardless of its outcome, cause yall da best anyways! ashley and jaquavis, yall are a good team with some fire ass books, when i heard of yall and started to read dem, it was all dat and more. trophy wife, the dopeman's wife, diary of a street diva(which i am currently readin), and dirty money, dats wats up! i wish dat if the 3rd cartel be good, please make a fourth, even though its supose to be da last. keep it up my favorite writers!!!!!!!

Mz.Wifey :

Posted 270 days ago

The Cartel was a very virtuous novel with a lot of excitement and adventure. You guys did an exceptional job in writing the Cartel. The Cartel 2 was tolerable until I read the last page. I was livid, annoyed and irate. The last page really infuriated me. Not only was it a dumb ending, but I had such high hopes for this novel and it turned out to be awful. Seriously! She was imaging everything. You guys could have made a better sequel. You couldn't pay me to read the Cartel 3

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