Philadelphia Weekly

Share this Story:

“People were like, ‘Is she going to go to jail or what? Is she going to go on with her life? Will she find another love interest? Will she still be involved in politics?’"

Author Solomon Jones has gone through hard times—and those times have become part of the Solomon Jones Story, which typically begins this way: Formerly a crack addict who lived on the tough Philadelphia streets, Jones worked his way out of addiction and poverty to become a respected novelist, beginning with Pipe Dream, an autobiographical book about his more desperate times.
With his newest book, Payback, which continues the story of Karima Thomas from his last book, CREAM, Jones puts significant distance between the Solomon Jones Story and the author of today, who’s not grappling with personal tragedy but trying to empower female readers and to change the face of black literature.

Currently a columnist for the Daily News (and formerly a PW staff writer and columnist), the director of community relations for Congressman Chakka Fattah spoke with PW about Payback and about getting ready for the biggest event of his literary career: a red-carpet book-signing.

What made you decide to bring Karima back? CREAM ended with her standing trial for the murder of her lover, Duane.

“People were like, ‘Is she going to go to jail or what? Is she going to go on with her life? Will she find another love interest? Will she still be involved in politics?’ There are always a lot of questions if the readers are really engaged in the book. The way the book ended felt right at the time, but it also felt it could continue. I’ve never done a sequel before but hopefully it will pay dividends for the reader.”

What was your goal in having a female protagonist?

“Most of my readers are women, as are most fiction readers in general. So I wanted to create a character who was empowering, and I think that’s what Karima Thomas is: She’s taking the bulls by the horns and not letting anyone take advantage of her or her family. My readers will be able to see themselves in a character who doesn’t sit back and be a victim.”

How is Payback different from past efforts?

“One of my main characters is going through some ups and downs in his marriage because of being married to his job almost more than to his wife. What I’ve found in all my books is that they sort of go along with my own experiences. Not that I have any marriage trouble—I don’t—but as you go farther along in the marriage relationship, there are going to be some bumps and some challenges, and I wanted to explore that.”

You say on your website that you want to change black literature. How so?

“I’ve been upset in the direction I’ve seen our literature going, especially the commercial kind. It’s sort of the same story over and over again and the writing in some cases just isn’t very good. I think that it’s insulting to the reader. At least edit the book—know the difference between than and then and there, their and they’re, and assume the reader knows the difference too. And just take the time to give the reader the best product you can. I’ve always believed in giving my best effort for the reader because they’re investing as much of themselves into reading my work as I am in writing the work.”

Where’s your place in contemporary African-American literature?

“I hope I fit into the top of the food chain in terms of diversity of readership. My reader isn’t necessarily a 16-year-old sitting in the back of the room reading a dirty book. My readers are lawyers, judges, doctors and also that 16-year-old girl.”

So the dirty books ...

“I’m not a prude. But I think when you read a book it shouldn’t be a porno film. There should be character development. We have to give the readers what they want but also make them have a better experience than they’d have if they read the same story over and over again with a different title and a butt on the cover.”

What’s on the horizon? Another sequel?

“My next book sort of goes away from what I’ve been doing. It’s a mystery but it has a spiritual, spooky element that my other books haven’t had. There’s a different lead character—he’s a white detective who works with a black detective. The two of them hate each other initially. So right now it’s about seeing where that relationship goes and where that plot goes.”

You write for the Daily News. Any thoughts about journalism’s future?

“I think that we’re all going to have to make some adjustments. There was a time when you could say, ‘You can’t write for my newspaper,’ and effectively silence that person’s voice. Now that person can write a blog or get a Facebook page or Myspace page and drown out your voice.”

The book release party sounds pretty fancy.