My interview with Jaxx on Feb 6th 2009, Blogtalk Radio

10th Annual Harlem Book Fair

Saturday, July 19, 2008 from 11a - 6p

Marlon McCaulsky, K. Roland Williams, Sherrie Walker, Mia McPherson, Deja King, Dawn Desiree

Free and Open to the Public!

You will find us located down Independent Press Row on West 135th St - in between Fifth Ave to Adam Clayton Powell Jr Blvd in Harlem, NY

National Book Club Conference - Atlanta, GA

Friday, Saturday, Sunday - August 1st - 3rd, 2008

Panel Discussions, Workshops, and Book Signings from your favorite authors

Vickie Stringer, Mia McPherson, Sherrie Walker, K. Roland Williams, Marlon McCaulsky

Marriott Marquis Hotel 265 Peachtree Center Ave. Atlanta, GA 30303

**Registration is required to attend this event www.nationalbookclubconference.com

Marlon McCaulsky shines in his literary debut The Pink Palace


When I received this book in the mail, I said to myself, "Oh no, here we go again."


Most of the time when you set out to read an Urban Lit novel, you know what you are going to get. African American women from broken homes, with perfect bodies, that thirsts for the riches and spoils of the so called "good life." Couple that with the hustlas, thugs, and hired guns all of whom have street smarts, but severely lack common sense; you have the recipe for an Essence bestselling novel. I was pleasantly surprised once I actually started reading the book.


The book has a cast of characters, all of whom are major players in the grand scheme of this novel, but Marlon McCaulsky centers this novel around two central characters. Janelle Taylor, a runaway teenager that becomes a dancer at the Pink Palace after a chance encounter with her cousin whom is also a dancer, and Jason Harper aka Tommy Holloway, an undercover Agent infiltrating the notorious Flip Set drug operation.


The early parts of this novel read like a mix of two movies, The Playa's Club and In too Deep, with the two main character's being almost mirror images of their on screen counterparts. It wasn't until the middle of this novel, that Marlon McCaulsky's story telling and character development abilities started to shine. With each philosophical question that was posed to the two main characters, I as a reader, found myself actually starting to care about the decisions and choices that they chose to make, great job Marlon McCaulsky. To you sir, I tip my fitted cap.


By page 72, the story shifts into high gear with a change in setting, and really becomes a page turner. An ex-girlfriend is introduced that could ultimately blow Jayson's cover and also cause his death. Various twist, turns and reveals, serve to leave the reader to wonder just what in the hell is going to happen next.


The ending was an admirable one. I was neither pleased nor displeased with how Marlon McCaulsky chose to close the chapter on this well written novel.


This book was not without its faults however. Sex scenes in a story such as this one are essential because of the tone of the novel, and for the believability factor, but in my opinion, there were just too many. The old saying less is more could apply here. After reading a few, I found myself skipping ahead of the rest of the sex scenes in the book. If not for the author's story telling ability, I would have stopped caring about the characters, story and reading the book altogether. There were also a few technical writing and editorial issues, but no book is without its share.
Overall this was a very solid debut novel from Mr. Marlon McCaulsky. One that I am sure will be on the coffee tables for many years to come.


I give this book four cheesesteaks out of five
Critic: Travis Vp Fox