Crew Love
Antwan Floyd
ISBN: 9781604614435
Bleeding Pen Publishing
Reviewed By Daria Miles
Official Apex Reviews Rating: 
Set on the raw, gritty streets of Chicago in the early 20th century, Crew Love chronicles the lives of four men from vastly different backgrounds, but whose lives nonetheless intersect in ways neither of them would ever imagine.
Phil-Good, Jermaine, Blue Ball, and Short Stack may appear to be ruthless, heartless hustlers and killers on the surface, but - as with most people in similar situations - they are really just victims of their individual circumstances. All of the men only seek to make better lives for themselves, but during a time of overt racism and widespread discrimination, unfortunately they often have no choice but to resort to illegal means to do so. Rather than allow themselves to be debilitated by their circumstances, though, each man resolves to overcome the omnipresent challenges confronting them, and, in effect, become rulers over the very forces seeking to rule them. Their individual and collective rise to power isn't without drawbacks, though, and the ultimate test for the men lies in just how strongly they can keep getting back up after getting repeatedly knocked down.
Crew Love is a solid new addition to the world of urban fiction. Author Antwan Floyd's writing style is powerful and straightforward, and his storyline is taut and compelling. Furthermore, his characters are rich and well-defined, and they all complement one another quite nicely in the unfolding of a fast-paced, engrossing tale.
A fresh new literary voice, Antwan Floyd has crafted a standout street thriller in Crew Love, one that fans of the genre will no doubt enjoy.
Official Apex Reviews Interview: Antwan Floyd (Crew Love)
Apex Reviews: Antwan, thanks for joining us for this interview. We're looking forward to sharing more about your book with our readers.
What inspired you to bring this engaging, enlightening story to life?
Antwan Floyd: I always had a fascination with organized crime, and as I got older I began to wonder about the gangsters of color. I knew there had to be men who were more than corner hustlers, so I did some research and found a book called African American Organized Crime "A Social History," written by Rufus Schatzberg and Robert J. Kelly; although vague, it was a start. After some time passed, the movie "Hoodlum" came out, and I found out about the numbers runners - not only the illegal aspects of the game, but the social impact it had on the community. So, I wanted to tell a story about the streets from the beginning.
AR: What's the significance of the book's title?
AF: It's just as it states: "Crew Love," A crew of men who stand by each other through thick and thin, prepared to kill or die for one another - all in the name of brotherly love.
AR: Are any parts of the tale autobiographical in nature?
AF: No, everything is all fiction.
AR: In the book, you highlight the beginnings of organized crime in the early 20th century. Did you perform considerable research prior to penning the tale?
AF: Yes, I did. It was interesting to find out that a lot of the things that we do or say today stem from our ancestors, and people have very little knowledge of these things.
AR: What sets Crew Love apart from other urban fiction offerings?
AF: The fact that I did start at the beginning in my mind. "Crew Love" is set as a saga, my version of the Black Godfather. Some may admit it, some may not, but there are families out there that, generation after generation, gravitate to a life of crime. It doesn't really matter what race one comes from; it's just certain families where they pass the torch down to their sons, daughters, nephews, nieces, and cousins.
AR: How have readers reacted to the book thus far?
AF: The response and feedback have been great. When I first began to pen this tale, I wrote it for myself. I know that I love a good gangster tale, but I didn't expect for others to take to it as passionately as I did. I mean, even the women who've read it show love, and I really appreciate that.
AR: Please share more with us about the publishing company that you founded, Bleeding Pen Publishing.
AF: Bleeding Pen Publishing, that's my baby. I'm in the bottle-feeding stages right now, still learning the ropes, but I plan to release three titles a year and expand to Graphic Novels.
AR: Any advice for aspiring authors & publishers?
AF: As far as writers all I have to say is write, I meet people who say that they are writers or they want to write a book and I say write just do it nothing will happen until you do it. Take that leap and do your research on the business. The same goes for aspiring publishers: do your research, utilize the public library and the Internet.
AR: What's next for you?
AF: Promoting and marketing, let people know I'm here. A list of book fairs and writing seminars are in my future the first, starting in Februrary in Texas at the NBA All Star Weekend. There's a fair at the Houston Convention Center called the Author All Star Book Fair on Saturday Februrary 13th, and a fair every month thereafter. Check my MySpace page for a complete listing of my appearances at www.myspace.com/antwanfloyd.
AR: How can our readers learn more about you and your ongoing efforts?
AF: Although my page is still under construction at www.bleedingpenpublishing.com, you can go to www.myspace.com/antwanfloyd and check out my blog.
AR: How can they contact you directly?
AF: www.myspace.com/antwanfloyd
AR: Any final thoughts you'd like to share?
AF: If you have a dream or passion go for it and go for it hard you get out of it what you put into it.
AR: Thanks again, Antwan, and best of continued success to you in all your endeavors!