Double Standards: The Secret Life Of A College Girl
Ms. Chyna
ISBN: 9781427624208
Reviewed By Phyllis Taylor
Official Apex Reviews Rating: 
Rainbow,
nee Lashay Henderson, is enjoying the good life: as a sophomore at
Daytona Memorial University, she is furthering her education, and, as a
stripper at Club Pussy, she is furthering her economic interests. In
fact, things are going so well for her that she regularly brings home
more than $1500 on any given night, which suits her lavish tastes just
fine.
Just when she thinks things can't get any better, Rainbow
hooks up with Bump, a local drug dealer with kingpin ambitions, and
before long the two of them have taken over the Daytona drug game.
Money is flowing, dreams are coming true, and Rainbow and Bump begin to
develop a deep lasting love for one another, promising them relief from
their previous lives of heartache and pain.
Everything has a
catch, though, and in Rainbow's case it's the jealous rage of her
jilted ex-lover, Cheddar. A no-name loser with more talk than game,
Cheddar becomes envious of Rainbow and Bump's growing enterprise, not
to mention their blossoming relationship. Unwilling to let bygones be
bygones, Cheddar soon launches a plot to disrupt the happy couple's
personal & professional aspirations, and, if it's up to him,
destroy their lives as well.
Double Standards
takes the reader on an insightful journey through the dark underworld
of the drug game. Chyna does a commendable job of shining light on the
inner workings of a criminal enterprise the true power & influence
of which many people remain unaware of. To boot, her intricate
knowledge of the specific roles and machinations of major and minor
drug players lends instant credibility to her tale, a trait often
lacking in many other generic urban fiction titles.
In addition,
the tight, witty dialogue of her characters makes Chyna's narrative a
pleasure to read, and her mastery of street slang will leave new
wrinkles in your brain as you find yourself learning everyday terms and
phrases that you never knew could be translated in such ways. If you're
looking for a smart, savvy street tale, grab a copy of Double Standards today.
Official Apex Reviews Interview: Ms. Chyna (Double Standards)
Apex Reviews: Chyna, thanks for joining us for this interview. We truly appreciate your time.
Are any parts of the story autobiographical?
Ms. Chyna: Yes. The book is half fiction and half non-fiction.
AR: Since he's such an obvious loser, why was Rainbow with Cheddar in the first place?
MC: Cheddar wasn't using drugs and messing up in the beginning of their relationship. They did have a good relationship prior to all the cheating and drug abuse. Rainbow was initially attracted to the fact that Cheddar had himself together and he was both street and book smart. As time progressed, I guess the stress from the streets is what pushed him to start abusing drugs and falling off. Cheddar just kept going down from there and it wasn't anything Rainbow could do to get him back on track so she eventually left him.
AR: On the other hand, what really attracts her to Bump?
MC: Bump was an all-around respectful guy with a lot of ambition and potential. She could tell that he had his stuff together and nothing or no one could distract him from getting money. Not to mention, physically, he was more her type than Cheddar ever was. Bump and Rainbow built a solid friendship before moving into a relationship and that was the reason for their immediate happiness.
AR: Our reviewer mentions that your writing displays a very detailed knowledge of the drug game. How/where did you pick that up?
MC: Over the years, I have met a lot of interesting people who taught me a lot of interesting things. I just took bits and pieces from my childhood growing up in the streets of Miami, FL and what I learned while living in Tallahassee, FL and combined it to give me the street knowledge in order to complete this story. As I stated in the first question, the book is half fiction and half non-fiction so that should tell you everything.
AR: The dialogue between the characters is very lively & realistic. Was that hard for you to compose?
MC: Not at all. Honestly, this is how Florida hoods converse on a daily basis. It's not made up; it's very real. If you were to visit any one of Florida hoods after reading this book, you would blend right in with the natives.
AR: With tougher drug sentencing laws and tighter law enforcement, do you think old-school drug dealing is becoming a thing of the past? If so, how is it evolving?
MC: Actually, it's not that different from old-school drug dealing because the game is still the same, just different players. With that being said, I believe the new players mix their book knowledge with their street knowledge in order for them to stay ten steps ahead of law enforcement.
AR: Your bio mentions that one of your goals is to have four books published within the next five years. How close are you to that goal?
MC: *laughing*….wow. I am so close until it's scary. This is actually my second book and I am currently working on the sequel, which happens to be my third book. I have already started writing my plans for the 4th book and even a 5th book. My first book is already done but I need to elaborate more in the story so I have not published it as of yet.
AR: Your bio also mentions that you aspire to graduate from law school.
MC: As of right now, I have put those plans on hold because I am completing my studies for an Associates of Science degree in Early Childhood Education. I have also put some serious thought into obtaining my Master's of Social Work from Florida A&M University.
AR: What inspired you to want to enter the legal profession?
MC: My inspiration came from my undying passion to work with juvenile offenders. I strive to help them overcome obstacles in their troubled lives so that they can remain free and clear of the legal system. It pains me to see adolescents being arrested and rail-roaded by the criminal justice system because they don't know their rights. My ultimate dream is to open and administer two juvenile residential homes within Florida.
AR: Any final thoughts you'd like to share with our readers?
MC: Please support me in my dream to become one of the best writers in the urban community. You can purchase my book through several different medians such as Amazon.com, Lulu.com, and through my MySpace page. Please be on the look out for the sequel titled, "Double Crossed: Get 'em while it's HOT!"
AR: Thanks again, Chyna, and best of continued success to you in all your endeavors!