Once Upon A Time In Harlem
Moses Miller
F.E.D.S. Publishing
ISBN: 0979703107
Reviewed By Daria Miles
Official Apex Reviews Rating: 
Once Upon A Time In Harlem
chronicles the exploits of John Williams, a simple soul from a simple
country background who soon becomes caught up in the complicated mix of
the 1960s Harlem numbers racket. Together with his younger brother,
Sam, John soon overwhelms the existing money-changing hierarchy,
shifting the balance of power almost overnight through swift violent
action.
Miller's recounting of Williams' rise to power is strikingly similar to Coppola's depiction of Vito Corleone in Godfather 2:
underestimated by his foes, John's savvy and fearless cunning wills him
to the top of the underworld establishment, from which he rules with an
iron hand. He is not, though, a complete savage: he donates a
substantial amount of funding to an old friend for the creation of a
youth community center, and he even refuses to "handle business" with
his debtors while they're out with family. Altogether, John can be seen
as a benevolent dictator of sorts; a shrewd dealmaker with a humble
country spirit.
Sam, on the other hand, quickly gains
notoriety for his quick temper and even quicker trigger finger. The
perfect yin to his brother's cool, even-tempered yang, Sam adds just
the right flavor to the overall "Country Boys" paradigm - just what's
needed to keep their growing list of nemeses guessing.
Where
money leads, though, envy, chaos, and ultimately death are sure to
follow, and, among all the back-biting and eminent betrayal, John and
Sam must learn to adapt to the ever-changing landscape of The Grand
Hustle before all they've worked hard for is caught up in its wake.
Once Upon A Time In Harlem
is truly an enjoyable read. In John and Sam, Miller has created
wonderfully engaging characters that draw the reader in and impel the
richly entertaining storyline. A highly recommended addition to the
ever-growing world of urban fiction.
Official Apex Reviews Interview: Moses Miller (Once Upon A Time In Harlem)
Apex Reviews: Moses, thanks for joining us for this interview. We greatly appreciate having this opportunity to learn more about your books.
Our reviewer commented on how the power of your imagination shines through in your storytelling. How long have you written?
Moses Miller: I've been writing for as long as I can remember. The first story I can recall doing in a chapter book format was back when I was like seven years old though. A teacher read it and was very impressed by my ability to articulate my thoughts in written form.
AR: Who are some of your chief writing influences?
MM: I can't say anybody has ever influenced me. When I was growing up I read thousands of books from Alex Haley, Richard Wright, Ralph Ellison and Donald Goines. But, I've also read Mary Higgins Clark, Valerie Wilson Wesley, Michael Crichton, Nelson Demille and several other authors. And that's not even including my non-fiction reading. I've always loved to learn new things, so books were always by my side growing up.
AR: John's quick rise to power is aided by his enemies' underestimation of his intellect. What inspired you to style him in such fashion?
MM: I didn't want John to be a physically intimidating character, but instead I chose to surround him with individuals that were definitely more cold blooded and dangerous than him. He was a leader, and most of the time those with leadership qualities and the power of influence are a lot more dangerous than they are perceived to be by their enemies. Plus, John was a craftsman that was used to building things. He understood the importance of a solid foundation and structure when organizing his crime family. I wanted those qualities to be evident in his development.
AR: On the other hand, Sam gains ground by utilizing nothing less than the force of his sheer will. Is he based on anyone you personally know?
MM: Sam wasn't necessarily based on anyone I know, but his approach is very similar to a lot of individuals. He was impatient and he wanted things on his time and on his terms. Usually those type of individuals are prone to errors that a thinker avoids.
AR: What's the origin & significance of the phrase "WhatamIawoodorwhat"?
MM: I got that from an older cousin of mine from the south. I never really knew the origin of the phrase beyond him, but whenever he was questioned or put in a position to defend himself he'd ask, "What am I a wood or what?" Go figure. I knew when I first heard him say that when I was like eight years old, that it would end up in one of my books.
AR: We noticed that you're a native New Yorker, and your books include many references to notable New York sites & structures. What about New York life do you find most appealing?
MM: I could sit on a subway train or in any park in New York and write a book in a day. There's no place on this earth where you can be amongst a group of so many diverse individuals. He city literally never sleeps. Some times I'll just look at people and imagine what they're thinking…write down what I think their stories are. I've been to places more beautiful than New York, but no place quite like it.
AR: Please share more with our readers about your company, Mind Candy, LLC.
MM: Mind Candy, LLC is a multimedia company primarily focused on book publishing and the development of thought provoking screenplays. We're also advocates of literacy and would like to play a significant role in helping to decrease the dropout rates amongst African American and Hispanic teens.
AR: What's next for you?
MM: Definitely check out MindCandyMedia.com for future events. Nan: The Game of Trife will be the next book I publish. I have several books finished, but I'm real excited about a project I'm in the process of writing right now…more to follow. Going forward, I just want to continue to establish my brand and make my mark in the literary game.
AR: Any final thoughts you'd like to share with our readers?
MM: I just want my readers both present and future to know that I'll never do them wrong. I respect my readership too much to ever publish a book that would be deemed anything less than compelling. I ask that they keep challenging themselves by reading books in all genres, and also that they challenge their favorite authors to continuously challenge them with thought provoking works.
AR: Thanks again, Moses, and best of continued success to you in all your endeavors!