Richard Robinson, aka Richie Gunz, the father of Treacherous Freeman, finds a way to reach out to Teflon while finishing up his last ten years in federal prison for armed robbery. Instantly the two form a father-daughter relationship thicker than thieves from behind the prison walls.

Upon his release, Richie vows to find the whereabouts of his grandchild and do everything in his power to aid Teflon in her situation, and re-enters the streets of Virginia after being absent for nearly three decades.

With Teflon’s second chance at life, she is faced with the decision to live the way society deems best or to choose life over death and become a ride or die chick – again.

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Book 1: Ride or Die Chick
Book 2: Ride or Die Chick 2

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With their murderous robbing spree sparing no one just how long can Treach and Teflon continue to terrorize the streets of Virginia before they fall victim to the streets again? Can Treach murder Mami, Teflon come out on top?

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The former-inmate-turned-author decided to do something about it, so he has launched a book outlet featuring the wildly popular urban fiction genre, along with other titles and children’s books, inside Music N Motion at 204 East Front St. Next month, residents need only to go downtown to get a signed copy of his third novel, “Ride or Die Chick.”

It was barely a month ago that Benjamin approached Don Benito, owner of Music N Motion, to ask if he could set up a display table in front of the store. Benito welcomed him inside, and Benjamin’s first small selection has since more than tripled.

“I have brought a new element to downtown Plainfield,” Benjamin said.

Benjamin said buyers, mostly young people who did not read much before, are buying 80 to 100 books a week.

The store previously sold mainly CDs, DVDs and Leonard Benjamin’s “Ghettofficial Designs” custom T-shirts. Benito’s wife, Kimberly, said all three of her daughters — Shayna, 15; Christina, 21; and Keyna, 22 — have taken up reading since Benjamin brought his books to the store. None were readers before, she said.

Kimberly Benito said urban fiction lets young people understand what’s out on the streets.

“You have to educate children and make them aware of what’s going on,” she said.

Plainfield librarian Lonnie Johnson agreed that the genre has exploded.

“They are reading it, and they are reading it furiously,” he said.

Some have compared the fervor of young adults for urban fiction with that of grade school children for Harry Potter.

The content of urban fiction — drugs, sex, violence, street language — is controversial to many, but Johnson said, “Reading is a skill that once you’ve acquired, you can move on to other things.”

Benjamin’s strategy since publication of his first award-winning book, “Down in the Dirty,” has been to meet potential readers where they can be found, in urban barbershops, gathering places and neighborhoods. Some of his travels are along the same highways and streets where he used to ply his drug trade. Benjamin said the drive that would send him out in any weather to sell drugs now has been transferred to “something positive.”

On the first day he began the book outlet, he went from the city’s East End to the West End, distributing fliers. He also did an e-mail blitz to alert his fans.

Benjamin’s allegiance to his hometown also is reflected in his story of betrayal, “My Manz and ‘Em,” which features a cover photo of the public housing project where he once lived. The book is peppered with references to real Plainfield and Central Jersey businesses and alludes to city turf wars. But it does not glorify the life of its characters.

“You’ll never purchase a J.M. Benjamin book where the bad guy gets away,” he said. “I didn’t get away, so my characters don’t get away.”

Benjamin expects his newfound ties to urban fiction writers will bring many of the authors to the city for book signings in the future.

“I know them personally,” he said.

Source: BERNICE PAGLIA (Courier News)

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