The Color of My Skin
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
(Excerpt from Chapter 1)
Latoya spotted Huggie the instant she got out of the cab. She was more concerned that her friend would change her mind and take-off, then she was at running outside in the pouring rain. When she handed Huggie her purse that had fallen onto the wet pavement, she could tell by the look in her eyes that she was high on something. 'Hey girl, where you been?' Huggie asked, dragging her words. 'No, where you been? You're late, and Rajean is having a fit,' Latoya lashed out angrily, as she pulled Huggie by the arm. Latoya opened the door, and guided her through the dim lit club and into the dressing room. Luckily, Rajean was still in his office.
'Well, what exactly did the bossman say?' Huggie asked sarcastically, as she took off her trench coat and shook her hair. Latoya smiled, glad at least, that she was dressed for the show. 'I covered for you, as usual, but honestly, I don't like that man in my face every night questioning me about your whereabouts.' Huggie pulled her makeup case out from under the dressing table and quickly applied some blush and lipstick. 'Damn Latoya, you worry too much. You know I ain't gonna leave you hanging. Hand me my black pumps please.' Three raps pounded on the door. Latoya opened it just enough to peek her head out. 'Huggie got a tape for me?' Tyrone, the D.J. asked impatiently. 'Huggie, did you bring a tape?' Latoya asked hurriedly. 'Shoot! I knew I forgot something. Tell him to put on the one from last week.' Tyrone had heard Huggie's loud mouth and pulled Latoya out of the room to ask if Huggie was all right to go on. He must've seen Latoya's anxious expression. 'Yeah Ty, she'll be alright once she gets out there, but if she gets too out of hand, like she did last week, cut her number.
Rajean had already warned Huggie about taking her clothes off during her routine. He had worked too hard at making Peepers respectable, and Huggie's on-stage antics often went along the lines of sleazy.
Huggie never had much confidence in her dancing. Especially now that Latoya had become so popular. Ever since the girls had been friends, Huggie tried relentlessly to outshine her. When it came to dancing, Huggie couldn't hold a candle to Latoya. She was bitter because it was she who had gotten Latoya into the go-go business in the first place years ago back in Arizona. Latoya had been a fast learner, but Huggie just knew that she could get-over, because she considered herself prettier. Latoya, however, had that special something. She'd get the most tips. She'd get the most attention. She even seemed to get the most respect, which was difficult in this business.
The one thing that Latoya wouldn't do was get high, so Huggie would do just the opposite and get as high as she pleased. Even though Latoya was a year older, and had watched out for Huggie since they came to Newark, this was one thing in which Latoya had no control. So what if Latoya, oh, excuse me, 'Midnight' was a better dancer. She couldn't feel as good as Huggie out there on stage. Huggie used drugs to cover her inadequacies as a dancer,Latoya knew this, and had always tried to keep her friend in check.
Latoya couldn't help but feel responsible for Huggie, since it was she who had told her that she'd love Newark, then shortly after they arrived, Latoya had all but moved to Princeton. Huggie had gone downhill quickly, and Latoya was tired of always having to be the adult. She convinced herself that Huggie would just have to take care of Huggie. Latoya had enough problems of her own to worry about.
Latoya stood behind the black velvet curtain waiting for Huggie's cue. Huggie appeared right beside her and gave Latoya that same loving wink she had given her that first night when Latoya had butterflies before her first on-stage performance. Huggie took a deep breath and strutted out onto the stage. Latoya knew then, that Huggie would be fine, and ran backstage to get ready for her set.
(357 pages)
Formats
Book Details
About the Book
Exotic dancer, Latoya Garrett wanted to be a star. On stage she was Midnight, beautiful and sexy, with a body women envied and men would kill for. Offstage, however, she was far less confident. After surviving two heartbreaks dealing with her best friends' drug addiction and overcoming a family tragedy, she decides to take control of her life. With her dreams of stardom behind her, she concentrates her energy on her friends.
Now, the four young boys in her tough Newark neighborhood, who had always looked out for her, are in trouble and it could cost them their lives.
Latoya teams up with her friends: Chinadoll, beautiful and strong, Charlene, her long-time rival, and Rajean, the player and owner of Peepers, the popular go-go bar, to save the boys from the cops-who have it in for them- and the addicts, who are after them.
What Latoya, her friends, and the four boys learn from one another will last a lifetime.
About the Author
Kelli Koontz- Wilson was born in Newark, New Jersey. She majored in theatre for two semesters at Rider College, where she became a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, Inc. She put her acting talents to use and has acted professionally with the Ensemble Theatre Company in Newark. She has also performed for several theatrical companies throughout New Jersey. She was nominated in 1991 for The Outstanding Young Women of America Award for her work in acting.
She continued her education at Rutgers Newark, where she majored in Spanish. She has taken a number of courses in African-American studies, which have had a profound influence on her writing.
In 1997, she and her husband formed Melanin Enterprises, a modeling and acting school. Together they have three children.
The Color of My Skin, her first novel, was completed in 1996. She is currently working on a screenplay and a soap opera.
She plans to continue her education so that she can teach, as well as further her writing career. Her goal is to continue to educate, inspire and uplift the African-American community through her work, and to tear down boundaries-those boundaries placed on us by others and those which we have placed upon ourselves.