To the other special lady in my life, my mother. Thank you for always supporting and believing in me. And thank you for raising me to believe that I could do anything I set my mind to. Then reminding me, when I forgot.
I also want to thank my brother from another mother, one-man advertising and promotions team, Kevin C. Meggett. Back in 1994 when we first met at that soul-sucking mailroom job and you asked why I was constantly scribbling things down on pieces of scrap paper during our lunch break, I said I had a great idea for a novel. You were the only person who didn’t laugh or brush it off as delusions of grandeur. Instead you believed in me and even used your own money to help me get my first book Alley-Katt self-published and start Books N’ Beats our old publishing company. And when I decided to walk away from it against your advice, you still promised it would someday happen. Well this time I promise we’re going to see this to the end.
A special shout out to my play-play cousin, talented artist and graphic designer, Veronique Meggett creator of www.veryuniques.com who designed the front and back cover for both my novels.
To my sons, my pride and joys the Bonner Brothers D.A.B. & D.L.B. who I also did this for. I want you guys to grow up living life to the fullest and following your dreams. And how can I expect you to if I don’t? Oh, and Dad promises to write a book without bad words that you can read. I believe in you.
Thank you to my fellow Brooklynite the extremely talented Tracy Morgan for sharing your amazing story and inspiring me when I REALLY needed to hear it.
And last but certainly not least thank you to YOU whomever you are who just finished reading my novel. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it and that you want to read more of my stories. And if you do, you’re in luck because I have plenty more to tell so stay tuned.
Coming soon, MAJOR HAVOC.
Author’s Bio
Derrick A. Bonner was born and bred in Brooklyn New York and is the author of 2 outstanding novels, Alley Katt and Havoc and Mayhem. He self-published his first novel Alley Katt back in 1998, and even though he had decent success for a first-time author, he discontinued writing and shelved his second novel Havoc and Mayhem. Twenty years later at the request of his wife he decided to resurrect his writing career and finally put out Havoc and Mayhem. Set in the 80’s, the lead character Havoc is a combination of the strong and influential men he grew up idolizing in his East New York neighborhood, as well as the lead characters from his all-time favorite television shows growing up. A Man Called Hawk, an impeccably dressed jack-of-all-trades, renaissance man who helped out desperate people in trouble who had nowhere to turn. And ROC, a traditional family man who believed in an honest day’s work and went out of his way to help his neighbors, often confronting racism, gangs and drug dealers head on, to protect his community.
“The thing about my lead characters is they are people we all know. We’ve seen them in the neighborhood doing good, and giving back to the community. You ever knew someone who was ordinary but did extraordinary things and you were like wow? They seemed like they had super powers, but the truth is they were just good individuals, who cared. That is Havoc and Mayhem….That is Alley Katt.”
Derrick currently lives in Hudson Valley New York with his wife and two sons. And although he no longer resides in the borough that’s thorough, he still shouts ‘BROOKLYN!’ at concerts & still considers himself a Brooklynite. Because as he puts it, ‘You can take me outta Brooklyn. But, you can’t take Brooklyn outta me!”
Havoc and Mayhem Page 50
