Lisa ~
_____
BIO:
Kendall Banks, Executive Assistant by day, bartender by night is the proud
author of Rich Girls, One Night Stand, Another One Stand and The Welfare Grind
Series. She originally hails from both Georgia and North Carolina and presently
resides in Washington, D.C. Her long time goal was to produce movies, however
after writing her first movie script and failing, she turned it into a
manuscript and submitted it to LCB. Ironically, after the success of One Night
Stand the novel, an independent studio picked up the project and is now in
pre-production. Kendall enjoys the success of her hard work but participates in
community service activities often.
Get to Know Kendall:
1. Introduce us to your
book and the main characters. What makes each one special? Do you have any favorites?
Welfare
Grind starts off with an explosive scene that shows Keema, the main character
not taking ownership of something that has the authorities at her front door.
When her kids are taken away from her this starts a downward spiral for tons of
tricks and scams that Keema pulls off to get them back…all in the name of
getting those Welfare Benefits. The money is good..REAL good and she can’t
stand the thought of not collecting the funds. Keema’s character is very
authentic and has readers wanting to choke her!
Treasure
is Keema’s daughter who subliminally acts just like her mother. At ten years
old she’s had to grow up all too soon becoming an apprentice in their project
based home. Treasure is quick, witty and extremely intuitive. Unfortunately for
Keema, karma may come from her own child. They say- the apple never falls far
from the tree.
2.
Which character or topic in the book can you identify with the most? Why?
I can mostly identify with
the ten year old character, Treasure. Forced to grow up without a father and
ultimately be responsible for her younger brother’s well-being, Treasure often
takes the ‘mother role’ and is allowed to use her own judgment to solve
problems at such a young age.
I myself was one of those kids who didn’t have a relationship with my father, so I knew this was a subject that a lot of readers could relate to.
I myself was one of those kids who didn’t have a relationship with my father, so I knew this was a subject that a lot of readers could relate to.
3.
Is this the book you intended on writing or did it take on a life of its own as
you were writing? How do you stay focused?
It definitely took on a
life of its own because the character, Keema became so dramatic and
entertaining after the first chapter. She became far more dimensional that I
ever imagined and has several variations. She became so exciting, and so
absorbing, I couldn’t stop writing. Even with her flaws, the readers seem to
love her.
4.
Ultimately, what do you want readers to gain from your book?
I want readers to walk
away with the understanding that being on the system is a choice and getting
off is a lifestyle change. It’s easy to get complacent when you’re getting
income to live with little effort. The money may seem good on the surface, but
is it really self gratifying and what message does it send to your children?
For those who really need it, I’m hoping they use it to help them get on their feet
then get off of it.
5.
We are here to shine the spotlight on your new book, but what’s next? Share
with us your latest news, awards or upcoming book releases. How may our readers
follow you online?
My next project is the
third part to Welfare Grind. Readers everywhere are talking about parts 1 and 2
(Still Grindin’) of this Series. This book is going to explore the aftermath of
Keema’s decisions and what effects they had on Treasure.
Welfare
Grind by Kendall Banks
Cold-hearted
Keema takes the world by storm as she navigates her way through every trick and
scam she can pull off. With four kids in tow, living off the welfare system had
become her life along with the extra cash, sex and violence, her gangsta
boyfriend Dupree brought into her life. Soon, chaos erupts, causing Keema’s
secret past to become a problem. When the chips fall, they fall hard, leaving
Keema willing to do whatever it takes to keep money in her pocket. She’s
willing to go that extra mile, even if it means selling her kids, or setting up
her man.
Excerpt
Finally
the door to the back offices opened up. Ms. Vines, my caseworker, stuck her
head out. She was wearing an out dated pant suit too tight for her fat frame,
and a pair of run over heels, which she seemed to have on each and every time
since the very first day I met her. Her dark skin was dry and acne filled,
which came from drinking too many of them Cokes she always had on her desk. And
today her short, bob styled wig was matted to the left side of her head.
“Keema
Newell !” she called.
“Bout
time,” I whispered as I stood from my chair and quickly walked past her,
anxious to find out when I was getting my kids back and get this visit over
with. The two of us headed to her tiny office. As we walked I could smell a
double cheese burger with extra onions seeping from her pores. Once we reached
her office she plopped down behind her desk, opened a drawer and pulled out my
case file. She opened it and sat it on her desk next to the half-empty bottle
of Coca Cola.
“Was my
Medicaid application accepted?” I asked as I sat down. We’d discussed me
getting full coverage during the last visit. I was hoping I’d be approved
before the next check, which would be here in ten days. I was always trying to
milk her ass for whatever I could get. “Deniro’s doctor really thinks he may
have a disability,” I lied.
“Keema,
right now the Medicaid application is the least of your worries.”
Here she
goes. My eyes wanted to roll but I forced them to remain still. Despite how
much I hated her, Ms. Vines wrote the checks so I had to be cool.
“We need
to begin this visit with you telling me about why the children are in Baltimore
City custody.” She eyeballed me like she was better than me or something.
“That’s the reason I requested the meeting.”
“The
police kicked my door in two days ago pointing guns at me and my kids,” I told
her. “They told me somebody lied and said I was selling drugs out of my
apartment. Can you believe that?”
“Why
would someone do that?”
“You know
how people are, Ms. Vines. They nosey and always want to get stuff started.
Just because I don’t associate with none of them, they want to mess with me.
I’m out looking for jobs every day and they hatin’ on that. That’s all that
is.”
“Keema,
the police don’t just kick in doors for no reason. They do investigations
before they do something that extreme.”
“Not this
time, they didn’t. They kicked mine in for nothing.”
Ms. Vines
gave me a smirk and looked down at my case file. “Keema, the police found a gun
and marijuana in the apartment,” she said raising her head to look at me.
“But it
wasn’t mine,” I said, trying to sound convincing.
“Then
whose was it?”
“Shane’s.”
“Your
boyfriend’s son?”
“Yeah, I
didn’t even know he had the stuff.”
“You had
no idea, huh?” she asked pursing her lips.
“I really
didn’t.”
“Doesn’t
he have autism?”
“Yeah,
that’s why I’m so surprised. I’m starting to wonder if the autism thing is an
act. You know autism is a brain problem that makes it hard to communicate. But
if he selling drugs then he communicating just fine.”
“Keema…”
I cut her
off since she hadn’t been convinced yet. His father told me that his autism
only meant he’d have social impairments and some mild character flaws, but this
is too much. As a matter of fact, I’m thinking about telling his daddy he needs
to find Shane another place to stay. I can’t have that kind of stuff around my
kids.”
She
stared at me for a moment, causing me to nibble on my nails again. I always did
that when I was nervous. Right now I didn’t quite know what was going through
her mind but the look on her face showed me she still didn’t quite believe me.
“Ms.
Vines, I miss my babies,” I whimpered. “They’re my world. I haven’t even been
able to sleep since the cops took them.” I stopped to snivel before continuing,
“And it’s breaking my heart so bad I went to church this morning and prayed on
it. That’s why I was late to see you. Oh God, Ms. Vines, when will I be getting
them back?”
Ms. Vines
leaned forward and folded her hands on the desk. “Keema, do you have any idea
how serious this situation is? There was a gun underneath one of your
children’s mattress and drugs in a cereal box.”
“But they
weren’t mine,” I whined. “I didn’t even know the stuff was there. I swear to
God in Heaven I didn’t.”
“I find
that hard to believe, Keema.”
“Do you
think I would actually have a gun and drugs around my kids?” I asked in
disbelief.
“You tell
me,” she said. “The police have also stated they found a lit blunt in your
apartment.”
“That was
Shane’s too.”
“You mean
you didn’t smell him smoking?”
“I told
you that autism thing may be a front. He’s real slick.”
She
leaned back into her chair and looked at me strangely.
“I’m not
lying, Ms. Vines. I would never put my kids in harm’s way like that.”
She
exhaled. “Keema, I’m going to be straight forward with you. “You’ve been on
assistance for several years. You haven’t shown any urge to find gainful
employment.”
I slammed
my hand on the desk. “I go on job interviews all the time!”
“Let me
finish, Keema,” she said sternly. “You’re always late for our appointments.
You’ve failed drug tests. To be honest with you, if it wasn’t for the kids, I
would’ve taken you off of assistance a long time ago.”
I looked
at her pitifully, biting my nails again.
“The
system is in place to empower you, not enable you Keema.”
“I know,
Ms. Vines. That’s what my mother tells me all the time. And I swear I’m trying
my hardest. I’ve made mistakes but I’m a good person and I love my kids.”
She
looked at me with no emotion. She was pissing me off but I didn’t show it. I
stayed in character despite the fact that she was trying to give me such a hard
time.
“It’s so
hard out here for a single black mother, Ms. Vines.” Tears appeared in my eyes.
“I’m
sorry Keema. No money this month until your case is reviewed further.”
I almost
fainted.
Find Kendall at:
Instagram-
authorkendallb
Twitter-@authorkendallB
Facebook- LCB
Twitter-@authorkendallB
Facebook- LCB
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