Lisa ~
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Never Trust A SoulParis Johnson, twenty-four year old Baltimore City native holds deep and dark secrets. On the exterior she's a successful God-fearing business woman. But when you dive deeper into her life you'll find that she's the epitome of a female gangster.
Paris left Baltimore at the age of eighteen thinking that she was escaping the perils of inner-city living. Not only did she find that troubles can reside anywhere but she naively began trusting others without reservation.
After falling into a whirlwind relationship with Carlo, she's forced into a dangerous lifestyle which pushes her to taking matters into her own hands.
Will Paris succumb to the dangerous lifestyle that she has become accustomed to or break loose, rise to the occasion and take control of her destiny?
"Never Trust a Soul" is a true page turner with surprises around every corner. Nothing or no one is as it seems!
Excerpt from Never Trust A Soul
Key and I are perfect for each other. He is tall, brown-skinned, handsome, and has swag for days. I was never the type to like one of those neat ass pretty niggas. I needed them to be a little rough around the edges and he definitely fits the bill. Key is the type of guy who is always thinking of ways to perfect his hustle. The first time he caught my eye was when I left school and came back to B-More for good. Trina, my best friend, convinced me to go to a party at Mirage with her. I will never forget that night.
Key was standing in the VIP section all swagged out with a black and gray Gucci polo shirt with the hat to match. I remember admiring that nice Brietling timepiece on his wrist. Watching his every move, I couldn’t help but to notice the raggedy chickenhead that was clinging to him trying to make it known that they were together. Trina was mingling and flirting while I was just chilling on the red couch in our section watching Key.
Trina plopped down on the couch beside me and began to talk over the music. “Let’s go downstairs to the bathroom and freshen our makeup.”
After I nodded my head, we made our way through the crowded club. We walked down the steps towards the bathroom stopping at the huge mirror that covered the whole wall to take a few selfies.
“Damn, Paris, could you be any more obvious?” Trina asked while posing in the mirror.
“Huh? What are you talking about, Trina?”
“You think I didn’t notice you checking Key out?”
“Key who?”
“You know what Key, bitch. Keon that used to hang with your brother when he was home.”
“Wow, have I been gone that long? I didn’t even recognize him. I can see that life has definitely been treating him right.”
“Girl, you ain’t neva lied.”
“Who’s the chick he’s with?”
“His baby mother Jasmine, but she ain’t nobody,” Trina replied while twisting her lips.
“That counts me out. I don’t need any more drama in my life. He is looking good though.”
“Looking good and doing good, Paris! I’m going to tell him to come over to our table when we go back upstairs,”
“Don’t do that, Trina. I told you that I don’t want any more drama. I already have enough to deal with.”
“Paris, please. The only drama you have is that crazy ass Carlo who’s all the way in Florida. You need to leave him alone anyway.”
The squeaking sound of the doorknob twisting brings me back to reality. I take my charging stance once again, gripping my blade tightly. My heart is pounding out of my chest. I break out in a cold sweat and my eyes began to bulge as the doorknob turns. It’s true that your whole life flashes before your eyes when you think you’re about to die.
I begin to think about all the things I could have done differently. This has to be the moment before judgment day. My time to stand before the Lord and based upon the position of my soul, I’m deemed to Heaven or Hell. I wonder, based upon my life from birth up until now, where will I end up going? Life experiences have really changed me. I am an evil and cold-hearted bitch who doesn’t trust anyone. I wasn’t always this way. I was once a sweet, innocent young girl so full of promise who gave everyone a fair chance.
Interview with Aisha Linnea
Who is Aisha Linnea the author vs Aisha Linnea the person?
Key and I are perfect for each other. He is tall, brown-skinned, handsome, and has swag for days. I was never the type to like one of those neat ass pretty niggas. I needed them to be a little rough around the edges and he definitely fits the bill. Key is the type of guy who is always thinking of ways to perfect his hustle. The first time he caught my eye was when I left school and came back to B-More for good. Trina, my best friend, convinced me to go to a party at Mirage with her. I will never forget that night.
Key was standing in the VIP section all swagged out with a black and gray Gucci polo shirt with the hat to match. I remember admiring that nice Brietling timepiece on his wrist. Watching his every move, I couldn’t help but to notice the raggedy chickenhead that was clinging to him trying to make it known that they were together. Trina was mingling and flirting while I was just chilling on the red couch in our section watching Key.
Trina plopped down on the couch beside me and began to talk over the music. “Let’s go downstairs to the bathroom and freshen our makeup.”
After I nodded my head, we made our way through the crowded club. We walked down the steps towards the bathroom stopping at the huge mirror that covered the whole wall to take a few selfies.
“Damn, Paris, could you be any more obvious?” Trina asked while posing in the mirror.
“Huh? What are you talking about, Trina?”
“You think I didn’t notice you checking Key out?”
“Key who?”
“You know what Key, bitch. Keon that used to hang with your brother when he was home.”
“Wow, have I been gone that long? I didn’t even recognize him. I can see that life has definitely been treating him right.”
“Girl, you ain’t neva lied.”
“Who’s the chick he’s with?”
“His baby mother Jasmine, but she ain’t nobody,” Trina replied while twisting her lips.
“That counts me out. I don’t need any more drama in my life. He is looking good though.”
“Looking good and doing good, Paris! I’m going to tell him to come over to our table when we go back upstairs,”
“Don’t do that, Trina. I told you that I don’t want any more drama. I already have enough to deal with.”
“Paris, please. The only drama you have is that crazy ass Carlo who’s all the way in Florida. You need to leave him alone anyway.”
The squeaking sound of the doorknob twisting brings me back to reality. I take my charging stance once again, gripping my blade tightly. My heart is pounding out of my chest. I break out in a cold sweat and my eyes began to bulge as the doorknob turns. It’s true that your whole life flashes before your eyes when you think you’re about to die.
I begin to think about all the things I could have done differently. This has to be the moment before judgment day. My time to stand before the Lord and based upon the position of my soul, I’m deemed to Heaven or Hell. I wonder, based upon my life from birth up until now, where will I end up going? Life experiences have really changed me. I am an evil and cold-hearted bitch who doesn’t trust anyone. I wasn’t always this way. I was once a sweet, innocent young girl so full of promise who gave everyone a fair chance.
Interview with Aisha Linnea
Who is Aisha Linnea the author vs Aisha Linnea the person?
Aisha Linnea the author and Aisha Linnea the person are one in the same. My writing includes a piece of me and my experiences, although the stories are exaggerated they all include real feelings and emotions that I am passionate about. The author in me is able to express things differently and give a perspective that maybe easier for someone to receive. But everyone that knows me knows that I have always been an outspoken person.
What is the meaning of “Never Trust a Soul” and why did you use that title?
The meaning of “Never Trust a Soul” is that you can’t take people for their exterior facade. You have to really get into the inner essence of the human being. When I say “soul”, I am talking about a person’s deeply felt moral and emotional nature. I used the title because I was connected to it. I began writing the story and midway the title just rolled off of my tongue. Also It speaks to the moral and emotional dilemma that people face when having relationships.
What message are you trying to convey to your readers?
I wrote this book for women of all ages, I have a special place in my heart for younger women because I have a daughter of my own that I wanted to be able to share this message with. Too many times young women are going out into the world unequipped with the necessary tools to discern someone who has your best interest at heart verses someone who is using you for their own agenda. As a young woman we have to make sure that we are asking the right questions, being aware, and trusting our initial instincts, and when something seems too good to be true it usually is.
Why do you feel your book is so important to the youth of today?
I know that this book is important because this generation is not informed enough. In this day and age with so much going on in our communities as adults we have to be able to provide the younger generation tools to be able to empower themselves. It is important to know that karma is real and that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction, which is one of newton's laws. So even on a scientific level the world is telling us that we have to be prepared for the outcome of the actions that we make.
Why did you make a trailer for your book?
In today’s society social media has become so important that you can put a message up today and have a million views by tomorrow. I wanted to grab the attention of people and let them know that books are still around, there is still a good story line and a plot. I put my video up on Worldstar and YouTube and was able to reach people that I would have never reached by just posting on my page “come buy my book”. I wanted it to be different and unique and I feel that my readers were pleased.
Why did you choose to self-publish instead of using a well known publishing company?
I chose to self-publish because I am a new author, and I know that no one would be able to offer me what I could offer myself. One of my goals was to go into business for myself. When I looked at the deals that other authors were getting, it didn’t make good business sense. I felt so strongly about the message that I was putting into this book and I didn’t want my story to be watered down in order to fit what a publishing company had as a vision for me.
What are your goals for the book “ Never Trust a Soul” in 2015? What are your goals as an author that you would like to accomplish by 2016?
My goal for 2015 is to be able to get my book out there. I want it to be in book stores, on bookshelves, and I want it to be in as many hands as possible. I want everyone to hear this story, share this story and take away from it, that this could be someones life and that you can’t just walk around with blinders on oblivious to what is going on around you.
As an author I want to be able to grow my brand and, grow as a person. With the tumultuous climate in the country I know that I have to be a voice, a beacon of change for my city and for lost people that can not speak for themselves. I want to be able to do an outreach program for young women in the city of Baltimore, which will equip them with knowledge and skills to be more confident when making important decisions regarding their livelihoods.
Aisha learned how to balance a demanding work and personal life as a single mother. As life began to change Aisha knew that she had a story to tell which gave birth to her ambitions to become a writer.
Self publishing her first novel Aisha has focused on her new found passion of writing. She will continue to give ground breaking messages that will challenge all generations on ideas of love, trust, loyalty and beyond.
As the momentum from her first book continues she wants her readers to know that “Never Trust A Soul” is just the beginning.
Find the author:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/NeverTrustASoul1
Twitter : @AuthAishaLinnea
Instagram: @Aisha_Linnea
Website: www.AishaLinnea.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/NeverTrustASoul1
Twitter : @AuthAishaLinnea
Instagram: @Aisha_Linnea
Website: www.AishaLinnea.com
