Vickie Stringer facts for kids
Vickie Stringer is an American novelist from Detroit, Michigan.
Contents
Early Life and Challenges
Vickie Stringer grew up in Detroit, Michigan. Her mother was a schoolteacher, and her father was an electrical engineer for General Motors. She graduated from the well-known Cass Technical High School in 1985. She later attended Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo.
After college, Vickie faced some difficult challenges in her life. During this time, she spent some years in a federal prison. This period became a turning point for her, inspiring her to start a new path.
Becoming an Author
While she was in prison, Vickie Stringer began writing her first novel, Let That Be The Reason. After her release in January 2001, she worked as a bartender while trying to get her book published. She sent her manuscript to many publishers and agents, but it was rejected twenty-six times.
Instead of giving up, Vickie decided to publish the book herself. She borrowed money from her family to print a small number of copies. She then sold these books on her own. Her book sold so well that she soon had enough money to start her own publishing company, Triple Crown Publications. This company was created to publish her books and those of other writers, especially in the urban fiction genre. These books were aimed at readers who were often overlooked by bigger publishers.
Popular Books and Recognition
Publishers Weekly Magazine called Vickie Stringer "The Reigning Queen" of Urban Fiction. Book Magazine also named her one of the "Most 50 influential Women" in publishing. Her first novel, Let That Be The Reason, was even translated into Japanese for readers around the world.
Her second novel, Imagine This, was bought by Simon & Schuster's Atria Books imprint as part of a big publishing deal. Like her first book, Imagine This stayed on the Essence paperback bestseller list for more than two years. Simon & Schuster's Atria offered Vickie more publishing deals, which led to more best-selling books, including her popular "Red Series."
Entrepreneurial Success
Until 2022, Vickie Stringer was the publisher of Triple Crown Publications. This company became one of the most successful African American book publishers in the U.S. and internationally. Her work and story have been featured in many major news outlets, including The New York Times, Newsweek, MTV News, Publishers Weekly, Vibe, Millionaire Blueprints, Writer's Digest, Black Expressions, and Essence.
Triple Crown Publications has been in business for over 20 years. It has helped launch the careers of many well-known writers in the urban fiction genre. As a literary agent, Vickie has helped her clients secure book deals worth over US$3,000,000.
Awards and Research
In 2007, Vickie Stringer won the Entrepreneur of the Year award from Ball State University's Miller College of Business.
She has also taken part in studies at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice. These studies looked at how starting a business can help people successfully re-enter society after being in prison. Vickie Stringer's own success story was used as an example of how this can work. A psychologist named Dr. Sonnee Weedn also interviewed Vickie to understand how some women overcome challenges like racism and sexism to achieve success.
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Vickie M. Stringer, Author, Entrepreneur
