Travis Hunter is an author, songwriter and father. The Hearts
of Men was self-published in 2000 by Hunter's own company, Jimrose Publishing
House. During the 2000 Book Expo America in Chicago, Hunter was signed by Random
House's imprint, Villard Books for the re-release of The Hearts of Men, Married
but Still Looking and Trouble Man.
Hunter is a native of Florence, S.C. He was also reared in Philadelphia, Pa. A
veteran of the U.S. Army, he attended Clark Atlanta University and subsequently
enrolled in Georgia State University where he majored in Psychology.
During his tour of duty in the military, he discovered his interest in music,
ultimately writing his first song for a Sony recording artist. Always an avid
reader, Hunter parlayed his interest in music into a passion for story-telling
that led to his critically acclaimed debut novel.
Hunter lives in a suburb outside of Atlanta with his son Rashaad. He is the
founder of the "Hearts of Men Foundation," through which he mentors
underprivileged children.
Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: Strebor Books; Original edition (September 27, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1593092474
ISBN-13: 978-1593092474
Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.3 x 0.7 inches
Essence bestselling author Travis Hunter tells the story of a
young woman who takes control of her own destiny after lifelong
abuse.
Zola Zaire never had a chance to choose her man. Raped at
fourteen, her mother threw her out at sixteen and she was forced
to live with a man three times her age. Abuse was all she’d
known and she had gotten comfortable as a bottom dweller, until
her son was taken from her. That’s when she decided to become
the predator instead of the prey.
Momma’s a Virgin is Ngiai’s struggle to overcome a horrible past
and take control of her future. With the help of her brother,
they settle all past scores—but will her quest for revenge
jeopardize her future?
Reading level: Ages 13 and up
Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Dafina (November 1, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0758242522
ISBN-13: 978-0758242525
Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.6 x 0.7 inches
High school students DeMarco and Kyle couldn’t be more
different, but each seems to have what the other wants. And on a
rough night in the ’hood, it’s suddenly unclear whether there’s
enough room on the streets for both of them…
Born in the heart of the Atlanta ghetto, DeMarco Johnson
developed a talent for survival—and basketball. Now his skills
have gotten him into a high school for the privileged, and
that’s where he’d like to stay…
On the other side of town, Kyle Whiteside hails from one of
Atlanta’s wealthiest African-American families. But Kyle’s a
wannabe thug who sees his parents’ money as a way to buy himself
out of trouble…
When DeMarco and Kyle meet on their school’s turf, they hit it
off like oil and water. But one night Kyle’s bravado lands him
in a dangerous situation. The only person who can help him is
DeMarco. Can they put their differences aside—if it’s a matter
of life and death?
Reading level: Ages 13 and up
Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Dafina; 1 edition (July 1, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0758242506
ISBN-13: 978-0758242501
Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
Coming up in the inner city, Kwame and Romeo Braxton never had
anyone except their Nana and each other. So when big brother
Kwame caught two years for doing nothing but keeping the wrong
kind of friends, their lives were turned upside down. And things
are about to get shaken up one more time…
Romeo is seventeen and the star quarterback for the Tucker
Tigers. He gets all the attention he can handle from the
honeys—and the big-time college football programs. Deciding
where to take a scholarship should be Romeo’s biggest problem,
but these days it’s the last thing on his mind…
Not only is Kwame finally getting out of jail, their absentee
mother Pearl is back on the scene, and Rome’s girl Ngiai says
she’s ready to get serious. Oh, and a couple of thugs beat Pearl
nearly to death and wrecked Nana’s crib.
With everything in their lives out of control, Kwame and Rome
are at a serious crossroads. Now they’ll have to decide who’s
really got their backs, and what kind of future they’re ready to
step up to…
“Gritty, realistic, and unforgettable, Travis Hunter knows the
urban teen scene.” —Ni-Ni Simone, author of Teenage Love Affair
When poor babies wind up missing, no one seems to
care.
Urban Brown is a white man who grew up in the dark
recesses of the inner city where he was the victim of
torment, abuse, abandonment, deception and murder. Urban
overcame his horrid past to live a peaceful and
prosperous existence in his upper-class community. He
has everything a man could ask for: a career, which he
loves; a sprawling estate and a drop-dead gorgeous
fiancée, Sierra. Then out of the blue, he receives a
phone call that changes his life.
Jamillah is Urban’s sister, and unlike her brother, she
wasn’t able to overcome the horrors of her past and
turned to drugs to ease the pain. Life on the streets is
hard enough, but once a baby comes along, she tries to
sell him on the black market. Urban won’t hear any of
it, and he and Sierra resolve to raise the child as
their own. But upon further investigation, Urban
realizes that his sister is involved in a dark and
sinister scheme to steal black babies from poor girls in
small, rural towns and sell them to the highest bidders.
As Urban digs deeper and deeper into the kidnapping
network, he gets dangerously close to the heart of the
matter and is disgusted and disheartened by what he
discovers.
Dark Child is a chilling story about the untold
struggles of the disenfranchised that inspiringly
illustrates how one man is not able to turn his back on
the problems of his former community—even though he so
desperately wants to leave that troubled place in his
past forever.
Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: One World/Ballantine (September 25, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0345481682
ISBN-13: 978-0345481689
Karim Spencer, raised in the home of a bootlegger in a
run-down neighborhood, has gone on to become a successful
businessman with a tony home, a beautiful girlfriend, and a son.
But memories of tragedy and betrayal have kept him entrenched in
the past, as have the living reminders of his former life,
including his down-on-her-luck sister, Nadiah; JaQuan, Nadiah's
thugged-out teenage son; and Karim's older brother, Omar,
serving a life sentence for a crime he didn't commit.
As emotions reach a boiling point, does Karim have what it takes
to set JaQuan on a straight path, clear his brother of a bogus
indictment without jeopardizing his own future, and hold
together the family that he so desperately loves?
As Travis Hunter skillfully draws us in with strong, believable
characters with endearing flaws and broken dreams, A Family Sin,
full of riveting twists and turns of plot, unravels the mystery
of a long-buried secret that threatens to tear a family apart.
Publisher: One World/Ballantine
Format: Trade Paperback, 272 pages
Pub Date: October 2006
ISBN: 0345481674
Nasir Lassiter is a college basketball star with a promising future'until a
murder rap lands him in prison with a life sentence. Without hope, Nasir shuts
down. But after five years he's suddenly free and surprised to see how much the
outside world has changed.
He discovers he has a daughter, Brandy, who believes her father has been away in
the army all this time. His girlfriend, Ayana, is now involved with Alonzo, a
wealthy, possessive man. Nasir's life takes another turn when he finds out that
his mother has taken to drugs to ease the pain over his fate. Ayana, meanwhile,
struggles to break free of Alonzo's jealous grip and gets a taste of his
seemingly endless rage.
Nasir would love to right the wrongs his absence has brought the women in his
life. And when his daughter is kidnapped, he will risk everything to save
her'even if it means putting his newfound freedom on the line.
A riveting novel of love, loss, and reconciliation, Something to Die For follows
the twisted path of a man desperately fighting for the good life he deserves'and
for the family who needs him now more than ever.
ISBN: 0375508953 Format: Hardcover, 240pp Pub. Date: July 2003 Publisher: Random House, Incorporated
"Highly Recommended --
and y'all know I don't recommend much!" -Eric Jerome
Dickey, bestselling author of Thieves' Paradise
Growing up on Philadelphia's gritty streets,
Jermaine Banks was used to fighting but lately life has been throwing him hooks
and jabs he's never been prepared to deal with. Almost thirty years old, with a
three-year-old son who worships the ground he walks on, a pregnant girlfriend
whose family hates every breath he takes, and a slain best friend for whose
death he feels responsible for, Jermaine realizes its time to change. But can he
step up to the challenge, or will continue to be a Trouble Man?
For Calvin Sharpe, time is running out. He is living
proof that money is the root of all evil. He sacrificed his family for his
pursuit of the almighty dollar and used money to solve all his problems. But now
his two biggest secrets -- shady business dealings and an abandoned child --
have been exposed, and his bank account can't save him. When both his family and
the FBI demand answers, Calvin goes on the run. After hitting rock bottom, he
decides to its time to stop running and face his responsibilities'to both the
law and his family, including the son he left behind.
Women have flocked to Genesis Styles ever since he was a teenager. He's a
good-looking, smooth-talking former pro-basketball player, but he has a problem:
He has never been satisfied with just one woman. Then he meets Terri and
everything changes. Sort of.
Genesis knows that Terri is perfect for him, and they become engaged. But
Genesis just can't seem to stop cheating on Terri nearly every chance he gets.
Genesis's best friend, Prodigy, constantly warns him that he's going to mess up
the best thing ever to happen to him, but Genesis is not ready to listen.
After dealing with a family crisis, Genesis realizes the importance of his
relationship with Terri, and he begins to change his cheating ways. He knows
that once he says, 'I do,' everything will fall into place. But it may be too
late, because one of his past indiscretions comes back to haunt him, and Terri
has a few surprises of her own for Genesis.
ISBN: 0375757090 Format: Paperback, 288pp Pub. Date: May 2001 Publisher: The Random House Publishing Group
Tall, dark, and handsome, Prodigy Banks goes from being a ladies' man with a
shady past to being a man any mother would be proud to call her son. But when
his past life of gratuitous sex and violence threatens his newfound
respectability, decisions need to be made. Will he make a man's choice or a
boy's guess?
Bernard Charles is haunted by childhood memories of abandonment and poverty. His
workaholic ways and desire to provide his family with all the material things he
didn't have frustrate his wife, Diane, and leave her vulnerable to another man's
advances. After her betrayal, will Bernard move on or move out?
Winston "Poppa Doc" Fuller has a fix for what's ailing the younger generation.
His wisdom brings healing to everyone he touches, yet he hasn't been able to
reach his own thirty-three-year-old son. After Poppa Doc is stricken with lung
cancer, his only wish is that his son will become a man before Poppa Doc leaves
this earth.
Newcomer Travis Hunter has crafted a tale that is funny, sexy, and touching
about three men at very different points in their lives and what it truly means
to have the heart of a man.
Momma's
a Virgin
On The Come Up
Two
The Hard Way
Dark
Child: A Novel
Something to Die For
Trouble Man: A Novel
Married But Still
Looking: A Novel
The
Hearts of Men