Weber, Carl

PERSONAL:

Married. Education: Virginia State University, B.S.; University of Virginia, M.B.A.

ADDRESSES:

Home—NY.

CAREER:

Publisher and businessman. Urban Entertainment, New York, NY, chief executive officer, president, and founder, 2005—. African-American Bookstore, New York, NY, owner.

MEMBER:

Black Retail Book Association (president).

AWARDS, HONORS:

Publisher and bookseller of the year, both from BlackBoard African-American Bestsellers, Inc.

WRITINGS:

NOVELS

Lookin' for Luv, Kensington Books (New York, NY), 2000.

Married Men, Dafina Books (New York, NY), 2001.

Baby Momma Drama, Dafina Books (New York, NY), 2003.

(With others) A Dollar and a Dream, Dafina Books (New York, NY), 2003.

Player Haters, Dafina Books (New York, NY), 2004.

The Preacher's Son, Dafina Books (New York, NY), 2005.

So You Call Yourself a Man, Dafina Books (New York, NY), 2006.

(With Mary B. Morrison) She Ain't the One, Dafina Books (New York, NY), 2006.

The First Lady, Dafina (New York, NY), 2007.

Something on the Side, Kensington (New York, NY), 2008.

SIDELIGHTS:

Carl Weber is a romance writer, publisher, and businessman. He is the chief executive officer and president of Urban Entertainment, a company that incorporates film, book, production, and book sales.

Weber published his first book, Lookin' for Luv, in 2000. The men, who work together at an alternative high school and are suffering from problems of their own, look for love on a 900 number phone service, where they meet a woman who gives them all trouble. Arlene McKanic and Kelly Ellis, writing in the Black Issues Book Review, called the novel "obnoxiously funny." The pair described the characters as "deliciously unlikeable" but wondered if this was Weber's intention to write them in this manner. McKanic and Ellis concluded that the novel is "a good diversion for folks who need … a distraction into the extremes of some of the glad-it's-not-me drama of romance."

Weber published Married Men in 2001. The novel takes four men and shows how they view love, life, and its corresponding dramas as they share their friendship and troubles. Sherri Melnick, writing on the Romantic Times Online, remarked that Married Men is a "page-turning" book, adding that it is a "refreshing take on a male's view of love and marriage." Melnick commented that the novel is "created with depth and feeling." A contributor to Publishers Weekly wrote that the novel offers "virtually no meaningful insight" into the problems the characters deal with in the plot. The same contributor noted that the author "fails to evoke any sympathy at all for his cast of stereotypical, shallow characters as they blunder through this soap opera." Nicole Davis, writing in Morgan State University's Spokesman, felt that the novel "successfully shows a man's point of view on relationships and women." Davis compared the novel to a male rendering of the movie Waiting to Exhale, calling it "a must read." McKanic, again writing in the Black IssuesBook Review, remarked that "Weber's second novel … is heftier than his first … and in orders of magnitude, it's nastier." McKanic commented that "Weber is a talented writer."

Baby Momma Drama was published in 2003. The novel introduces sisters Jasmine and Stephanie and all the trouble and drama they get into when they fly through bed partners so quickly. A contributor to Publishers Weekly called the characters "well drawn" but wondered about their constant need for sex throughout the book. The same contributor concluded that "Weber starts off with an entertaining setup, but the frenzied booty calls and out-of-control plotting spoil a potentially good read." Booklist contributor Lillian Lewis called the novel "compelling."

In 2004 Weber published Player Haters. Wil and Diane have marriage problems as Mimi, his temp secretary, tries to cut herself into the picture. Trent, Wil's brother, who is short on cash, clings to a talented starlet to soothe his financial problems. Cydney Rax, writing on the Book Remarks Web site, called the novel "a must-read, with an unforgettable ending." Rax noted that the plot changes were "wild" and the ending caused her "to burst out laughing." Rax concluded that Player Haters "is brimming with enough male/female drama to keep you turning the pages." A contributor to Publishers Weekly described the novel as "a fast-paced mix of scandal, jealousy, and wickedness featuring the bickering, beautiful Duncan family." The same contributor noted that "the interpersonal antics remain shamelessly over-the-top" as in previous novels but stated that this novel is a "resonant (and fun) reading experience."

Weber published The Preacher's Son in 2005. This tale mixes church leaders, local politics, and jealousy, to form a scandalous story line. A contributor to Publishers Weekly concluded that "Weber spins a lively, revelation-packed tale deepened by genuine emotion, convincing detail and smart dialogue."

Weber published So You Call Yourself a Man in 2006. James has a dark past, causing problems with his marriage. Sonny moves to Seattle for business but finds his wife's story is not lining up with reality. And Brent tries to follow a God-fearing path, but finds he cannot stay to that path in the days before his wedding. A contributor to Publishers Weekly noted that "some plot points are contrived." The contributor conceded, however, that "major revelations and an eye-raising twist will make even seen-it-all fans" take another look. Tee C. Royal, writing on the Romantic Times Online, remarked that "the pace is perfect, making this a book easily read in one sitting." A contributor to the Romance in Color Web site, noted that the novel is so full of plot turns that it is liable "to make your head spin." The same contributor called the story line "fascinating" and added that "the characters seem so real." The contributor concluded: "I commend Carl Weber on a job well done. The characters and the storyline flow well and I have to admit I couldn't put the book down once I started reading it."

Additionally in 2006 Weber published She Ain't the One, with Mary B. Morrison. Self-declared player Jay Crawford leaves his wife to find the woman of his dreams. When he finds Ashlee Anderson, he thinks he has struck gold. He later learns, however, that her dark secrets and possessiveness turn into his nightmare. A contributor to Publishers Weekly wrote that She Ain't the One, "were it not hobbled by pedestrian prose … could be reminiscent of Fatal Attraction." Reviewing the book on the Armchair Interviews Web site, Lauretta Ali found the book "chock full of raw sexuality and mental dueling." Ali cautioned readers of the book: "Know it isn't for the faint at heart," but added: "What a ride it is!"

Weber published The First Lady in 2007. When Bishop T.K. Wilson's wife dies, she leaves a batch of letters to be sent out to potential replacements for her. The list of women is diverse, and it sparks a debate among the bishop's circle of friends as to who the appropriate new wife should be. T.L. Burton, writing on the Romantic Times Online, noted that the story is supported by "humor, drama, and a proclivity for the unexpected." Burton called the cast of characters "colorful" but found that it occasionally "lacks balance" with too many minor characters taking a more dominant role in the plot. Overall, Burton concluded by calling the book an "easy and enjoyable read." A contributor to Publishers Weekly wrote that the author "keeps the pacing brisk and loads the narrative with enough surprise turns to keep readers guessing to the end."

In 2008 Weber published Something on the Side. The book highlights a group of women who are members of the size-fourteen-plus Big Girls Book Club. Each of the women enjoy the dramas in the novels they read, but all of them have dramas in their own love lives that often interact with the other members. A contributor to Publishers Weekly recorded that the author "keeps things tight and funny." The contributor also wrote that "readers with a bent for the bootylicious will certainly want to" read this novel.

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Black Issues Book Review, November, 2000, Arlene McKanic and Kelly Ellis, review of Lookin' for Luv, p. 22; November 1, 2001, Arlene McKanic, review of Married Men, p. 59.

Booklist, September 15, 2000, review of Lookin' for Luv, p. 228; August, 2001, Lillian Lewis, review of Married Men, p. 2093; January 1, 2003, Lillian Lewis, review of Baby Momma Drama, p. 854; March 15, 2004, Lillian Lewis, review of Player Haters, p. 1268; December 1, 2004, Lillian Lewis, review of The Preacher's Son, p. 638.

Conversations, April 26, 2006, author interview.

Publishers Weekly, August 27, 2001, review of Married Men, p. 55; January 6, 2003, review of Baby Momma Drama, p. 40; February 9, 2004, review of Player Haters, p. 59; December 13, 2004, review of The Preacher's Son, p. 45; December 19, 2005, review of So You Call Yourself a Man, p. 40; August 7, 2006, review of She Ain't the One, p. 30; November 20, 2006, review of The First Lady, p. 36; November 12, 2007, review of Something on the Side, p. 33.

Spokesman (Morgan State University), October 25, 2002, Nicole Davis, review of Married Men.

ONLINE

African American Literature Book Club Web site,http://www.aalbc.com/ (January 27, 2008), Leah Mullen, author interview.

Armchair Interviews,http://www.armchairinterviews.com/ (January 27, 2008), Lauretta Ali, review of She Ain't the One.

Book Remarks,http://www.book-remarks.com/ (January 27, 2008), author interview; Cydney Rax, review of Player Haters.

Carl Weber Home Page,http://www.carlweber.net (January 27, 2008), author biography.

For the People Productions,http://forthepeopleproductions.blogspot.com/ (December 22, 2006), C.A. Webb, author interview.

Romance in Color,http://www.romanceincolor.com/ (January 27, 2008), Jennifer Coates, author interview; (June 4, 2006), review of So You Call Yourself a Man.

Romantic Times Online,http://www.romantictimes.com/ (January 27, 2008), Lisa G. Riley, author interview; Sherri Melnick, review of Married Men; Tee C. Royal, review of So You Call Yourself a Man; T.L. Burton, review of The First Lady.

Urban Books Web site,http://www.urbanbooks.net/ (January 27, 2008), author's company.