Get This! Teri Woods had her attorney contact me, and draft a document for me to sign, waiving all rights to True To The Game II, and True To The Game III. Uh, Teri, we have lawyers down here in Texas too, babe. I'm not signing shit! You didn't pay for those books, Grand Central Published them. Somebody is going to have to come with some serious dollars if they want the rights to my books. Otherwise, Grand Central can get ready for an injunction, and can get ready to be sued. I was an 'Unnamed third party' to your little Grand Central contract.
You can pay a little bit now, or a whole lot later. But I ain't giving away my books for FREE! ROTFLMAO

Last month, CP2 reported that
pioneer street lit author Teri
Woods signed a five-book, multimillion
dollar deal with Grand
Central Publishing (formerly
Warner Books). Grand Central
re-released her debut classic, the
self-published novel “True to the
Game” then presented its sequel
“True II,” which made the New
York Times Bestsellers list in
November of 2007.
At the same time, the street-lit
world went into frenzy as the
highly anticipated conclusion to
the “Dutch” series was released
by imprisoned author Kwame
Teague. Woods reported that it
was “bootlegged.”
And, just when you thought
the drama was over, she makes
headlines again. Now a Texas
writer is claiming to have
authored “True II” and the
upcoming release, “True III.”
He’s saying that Woods has failed
to fulfill her fiduciary responsibility
in their contractual agreement.
“She didn’t pay me. That
broke our contract. I shouldn’t be
obligated to uphold it,” said
Caleb Alexander, explaining why
he broke his silence and aired out
Woods. In fact, he’s willing to
testify on Teague’s behalf in any
legal proceedings between him
and Woods.
According to Alexander, he
was contracted to write a minimum
of four books a year for
$100,000 per year and Woods has
only paid three-thirds of the
agreed amount despite having
produced four books: “True II,”
“True III,” “Deadly Reign III,”
and a fourth title, “Alibi” with
issues surrounding the last two.
“She had me write ‘Deadly
Reigns III’ over and over,” he
said.
“I think that was a stall tactic
to not pay me. She had me rewrite
‘Deadly Reigns III’ like
four times,” he continued. He
also said that he tried to give her
“Alibi” but she wouldn’t take it,
telling him to not hurry and write
the books just for the money. “It
was because she didn’t want to
pay me.”
Alexander made it clear that
the contract is not a per book
agreement. He went on to say
she’s been owing him money for
several months. He allowed her
to pay installments but there’s
been no attempt by Woods’ to pay
the remaining $25,000, even after
his coming forth.
“It’s not like this is a one time
thing. This woman has messed
over me, over a consistent period
of time. I got email after email
begging this woman for my
money,” he said.
Alexander submitted the contract
and emails to CP2.
Even though the 2007 contract
has not been fulfilled,
according to Alexander, she
wanted to reduce his salary to
$50,000 for 2008. “That woman
is crazy. Who can live off that?”
he asked.
Also, she wanted him to ghost
write exclusively for her, which
is stated in his contract.
“I stopped ghost writing for
anybody else,” Alexander began.
“My monthly income was based
on what I was doing for Teri
Woods. I’m not able to do things
with my kids and it’s taking a toll
on my marriage, on me. It’s taking
a toll on my health. I’m
stressing over bills. There’s no
way I should be arguing over
bills with my wife. There’s no
way I should have to go through
that when I’ve wrote all these
books.”
Fortunately, Alexander
recently released two novels,
“Eastside” and “Two Thin
Dimes” through Zane’s imprint
Strebor Books, which is a division
of Simon and Schuster.
However, some have suggested
that his publishing career is over
for blowing the whistle on
Woods.
“My ghost writing career is
definitely dead. Now, because of
what happen, who is going to
want to deal with me. I’m just
hoping my publishing career is
not dead too,” he continued.
At the same time, Alexander
also claims to be the author of
Teri Woods Publishing hits,
“Deadly Reigns I and II” while
there are legalities surrounding
those titles as well.
“I did agree to sell her the
books but I didn’t agree for her to
put her name on them,” he said.
With that situation, he decided
to allow the courts to settle it
but continued to work with her up
until she stopped payments. “All
she had to do was pay me and we
wouldn’t be going through this,”
the author said. “And, if she didn’t
pay me then all of them books
are in question.”
He also revealed that Grand
Central knew he was Woods’
ghostwriter while it was a running
joke within their literary circle.
“I met Karen Thomas
[Woods’ editor] at the BEA and
Teri Woods was like, ‘this is my
ghost writer.’ They would laugh
about it. They all knew.”
CP2 contacted Grand Central,
requesting an interview with
Thomas and Woods, but publicist
Linda Duggins said there’s nothing
Thomas or Grand Central can
say right now. However, she did
admit that Alexander’s opting to
break his silence has caused quite
a stir.
“There’s a lot of lawyers
involved. It’s a mess,” she said
before wanting to speak off the
record then changing the subject
to their upcoming releases. After
talking to Duggins, CP2 received
an email and call from John
Pelosi, Woods’ attorney, who
wished to speak to the matter on
his client’s behalf.
“Anything that Teri Woods
puts out under Grand Central, she
is the author. Grand Central is not
involved with this.”
Although he too wanted to
talk more off the record, he firmly
maintained that Alexander has
been paid. “Mr. Alexander has
been compensated for his work.
Any contributions he’s made to
Teri Woods Publishing, he’s been
compensated for.” However, he
denied that Alexander wrote
books for Woods after being
asked point blank if Alexander
was Woods’ ghost writer and
about the exclusive ghostwriting
contract. “He is not her ghostwriter,”
said Pelosi.
Pelosi also stated that his
client is looking forward to the
future and moving beyond these
obstacles then reminded us that
“True II” made the New York
Times Bestsellers list. He went
on to say that Woods will meet
any further allegations with legal
actions. “He has breached the
contract.”
Subsequently, Alexander
knows that he is up against a lot
of lawyers, money, and power but
maintains that he is telling the
truth. “She didn’t pay me for
those books; therefore, Warner
has some contraband,” he said.
CP2 THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 2008 / PAGE 5 Author makes claim towards Teri Woods’ novels
Contact The Inkwell at
rcrowder@call-post.com
or (216) 791-7600 ext. 253
Is being a ghostwriter a
trick or treat?
After attending the 2007 Book Expo America last June, authors Caleb
Alexander and Teri Woods were captured in a photo at Jezebel’s in Harlem.
SAVE THE DATE FOR
THE URBAN LIT
EXPERIENCE
A panel discussion at
The Cleveland Public Library
in
The Louis Stokes Wing
on
Sun., Feb. 24, 2008 from 2-4 p.m
Panelists will include both
supporters and opponents of urban
fiction. Keep reading The Inkwell
for more details.

I haven't posted in a while, because I wasn't sure if I was going to continue with this blog. The reason I wasn't sure if I was going to continue, is because I didn't want to get so caught up in this thing, that this is all that I am known for. I am so much bigger than Teri Woods' ghostwriter, there is so much more to me than this. This whole event has been a big set back in my life, but I need to keep it in context. My life means more than just what has been done to me. I'm moving forward. I'm almost finished with another blockbuster novel. I'm speaking, teaching, and getting back on solid financial ground again. Everyday I find myself gaining strength. I have renewed my faith, and facing these difficulties have brought me and my family closer. I thank God for everything. It is through challenging times, when you really get to know Him.

I don't know what to say or think. Did I mean that much to that woman's life? I went on Amazon today, and found that someone had posted a review under the name, 'Kaye'. This person posted two reviews, one for Eastside, and one for Two Thin Dimes. She has never posted a single review but for those two books. She gave them one star, and trashed them.

It's sad to think that Teri has reduced herself to going online, and trashing my books under fake screen names. I've moved on. I'm working on a new novel, and have some other projects in the works. Why is she spending her time and energy on me? Why is she giving tons of money to her lawyer in an effort to ruin my career? Does she dream about me at night? Does she think about me when she's in the shower? Does she moan and call out my name when putting cream on that enormous black mole on her face?

I think I'm going to need a restraining order...

Teri violated our contract by not paying me my money. She is now trying to say that I violated the contract by publishing books with Simon & Schuster. She is saying that under our exclusive ghostwriting contract, I could not write books under my own name. This is false and she knows it. Even though she knows that it is false, she has sent letters out to my agent, to Strebor Books, and to Simon & Schuster. She is saying that she owns Eastside and Two Thin Dimes, despite the fact that I wrote those books, before I even met Teri Woods. Funny right? How can she own books that I wrote before the contract, before the was a Teri Woods Publishing, before I even met her! LOL. She is reaching for straws. Those letters, were simply an attempt to damage my relationship with my publisher. The truth reached the public, and it embarrassed her. And in her anger, she is now simply trying to be malicious. Her is the services provision of my contract with her. It clearly says that I cannot ghostwrite for anyone else. But it doesn't say that I can't write books under my own name. She is clearly reaching, and just trying to sling mud. You be the judge.



1. Services

COMPANY hereby desires to engage the exclusive ghost-writing services of CONTRACTOR, and CONTRACTOR has agreed to render his services exclusively for COMPANY for the purpose of ghost-writing novels and scripts for COMPANY. CONTRACTOR hereby agrees to be engaged subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement.

One Of The Speeches that I wrote for her daughter's Miss Delaware State Campaign;



Why I should be Ms. Delaware State University? As I ponder this question I am reminded of Nelson Mandela’s 1994 Inaugural Speech.
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn’t serve the world. There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let out own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence, automatically liberates others.

This speech means as much to me now, as it did then. It is my reason for being here, it is my reason for wanting to go out and do so much more with my life, it is my reason for wanting to represent this proud and storied university. I will go forth and demonstrate to world that we are brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous. I want to go forth, and make manifest the glory of God that is within us. I will go forth and allow the light that this university has instilled within me, to shine, and I will consciously empower others to do the same. I want to go forth and liberate others from their fears, and allow them to soar; to allow them to be the best that they can be.

As I stand before you today, amongst my sisters, I am also reminded of a statement by Mary McCleod Bethune. The true worth of a race, must be measured by the character of its women. By that statement, peering around at my sisters, I must say that our worth is immeasurable. It is this spirit, and with this character, that I will go forth and represent this great university. A renewal of sisterhood, a resurgence of spirit, a rebirth of charity and goodwill toward all, and a renaissance in creativity and imagination, along with a bottomless vitality and infectious energy, is what I will usher in. A new age of dreams, with a ‘can do’ spirit. America once talked about a shining city on a hill, with dreams of ushering in a new Camelot. As Ms. Delaware State, I will bring back the mentality that nothing is impossible, and that through education, charity, and peace, all is possible. I will be a Ms. Delaware State that liberates others and inspires them to dream.

In the final analysis, I feel as though this is my purpose. Everything that I am, everything that I have worked so hard to achieve, has led me to this moment. My membership in the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority has taught me the virtues of sisterhood, charity, and infused within me the idea that all is possible. My work with the Big Brother/Big Sister program has strengthened my humility, my sense of community, and has taught me that giving dreams to others is even more fulfilling than attaining my own dreams. Gwendolyn Brooks once said, “We are each others harvest, we are each others business, we are each others magnitude and bond.”

And so I ask myself again, why I should be Ms. Delaware State? I should be Ms. Delaware State University, because I stand before you filled with the education, the pride, and the dignity that this university has given me. I stand before you as a new woman, a woman of this historic and grand university. I recall Shirley Chisolm once being asked how she wanted history to remember her. Her answer was, “I want history to remember me not just as the first black woman elected to Congress, not as the first black woman to have made a bid for the presidency of the United States, but as a black woman who lived in the 20th century and dared to be herself.” Well, I stand before you today walking a twenty first century walk, as a Delaware State University woman who dared to be herself, and whose presence will automatically give others permission to do the same. Who are we to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are we not to be? I am, Ms. Delaware State University.

Some of Teri's e-mails to me.

Check out True II, read it real good. It’s been accepted by Warner and after Deadly Reigns III we’ll jump back on it. I think the family parts will help add to III we’ll talk later. I like the idea of Terrell revenging Jerrell but I don’t like the idea of bringing Jerrell back. Let’s talk, let me know how you like True II. TERI WOODS

Another e-mail;

Yeah, but I’m going to go through it one last time, you do regular edits, no story edits. You got to do DR III we need that asap to cover your life. So, I’ll do Predators and Dutch III while you do DR III and True III. I’ll read True III too, did you read True II, how you like it? TERI WOODS

Another e-mail;

Hey, can I see you with some money next week? I don’t even know if I’ll have the 1,250 but I know I’ll at least have $500.00. In the meantime, I’ll overnight you one of my checks for $500. Sorry, I wish I could do more. TERI WOODS

Another e-mail;

I don’t have anything to send out right now. But, I am waiting on a check from one of my distributors that didn’t pay me. Predators will be done on Friday so I’ll definitely get that to you. How’s Deadly Reigns? Did I tell you I can’t do Dutch? Don’t ask. TERI WOODS

Another e-mail;

I will send you something today. Give me a minute. I can’t even rewrite what’s there. The entire book is garbage and I tried to talk to him and tell him and I wrote a two page letter explaining why it didn’t make sense. We’ll see, where’s DR III? I need DR III to be a huge hit to cover you, but I hope so. I think Predators is going to do well. I know you might not think so, but I do. And Kwame may or may not come around, but I’m starting to think he really might be a little crazy. I’ll call you later and we’ll talk. TERI WOODS

Another e-mail;

Help with a quote for Miss America, thanks TERI WOODS

Another e-mail;

Hey, what do you think about smoothing out the quote for Miss America. Thanks, TERI WOODS

Another e-mail;

Oh, kill yourself. But listen, before you do I need you to do one more thing for DR III. It finally came to me, call me so we can talk. It’s 11:15, please call me I’m going to lunch and can talk to you then. And don’t kill yourself until we communicate. Thanks, TERI WOODS