LIVE interview with Richmond,CA Native Author Shonda Dilliehunt

Truth be told, most stories of this gravity are posthumous biographies told long after the hero (or in this case heroine) has passed. However, this was not to be the case for one Shonda Dilliehunt. Instead of being an homage to its subject, Shonda Dilliehunt, this autobiographer was able to make it out of the mean Bay Area streets to tell her own story, and it soon becomes obvious why.

From the jump her parents knew she was a, “Cold Piece.”

A Cold Piece is a harrowing, coming-of-age autobiography, told by none other than Shonda Dilliehunt, the “Cold Piece,” herself. In a world filled with gangstas, dope boys, fast cash and the highest of stakes within it, Shonda wasn’t someone who was sworn in but rather born in. From her introduction to the game by her parents in the soulful, yet dope-fueled and filled 70’s it was obvious from the outset that Shonda had all of the odds stacked against her, yet with her disarming looks, charm, and street smarts Shonda was able to rise to the top of a notoriously male-dominated game.

While so many fall victim to the unforgiving streets, Shonda, using her keen sensibilities as a woman, shrewd street savvy, and innate charm is able to become a victor amidst the chaotic workings of the underworld. This gripping page-turner highlights her entry into the game and rise within it all while holding back none of the gritty realities that define it. As Shonda comes up her world falls down around her, but with her uncompromising determination and unrelenting dedication to make it through it all her story reflects the triumph over tragedy ethos that has the ability to impact and inspire.

Touching on everything from beef, betrayal, loss, love, and ultimately redemption, A Cold Piece has all of the makings of an instant classic in the burgeoning genre of urban non-fiction. .