Black Vibes Spotlight: W.R. Franklin Opens Up About His Groundbreaking Book Urban Contemporary
 | Sat, October 18, 2025 at 4:47 PM |
Black Vibes: Urban Contemporary is a novel that first made waves in 2000 and is now preparing for a 25th anniversary re-release. What do you think gives the story its staying power, and why do you feel it still resonates so deeply with readers today?
W.R. Franklin: I think the book has staying power because the subjects that the book touches on are timeless and universal. Marital issues, unrequited love, self-esteem, love at first sight, and jealousy have been around forever, and they're still a part of people's lives.
Black Vibes: Your literary voice is both poetic and emotionally grounded-how did your personal experiences shape the narrative arc of Urban Contemporary, and how much of yourself do you see in the characters?
W.R. Franklin: What's funny is that when I wrote UC, and I let people read the original handwritten pages, they would always say, "Man, that's you! You're Chuck Deville." And I'd respond with "I don't have a Mercedes; I don't live in a penthouse..." But it was obvious from the start that this was all my story, tricked out with poetic license. I am Chuck Deville.
Black Vibes: Reintroducing a novel after 25 years is a rare and powerful accomplishment. How has your perspective as a writer evolved since its original release, and what new energy are you bringing to this anniversary edition?
W.R. Franklin: Regarding writing, my perspective hasn't changed too much. When I wrote UC, it was therapeutic. I was in a bad marriage, and I was depressed. I was inspired to write to get out of the depression, so I did it for me.
Fast-forward to now. In his book The Creative Act, Rick Rubin said, "When you make something truly for yourself, you're doing the best thing you possibly can for the audience." That statement confirmed that way of thinking for me.
Any new energy for the 25th anniversary is being put towards promotion. I have been asked if I am adding any new twists to the book for its anniversary, but I'm not. I may give it a new cover, if anything. But the story will remain the same.
Black Vibes: You've been gaining well-deserved recognition across platforms like Blacktopia, The Media Blast, and an impressive list of podcasts. How does it feel to see your work and your story being embraced by so many media outlets at this point in your journey?
W.R. Franklin: It's "trippy." UC has been a part of my life for 25 years, so it's wild to see people excited about something that I am so used to, if that makes sense. At first, I felt regretful that I didn't do any promotion for it back in 2000 (I had no idea how to promote), but I can't change the past, so now I embrace the present and look forward to the future.
TO BE CONTINUED - LOOK FOR PART TWO
Share on Facebook
