Page 7 - Florida Sentinel 2-26-16 Edition

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Tampa Native Publishes First Book From Prison
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
By his own admission, Anthony Shane, aka “Bo-Gotti,” wasted “an entire childhood and adult life chasing fast money, street credibility, music ca- reer ... like so many other young brothers life passed him by.”
But, it was not until he was arrested and sent to federal prison that he realized he had to make a change. Now, Anthony is ready to re-introduce himself to his community and the world.
Recently, the young man published his first book, entitled “Americaine Dream,” while serv- ing his prison sentence. And, he has already begun working on his next publication.
Through his publishing company, Corporate 813 Publishing Company, his first rendition of a fictional novel uses Tampa as a backdrop.
In retrospect, Anthony sees that the life he was living consisting of expensive and exotic cars, exclu- sive jewelry, and the fame that ‘came with a hustler’s game, resulted in negative attention and repeated state level incarceration,” he said.
Anthony said he has re-invented himself “from a drug dealer who served nearly a decade in a federal prison to a positive role model. I realized I had to make a change and it was now or never. I had to take action and change my own life. Mistakes don’t de- fine who we are, rather how we live,” he said, vali- dating his transformation.
Having nurtured a love of writing, Anthony kept his craft sharp working as a school tutor. He also wrote poetry, grants, and business proposals for other inmates.
At the halfway point of his sentence, Anthony became cellmates with an aspiring author. After giv-
SHANE ANTHONY ... Recently published “Americaine Dream”
ing much advice and assistance to his cellmate, An- thony realized that, he too, could become an au- thor. And that was when he decided to launch his own publishing company.
Anthony’s story focuses on Paso, young man who’s father died at the hands of police and whose mother became a crack addict, Paso suddenly finds himself having to grow up in a world full of pitfalls and traps. But, at the last minute, he stops being a victim and becomes a victor, taking charge of his life and his destiny.
A Tampa native, Anthony is the son of Ms. Gloria McNair and was raised in Progress Village.
The book is available on Amazon.com.
BOOK COVER
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