Platinum: A Novel

You only think you want this life . . .

Alex Maxwell is planning her wedding to up-and coming music artist Birdie, ghostwriting video vixen Cleopatra Wright''s memoir, and she''s just been assigned the story of the year by her editor in chief at a major music industry magazine--an article about the glamorous lives of women married to platinum-selling hip-hop artists. Alex has been interviewing celebrities and hangers-on long enough to know all that glitters isn''t gold, so she''s determined to get the real scoop. Still, it''s not going to be easy to get past the wives'' gilded cages. . .

Beth Saddlebrook, wife of aging rapper Z. They have three beautiful boys and a seemingly endless supply of cash. But Beth spends her days trying to keep Z off drugs and fielding calls from women hollering she''s just a "small-town white bitch" and claiming to be carrying Z''s baby. Only one person understands what she''s going through. . .

Kipenzi Hill, multiplatinum-selling R&B artist and Beth''s best friend. Her relationship with rap star and record label president Jake is an open secret in the industry. She knows Jake loves her, but he''d rather break up than publicly acknowledge it. Now she has learned that the newest (and much younger) R&B sensation Bunny has been signed to Jake''s label.

Josephine Bennett, wife to Jamaican singer and berproducer Ras Bennett. Josephine doesn''t just want to spend her husband''s money, she wants to contribute. Her fashion company is finally starting to get media attention when her husband admits to something she''s suspected all along--he''s fallen in love with another woman.

Cleopatra Wright, every man''s dream girl, a video vixen with a story to tell and scores to settle. Cleo''s got that thing no one can put a finger on and no man (or woman) can resist. Some would call her evil or misguided or both, but Cleo always moves with a purpose and she''ll stop at nothing to get what she wants. . .

Alex realizes she may have more in common with these women than she''d like. What if this is a glimpse of how her life will be if Birdie finally gets signed to a major label? Stuck between her loyalty to this newfound sisterhood and her obligation to write the truth, Alex is forced to rethink everything she knows about work, friendship, and love.

Aliya S. King is an award-winning journalist and the author of Platinum. She is the coauthor of Original Gangster and the New York Times bestseller Keep the Faith. Her work has appeared in Vibe, Giant, Uptown, Essence, King, Ms., Us Weekly, and Teen People, among others. Please visit her at AliyaSKing.com.