Ashley Jaquavis

Ashley & JaQuavis is the collaborative pen name for American authors Ashley Antoinette and JaQuavis Coleman. They achieved recognition as the youngest African-American co-authors to appear on The New York Times Best Seller list on two separate occasions. Their most recognized work is the "Cartel" series, which achieved bestseller status in 2009 and 2010. The duo's writing is heavily influenced by their upbringing in Flint, Michigan, a city they describe as impoverished. They began their publishing journey with "Dirty Money," a manuscript that secured them a deal with a street lit imprint at Kensington Publishing. Despite early struggles, including Coleman continuing to sell drugs while attending university, they became prolific, releasing multiple books annually and establishing their own publishing company, the Official Writers League. Their work has garnered awards and nominations, and Antoinette has signed deals for television adaptations. Some of their books have faced bans in prisons due to explicit content or themes of criminal activity. Beyond writing, Coleman has also ventured into film production and directing.

Ashley Antoinette Snell, born in 1985, and JaQuavis Coleman, born around 1984, both hail from Flint, Michigan. Coleman's childhood involved foster care after being removed from his mother's home at age eight, and he eventually graduated from Flint Central High School, while Antoinette graduated from Hamady High School. Their formative years were marked by experiences in an impoverished environment, with Coleman beginning to sell cocaine at age 12. The couple met under unusual circumstances involving an attempted drug bust where Coleman, then 16, realized he was dealing with an undercover officer. Antoinette intervened by retrieving the drugs before the police could find them, solidifying their connection. Both were avid readers, and their shared passion for literature quickly deepened their bond. Antoinette experienced a difficult ectopic pregnancy early in their relationship, which led to a period of depression. Coleman's encouragement to write led to their first novel, "Dirty Money."

At the age of 18, Ashley & JaQuavis secured their first publishing contract for their manuscript "Dirty Money" with Carl Weber's imprint at Kensington Publishing, a publisher specializing in street literature. This success led them to leave Ferris State University, where they had briefly attended, and relocate to New York to focus on their writing careers. Their books are deeply rooted in their personal experiences and the environment of Flint, Michigan. Initially, they distributed advance copies of their work from their car. They quickly rose to prominence within the street lit genre, publishing an average of four to five books per year. Their "Cartel" series gained significant traction, with installments appearing on The New York Times Best Seller list in 2009 and 2010, and later in 2012 with "Diamonds Are Forever." This success led to their inclusion in Ebony's Power 100 list in 2012. They have received numerous award nominations and wins from organizations like the African Americans on the Move Book Club (AAMBC) and Black Girls Who Write (BGWW), recognizing their contributions to urban literature. In 2013, they established the Official Writers League to support other authors.

In addition to their prolific writing careers, JaQuavis Coleman has expanded into film production and direction. He directed "Hard 6ix" in 2012, a film adaptation of their novel "Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang." His directorial work also includes "White House: The Movie" (2015), based on his novel "The White House," and in 2021, he served as executive producer, writer, and director for the film "Everything is Both." Coleman has also been involved in television development with major networks like HBO, Warner Bros, and NBC Universal. Ashley Antoinette has also pursued television projects, signing a contract with Viacom to write novelas for the show "Single Ladies" on VH1. The couple's son, Quaye, born in 2010, has also co-authored a book with Antoinette, "The Girl Behind the Wall," published in 2020. Their "Cartel" film rights were sold to Cash Money Content in 2012. The couple's personal life includes raising their son, with their residences shifting from Manhattan to the Detroit area over the years.