Ikish Mullens is an author, entrepreneur, and radio personality from Newark, NJ with a unique story to tell.

Taking his experiences from growing up in Newark, and the experiences of people around him, Ikish crafts a compelling story that not only entertains the reader, but also educates them about the mean streets of Newark.

Taking a note from the authors that came before him, Ikish takes his approach as a street novel writer in a new and different direction. Ikish's approach to "Mind Games: A Brick City Story" is written more like a action movie than a typical fiction novel.

With a great cast of characters, character dialogue, and story plots, Ikish lays out the scenes for mind to imagine and clearly see. Causing the reader to feel as if they're apart of the story the further they continue to read.

And with his debut novel (Mind Games: A Brick City Story), through M.Y.C.A. Publishing, Ikish tells the story of Desmond Jones, who's deeply involved with Newark's criminal world, and the choices he needs to make to change his life around for the better before it's too late.

And when Ikish isn't penning his next title, he's busy running his publishing company, or working as the production manger/producer for Celebrity Blvd w/ Glam & Reg Hollywood on the New 1055 The Heat.

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Mind Games: A Brick City Story by Ikish Mullens

Follow the life of a small time hustler, known in the streets as Des, who inherits millions after the death of his estranged father Raymond Jones, and plans to use the money to start a new life.

But as they say, “With more money comes more problems.” And Des had gained plenty of it.

Sworn to secrecy about his inheritance by his grandmother Gwen, Des decides to test his crew’s loyalty, only to open a box that brings nothing but chaos to the lives of everyone around him.

With outside forces plotting his downfall, Des must learn the hard way about the power of GREED, LOYALTY, and BLOOD.

SEX…DRUGS…LOVE…LIES…SECRETS…and BETRAYAL are just a few things Des encounters on his road to redemption.

Remember to: “Keep Your Enemies Close, and Your Friends Even Closer.”

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Mind Games: A Brick City Story (Excerpt Chapter)

Today should have been the saddest day of Des’ (Desmond Jones) life. But how could he be sad knowing that he’d just inherited millions due to his father’s untimely death. Not to mention the fact Des wouldn’t have shed a tear for him anyway; since he was never apart of his life to begin with. Because all of Des’ life, he was led to believe that his father was dead. But here now today, Des learns that the man known as his father was very much alive.

As a child, Des never knew his father’s name. He never knew what he looked like, nor did he have any clue as to what his father did for a living. Growing up, Des’ mother never spoke a word of his father. Whenever Des would ask her questions about him, she would pretend as if he’d never said a word; as if it was a sin to speak of him.

But like they say: “What’s done in the dark, will soon come to light.” Because God has his ways of revealing all things, no matter how much you try to hide it, or how much it may hurt, the truth must always be told.

Silently standing in the doorway, Des could see his father resting in his casket. Unable to completely enter the room, Des turns around to walk away. As Des is leaving, he mistakenly bumps into an elderly woman, nearly knocking her to the ground.

“Excuse me…I didn’t see you there,” Des said as he helped the elderly woman to maintain her balance.

Getting herself together, the elderly woman took a step closer to Des. Adjusting her glasses, to get a clearer view of him, she blurts, “Oh my…I don’t believe it…I’ve heard the rumors…but this...this confirms it.”

“Confirms what?” Des wonders to hisself.

“I’m so sorry to hear about your father.” The elderly woman continued. “He was a good man…A good honorable man, who tried his best to do what was right for the community. You know…there aren’t that many good men like him left in this world. He was truly one of a kind.”

“Sorry?” Des wondered to himself, “What do you have to be sorry for? It wasn’t like you killed the sorry bastard. Besides…I didn’t even know him…as a matter of fact, I don’t know you either.”

Snapping back to reality, Des finally says, “I’m sorry…but I think you have me confused with someone else.”

“No…No…I have the right one,” She assured him. “Just look at you…looking like Ray spit you out hisself. It’s no way in the world he could have denied the fact that you were his son. The only thing I can’t understand is why he kept you a secret for all these years.”

“You and me both,” he thought.

“Well it was nice meeting you, but I have to be going now. But you take care of yourself now, you hear. And don’t let the Devil get a hold of your soul. Because too many of you youngings now a days are giving your lives over to him; and I doubt very much that your father would want that type of life for you. You should live by his example and follow the path he traveled.”

“Thank you, I will.” Des lies, trying to hurry the elderly woman along.

“Oh excuse me my dear…I see some folks that I haven’t seen in years…but I’ll be seeing you around.”

Des cracks a half-ass smile as the elderly woman made her way across the funeral home. Looking over his left shoulder; Des could see his father’s lifeless body lying dormant within his casket. Looking like he's finally at peace. For years Des imagined how his father might’ve looked. But never did he think his first and last time ever getting to see him would be the day he’d be laying him to rest.

Standing alone in the entrance of the sanctuary, Des tried to muster the nerve to approach Ray’s casket. He wants to make peace with Ray for his past mistakes and forgive him for his sins. But just as Des began to approach Ray, he could feel his heart beat racing at an abnormal pace. His knees became wobbly and began to buckle beneath him. The palms of his hands began to sweat and his throat became dry.

“Desmond…Is everything alright sugar?” A woman’s voice sounds from behind him, breaking Des from his trance.

Listening to the sound of the voice, Des played it over in his head, trying to figure out where he’d heard the voice before. But nothing seemed to come to mind. Turning around slowly to face the mystery woman, Des stares at her. He’s unable to place the face, but she looks familiar to him.

“Hello! Is anyone home?” The woman asks him, waving her hand in his face, trying to get his attention. “You look like you’ve just seen a ghost.”

“Oh...No...No...No... I’m fine,” he lies.

“By the look in your eyes, I can tell you’re wondering how it is that I know your name?” She says, “It’s been years since we’ve last seen each other. And I must say; you haven’t changed one bit. Actually…you’ve grown to be quit a handsome young man. With many traits of your father,” She explains, causing him to blush. “Now see…There’s the smile I’ve missed all these years.”

Indeed, Des was a handsome young man. He possessed all of the qualities a woman could ever as for in a man.

Maybe this is the reason why most men envied him. But unlike most pretty boys, Des wasn’t full of hisself. He never was one to let his reputation get the best of him, because his mother raised him to be a real man.

She taught him to never brag about his accomplishments, but to let those who witness his work spread the word for him. She also told him to never let popularity get the best of him, because self indulgence was the work of the Devil.

There’s an old saying that goes: “You can lose a lot of money chasing women, but you’ll never lose a lot of women chasing money.” And these are the words that Des chose to live by. Because with the will to grind in his blood, Des knew to put his business first, and let everything else fell where they may.

Over the years, there were a few young ladies who tried to trap Des. They were so caught up in his life style, that they’d come to him with all kinds of crazy stories just to keep him around. But there was this one young lady who tried to convince Des that she was pregnant. But he wasn’t buying it, because from the beginning, Des had his doubts about her claim. And since he knew the games trifling chicks from the hood played, he called her bluff and told her to get a DNA test to prove the baby was his.

And when the test results came back, it proved to him what he’d already known in his heart. The test results proved that Des wasn’t the father, and he was pleased with it, because he never wanted to have child out of wedlock. This was just one of the promises he’d made to himself a long time ago. Des said that he would only bare children and marry the woman he truly loved, because he only planned on doing it once.

“I see you still have that bright beautiful smile as always,” the woman says.

“Thank you,” Des replies, still trying to figure out who she is. “I’m sorry…but I didn’t catch your name.”

“I know…That’s because I didn’t throw it,” She playfully tells him, “But since you asked me so nicely, my name is Gwendolyn…Gwendolyn Jones, but my friends and close acquaintances call me Gwen…But you can call me Grandma.”

“Grandma?” Des gasps.

“Yes grandma…I’m your father’s mother,” Gwen explains. Reaching into her purse, Gwen removes a piece of paper, and passes it to Des.

“I have a grandmother?” Des says in disbelief.

“Of course you do…How else do you think you got here?”

“Oh no…It’s not that. I’m just shocked.” Des says. “I thought after my mother passed that I was the only one left.”

“Well now you don’t have to worry about being alone anymore,” Gwen tells him, “we have each other now.”

“I don’t know, you have to excuse me…All of this is just a little confusing to me right now,” Des confessed to her. “I grew up all of my life thinking Ray was dead. But after seeing him today, I don’t know what to believe anymore.”

“I know this is a lot for you to take in right now, but listen…That is the number and address to where I’ll be staying while I’m in town.” Gwen informed him, “And since you’re the sole heir to the Jones Dynasty, there are some things we’ll need to discuss before you can take over.”

“Is this a joke?” Des laughed listening to what Gwen had to say. “Do you really expect me to believe I’m the heir to some kind of Dynasty?” Des asked.

“Does it look as if I’m laughing to you Mr. Jones?” Gwen asked him with a stern look upon her face. “This isn’t a laughing matter. There’s a lot going on right now that you have no clue about. And your family’s legacy has been left up to you.”

“I hear you.”

“Don’t just hear me…Understand and listen to me carefully.” She commanded him. “Now that Ray is gone, there will be people plotting to come in and take his place. So you have to keep what I told you thus far to yourself. Don’t tell anyone about what we’ve discussed here today. It’ll be in your best interest, and the interest of this family, that no one knows who you really are.”

“Okay!”

“And I expect to see you at the address I’ve provided for you once the funeral’s over. Only then will we be at liberty to talk more freely instead of with restraint.”
“True.”

“Oh and Des...”

“Yes?”

“Welcome home.” Gwen hugs and kisses Des on the cheek before walking off to greet those who’ve come to pay their last respects to Ray.

Standing alone in the funeral home, Des thought about what his grandmother had just told him. Staring at the piece of paper she’d given him, he placed it into his jacket pocket and took one last look at Ray.

Looking around the funeral home, Des was amazed at how loved Ray was. He couldn’t believe how many people had come out to say good-bye to him.

Scanning the room, Des noticed a number of people he’d known for years in the streets showing their respects. But the thing that stuck out to him was the many political figures and law enforcement officers that filled the room. Seeing them there along side the Underworld’s elite made Des wonder a lot about the man Ray was. He wondered what kind of man could bring all these different people, from different walks of life, together under the same roof.

Checking the time on his watch, Des realized that it was getting late. After saying his final good-bye, Des took one last look at Ray, and left the funeral home for the night.