Boss Lady: A Novel [Mass Market Paperback]

Omar Tyree (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 31, 2030

Omar Tyree's Tracy Ellison, the original "Flyy Girl," returns to Philadelphia to make the movie of her life and this time, she's in charge.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Tracy Ellison Grant is in charge again in Tyree's latest Flyy Girl novel (after For the Love of Money and Flyy Girl), this time as mentor to her go-getter younger cousin, Vanessa Tracy Smith, who narrates this glitzy urban story about the payoff of hard work. Tracy Grant rose to fame earlier with her autobiography Flyy Girl, which she parlayed into a booming career as a screenwriter, actress and producer. Now, an adoring and ambitious 16-year-old Vanessa moves from North Philly to L.A., and the novel tracks her three-year meteoric rise as Tracy's personal assistant and protégée to Hollywood powerbroker. Vanessa quickly learns the Hollywood game and takes the initiative to create a Flyy Girl franchise, including a sassy clothing line, while also pushing her older cousin to turn her autobiography into a movie. Tracy, Vanessa and friends hit the road to launch the Flyy Girl brand and conduct nationwide Flyy girl movie casting calls, a coming-of-age trip that teaches Vanessa important lessons in life and business. Snappy dialogue and the inspirational plot make this a readable story, but the plot drifts along without a climax—except for the evening a 20-year-old Vanessa loses her virginity. Devotees of the Flyy Girl trilogy will enjoy this addendum. (July)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Since Flyy Girl was first published, in 1996, Tracy Ellison has matured from a 17-year-old Philadelphia boy-crazy teenager to a successful celebrity living large in superficial Hollywood. This new novel is told by Vanessa, Tracy's younger cousin. After an unfortunate incident between Vanessa and her mother, Vanessa goes to Los Angeles to spend the summer with her older cousin, Tracy. Vanessa has the same no-nonsense, in-your-face attitude that Tracy displayed in her youth. After making L.A. her home, Vanessa earns her cousin's trust and becomes Tracy's personal assistant and confidant. Vanessa is fanatical about branding the Flyy Girl name into an international marketing blitz. Her enthusiasm and commitment impress Tracy enough to give the idea a chance. Vanessa and four of her girlfriends accompany Tracy to Philly for a Flyy Girl casting call. The huge turnout energizes the group and convinces Vanessa that the project must move forward. Tracy confides some of her future plans, which only fuel Vanessa's drive and determination. Lillian Lewis
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback
• Publisher: Pocket Star (December 31, 2030)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416547215
• ISBN-13: 978-1416547211
• Average Customer Review: 2.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (50 customer reviews)

More About the Author

Omar Tyree is a New York Times bestselling author, entrepreneur, journalist, screenwriter, and public speaker. A renowned business figure, he has published seventeen books, and his articles have been published in the Washington Post, Essence, Upscale, and the Washington Times.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

47 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Movie Proposal, July 4, 2005

By 

Shamontiel L. Vaughn "Message from Montie" (Chicago) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Boss Lady: A Novel (Hardcover)

I thought I was going to be reading a novel, but this is basically a movie proposal. It seems like the whole book is based on Vanessa learning how to make a movie and Tracy teaching her. There were long sections about how to get extras and who would be the director, etc. I don't care. I wanted to read about the people, not the movie business. Then came the sections about the Flyy Girl apparel and how to market that. I also didn't appreciate the part about Maya Angelou's poetry in "Poetic Justice" not working. Incorrect! It complimented the movie and it definitely worked. But the poetry in this book DID not. Then there were all these plugs on Flyy Girl. I felt like I was reading a long flyer/business proposal and I already know how to write BOTH. To top it all off, I'm already annoyed when writers write about writers, but this book had the audacity to not only have a writer talking about writers, but include HIMSELF in the book. There was a section when they talked about Omar Tyree's personality, him coming to interview Tracy, bunches of scenes complimenting how great the book was, and plugs on him winning an award. If I wanted to read about him, I'd get on his website. I really like Omar Tyree's writing, but I don't know what's going on with him lately. His books as the Urban Griot do too much overexplaining and it's carrying over into this book as well. One of my girls told me about the book because she knew how much I liked this author and her comment was "How many Flyy Girl books can you do?" I tried to give it a chance and I'm agreeing with her. He needed to let this one die with the sequel. After page 128, I was bored and put it up for sale. If he wasn't feeling himself so hard, I might have finished but I can only listen to someone compliment themselves on how great they are for so long. Jason and Shamor were pretty interesting, but their characters were sprinkled out too much for me to really get into them enough to ignore all the pat-on-the-back-Omar(Tracy)-Tyree-is-great plugs.

Note: I actually tried to give this book a second chance and read to page 244. I was completely aggravated when the author chose a character to describe to another character how everyone's personalities were. Seriously, Tyree, you have GOT to let your readers participate somehow in this book. You can't force us into loving the clothing line, the movie, Tracey, and make us believe every single belief you have about each character too. I also find it rather odd that Vanessa is hating SO HARD on Jason...that's on some incest right there.

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Omar Tyree Hits Rock Bottom!!!, July 7, 2005

By 

Gift Card Recipient "Straight - No Chaser!!" (Maryland, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Boss Lady: A Novel (Hardcover)

This is my first time writing a review for a novel, but I felt compelled to. Has Omar Tyree hit rock bottom? There was no action in this book, nothing to keep me turning the page. Basically it was boring, and I just couldn't finish it. I had to move on to someone who has something to say!

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Thank God for the Brooklyn Public Library..., July 11, 2005

By 

BklynBedSty (Brooklyn, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Boss Lady: A Novel (Hardcover)

...because I did not have to spend any money on this! I am not sure what has happened to Mr. Tyree, but this book was a MONSTER to get through! In fact, it was so bad, that I am returning it today, with more that half of the 'story' left.

Peep game...leave this one alone!!