Draft:Takerra Allen
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Comment: See also WP:NAUTHOR. S0091 (talk) 15:35, 21 September 2026 (UTC)
Takerra Allen | |
|---|---|
| Born | Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Occupations | Author, filmmaker |
| Father | William "Billy" Garland |
| Relatives | Tupac Shakur (paternal half-brother) |
Takerra Allen is an American author, filmmaker, and entertainment entrepreneur. She is known for writing African-American contemporary fiction, urban fiction, and romance novels. Her published works include the Thicker Than Water series, Heaven's Hell, Restricted, There's Power in the V, Seasons of Fidelity, Last Stop from Innocence, and the Parachutes series.[1]
Allen is the paternal half-sister of American rapper Tupac Shakur. She and Shakur shared the same biological father, William "Billy" Garland, a former member of the Black Panther Party.[2][3]
Early life and family
[edit]Allen was born in Jersey City, New Jersey. She later resided in Somerset, New Jersey, according to her author biography published by Kensington Books.[2]
Allen's father is William "Billy" Garland, a former member of the Black Panther Party and the biological father of rapper Tupac Shakur.[2][4]
William "Billy" Garland
[edit]William "Billy" Garland is an American former member of the Black Panther Party and the biological father of both Takerra Allen and rapper Tupac Shakur. Garland was associated with the Black Panther Party's Jersey City branch during the late 1960s and met Tupac's mother, Afeni Shakur, during that period.[4]
Garland was separated from Tupac's mother during Tupac's childhood and was largely absent from Tupac's life for a period of years. Garland later reconnected with Tupac in the 1990s. A DNA test conducted during litigation concerning Tupac's estate subsequently confirmed Garland's biological paternity.[4]
Relationship with Tupac Shakur
[edit]Allen is Tupac Shakur's younger paternal half-sister. They shared the same biological father, William "Billy" Garland.[3]
In a 2011 interview with XXL, Allen discussed her relationship with Shakur and her memories of learning that he was her brother. She said that she first became aware of their relationship while watching promotional material for the 1992 film Juice, in which Shakur appeared.[3]
Allen said that she spoke with Shakur by telephone while he was incarcerated in New York in 1995. She also said that the two exchanged letters. Allen did not meet Shakur in person before his death in September 1996.[3]
Writing career
[edit]Allen began writing at a young age and went on to publish novels in the African-American contemporary, urban fiction, and romance genres.[1]
She became a published author with Kensington Books, which acquired the Thicker Than Water series for national distribution through its Dafina imprint.[1][2]
Allen's novel Heaven's Hell was nominated for an African-American Literary Award, according to her official biography and author profiles.[1][5]
Thicker Than Water series
[edit]The Thicker Than Water series is an urban fiction series by Allen. It follows four young women whose relationships and personal lives intersect in New Jersey's fictionalized "Brick City." Kensington Books published the series nationally under its Dafina imprint.[1][6]
The series consists of three books:
- Thicker Than Water
- Still Thicker Than Water
- Thicker Than Water 3
Kensington describes the first novel as following four young women as they navigate relationships, friendship, and betrayal in New Jersey's Brick City.[6]
Still Thicker Than Water continues the stories of the characters from the first novel and moves the setting between New Jersey, Atlanta, and Jamaica.[7]
Other books
[edit]Allen's official bibliography includes the following works and series:[1]
- Heaven's Hell
- Restricted series
- There's Power in the V series
- The Lonely Pole series
- Devout series
- An Affair in Munthill
- Seasons of Fidelity series
- Last Stop from Innocence
- Needful Noor series
- Parachutes series
The Parachutes series consists of three books. Allen's official website also lists Restricted, There's Power in the V, The Lonely Pole, Devout, Seasons of Fidelity, and Needful Noor as series.[1]
Film work
[edit]Allen and her business partner Sandra Mobley developed Allen's novel Heaven's Hell into an independent film. Allen served as a screenwriter and director on the project and executive produced the film through their entertainment company, ASP Films.[1][5]
Personal life
[edit]Allen is a New Jersey native and has described living in New Jersey with her family. Her official biography states that she lives with her husband and daughter.[1]
Bibliography
[edit]Series
[edit]- Thicker Than Water
- Restricted
- There's Power in the V
- The Lonely Pole
- Devout
- Seasons of Fidelity
- Needful Noor
- Parachutes
Other works
[edit]- Heaven's Hell
- An Affair in Munthill
- Last Stop from Innocence
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Takerra Allen". Takerra Allen. Retrieved 21 September 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 "Takerra Allen". Kensington Books. Retrieved 21 September 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 "Tupac Month: Tupac's Sister, Takerra Allen, Shares Stories of Her Brother". XXL. 24 August 2011. Retrieved 21 September 2026.
- 1 2 3 "True Blood: Billy Garland, Tupac's Father, Speaks". XXL. 10 September 2012. Retrieved 21 September 2026.
- 1 2 "Takerra Allen". BookSparks. 30 April 2021. Retrieved 21 September 2026.
- 1 2 "Thicker Than Water". Kensington Books. Retrieved 21 September 2026.
- ↑ "Still Thicker Than Water". Kensington Books. Retrieved 21 September 2026.
External links
[edit]- Official website
- Takerra Allen at Kensington Books
- Takerra Allen at BookSparks
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