" It's [my] true life, brutally honest journey. I know it will help a lot of people. "
Aside from her community activism and her career as a violence interrupter, Bianca is also an award winning author. On October 1, 2018, Bianca released her book, "In Deep, How I Survived Gangs, Heroin, and Prison to Become A Chicago Violence Interrupter".
As a testament to Its powerful, real life, inspirational content, "In Deep" was named Book of the Year in 2019 by the Chicago Writers Association for Best Traditional Nonfiction.
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In Deep: How I Survived Gangs, Heroin, And Prison To Become A Chicago Violence Interrupter , is a raw, real, true life look into the life experiences of Angalia Bianca as she lived a life of gangs, drugs, violence, and numerous prison sentences growing up on the west side of Chicago. After being released in 2011, instead of returning to the streets, Bianca sought help. In only 8 months of being home from prison, Bianca landed a job as a violence interrupter for CeaseFire and has dedicated her life to helping those in the same streets that held her captive for so long and streets like it all over the world.
Angalia Bianca and co-author, Linda Beckstrom, in the Uptown neighborhood in Chicago. One of Bianca's old stomping grounds.
It took Bianca and co-author, Linda Beckstrom, fourteen months to finish the manuscript for the book. As part of their research they went back to the actual city streets and abandoned buildings that Bianca use to call home. Their goal was to tap into the real life realities of the stories that are told throughout the book. Bianca digs deep to relive very traumatic, deep, and personal accounts of her former life.
After many months of research and painful reflection, "In Deep" was published by the Chicago Review Press and released on October 1, 2018. Since It's release, the manuscript has sold thousands of copies all over the world, won countless awards, and received numerous reviews on the powerful content and rawness within the pages.
Bianca and Besckstrom on one of their many book tours promoting "In Deep".
International rap recording artist, Kevin Gates (shown here) and wife, Dreka Gates (not shown) wrote the forward to "In Deep". Both are huge supporters of Bianca.
Bianca's book has resonated with people from all walks of life. She's even managed to land a few hip hop celebrity endorsements, like from Chicago rapper Vic Mensa, who wrote a raving review about the book. Perhaps her most notable supporters are International recording artist Kevin Gates, and his wife Dreka Gates. They both wrote the forward to "In Deep". As a result, Bianca and the couple have formed a lasting friendship and Bianca is often seen with exclusive access back stage at several of Kevin's concerts.
Bianca bares the naked truth about her life and the many things she saw and experienced living on the streets of Chicago. Her story has touched thousands of readers around the world and speaks to the power of hope and redemption.
In Deep reveals the deepest, darkest, most authentic parts of Bianca. She bares it all, and in being true to form, "keeps it real", about the things that she had to endure to survive, while being in addiction and heavy into the gang lifestyle. Her real life experiences has captured the hearts and minds of all those who have dared to dive deep into a world that the Chicago streets has to offer.
Bianca plans to donate a portion of her books’ proceeds to prisons in hopes of inspiring those who struggled with harmful lifestyles.
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