A true story of an original girlfella who broke all the rules, survived federal prison, and found grace along the way.
"...Denise has a style of polished rawness that finds the humor within the darkness.
Dealing doesn't pull anything from the bottom of the deck."
--Charlie Sheen
To meet Denise Trigo-Fleming today is to meet an accomplished and savvy professional with a happy family, leading a quiet and enviable Hollywood life. She is devoted to her teenagers and active in their everyday moments, manages publicity campaigns for A-list clients, is an executive producer, and spends the summers traveling with her close-knit family. But when she was her kids' age, Denise was a major player--a teenpin--in the Southern California drug trade.
Denise grew up in a beachside Orange County town, partying with Hollywood icons while trying to balance loyalty, rebellion, and survival. Her fast-paced life came to a crashing halt during a life-altering federal drug bust in Hawaii that sent Denise to prison for the rest of her twenties and early thirties.
With the perspective of motherhood, and her work in the criminal justice system, she deals with the lessons of her past and shares the wisdom she has gained along the way. Denise's memoir is part Orange Is the New Black, part How to Murder Your Life, and part The Many Lives of Mama Love. In Dealing, Denise takes us inside the heart of a teenage girl coming of age amid an electric cultural renaissance, living a double life--one within a loving Italian family, and another in an underground world as a teenage criminal mastermind, all colored by the nostalgia of her youth.
Illuminated in dazzling 1980s neon, Dealing is about the choices, circumstances, and betrayals that led to Denise's seven-year prison sentence, as well as her struggle for redemption on the other side.
About the Author :
Denise Trigo-Fleming is a California native, prison reform advocate, media producer, and CEO of the public relations and marketing firm Look Los Angeles. She also owns Love Me Nutrition, a supplement company that promotes wellness and gives back to the community. Denise resides in the Hollywood Hills with her husband, talent manager Dave Fleming, and their two children, Radley and Paloma. She enjoys traveling and cooking recipes that transport her to summer days spent on the coast of Italy with her family. Dealing is her first book.
Denise Trigo-Fleming is a California native, prison reform advocate, media producer, and CEO of the public relations and marketing firm Look Los Angeles. She also owns Love Me Nutrition, a supplement company that promotes wellness and gives back to the community. Denise resides in the Hollywood Hills with her husband, talent manager Dave Fleming, and their two children, Radley and Paloma. She enjoys traveling and cooking recipes that transport her to summer days spent on the coast of Italy with her family. Dealing is her first book.
Review :
"Dealing is about learning the hard lessons of life, but more than that, it's a story of redemption, faith, and rising stronger than before. It's for anyone who's been broken, thrown away, then reminded by God that they still matter. Denise and I come from different paths, but we've faced similar struggles and are now in a place to give back, mentoring others, proving that your past doesn't define your future. Through her writing, Denise brings this journey to life in a powerful, unforgettable way. She's a real one, and I feel truly blessed to know her. God is so good."
-- "Jeremy Meeks"
"Denise breaks bad and comes clean and you'll never love her any less. In her distinct Cali, cool girl voice, Denise tells it like it is and had me feeling like I was sitting shotgun next to my ride-or-die on the west coast adventure of a lifetime. With every wrong turn I was yelling, 'Nooo, don't do it!' but holding tight, ready to face the consequences alongside her, knowing Denise would do the same."
-- "Tara Herrmann, writer and producer of Orange Is the New Black and Glow"
"Denise Fleming's Dealing is the real deal. Told in a bold narrative, she brings alive the 80s in a way that you feel like you're there. The music, the movies, and the mischief! What an incredible life story always reflecting back to her loving family and unpeeling the layers to her unique tale. Fleming describes her life experience with much candor and honesty...this book is raw and so reflective. I am so impressed with what Fleming has done with her life. An inspirational and keepsake story for readers who are looking for an incredibly cool book."
-- "Victoria Gotti"
"It is a very poignant and important cautionary tale. It's full of heart, soul, remorse, and courage...All Denise!"
-- "Stephanie and Chuck Roven, Atlas Entertainment"
"Man, Dealing hit me hard. Denise tells it straight--owns it, no excuses. She never quits, proving that no matter how rough the streets or the prison walls get, you can turn your life around and make something good out of it. That's the heart of a true warrior. And damn, she makes it look good. Proud of you, mi hermana."
-- "Danny Trejo"
"Thank you, Denise, for sharing your story. We see in you that it's undeniable that you always have the power to choose yourself, even when you're at your lowest point."
-- "Jennie Garth"
"The pages turn themselves as Fleming takes us into the belly of the cocaine beast, with a resting pulse in the mid 2000s. Surprisingly, our paths never crossed during our mutual debouched heydays, and I'm torn between wishing they had--and being really fukken grateful they never did. Denise has a style of polished rawness that finds the humor within the darkness.
Dealing doesn't pull anything from the bottom of the deck."
-- "Charlie Sheen"
"We were high-class hustlers and could've met in a million fancy joints but instead our stars aligned in The Joint. When Denise arrived at the prison camp, it was like drinking water from a fresh running brook on a sweltering day. Unlike 99 percent of autobiographies, Denise backs it up. Few women have what it takes to go blindly into the abyss."
-- "Heidi Fleiss"
"Whoa, what a ride! Denise's Dealing proves that mistakes don't define you. It's not how many times you get knocked down, it's how you get back up. She gives back, inspires others, and reminds us all to never lose sight of who we are. It's real, powerful, and full of heart, just like my lil' homie, Denise."
-- "Mario Lopez"
