Fiction Fridays Summer Picks

2011-07-22T09:08:00.000-04:00

Synopsis

Three ordinary women are about to take one extraordinary step.
Twenty-two-year-old Skeeter has just returned home after graduating from Ole Miss. She may have a degree, but it is 1962, Mississippi, and her mother will not be happy till Skeeter has a ring on her finger. Skeeter would normally find solace with her beloved maid Constantine, the woman who raised her, but Constantine has disappeared and no one will tell Skeeter where she has gone.

Aibileen is a black maid, a wise, regal woman raising her seventeenth white child. Something has shifted inside her after the loss of her own son, who died while his bosses looked the other way. She is devoted to the little girl she looks after, though she knows both their hearts may be broken.

Minny, Aibileen's best friend, is short, fat, and perhaps the sassiest woman in Mississippi. She can cook like nobody's business, but she can't mind her tongue, so she's lost yet another job. Minny finally finds a position working for someone too new to town to know her reputation. But her new boss has secrets of her own.
Seemingly as different from one another as can be, these women will nonetheless come together for a clandestine project that will put them all at risk. And why? Because they are suffocating within the lines that define their town and their times. And sometimes lines are made to be crossed.

In pitch-perfect voices, Kathryn Stockett creates three extraordinary women whose determination to start a movement of their own forever changes a town, and the way women--mothers, daughters, caregivers, friends--view one another. A deeply moving novel filled with poignancy, humor, and hope, The Help is a timeless and universal story about the lines we abide by, and the ones we don't.

Say Amen Again, by ReShonda Tate Billingsley

2011-07-15T07:42:00.001-04:00

ReShonda Tate-Billingsley's
Latest Work: Say Amen, Again

#1 national bestselling author ReShonda Tate Billingsley takes off on an adventure of romance, passion, and just a touch of suspense . . . set in one of the world’s most exotic locales.

Say Amen, AgainThe spirited Houston congregation featured in ReShonda Tate Billingsley’s Let the Church Say Amen and Everybody Say Amen has a major scandal unfolding—and, as always, the outspoken Rachel Jackson Adams is at the heart of the drama.

As the First Lady of Zion Hill, Rachel is not only Pastor Lester Adams’ wife—she’s currently his eight-months-pregnant wife, who’s going toe-to-toe with Lester’s onetime mistress, congregant Mary Richardson, also pregnant. Her baby may or may not be Lester’s, but Mary’s doing all she can to win sympathy and turn her fellow churchgoers against Rachel—even threatening to blackmail Pastor Adams with a paternity agreement. After all, where can an unmarried mother-to-be go but to the Lord? Rachel has a few choice answers for exactlywhere Mary can go . . . but as these expectant moms do battle, hostilities erupt into a drama unlike anything Zion Hill has ever seen! Something has to give, and while Rachel contemplates everything from transferring her lifelong church membership to packing up and leaving Lester, she knows deep down God is calling her to forgiveness. Will the arrival of the new babies bring a new understanding? Or harden forever the anger that’s dividing them?

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2011-06-24T08:19:00.000-04:00

Selling My Soul Excerpt...

one

The door to Flight 1748 from Johannesburg, South Africa to Washington DC’s Reagan National airport opened, and for the first time in over two years, I stepped onto American soil. I couldn’t believe I was back.

What I really couldn’t believe was that I didn’t want to be back. After such a long time away, I was excited about seeing my mom, my best friend, Monica, and maybe my baby sister. Other than that, I wanted to go back to Africa.

I had actually thought about it. Come back, head up to Baltimore to spend a week or so with Moms, fly down to Atlanta to visit Monnie, and then book another flight back to what felt more like home to me than anywhere I had ever lived. And back to the man I had tried so hard not to fall in love with.

The two years I spent in Mozambique had changed my life forever. What started out as a mission trip became an incredible life journey, and I wasn’t sure I could go back to life as usual in the States.

Attention in the terminal, flight 1423 is now boarding for…

The first thing I noticed when I walked off the plane was how fast everyone moved. The tangible sense of frenzied, chaotic, hurriedness unnerved me. While I walked at what felt like a normal pace, it seemed like everyone raced by me, bumping into me, giving me dirty looks for getting in their way. It was weird to hear everyone speaking English. I had gotten used to hearing Portuguese and tribal dialects.

As I strolled toward customs, I couldn’t help but glance at the placard advertisements on the wall. Every ad seemed to have sexual undertones. What did a woman with long sexy, legs in a short, red dress with pouty lips have to do with life insurance? People whizzed by me dressed in designer suits that cost enough to feed an entire village for a month. They were talking on cell phones and not even taking the time to acknowledge the people they walked past. Rushing toward nothing.

After a long trek from the gate, I sat on the floor in customs, exhausted from more than thirty hours of travel. It was taking forever, but I was excited that in a few minutes, I would finally get to lay eyes on my mom. She waited just a few hundred yards away, on the other side of the stupid customs gate. Monica, unfortunately, was much further away. She had moved to Atlanta while I was gone and so I wouldn’t get to see her until one of us could plan a trip.

Two weeks before I left for Africa, Monica’s life fell apart. I remembered the day she called me, hysterical after catching her husband in bed with his best friend. His best male friend. She got depressed, as anyone would, and had to get away from her life so she moved to Atlanta. I couldn’t imagine my life here without her. We had been best friends for the past seven years and before I left for Africa, talked to each other daily and hung out every weekend.

When I finally cleared customs and came through the little gate, I scanned the crowd looking for my mom. For the last month, I dreamed about getting one of her hugs. My mother gave the kind of hugs that could melt all your problems away. The more nervous I got about the re-entry process – that culture shock of coming back to the States after having lived in another country and culture for two years – the more I knew my mom’s hugs would make everything all right.

My eyes finally landed on my baby sister, Tiffany. I looked all around her, but didn’t see my mother.

“Trina!” She smiled and waved at me. “Over here.”

I was glad to feel happy to see her. We didn’t always get along and rarely saw things eye to eye, but seeing her face comforted me.

“Tiffy!” I ran over and grabbed her. We hugged and I held on to her for a few seconds.

We pulled apart and I pinched her cheeks. “How’s my baby girl?”

She rolled her eyes at my calling her that. I couldn’t help it. All during her pregnancy with Tiffany, my mother told me she was bringing me home a baby girl to take care of. I guess she was trying to avoid sibling rivalry or something. It worked. I was the devoted big sister that had always taken care of my baby sister. Me and mom probably spoiled her too much, because now she was a grown adult, thirty years old, and still thought she should be taken care of.

“Look at you, girl.” Tiffany studied me from head to toe. I was wearing a classic Mozambiquan capelanaskirt tied around my waist, a T-shirt, and sandals. She studied my hair. Of course I couldn’t be bothered with perming my hair while I was in Africa. After being there six months, I cut off the damaged, straight ends and let it go natural. Tiffany stuck her fingers in my Afro. “I guess they ain’t got no perm or pressing combs in Africa, huh?” She looked down at my unshaven legs. “I guess they ain’t got no razors either.”

I had to laugh and hugged her again.

Tiffany was her usual fashionable self. She’d had an obsession with clothes, make-up, and hair since she was a teenager. She had chopped off all her hair and wore a short, spiky cut that looked frozen into sharp, geometrical points with some kind of shiny varnish. She sported flared jeans with high heels and a red, cleavage-bearing top. At 5’9’’, she stood only two inches shorter than me and looked model perfect in whatever clothes she put on. It amazed me that she was always broke, but always looked like a million bucks.

“Where’s Moms? She in the car?”

“She couldn’t make it.” Tiffany glanced downward and to the right, a gesture which surfaced when she lied or was guilty about something. Which unfortunately happened quite often. “She’s a little sick and stayed home. I’m gonna drive you up there later.”

“A little sick? What do you mean?” I couldn’t imagine any kind of sickness keeping Moms from greeting me at the airport after not seeing me for so long. Every time I had talked to her over the past month, that’s all she talked about. How she couldn’t wait to see me the second I stepped off the plane.

“Just a little sick.” Tiffany’s eyes did the down and to the right routine and I got worried. If Moms was sick enough not to meet me and Tiffany was lying, something had to be wrong.

“Tiffy, don’t play with me. What’s going on?”

“Just come on, girl. We’ll see her in a little while.” Tiffany grabbed one of my huge suitcases and walked ahead of me toward the exit. I wasn’t gonna press her because whenever she was evasive about something and I kept questioning her, we ended up in an argument. It was usually about her owing me money, or something stupid she did with some guy, or

some bad life decision she had made. What could she possibly be keeping from me about Moms?

She turned around to look at me. “Why is this bag so light?” She lifted it in the air with ease.

“I gave everything away before I left. I only brought back a few things I bought over there for you and Moms, and a couple of souvenirs for me.”

She looked at me like I was crazy. “You gave all your clothes away? Why?” She looked me up and down. “You’ll gain your weight back in a few weeks. Then you gon’ be mad that you left all them clothes over there.” She continued on ahead of me, mumbling under her breath, “Went over to Africa and lost her mind…giving all them clothes away. If you wanted to give clothes away, you could have brought them back and gave them to me.”

I shook my head, not even caring to explain that unlike her – with her endless wardrobe of high fashion – I had left my clothes with people who barely had anything.

“Tiffy, slow down.” The difficulty of maneuvering through the thronging crowd made me a little dizzy. The air here even felt different.

“Sorry, girl.” When we got closer to the entrance, she stood my bag next to me and said, “Why don’t you wait here and I’ll go get the car?”

I nodded and watched her model walk, sashaying her hips toward the door. She turned back and looked at me, biting her lip. “I forgot to tell you. I’ve been driving your car for a while.”

I let out a deep breath. “What happened and how long is a while?”

Her eyes flickered down and to the right.

“Never mind. Just go get it.”

I couldn’t believe how quickly tension crept back into my shoulders. I had been warned that after about a week or so of being back, I would start to feel the stress of life in America, but I had only been back fifteen minutes and my peace was draining by the second.

Undoubtedly, Tiffany’s car had been repossessed and she was driving mine. Hopefully it hadn’t been too long because Tiffany didn’t believe in car maintenance. Oil changes, tire rotation, spark plugs, all that necessary stuff? Tiffany must have thought cars ran on magic. Every car that she had ever owned had either been repossessed or had died on the side of the road from lack of maintenance. I could only pray that she hadn’t been driving my car so long that her neglect had damaged it.

While I waited for her, I glanced at a newsstand filled with fashion magazines, celebrity gossip rags, and sports magazines. Everything seemed so trivial and superficial. Where was the real news about the millions of AIDs-orphaned children all over Africa, the genocide in Darfur, and kids getting their arms chopped off for blood diamonds in Senegal? Who in the world was Rihanna and why did she seem to be so important?

My eyes fell on The Washington Times. My heart fell as I read the large front-page headline. “Church Sex Scandal.” Americans only cared about gossip and drama. I hated it. Especially when it involved the church.

I glanced down at the picture of two men in handcuffs, being led away by policemen. One guy had turned his head to shield his face but the other had been captured dead on.

I gasped. It was the head deacon at Love and Faith Christian Center, the church I had gotten saved at and the church that Monica had been a member of before she moved to Atlanta. Her husband, Kevin, had been the minister of music there for years, but after everything that happened with them, he had moved to Atlanta about a year after she went.

I’d had limited phone and internet access while in my remote little village in Mozambique, but from the little Monica had told me, Kevin had gotten involved in a ministry in Atlanta that helped people get delivered from homosexuality and their marriage had been restored. Before going to Africa, that might have sounded strange and honestly unbelievable to me. But after seeing miracles there like blind people seeing, deaf people hearing and dead people coming back to life, I knew anything was possible with God.

I pulled out some money to purchase the newspaper so I could get a better idea of what was going on. I scanned the article. The head deacon at Love and Faith and the pastor of their daughter church in Alexandria, Virginia had been arrested the day before. The men were accused of molesting little boys in the church for as long as twenty years. I remembered Monica telling me that Kevin had been molested at the church when he was ten years old. I was sure that it had been by one of those men. The article said the arrest came after the ministry council governing the churches received a letter from a man who had been molested there as a child. He had finally spoken out after God had begun taking him through a healing process.

Monica had told me that as part of his therapy, Kevin had mailed a letter to the Bishop’s council overseeing Love and Faith Christian Center. In spite of his fears that his celebrity status as a gospel artist would be affected by the admission, he couldn’t stand the thought of any more boys being molested. He felt guilty that he had kept the secret for so long. I was glad they kept the source of the letter confidential in the article. Monica would die if the truth about Kevin’s past life got out.

I read the article further. Since the ministry council had begun their investigation, they discovered that several boys at Love and Faith DC and Alexandria had been molested. They expected that as the investigation continued, more would come forward.

My stomach churned. Twenty years? How had they gotten away with it that long? How come no one came forward before Kevin had? How many other men’s lives had been affected like Kevin’s? How could their pastor, Bishop Walker, not have known what was going on?

Did Monica know that the men had been arrested? How was she going to handle it when she found out? Was it possible to keep Kevin’s past out of the press or would he be exposed and affected by this as well? If he was exposed, how would Monica handle it?

I tucked the newspaper into the front pocket of my suitcase and grabbed both bags and ambled slowly toward the front door to look for my sister and my car.

I was ready to go home. I had hoped to be able to relax for a few days when I got back, but already I had issues to take care of. First order of business was getting up to Baltimore to see how my mother was doing. Second, I had to call Monica to find out what was really going on.

I'm honored to have met Sherri (middle) at the BEA Conf. 2007

ORDER Online at amazon.com.

Wings of Grace, Vanessa Griggs Davis

2011-06-17T07:48:00.000-04:00

In Vanessa Davis Griggs' eagerly anticipated sequel to Promises Beyond Jordan, Pastor George Landris is back, but this time he's sharing the spotlight with a family of strong-willed, true-to-life women who must struggle to overcome wounded spirits and severed ties. Richly populated with complex, unforgettable characters, Wings of Grace is a fresh and engaging novel, Griggs' finest to date.

Because Lena Patterson never enjoyed a fulfilling relationship with her mother, she is determined to break the cycle and be there one-hundred percent for her now-pregnant daughter, Theresa. Raised by her strong and loving grandmother, Lena looks forward to playing a central role in her own grandchild's life. Then an older woman shows up on Theresa's doorstep looking for Lena. Lena is dubious, convinced that the woman is just looking to get her hands on an heirloom necklace. As painful memories from the distant past re-emerge, the ties that bind a mother to her daughter seem primed to endure a wrenching test.

Meanwhile, wedding bells are fast approaching for Pastor Landris and his fiancée, writer Johnnie Mae Taylor. But circumstances are taking shape that threatens to place Landris's pastorship, and his life, in grave jeopardy. Johnnie Mae, for her part, has embarked on a journey of her own. Performing research for an upcoming book, she crosses paths with Sarah Fleming, an old woman whose story will expose a range of startling truths and, ultimately, reshape the nature of Johnnie Mae's faith.

About Vanessa Davis Griggs

"God's Cheerleader," Vanessa Davis Griggs is an author and motivational speaker who adores the power of words both written and spoken. At the end of 1996, this former BellSouth employee left 18 years of service stepping out on faith and decided to pursue her purpose and passion--writing. Proving out Proverbs 18:16, A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men, she began her own company (Free To Soar) emphasizing the taking off of limits as she travels inspiring and encouraging others--both young and old--to take flight like an eagle and do the same.

Vanessa is the recipient of numerous recognitions including: 1st Quarter 2009, Practicing What You Preach named one of EDC's "On the Shoulders of Giants" Faith Based Books Best Book Award; June 2007 recipient of the Arts and Letters Award from Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Birmingham Alumnae Chapter, March 2006 recipient of The Greater Birmingham Millennium Section National Council of Negro Women Inspiration Award, 2004-2005 Jasper Outstanding Achievement Award. Wings of Grace received a Road to Romance Reviewer's Choice Award.

Vanessa pens a column May I Have a "Word" With You? that appears weekly in The Birmingham Times.

Vanessa resides in Irondale (home of the Whistle Stop Café and Fried Green Tomatoes), a community just outside of Birmingham, Alabama.

Vanessa is the author of novels: Destiny Unlimited, The Rose of Jericho,Promises Beyond Jordan, Wings of Grace. Blessed Trinity, Strongholds,If Memory Serves, Practicing What You Preach (the #1 Bestselling Christian fiction for June 2009 BCCN1/BCBC Bestseller's List,Goodness and Mercy, The Truth Is the Light, Ray of Hope Redeeming Waters on July 26, 2011 and Forever Soul Ties on December 27, 2011.

A Classic: Their Eyes Were On God - Zora Neal Hurston

2011-06-10T03:00:00.000-04:00

"There is no book more important to me than this one."

- Alice Walker

The epic tale of Janie Crawford, whose quest for identity takes her on a journey during which she learns what love is, experiences life's joys and sorrows, and come home to herself in peace. Her passionate story prompted Alice Walker to say, "There is no book more important to me than this one."

When first published in 1937, this novel about a proud, independent black woman was generally dismissed by male reviewers. Out of print for almost thirty years, but since its reissue in paperback edition by the University of Illinois Press in 1978, Their Eyes Were Watching God has become the most widely read and highly acclaimed novel in the canon of African-American literature.

With haunting sympathy and piercing immediacy, Their Eyes Were Watching God tells the story of Janie Crawford's evolving selfhood through three marriages. Light-skinned, long-haired, dreamy as a child, Janie grows up expecting better treatment than she gets until she meets Tea Cake, a younger man who engages her heart and spirit in equal measure and gives her the chance to enjoy life without being a man's mule or adornment. Though Jaine's story does not end happily, it does draw to a satisfying conclusion. Janie is one black woman who doesn't have to live lost in sorrow, bitterness, fear, or foolish romantic dreams, instead Janie proclaims that she has done "two things everbody's got tuh do fuh theyselves. They got tuh go tuh God, and they got tuh find out about livin' fuh theyselves."

"THEIR EYES WERE WATCHING GOD belongs in the same category with [the works of] William Faulkner, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Ernest Hemingway, that of enduring American literature."

- Saturday Review

"[A] brilliant novel about a woman's search for her authentic

self and for real love." - Edwidge Danticat

Wench

2011-06-03T10:47:00.001-04:00

Wench by Dolen Perkins-Valdez is startling and original fiction that raises provocative questions of power and freedom, love and dependence. An enchanting and unforgettable novel based on little-known fact, Wench combines the narrative allure of Cane River by Lalita Tademy and the moral complexities of Edward P. Jones’s The Known World as it tells the story of four black enslaved women in the years preceding the Civil War. A stunning debut novel, Wench marks author Perkins-Valdez—previously a finalist for the 2009 Robert Olen Butler Short FictionPrize—as a writer destined for greatness.

An ambitious and startling debut novel that follows the lives of four women at a resort popular among slaveholders who bring their enslaved mistresses
wench \'wench\ n. from Middle English "wenchel," 1 a: a girl, maid, young woman; a female child.

Tawawa House in many respects is like any other American resort before the Civil War. Situated in Ohio, this idyllic retreat is particularly nice in the summer when the Southern humidity is too much to bear. The main building, with its luxurious finishes, is loftier than the white cottages that flank it, but then again, the smaller structures are better positioned to catch any breeze that may come off the pond. And they provide more privacy, which best suits the needs of the Southern white men who vacation there every summer with their black, enslaved mistresses. It's their open secret.

Lizzie, Reenie, and Sweet are regulars at Tawawa House. They have become friends over the years as they reunite and share developments in their own lives and on their respective plantations. They don't bother too much with questions of freedom, though the resort is situated in free territory–but when truth-telling Mawu comes to the resort and starts talking of running away, things change.

To run is to leave behind everything these women value most–friends and families still down South–and for some it also means escaping from the emotional and psychological bonds that bind them to their masters. When a fire on the resort sets off a string of tragedies, the women of Tawawa House soon learn that triumph and dehumanization are inseparable and that love exists even in the most inhuman, brutal of circumstances–all while they are bearing witness to the end of an era.

An engaging, page-turning, and wholly original novel, Wench explores, with an unflinching eye, the moral complexities of slavery.

“Electrifying. . . . [T]his remarkable novel skillfully dramatizes a dark chapter in American history. Writing with lyrical grace and a gift for plot development, Perkins-Valdez has produced an inspiring portrait of four brave women and the risks they take to change their lives.”

— BOOKPAGE

“A fascinating and tragic story. . . . [A] compulsive read.”

— NPR.ORG, BOOK CLUB PICK

“A memorable and engaging debut.”

— LIBRARY JOURNAL, BEST BOOKS OF 2010

“Readers entranced by The Help will be equally riveted by Wench. A deeply moving, beautifully written novel told from the heart.”

— USA TODAY

“A heartbreaker, full of understated tragedy and lyrical prose. . . . Perkins-Valdez has woven a devastatingly beautiful account of a cruel past.”

— PEOPLE

“Perkins-Valdez manages to shed a poetic light on one of the ugliest chapters in American history.”

— ESSENCE

“A fabulously creative and daring historical novel .”

— DAWN TURNER TRICE, CHICAGO TRIBUNE

“Perkins-Valdez memorably portrays how the entwined destinies of chattel and master, increasingly related by blood, passion and hatred, prefigure the looming national conflict. This is an almost forgotten, but important, chapter in American history--recorded as fiction but nonetheless full of hard facts.”

— TOWN & COUNTRY

“A mesmerizing read.”

— SEATTLE TIMES

“Absolutely phenomenal. . . . Wench is an excellent novel that will appeal to many readers. Debut author Dolen Perkins-Valdez has crafted a historical narrative that shouldn’t be missed.”

— SACRAMENTO BOOK REVIEW

“A powerful story.”

— SEQUIM GAZETTE

“Dolen Perkins-Valdez’s debut novel, Wench, is outstanding: well crafted, imaginative, spellbinding, and above all satisfying.”

— WORLD LITERATURE TODAY

“Impressive. . . . There are countless stories to be told and to be read regarding the lingering emotional impact of slavery; and here, Perkins-Valdez has imagined a memorable one, her characters are framed within a well-crafted and expressive narrative.”

— THE NETWORK JOURNAL

“In her debut, Perkins-Valdez eloquently plunges into a dark period of American history. . . . Heart-wrenching, intriguing, original and suspenseful, this novel showcases Perkins-Valdez’s ability to bring the unfortunate past to life.”

— PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

“A striking debut intimately limns a Southern slave’s complicated relationship with her master. . . . Compelling and unsentimental.”

— KIRKUS REVIEWS

“A memorable first novel . . . Readers of historical fiction centering on Southern women’s stories like Lalita Tademy’s Cane River or Lee Smith’s On Agate Hill will be moved by the skillful portrayal of Lizzie’s precarious situation and the tragic stories of her fellow slaves.”

— LIBRARY JOURNAL (STARRED REVIEW)

“Drawing on research about the resort that eventually became the first black college, Wilberforce University, the novel explores the complexities of relationships in slavery and the abiding comfort of women’s friendships.”

— BOOKLIST

“A finely wrought story that explores the emotional lives of four slave women caught in the web of the Peculiar Institution.”

— LALITA TADEMY, AUTHOR OF CANE RIVER AND RED RIVER

“This elegantly-structured novel sheds much-needed light on the racial intricacies of America’s past.”

— MARGARET CEZAIR-THOMPSON, AUTHOR OF THE PIRATE'S DAUGHTER (A #1 INDIE NEXT PICK)

“Through unforgettable characters and luscious prose, Wench stares down the difficult truths while never losing its beautiful beating heart. With all the weight of a historical excavation and the urgency of a page-turner, Perkins-Valdez establishes herself as a powerful new voice in fiction. ”

— TAYARI JONES, AUTHOR OF LEAVING ATLANTA AND THE UNTELLING

“A shattering story told with dignity, compassion, and some wicked humor. A brave, honest, beautifully written book that will shock and move readers to much new awareness.”

— SIGRID NUNEZ, AUTHOR OF THE LAST OF HER KIND AND A FEATHER ON THE BREATH OF GOD

“Perkins-Valdez crawls under your skin and probes most gracefully in clear, concise lyric prose, ultimately asking the question that only extraordinary fiction can ask--what would you have done? A superb and outstanding achievement.”

— JEFFREY LENT, AUTHOR OF IN THE FALL AND A PECULIAR GRACE

Brown Paper Bag, a Novel

2011-06-03T06:00:00.002-04:00

A Book Club Favorite!

From sin, abuse and abandonment to repentance, recovery and redemption

Worlds collide when Georgia transplant Natalie Jordan, a statuesque mahogany beauty and fair skinned, wavy haired Louisiana native Gregory Baptiste fall in love and begin to make wedding plans.

Gregory's mother, Albertina, makes no apologies for doing "whatever it takes" to make certain that her family's bourgeois social status and "bloodline" remain intact. The couple falls prey to a cruel scheme that is meticulously devised and executed by members of the Baptiste family.

After her husband is viciously murdered, secondary character Bernadette Mitchell flees the rural south with her young son in tow. Not long after settling in Detroit, she becomes involved in an affair with Bill Robinson, a prominent (married) pediatrician who offers to provide for them. Hopeful that she will someday replace Bill's wife, she suffers the unimaginable consequences of being a kept woman. The man of her dreams turns out to be her worst nightmare.

Set in post World War II Detroit, Michigan, Brown Paper Bag depicts a nuanced mind set among some within the African American culture that dates back to the times of slavery; but exists even today.

More than a commentary on skin color, Brown Paper Bag boldly tells the truth about the affects of toxic relationships and the redemptive, restoring and affirming power of true love, God's love.

About the Author

In her books, blogs and workshops, Venus Mason Theus candidly uses her personal successes and failures to address relationship concerns of wives, brides-to-be and even those who have marriage on their “to-do list.”

She is the president of the American Christian writers – Detroit chapter and the founder of the Anointed Pen Christian Writers Conferences and Workshops. She is also the author of Pearls of Wisdom for Wives: How to Have a Joyfully Ever After Marriage and the founder of the Wisdom4Wives organization.

Venus has been joyfully married for 26 years and lives in Michigan with her family.

Deadly Disclosures

2010-06-11T10:07:00.012-04:00

Not Your Typical Who Done It

ISBN-13: 978-0890515846

Julie Cave's brand novel weaves together murder, mystery, intrigue and believe it or not - evangelism. The setting is modern-day Washington D.C. Thomas Whitfield, the broadly respected secretary of the Smithsonian disappears initially without a trace.

In addition to battling her own grief induced demons. Semi-suicidal FBI agent Dinah Harris has a missing person turned murder victim case to solve. Fighting to keep her focus, she struggles to find answers to why Thomas Whitfield vanished from his office and was subsequently murdered.

Harris and her partner, David Ferguson learn that an intricate political conspiracy to maintain a clearly defined line of separation between Creation and Evolution is at the bottom of a brutal string of murders. The body count rises with every round of questioning of potential witnesses and suspects.

Prior to his death, Whitfield comes to know Christ through a most unlikely source - a former opponent whom he'd debated creation versus evolution in public forums for many years. It is discovered that Whitfield's rise from obscurity to notoriety was a result of an orchestration which included a group of prominent social and political figures who turn out to be staunch evolutionists.

Cave's choreography of words and tedious details of torture, violence and aftermath crime scenes are prolific. I practically smelled formaldehyde while reading a scene that types place during an autopsy.

I was delighted by Cave's ability to keep me guessing who was ultimately responsible for the murders. The nurturer in me wanted to reach out to Agent Harris as she combated the desire to end her life and I'm especially appreciative of Caves ability to keep me intrigued about the cause of Dinah's deep depression until nearly the end of the story. The storyline is marvelously crafted. It evokes thought, emotion and possibly a call to action.

It is apparent that Cave's intent in her writing is witnessing however I personally found parts of the book a bit religiously academic - perhaps a tad preachy. Some may find the language a bit hard to comprehend or embrace but not to the point that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is diluted or altered.

My Rating: ****

Swag by Monica Marie Jones

2009-10-02T07:01:00.008-04:00

SWAG
ISBN-10: 1448643503

Noelle Dresden stepped out on faith and left her full-time job to pursue her passion: singing. Six months later, her singing career hasn't gone much of anywhere and neither has her relationship with her charismatic, yet sneaky boyfriend, Jonah. Although Jonah loves Noelle, he’s not willing to give her the commitment and ring she so desperately wants. After Jonah uses Noelle’s hopes of an engagement for his benefit, Noelle gets fed up and decides to move forward with her career…with or without Jonah.Her pursuit leads her to accept an invitation to be a house guest on the popular, hit reality show, House of Swag. On the show, aspiring entertainers with the potential to take it to the next level are trained to become multifaceted mega stars. While in the house, Noelle catches the eye of the show’s creator, Monroe "Paper" Chase. He uses his good looks and smooth talk to charm her, then he uses his money and power to attempt to subtract Jonah from the equation. Drama only escalates when Noelle has to deal with an envious, hating house guest who is not beyond trying to bring Noelle down to get ahead.As Noelle rises toward super stardom, she has some difficult choices to make. What lies ahead of her looks so much better than what she has left behind. Will she work to keep the love that she and Jonah shares alive, or will she choose fame, fortune and a man who can make all of her dreams come true?

Praise for SWAG!
“Beyond the engaging backdrop of reality TV and the entertainment world, Monica Marie Jones' great novel SWAG illustrates to us, through a main character I grew to love, how to open ourselves to all the opportunities and blessings that are before us.”- ~Shōn Bacon, author, editor, educator, http://clg-entertainment.com

Amazon.com Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars 4.5 STARS...SWAGGING..., September 17, 2009
By Angelia Menchan "acvermen.blogspot.com" (Florida) - See all my reviewsNoelle Dresden can sing like a bird, but one thing she needs is more confidence in self. Although Noelle's confidence is not what it should be she decides to pursue her dream of becoming a famous singer. Her boyfriend, Jonah, is not very supportive of her dreams and will not commit. However, once Noelle decides to pursue her dreams, Jonah will have to show and prove. Will he be able to support her or will his ego get in her way? Swag by Monica Marie Jones breaks down the story and allows the reader to feel what is going on with these characters. Noelle's decision to be a house guest on the reality show, House of Swag, changes her life forever. She will get the opportunity to showcase her real talents and gain some confidence. She will also find out what it is like to be pursued by a man other than Jonah. What she did not bargain for in her pursuit of fame was the deceit and games that swirl around the music industry. Will Noelle be able to keep her head above water or will she be consumed by her ambitions? And what impact will her decisions have on her relationship with Jonah? Swag is a wonderful, contemporary novel that will keep the reader caught up in the storyline. I recommend this novel to all who love an entertaining, fast-paced, current novel Angelia Vernon Menchan APOOO BookClub

5.0 out of 5 stars COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN!!!!, October 2, 2009
By LoveToRead "Novel Addict" (Detroit,MI) - See all my reviewsThis book was an awesome read. If a book grabs my attention I read it nonstop till the very end. I read SWAG in less than two days! Swag literally had me at the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen next! Monica Marie Jones wrote an amazing novel....can't wait to see what else she has in store for us!!!

By Malinda - I started reading this book last night when I got in from work and I could not put it down. Before I knew it, several hours had passed and I was approaching the final pages. With me being an avid reader, music being one of my favorite forms of entertainment, and me being a reality show junkie, SWAG was the perfect combination of the things I most enjoy. SWAG has all the ingredients of a great story. It's filled with drama that every girl can relate to and every guy can enjoy.

The Last Woman Standing, Tia McCollors

2009-08-21T13:15:00.007-04:00

This week I've been on a post-vacation literary retreat thanks to Novelista, Tia McCollors who was kind enough to send me a copy of her brand spanking new release and I'm lovin' it! (Sorry McDonald's). Todate, I'm already about half way through (mind you I just got my hands on the novel on the 17th. McCollors has dared to dealve into uncharted waters with her story line that involves a Christian divorced couple who is trying to make their way through the maze of how they're really supposed to feel, act, react and so forth. The scenarios are so true to life and the characters are totally believable. Having raised to daughters myself, I'm having a ball with Ace and Lynette's struggle to keep their 16-year-old diva on track. Boy have Rick and I been there, done that! An additional yummy twist is that Ace (Lynette's former husband) has glamorous girlfriend (Sheila) who, so far is dangerously close to being desperate and ditzy. The real kicker in this tale is that the former spouses are finding themselves being drawn to one another romantically, yet neither knows how the other feels. Who will end up as Mrs. Ace? Will it be ditzy and desperate Sheila? Or will Ace choose the only woman he's ever truly loved? Or...will McCollors throw us a curve ball with a surprise ending? Hmmm. I promise you I'll know the answer by Monday morning. But I won't tell anyone else, you'll have to buy the book and find out for yourself.

By the way, I LOVE the stilletos on the cover.

Moody Publishers,Lift Every Voice Books
ISBN-10: 0802498639ISBN-13: 978-0802498632

August 2009

Description:
The man. His woman. His ex-wife. After being married to their careers instead of each other for ten years, “Ace” and Lynette Bowers ended their marriage. But four years later, it seems their love never ended – to both of their surprises and denial. Sheila Rushmore is Ace’s current girlfriend and a woman who is used to getting what she wants – except Ace’s commitment to marriage. When Sheila realizes Lynette may be the cause, she launches a plan to play the hand of God, instead of allowing Him to bring the love all three of them desire.

Visit Tia McCollors website to read an excerpt from The Last Woman Standing.
http://tiamccollors.com/pdf/LastWomanStandingCh01.pdf

Worth a Thousand Words by Stacy Hawkins Adams - OMG what a page turner!

2009-07-24T00:01:00.002-04:00

About the Book

Life has always gone Indigo Burns's way. She's smart, pretty, and talented, and she knows exactly what she wants. A photography internship at her hometown's local newspaper is the next step in her well-laid plans for her future.

But her long-term goals are put to the test when her boyfriend Brian proposes--two years before he's supposed to and in front of all the guests at her college graduation party. Too concerned about his feelings to say no, she heartily agrees, but inside she's cringing.

Indigo knows in her heart that she's not prepared to sacrifice her dreams to become Brian's wife--not before she has achieved any of them. Will she find the answers among family and friends in Jubilant, Texas? Or will the picture-perfect life she dreams of be left behind?

Excerpt

Indigo Burns peered over the balcony at the crowd that had gathered in the courtyard below to celebrate her achievement and her brief homecoming. "Brief," if that's what one could call the next four months. In a town the size of Jubilant, seventeen weeks could feel like sixty, especially after being away for four years, pursuing your dreams.

"This day is perfect," she said, surveying the colorful variety of flowers that bathed the grounds of Jubilant Botanical Garden.

"I feel like God is giving me a thumbs-up and sealing it with a kiss."
Brian tweaked her nose with his thumb and forefinger. "Then I guess you don't need mine, huh?"

She chuckled and raised her head so his lips could easily reach hers. Brian delivered the smooch with a smile and she returned the gesture. She laid her head on his chest and closed her eyes.
This man was another special gift.
Without consulting one another, each had come to the party wearing tan linen outfits and brown leather sandals, although his shoes were flat and hers bore two-inch heels.

"How does it feel to be a college graduate?" he asked. "A summa cum laude one, at that?"
Indigo squeezed his waist. "Feels good, babe. I'm excited about the next chapter."
He wrapped his deep brown arms around her, and they both turned their attention back to her friends and family milling about below. The intimate group laughed and chatted as they enjoyed seafood and barbecue and browsed through scrapbooks filled with photos from her childhood. Along with snatches of conversation, the scent of fried catfish and basting ribs wafted upward, and Indigo felt herself growing hungry again.

Young and old guests were dancing to some of her favorite old school R&B and hip-hop grooves. At one end of the patio, Brian's parents swayed in sync, tucking their round bodies into each other's like matching puzzle pieces. They had surprised Indigo by driving the two hours from Austin to attend the party. A few feet away, her mom and dad sashayed to the riffs of Chaka Khan, a half second offbeat as always. And holding center court were Indigo's cousins Rachelle and Gabe. Indigo smiled as she watched the tall, lean couple move in close and pull away at the beckoning of the beat. Their eyes remained locked, and at one point, Gabe lowered his head and savored a kiss from his wife. Indigo blushed and instinctively framed the picture in her mind.
If she weren't locked in Brian's embrace right now, she'd grab one of her cameras to capture this miracle. Those two clearly didn't need words to let the family know their marriage was back on track. The song ended, and before the DJ could start another, one of Indigo's aunts climbed the steps to a small stage adjacent the patio. Indigo's best friend followed on Aunt Melba's heels. A bed of multicolored tulips and roses served as their backdrop. Each of the women grabbed a microphone from its stand, and Aunt Melba shushed the crowd by tapping hers. She pointed in Indigo's direction.

"That's where they're hiding," she said into the mic. Everyone looked toward the balcony and laughed. "Brian, will you please escort the guest of honor to the stage?"
In jest, Brian saluted Aunt Melba. He held out his arm so Indigo could tuck hers inside, and they descended the curved stone stairwell. A minute later, Indigo was facing her guests. Wearing a smile that showcased her perfect teeth, she slid between Aunt Melba and Shelby and waved at her cheering loved ones.

We're in perfect position for a photo shoot. She chuckled inwardly. One of the companies she had interned with a few years agowas always looking for catalog models of different shades and sizes. Today, the three of them would have been hired at their asking prices-Indigo with toffee skin and a thin bone structure that gave her jaw and cheekbones prominent angles; Aunt Melba with her bronze complexion, full red lips, and thick hips; and Shelby, a dark chocolate Hershey's kiss, whose smooth skin and curves made her eligible for Barbie-doll status.

"Aw, y'all really love me!" Indigo said in response to the lingering applause. Her eyes moistened as she scanned their faces. There was her great aunt Margaret, now ninety and wheelchair bound; her childhood babysitter, Sheila; the leader of her Girl Scout troop, Mrs. Jones; and her favorite instructor ever, eleventh grade humanities teacher Mrs. Hutton.
Thank you, God, for this day.

Shelby opened her palm and revealed the tissue she had tucked inside. She passed it to Indigo.
"Any of us who know this girl well knew this would happen,"
Shelby teased. "We haven't said a word about her yet, and she's acting like the Grammy is hers."
Indigo swatted Shelby's arm.
"Seriously though," Shelby said, "it's an honor to be here to celebrate Indigo Irene Burns. For those of you who don't know, I'm Shelby Arrington, Indigo's friend and sister in spirit. We met at Tuskegee University our sophomore year and graduated together yesterday."
Aunt Melba waved. "If any of you don't know me, you better ask somebody!"
The guests roared.

Indigo shook her head. Aunt Melba was always trying to be hip.
"I am Indigo's favorite aunt and one of her biggest fans," Melba said. "Indigo graduated with honors yesterday, with a 3.9 GPA.
She has received a partial scholarship to a prestigious school in New York City, and she'll move there in August to get her master's in digital photography.

"She's going to tell us what her summer plans are in a few moments, but her long-term goal is to become as good as, if not better than, some of America's most famous photographers."
Shelby continued the introduction. "She wants to shoot fine art images for magazines and museums and maybe even still-life for movies. The awesome thing about Indigo is that, not only does she want to do these things, being the person she is, she'll get them done."
She turned toward Indigo. "Indie, we wish you much success and Godspeed on your journey. And when you hit it big, I'll be your 'Gail.' If Oprah can have a 'ride or die' girlfriend, you can too!"

Indigo hugged Aunt Melba and Shelby and took Shelby's microphone. The women stepped aside to give Indigo center stage. She thanked everyone for coming and for supporting her over the years.

"Now, to my parents," Indigo said and shook her head. "I can't say enough. They gave me a camera that used 35 mm film when I was ten. Remember those? I took so many pictures that at some point they began upgrading me to a better model every Christmas.

"They've always believed in me and supported me, even when it meant they had to sacrifice something else. They have taught me, and shown me, that with God and personal grit, there's nothing I can't accomplish. Anything that I've achieved so far, or will achieve-I share those accolades with you, Mama and Daddy. I love you."
Indigo dabbed her eyes with the tissue again and searched the crowd.
"Where are Rachelle and Gabe?" she asked.

The couple waved from their seats, in the last row of black folding chairs positioned near the stage. Their teenage son and daughter sat next to them.
"Rachelle, you're a cousin who's more like a big sister, and I appreciate you for that," Indigo said. "Thanks to both of you for giving me this party at this beautiful place. Our usual backyard barbecue was all I had in mind. You're so good to me!"
Gabe stood up and blew her a kiss. "Remember this day when you're rich and famous and I need a loan!"

Indigo raised an eyebrow and laughed. "Okay, Doctor Covington," she said. Just about everyone there knew Gabe was one of the top heart surgeons in the nation and wouldn't need her financial help anytime soon.

"Tell them what you'll be doing this summer," Aunt Melba reminded her.
"I will be interning at the Jubilant Herald for ten weeks," Indigo said. "My long-term interest isn't photojournalism, but I'll get to add a range of shots to my portfolio before I head to grad school.

Plus, it will be great to spend the summer at home."
Brian approached Indigo and put an arm around her waist.
"No men on the stage!" Shelby teased.
Brian winked at her.

"Hey, everybody," he said in his husky, laid-back drawl, skipping the self-introduction. "I just want to say that I'm very proud of Indigo. We met at Tuskegee when she was a sophomore and I was a senior." Brian looked in Shelby's direction. "Our friend over there introduced us, and within half an hour of talking to Miss Indigo, I knew she was special," Brian said. "She hasn't proved me wrong. She has big plans for the future, and I'm praying that I'll be part of them."
Indigo felt tears surfacing again. Brian had never been muchof a romantic; this overt show of affection surprised her. Then he knelt on one knee. She stopped breathing.
"Indigo, if you'll take this ring, and agree to become Mrs. Harper, you'll make me the happiest man in the world. Will you marry me?"

Indigo stared at Brian and tried to process what she'd heard.
Did he just propose? In front of everyone she knew? Had this man forgotten that he'd be leaving in a few weeks for the Navy's Officer Candidate School, with plans to become a pilot?
Countless emotions engulfed Indigo, from love and gratitude to a tidal wave of fear. Suddenly she felt her stomach churning.

Please, God, no. Not now. Not here.
As much as she loved Brian, becoming his wife wasn't in her immediate plans. Neither was giving up her first choice grad school.

"I love you too, Brian," she said weakly, hoping her grin effectively masked her mental wrestling match. How could she say no to this fine, smart brother, who had a bright future ahead of him and happened to be crazy about her?
She couldn't. Not in front of all these people.
God forgive me.

"Yes-I'll marry you!" she told Brian.
She flung her arms around his neck and let the tears fall. She did love him, and she did want to be his wife. Just not now-before she, and her dreams, had a chance to blossom.

What the Bayou Saw by Patti Lacy

2009-07-17T00:01:00.003-04:00

Since leaving Louisana, Sally Stevens has held her childhood secrets at bay, smothering them in a sunny disposition and sugar-coated lies. No one, not even her husband, Sam has heard the truth about what happened when she was almost twelve years old.

Now a teacher in Illinois, Sally has nearly forgotten the past. But when one of her students is violently attached, Sally's memories of segregation, a chain-link fence, and a blood oath bubble to the surface like a dead body in a bayou. Lies continue to tumble from Sally's lips as she scrambles to gloss over harsh reality. Finally cornered by her deceit and nudged by the Holy Spirit, she resolves to face the truth, whatever the consequences.

"Like Southern molasses, What the Bayou Saw is a rich, thick read that explores a tale so haunting, so painfully real, it will follow you into your dreams. There is a blazing light on the horizon of women's fiction, and her name is Patti Lacy." ---Julie Lessman, author of A Passion Most Pure and A Passion Redeemed.

"Patti Lacy has deftly knit together the story of two girls, four decades, and one growing nation in a tale as relevant as ever. A winning combination...that makes for simply great storytelling."---Tosca Lee, Christy Award finalist for Demon, A Memoir

He's Saved, But Is He For Real? by Kimberley Brooks

2009-07-10T00:01:00.001-04:00

He's Saved... But is He FOR REAL?
Chapter 1 - Oh, No, He Didn't!

"Are you for real?" I asked Sandy while on my cell as I lay sprawled out on my brown couch in my one-bedroom apartment in downtown Detroit.
"Yes, girl," Sandy replied while lying upright in her white canopy bed with pink sheets, adjacent to her grandmother Madear's bedroom.

"You mean to tell me Pierre called off the wedding?" I asked.
I could not believe it. I couldn't believe that the first saved man I dated for eight months, fell in love with, then was dumped by so he could be with the wonderful "Miss Erika" called off the wedding. Erika Richmond, MInister Richmond's daughter, was supposedly the most virtuous prize in the church.

"Uh-huh," Sandy said as a matter of fact.
"Who told you?" I had to ask. Knowing Sandy, this could be just some rumor. Or maybe a nightmare I needed to be awakened from.

"Madear's hairdresser's cousin's best friend, Lajaneequa, told me," Sandy assured me.
I held the phone in utter shock as I thought about how I'd fallen in love with this man and couldn't understand why he left me that day almost two years ago seemingly out of the blue, until I found out that he had already started going out with Erika around the same time he was going out with me. I thought he broke up with me because I refused to give him some but the later found out that it was because he'd already had his sights set elsewhere.

Man. I was looking forward to the day I finally got Pierre's two-timing, wanting-to-have-his-cake-and-eat-it-too self out of my thoughts and life forever. I was looking forward to the day he pledged his "till death do us part" to Erika and I even thought about attending the wedding.

Erika, whom I used to serve with in the youth department at our church some years ago, did send me an invitation in the mail. I was looking forward to their wedding as the final closure that I needed to finally get my mind totally off Mr. Pierre Dupree. Oh, well, I guess that won't be happening anytime soon.

Random Excerpts from Random Chapters

Michelle Pierre used his free hand to shush my lips. "Shhh," he said, "Don't say another word, Michelle Williamson." I couldn't do anything but just stare at him. It was like he had me in a trance. With that, he added, "I'm willing to fight for you, girl."

Liz . . . Liz noticed that all of the patient prayer seekers were women - women who knew very well that Minister Matthew Long was an unmarried minister.

Sandy "I'd rather burn in hell with my man than go through the rest of my life all alone!"

Michelle I was waiting to hear something - anything ; I needed a Word from God.

Madear"Sandy, chile, if you walk out of that door right now, don't plan on coming back!"

Liz "You got so many people going around saying they're saved just because it's the, quote-unquote, "in-thing" to be right now. You gotta be careful out here."

Liz ". . . I can't take any more of this foolishness. Michelle, girl, let's go! I'm about to lose my religion up in here, these folks is driving me crazy!"He's Fine... But is He SAVED?

What's wrong with my pitch letter?

2009-06-17T12:25:00.002-04:00

I just wanted share the following here are some tips for pitching to magazines

Question: What's Wrong With My Pitch?

I’ve read and re-read your query letter recommendations and articles on query letters, followed your advice to a ‘T’, and still cannot break into a magazine. What else could I possibly be doing wrong? I’m about to give up!

Answer:

There are a couple of questions that I run through when I get letters like this. I feel the most important issue is targeting the right magazine, followed by these other three hints. Don’t give up - get into one magazine, and the rest will open their doors for you.

Don’t Even Think Of Pitching the Big Names
You wouldn’t believe how many emails I get that start with “I had the perfect idea for Glamour/Newsweek/The Atlantic Monthly. . .” Except for a very fortunate few, you’ll never break in on these names without going local, regional, state and/or niche first.

You Were Unprofessional
I know that the perfect idea is exciting. But, if you call the editor, harass the secretary, or follow up too quickly, you’ll be marked as a rookie. Don’t do it.

Your Pitch Was Generic
You’re busy, you’re juggling, and you have 15 pitches to get to today. Don’t do it. If you send off a pitch with minimal tailoring, you’re asking for rejection. I know it’s a busy life, but you don’t want to get on the blackball list, do you? You must cover the specifics of your proposed article, no excuses, no exceptions.

You Sent Three Pitches . . . In One Email
I’ve seen some writers get away with two. But I never have. Honestly, given how busy editors are, I wouldn’t tempt the circular file. Send one pitch per email, and allow them to deal with that before you move on to your next burning idea.
Keep working those ideas. Instead of giving up, be realistic, adjust your expectations. The first print article you have in your hands will make up for all the rejection!
More Freelance Writing Q&A

Abraham's Well by Sharon Ewell Foster

2009-06-13T18:36:00.003-04:00

I have to say that of all my favorite fiction writers, Sharon Ewell Foster is the one I most would like to pattern myself after. Her gift for turning historical facts into captivating, relatable stories absolutely endears her to me. In other words, as a writer...I want to be like Sharon when I grow up. Please enjoy this excerpt and the accolades bestowed upon Abraham's Well.

Abraham's well is truthful, historic and yes, disturbing. But even in it's brutal truths, Abraham's well is entertaining, hard to put down and certainly hard to forget. Venus

Visit Sharon's website to learn more about her. By the way, I'm sure you're going to want to purchase you own copy of Abraham's book, simply go to my bookshelf widget and click on the book cover and you can purchase it via Amazon.com in the top right hand corner. Enjoy!

Excerpt

There's Indian in my family...
The time is 1838.
Armentia pointed to a well on the land their Cherokee master owns. "It seems hard to believe now, son, but someday we'll have our own land. Land with a well just like this one…."
Inspired by true events, authentic slave narratives, and other historical accounts, Abraham's Well is the profoundly moving story of the Black Cherokee--African Americans, both slave and free--who, along with native people, walked the Trail of Tears. It is the story of their forced removal from the Southeast to Indian Territory--modern day Oklahoma--and of the courage and faith of one woman as she struggles to overcome her desperate circumstances.
And it is the story of an author who, in researching and writing, found her own way home.

Endorsements for Abraham's Well
...a special book that tells the complex story of the life of a black family immersed in Indian culture, language and history. ... a poignant story ...well-told story. The reader will long remember Abraham's Well and will be touched ....--Angela Y. Walton-Raji, genealogist and author, African-NativeAmerican.com/

"Foster returns to historical fiction with an evocative tale of the sticky lies and bloody promises of an often untold journey in American history--the trek of the Indian slave on The Trail of Tears. As a Christian, a woman, an African American and one who also has "Indian in her family" this book took me 1000 miles in both my heart and mind. As always, Foster's mastery of setting and language paint a family and a nation that we must never forget. This book will be required reading for all my children and their children after them. It's not to be missed."--Marilynn Griffith, author of Pink and Made of Honor

"Sharon Ewell Foster merges little known history with fiction to pen another amazing novel with Abraham's Well. In her trademark style – rich language that makes you want to read passages again and again and descriptions that take you back two hundred years – Foster creates an engaging story that not only pulls on every one of your heart strings, but will have you talking out loud to the characters. Abraham's Well is hard to put down. Definitely, one of the best reads of the year!"--Victoria Christopher Murray

"Abraham's Well is a fascinating glimpse into forgotten corners of American history, which we would do well to remember. Throughout the novel, Sharon Ewell Foster's words flow effortlessly across the landscape of the reader's mind, painting vivid pictures that educate, entertain, delight, horrify, and in the end, offer the kind of hope and comfort we can only receive from the hands of a master storyteller."--Athol Dickson, author of River Rising

"Abraham's Well is a special story, as it tells the complex story of the life of a black family immersed into Indian culture, language and history. This is the story that follows a black Indian family slaves of the Cherokees. It is the story of a family that endured the pain of the Trail of Tears, and cried their own tears, and later saw the new nation emerge in Indian Territory while still in bondage. Abraham's Well is a poignant story where the reader sees the complexity of life not only for the slaves, but also for the Indians who enslaved them. The effects of the Trail of Tears, the effects of slavery and the effects of the Civil War are all evident in this well-told story. The reader will long remember Abraham's Well and will be touched as the family was touched as they encountered Ketoowah's Son."--Angela Y. Walton-Raji
Abraham's Well--4 1/2 stars-- Romantic Times

"This book will stay with you long after you finish it, and you may find your own trail of tears falling right on the pages." -- Claudia Mair Burney, author of Murder, Mayhem and a Fine Man.
Reviews for Abraham's Well

"Foster (Passing By Samaria; Ain't No Valley; etc.) returns to historical fiction with this innovative and intriguing novel set in mid-19th-century America. ...A fascinating 'note from the author' discusses Foster's own Indian heritage, and provocatively suggests that black people have sometimes claimed Indian lineage in order to distance themselves from their African-American identity. This is the rare historical novel that both entertains and educates." - --Publishers Weekly

Fiction Friday Is Back!

2009-06-05T00:01:00.012-04:00

The trees and grass are emerald, flowers are in full bloom. We're awakened by the praise songs of robins, sparrows and blue jays -clarions announcing that spring is here! Soon it will be time for the return of My Weekly Fiction Fridays Blog. Each week during the summer, I will feature some of my all time favorite author-buddies as well as some new kids on the block (look who's talking). You can look forward to tantilizing excerpts from some of the hottest Christian novelists of our time!

Look for the following phenomenal fiction-writing females, my mentors, role models and literary s/heros: Kim Brooks, Marilynn Griffith, Stacey Hawkins Adams, Tia McCollors, Sherri Lewis, Kendra Norman Bellamy, Vanessa Davis Griggs , Jacqueline Moore and Sharon Ewell Foster!

OMG I can't wait to get started! But hey! Who says I have to wait 'til summer? No one's the boss-o-me! Let's do this!

V's Vibe

My Fragrance: Almond Cookie by Carol's Daughter

My Candle: Paradise by Shivanne

My Sounds: Smooth Jazz - Kirk Whelan, Boney James, the Rippingtons...

My Gear: A breezy straw skirt, a tank top and wedge heeled sandals

*My Meal: Cedar grilled salmon, corn of the cob and

spinach salad topped with Michigan cherries

*My beverage: Watermelon Punch

My dessert: ONE SCOOP of Stroh's Death by Chocolate ice cream (ha' mercy!)

*Email me for the recipes