A year after Rico’s death, Chloe is still working to piece her life back together after learning of his betrayal and sickness. Though she wants to be with Shane, she senses that it may be too soon to move on, given that she is broken inside. After recommitting her life to God, she learns to love again, but just when she thinks she’s over the past, Raegan resurfaces.
Rico’s lies initially introduced them to one another, but Chloe’s mother has an even bigger lie that has remained hidden for over thirty years. Can Chloe handle it? Will she allow yet another secret to keep her from experiencing the love that Shane is so willing to give?
If she allows God to mold her heart, out of the shadows of her pain will come love, forgiveness and a sense of peace unlike she’s ever known.
Out of the Shadows: Love, Lies & Consequences (Book 4) by Natasha D. Frazier
Excerpt from Out of the Shadows
“Look at that smile. What did Shane say to you?” Kelly teased.
“Whatever. He just does what he always does.”
“And what’s that?”
Make everything better, Chloe thought to herself as her smile widened, but she said to Kelly, “I think we have more pressing things to deal with.” She recalled the day that she and Shane were outside playing tag the day before they started fourth grade. She must have thought she was part of someone’s stunt team because she jumped over a hedge of bushes trying to catch him and skinned her knee in the process. Shane immediately ran into the house for bandages and alcohol to patch her up. He even prayed and asked God to make it better so that her first day of fourth grade would still be good. She wasn’t sure why that particular thought popped into her head just now, but it was a reminder that he’d always wanted to do whatever he could to make things better for her.
“Maybe. But if Shane can put a smile on your face after that scene you put on in there, I need to talk to him too.”
Out of the Shadows: Love, Lies & Consequences (Book 4) by Natasha D. Frazier. Read an excerpt of Chapters 1-3: https://amzn.to/2lRvXPP
Excerpt from Out of the Shadows
“So here’s this woman who slept with my husband, got pregnant, lost the baby, and I forgave her. I wasn’t supposed to see her again. That was supposed to be the end of it. Now here she is with her perfect little life dancing right back into mine. I never even conceived a child with Rico and here she is with three children! It’s not fair and I want to scream at the top of my lungs. I’m angry, Shane. Angry at her and at my parents. And I feel really helpless but I’m trying to get over it. I had a good talk with God last night, so I’m trusting that He will help me through it.”
Chloe didn’t realize that tears had escaped her eyes in her frustration. Shane slid his chair around next to her and took a napkin to dab at her cheeks. “I’m sorry sweetheart. I’m here for whatever you need. It seems like a lot to take in, but we can get through this together. Can I pray with you?”
The author of the award-winning thriller Anybody’s Daughter is back with an addictive read that tackles bullying and its devastating aftermath.
What Really Goes on Behind School Doors?
When the classroom is no longer a safe space for her child, a grieving mother is determined to seek justice for her bullied daughter. Enter hard-charging attorneys Angela Evans and Jenny Ungerman. From the very start, the two lawyers face more than an uphill battle.
An ambitious school principal is far more concerned about protecting her career than getting to the truth. She flat out denies any knowledge of the bullying and prefers to sweep everything under the rug. But just how low will she go?
As the battle enters the courtroom, the attorneys fight hard to expose the truth. But will a massive coverup hinder their quest for justice?
Excerpt from Failure to Protect by Pamela Samuels Young
Prologue
Nobody cares about me. Not even God.
Just because I’m a kid, grown-ups think I don’t have problems. They tell me stupid stuff like, Bailey, you have to learn to stand up for yourself. Or Just ignore them and they’ll leave you alone. And the lamest one of all, Just pray about it.God’ll handle it.
I tried that last one about a thousand times. But like I said, God don’t care about me.
Even if I reported Kenya Jackson to my new teacher, it wouldn’t help. Mrs. Phillips is really nice, but all she’s going to do is send me to the principal’s office. Then Kenya will be even meaner to me for getting her in trouble.
That’s what happened when I told on a girl at my old school. After she got in trouble, she waited until there weren’t any adults around and pushed me into a restroom stall and stuffed my book bag in the toilet. I never told anybody about that.
I want to tell my mom what’s going on at my new school, but she’s got enough to worry about. She just got promoted to be the first black marketing manager at her company and now she works even harder than she did before. After she gets home, she still has more work to do on her laptop. The other night, she fell asleep right in the middle of helping me with my science project.
Since we moved to our gigantic house in Baldwin Hills with the dope view and a supposedly better school, she thinks everything’s all good and that makes her happy. I’m glad to see her smiling again. We were both super sad for a long time after my dad died. I guess she hasn’t noticed that I’m not smiling yet.
At my old school in Inglewood, when the principal told her that maybe I’d be “more successful in another environment,” my mom almost lost it. I was ready to lose it too. Anybody would be more successful if they weren’t being bullied all the time.
I wish my mom could understand what I’m going through. She wants me to be more like her, but I can’t. Sometimes she says stuff that really hurts my feelings.
I just don’t understand why you can’t make friends.You have to try harder to meet other little girls. When I was nine years old, everybody wanted to be my friend.
Well, nobody wants to be friends with me.
One time, I almost told my mom what was going on at Parker Elementary. But then I got scared that she would say it’s my fault because I don’t know how to make friends. So, I just keep it to myself. Every morning, right before I walk into school, I get the worst stomach ache you could ever have. It feels like a bunch of hot rocks are playing foosball in my stomach.
If my mom knew about Kenya spitting in my face, it would be one hot mess. She’s usually very professional, but if she found out what was really going on, she would turn straight ghetto and go off on everybody at the school. Then she’d end up in jail and I’d have to go into foster care. That’s what happened to my friend Trey in first grade when his mom slapped the cashier at Walmart.
Okay, I wouldn’t really have to go into foster care. I would probably have to go live with my granny in Oakland or my Uncle Marcus in Atlanta.
If I had my choice, though, I’d rather stay with my Uncle Dre. He’s really my godfather, but I pretend like he’s my uncle. One time, when he picked me up from school, I tried to tell him about Kenya always roasting me. I was surprised that he didn’t even know what roasting was. After I explained that it means dissin’ you real hard, he just hugged me and told me I had to toughen up.
You’ll be okay, he said.
But he’s wrong. I’m definitely not going to be okay.
(Unfortunate Series Book 1) by Joan Vassar Georgia, 1995–A gentle push from her sister causes Francine Adams to agree to one date with the handsome, Jalal Dorsey. When his ex-girlfriend makes an appearance, a perfect evening takes a turn for the worse. Blinded by humiliation and desperate to put distance between herself and the drama, Francine flees the upscale eatery. Unfamiliar with Atlanta, she wanders down a dark side street and encounters a series of unfortunate events.
Troy Bryant has spent seven years in jail for a crime he didn’t commit. Upon his release, he realizes the man he was before prison is gone. Now, he’s everything he was wrongfully accused of. After witnessing a young woman running from a restaurant in the heart of Atlanta, Troy follows her hasty retreat down an unlit side street, forever changing the course of both their lives.
Troy decides to keep her–no matter the cost, and Francine is forced to need the man who stole her from her life. Two souls collide, and a dark romance begins to bloom. Unfortunately Francine spins an erotic tale of anger, love and acceptance.
“Truce is for the man who approaches me from the front not from the back.” ~Troy
“All races commit crimes against their own. People perpetrate corruption where they are most comfortable. Statistically, black on black crime is no higher than any other race. It’s prejudice that keeps a slanted black experience in the forefront of the nightly news.”
“Troy almost laughed out loud as he came to understand that he would have to submit to her–to get her to submit to him.”
“Unfortunately, we live in a society that is unforgiving of the poor and people of color. And often times as black folks, we fall under both categories.”
Reviewed by Ebony Eyecu Evans
Was he a good man who did bad things or was he a bad man who did good things?
Well, let me start by saying….Whatever Troy Bryant is or isn’t, he’s FOR SURE THE MOST INTENSELY ANGRY, CONTROLLING, EROTIC AND SEXIEST VILLAIN I’ve ever encountered. I mean…NEVER HAVE I EVER read such a dark and deliciously disturbing romance that’s kept me riding a wave of conflicting emotions. With captivating character development and meticulous detail, this multilayered twisted plot is E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G! Bravo!!! Joan Vassar OUT DID HERSELF with “Unfortunately Francine!” Can’t wait to see what comes next! –Ebony, EyeCU Reading Approved & Highly Recommended
Have you ever shared your deepest darkest pain with someone you love and someone you thought loved you?
The Key To My Pain takes place in Baltimore City in the early to mid-seventies, when racial tension is still high from the late nineteen sixty’s riots.The family of five are living just enough with Mr. Batchler being a police officer after leaving Vietnam and Mrs. Carolyn Batchler is a loving mother and wife to three aspiring sons.
Mrs. Carolyn Batchler is in love with her husband Rodney Batchler Sr. He promised to give her the family she never had but always wanted but she didn’t know her dreams of a happy ever after would unlock doors she never dreamed of.
Rodney Batchler Jr. the eldest of the three sons, he wants to be a basketball superstar, Edwin Batchler wants to be an artist and the youngest of the three Corey is just trying to find himself.
Rodney Sr. runs his house like a jail and his family like a warden. Carolyn is forbidden to work because Rodney Sr. wants to keep her subservient and he controls his sons with pure fear.
Verbal, mental and physical abuse happens every single day in the Batchler home. There is not day Carolyn can open her eyes and enjoy the beauty of the sun nor the sound of the rain. Rodney Sr. has single handedly put her internal light out with abuse and now her sons are starting to look at their mother as weak, helpless and a fool. The abuse is not limited to Carolyn, oh no. Rodney Sr. keeps his sons in line with the same mental, physical and emotional abuse he uses for his wife.
Experiencing abuse will and can lead you to the arms of people you think you can trust until the day that person unlocks the pain you gave them the key to. Love, Pain, Forgiveness and Hurt is all wrapped up in this 230 page novel. Follow the journey of the Batchler family as they discover life through tainted vision.
Message from the Author
I dedicate this novel, The Key To My Pain, to every person who has ever witnessed domestic violence and to everyone who has shared their pain with a person they trusted and loved only to have them use your deepest darkest pain to hurt you. You can’t trust everyone with the key because they will unlock doors you have closed.
Will somebody get the front door,” yells Chetta. The housekeeper is making up the beds and doesn’t hear the door so Chetta walks out of the kitchen to get the front door.
Chetta opens the door, “Hello.”
“Hello my name is Carolyn Batchler and I am…” Before Carolyn can finish introducing herself Chetta cuts her off.
“I know exactly who you are; please come in.” Carolyn walks in and looks around.
“Let me take your coat and have a seat.” Before Carolyn can take her coat off and have a seat Rodney Jr. walks down the staircase and looks right in his mother’s face.
Carolyn remains standing, “Hello son.” Rodney stands at the bottom of the staircase in a stare.
Chetta looks at her husband, “Rodney say something you’re being rude.” Chetta whispers. It’s been twenty three years since they both laid eyes on each other and Carolyn has dreamed of this day.
Carolyn walks over to Rodney, “Hello son.” A cold chill goes up Rodney’s spine and it causes him to shake. Chetta stands next to her husband looking on at the two of them and waiting for Rodney’s response.
“It’s been twenty three years since you walked away from me and I‘ve never stop thinking about you,” tears roll down Carolyn’s cheeks as she breathes easy. “I’ve watched you play basketball all through college and the NBA; I even watched when you went to the Olympics and won a gold medal. I have a photo album full of pictures when you were featured in the newspaper.”
Carolyn looks at Chetta, “You two had a beautiful wedding.”
“Thank you Mrs. Batchler,” says Chetta. Rodney turns to walk away from his mother.
“Do not walk away from me Rodney Jr.”
“Why should I stand here and talk to you?”
“Because like it or not I am your mother. I am the women who gave life to you,”
“That didn’t seem to matter when you were letting your husband take life from me.”
Chetta steps in, “Excuse me Mrs. Batchler.” Chetta pulls Rodney to the side. “This is your mother and she has come to talk to you at least hear her out. Honey this is what you need to get your head in a better space. You have spent years not living up to your full potential as a father and a husband; now is the time to get your questions answered,” Chetta whispers to him
“Unveiled” promises to become a Book Club Favorite!
Attorney L. Morgan Franklin finds her well-ordered life at a prestigious New Orleans law firm, turned upside down when her half-brother, Winston, dies in their small hometown of L’Ouveture, Louisiana. When it becomes evident that Winston’s death may not be as it appears, Morgan begins a search for answers that lead her to new discoveries about the people she loves the most. The mysteries of family, life and love all converge in this story of one woman’s refusal to accept things as they are.
Grief and the sickeningly sweet smell of too many flowers hung heavy in the warm air of the late August afternoon. Morgan felt the weight of tears shed and hearts breaking. She rubbed her hands down her black silk suit when she walked slowly toward the simple wooden coffin that held the body of her beloved baby brother, Winston. “Half-brother.” She could almost imagine her mother, Marie, standing in front of her and uttering the word “half” as if it were some sort of disease. Morgan breathed deeply and pushed Marie’s words from her mind as she exhaled. They had no place here.
Winston’s mask-like, powdered face somehow belied the words “heart attack” that still echoed in her head. Morgan stepped away from the coffin and quickly brushed away her tears. She fled the church and barely heard the words of comfort tossed her way. Outside there would be air she could breathe without inhaling the pain of the mourners.
Morgan moved quickly once outside. Her legs felt somehow lighter than they had only moments before. She breathed deeply for the first time since she had received the news of Winston’s death a week ago and headed for the sanctuary of her car. The tinkling melody of the car alarm signaled her safe haven. She slid onto the butter-soft, caramel-colored leather seat and found comfort in its warmth. She cranked up the car, rolled down the electric windows, and turned on the CD player. The soulful sound of Jill Scott’s voice surrounded her as she watched the family file out of the church and head toward limousines with the words Garrett Bros. painted in gold across the rear doors and windows. Of course, it would be Garrett Bros. They were still the only mortuary in town that “knew how to do colored.” Morgan had heard her maternal grandmother, Essie Baptiste, say that many times while she was growing up. Mama Essie, as everyone lovingly called her, had made everyone in the family vow to take her body to Garrett Bros. when her time came. Although it had been three years since Mama Essie passed, Morgan still felt her presence in this place. This thought alone eased the tension in her neck and removed the large knot that had taken up residence in the pit of her stomach.
Morgan fanned herself slowly with the funeral program, which created a pleasant albeit warm breeze. Winston’s high school graduation picture grabbed her attention as she placed the program on the seat of the car. At eighteen and dressed in his tuxedo, he still had the face of a little boy. Her stomach tightened as she remembered missing his graduation because of a last-minute work assignment.
Young Detective Maxine Hill is always busy performing community service, investigating issues, and exploring future careers. However, Maxine is facing a special challenge this year. This time it’s very personal. Follow our little problem solver as she finds a solution for a unique situation. Detective Maxine Hill is on the case again and she’s on the way back! If you enjoyed Maxine’s New Job, you will like Book II of the series, Maxine Listens.
One afternoon Maxine Hill began to notice some changes in her vision during her math class. Her teacher, Mr. Norman, was explaining a process on the whiteboard and his writing was completely blurred. She knew she would eventually grow tired of asking Mr. Norman to repeat the instructions, even the ones written on the board. Maxine finally asked to be moved closer to the front of the class. After a few weeks she realized the new seating arrangement did not seem to be helping. Mr. Norman had also noticed her squinting her eyes on several occasions and decided to call Maxine’s mother, Mrs. Hill, and discuss the situation.
“Mr. Norman, I am so glad you brought this to our attention. I am noticing how Max has to adjust her glasses several times when we are working on a puzzle, playing Scrabble, or watching a movie. I’ll call our ophthalmologist and make an appointment immediately,” said Mrs. Hill.
Maxine did not like the sound of that. She did not enjoy visits to the doctor’s office, especially when her eyes had to be dilated.
“Oh no, not another eye appointment,” Maxine uttered in a slow moan. “The eye drops don’t hurt Mom, but the ride home is rough because the sun seems extra bright after my eyes are dilated.”
“I know honey, but Dr. Chambers has to look inside those beautiful brown eyes to see what’s going on,” Mrs. Hill replied.
Maxine smiled.
That night, Maxine sat on the couch with her Dad watching TV. When she briefly took her eyes off the screen she caught a glimpse of her cat, Amos. He was sitting on her mother’s favorite chair.
“Shoo Amos! Get down from there!” Maxine waved. Amos scurried off the chair onto the floor. “Wow!” she shouted, “I am so glad tomorrow is Friday! It’s been a busy week at school and I’m looking forward to enjoying the weekend.”
“Well,” replied Mrs. Hill, tapping her foot against the carpet, “if you want to enjoy the weekend then you better head upstairs and get ready for bed. It’s a school night. Do you know what time it is young lady?”
“Please Mom!” Maxine begged, “It’s only 9:30 and tomorrow is Friday.”
“I know honey,” said Mrs. Hill as she sat down on her favorite chair, “but you need all the rest you can get because we have your early morning appointment with Dr. Chambers. I have your doctor’s note prepared for the attendance office tomorrow explaining your late arrival, so go upstairs and get ready for bed. Right now!”
“OK Mom. I can’t believe I forgot all about my eye appointment. Nighty-night, Dad,” Maxine said reluctantly, dragging her feet across the floor and adjusting her glasses.
“What did you say Max?” Mr. Hill asked.
“I said . . . NIGHTY-NIGHT, DAD!” Maxine raised her voice and laughed.
Mr. Hill nodded and smiled as Maxine gave him a big hug, scooped up Amos and ran up the stairs. The next morning, Maxine and Mrs. Hill left early to avoid the traffic which seemed to swell between 6:30 am and 8:00 am, especially during the weekdays. Maxine noticed the construction workers drilling and operating the huge cranes as they passed the detour signs. The highway was filled with red dust blowing from the machinery.
“Mom, when are they going to finish this interstate? They have been working on this since I was in second grade,” said Maxine with a frown on her face. Mrs. Hill smiled, “Baby, you might be a senior in high school before it’s completed. Road construction sometimes lasts for years.” Maxine sighed, put her head back on the seat, closed her eyes and listened to her favorite musical group on the radio for the remainder of the ride.
After arriving at the doctor’s office, Maxine sat on the red leather chair next to Dr. Chambers’ rack of magazines, and began looking over the latest issues. Hmm, where are the kid’s magazines? I don’t want to read the Ladies Home Journal, thought Maxine. As soon as she found a copy of Sports Illustrated for Kids with an interesting article named “Girls on The Mound,” the receptionist walked into the patient waiting area with a folder in her hand and announced, “Maxine Hill.”
“OK Max, that’s us,” said Mrs. Hill.
Moments later, Maxine sat quietly as Dr. Chambers began his eye exam. “Max, your mom says you have been having some vision problems in class lately.”
“Yes, mostly in math class when I’m looking back and forth from the whiteboard to my notebook,” answered Maxine.
“Well, your exam shows no serious vision concerns, but your prescription needs to be upgraded for another pair of glasses. This is not unusual for your nearsightedness. We will discuss contacts as you get older. Until then, you will be just fine. However, I would like to see you in six months,” explained Dr. Chambers.
Mrs. Hill smiled and thanked Dr. Chambers. Maxine shook Dr. Chambers’ hand and walked out to the receptionist’s counter while her mom waited on the instructions for the next appointment. A few minutes later they left the doctor’s office and headed for B. H. Obama Elementary School.
As they walked to the car, Maxine said, “Mom, I saw some cool, round purple frames in the 20-20 Optical Store window in the mall last week. Can we take my new prescription there this weekend and see if they can measure them for me?”
“We sure can Max. It’s a deal,” Mrs. Hill gleamed.
The Stations for Kids Series is a collection of stories emphasizing early childhood literacy, human compassion, and community service. Each story can be used as a classroom supplement to teach social skills, personal and civic responsibility, and encourage career exploration. The characters are family members who find themselves facing everyday life challenges, but they find ways to address, solve or cope with each situation.
Dr. Lynda believes that social skills and community service are an integral part of early childhood education. In addition, these two components are essential in creating a balanced child who understands that he or she is part of a global community. Visit our website today: https://www.stationsforkids.com
The Detective Maxine Hill SeriesNow available in Spanish!
Great for young readers age Level: 6 – 10. Diversify your home library collection and encourage others to do the same.Meet the Detective Maxine Hill characters: https://www.smore.com/xhn65-stations-for-kids
El Trabajo Nuevo de Maxine (Spanish Edition) by Lynda Jones-Mubarak
Maxine’s New Job by Dr. Lynda Jones-Mubarak Shorty y los Sullivans son mis vecinos. Los Sullivans parecen agradables y amistosos, pero tengo algunas dudas acerca de la Sra. Sullivan. Hmmm, creo que la Sra. Sullivan está ocultando algo. ¿Es una agente secreto? ¿Es una espía alienígena? ¿Es un robot? Mi mamá piensa que hago demasiadas preguntas, ella dice que debería convertirme en una científica forense o una detective. ¡Guau!, Es para pensarlo. Ambas carreras resuelven misterios. ¡Genial! ¡Sigue a Maxine Hill a medida que revela el misterio de la Sra. Sullivan, su vecina! Maxine’s New Job by Dr. Lynda Jones-Mubarak available in paperback, hardcover and Kindle ebook.
Maxine Escucha (Spanish Edition) by Lynda Jones-Mubarak
Maxine Listens by Dr. Lynda Jones-Mubarak Maxine Hill continúa con sus técnicas de investigación para revelar misterios and acertijos mientras practica servicio comunitario y la compasión humana en la escuela y en su comunidad. Un diagnóstico médico envía a Maxine en un viaje para conseguir respuestas a una inquietud muy personal. ¿Qué descubrirá Maxine esta vez? ¿Tendrá éxito? Sigue a la joven Maxine Hill a medida que busca revelar y abordar otro reto importante. Maxine Listens by Dr. Lynda Jones-Mubarak available in paperback, hardcover and Kindle ebook.
STATIONS FOR KIDS
La serie Stations for Kids es una colección de historias que enfatizan la alfabetización de la primera infancia, la compasión humana y el servicio comunitario. Cada historia se puede utilizar como un suplemento en el aula para enseñar habilidades sociales, responsabilidad personal y cívica, y alentar la exploración de carreras.
Los personajes son miembros de la familia que se enfrentan a desafíos de la vida cotidiana, pero encuentran formas de abordar, resolver o enfrentar cada situación.
La Dra. Lynda cree que las habilidades sociales y el servicio a la comunidad son una parte integral de la educación de la primera infancia. Además, estos dos componentes son esenciales para crear un niño equilibrado que entienda que él o ella es parte de una comunidad global.
Dr. Lynda Mubarak is an award-winning author and a retired special education teacher. She was an avid reader in elementary school and her love for books continued during her career in education. Her Stations for Kids Book Series promotes early childhood literacy, community service, human compassion, and career exploration. Dr. Lynda is a graduate of Texas Christian University, Texas Wesleyan University, and Nova SE University.
Dr. Lynda is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), International Literacy Association (ILA), Metro Authors Group, and the North Texas Book Festival, Inc.
Dr. Lynda has established a lifetime partnership with the Community Food Bank of Fort Worth, TX. A percentage of each book sold is donated to feed families in need. She loves crossword puzzles, painting birdhouses, live theater, and traveling with her husband, Kairi. Visit the Stations for Kids website today: https://www.stationsforkids.com
BPM Describe yourself in three words. I am funny, optimistic and creative.
BPM What drove you to publish your first book? How long have you been writing? I did not write my first book until I retired as a special education teacher and facilitator. I have been writing professionally for three years.
BPM Introduce us to the people in the book, Maxine Listens. Give us some insight into your main speakers. The main characters in Maxine Listens are 5th grader student Maxine Hill and her parents, the Hills. Maxine is an only child with a pet cat named Amos. She spend hours reading, doing community service with her family at a local food pantry. Maxine enjoys solving mysteries, puzzles, and other family, neighborhood and school events. She is often told by her mom that she asks far too many questions. Her family thinks she may have a future career in law enforcement as a detective or in forensic science as an investigator or researcher. Maxine reads constantly, is president of her school book club, plays Scrabble with her BFF, Amanda Grayson, and often enrolls in courses offered at the local library including American Sign Language and Creative Writing. Mr. and Mrs. Hill are often amazed by Maxine’s interest in anything and everything from architecture and engineering to learning Mandarin Chinese.
BPM Share one specific point in your book that resonated with your present situation or journey. Maxine’s mothers tells her, “Max, if you want to learn the truth about a person or a group of people, take some time to learn how they live, work and play.” I think so much time is spent analyzing or over-analyzing people or other cultures that we often forget that life experiences are different for all of us and we are all products of the events and backgrounds in our life. Your view of life can transition as you mature and grow. How you feel about a person or situation at 20 may be totally different by the time you reach 35. We all live our lives in phases.
BPM Tell us about you most recent work with the community. I have a lifetime partnership with the Community Food Bank of Fort Worth, TX. A percentage of each book sold by Stations for Kids is donated to the food bank to assist families in need and displaced workers. I am honored to part of an organization that provides so much for so many!
BPM What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your book? I was surprised by the families that related to my themes in my first and second Maxine books. The story topics are common to all families and Maxine offers some simple solutions to the challenges faced by each family in the stories. The solutions are doable and simple to implement.
BPM Do you ever have days when writing is a struggle? Writers are often overcome with the term ‘writer’s block’. What I have discovered as many will affirm, is that ‘writer’s block’ is another term for distractions. Daily distractions keep you from focusing and remaining grounded until your book is completed. Finances, children, job issues, aging parents, ill family members, or personal medical issues can be a deterrent to your book project. It often becomes difficult to stay on course while keeping your purpose on target, and allowing your faith to provide the strength to forge ahead. You must select a time each day or on the weekend to pull away from everyone for a few hours and continue your writing journey. It is essential if you truly want to become an author.
BPM What project are you working on at the present? I am currently completing Maxine’s Hands, Book 3 of the Detective Maxine Hill Series. Maxine continues to learn new concepts and apply her knowledge of community service anywhere it is needed. In progress is a Stations for Kids website which will be completely kid friendly and interactive.
BPM What legacy to you hope to leave future generations of readers with your writing? I would like to instill a love of reading and writing to the readers of my writing. I want them to know that reading my book or other great literature will allow your mind to flourish, explore and navigate through life and its challenges. In addition, reading will increase your critical thinking skills and provide a way to understand mankind in general. They also need to know that everything you need to know about yourself and life has been recorded in a book somewhere.
BPM What is your preferred method to have readers get in touch with or follow you? Readers can get in touch with me by email at ljmubarak@gmail.com
Maxine’s New Job by Dr. Lynda J. Mubarak (Book I, Detective Maxine Hill Series)
2018 Christian Literacy Awards Winner: Maxine’s New Job Maxine’s New Job won the prestigious “Henri Award” at the 2018 Christian Literacy Awards for outstanding literacy work in the Children’s Books division.
Maxine’s New Job by Dr. Lynda J. Mubarak
Maxine Hill is an inquisitive fourth grade student who loves to read, work crossword puzzles, visit her best friend, Amanda Grayson, and play with her cat, Amos. Maxine is also on a quest to find out why her neighbor, Mrs. Sullivan, is acting so weird. Mrs. Sullivan is always outside sitting on the front porch with her two rescue dogs or working in her flower bed. However, she seems to get very nervous when Maxine talks to her about everything. What is going on with this lady? Is she a robot spy? Is she an alien? Is she working for the CIA? Follow Maxine Hill as she solves the case of the strange neighbor!
We’re back in the world of Shorty and the Sullivans, this time across the street with Maxine Hill, a precocious fourth grader. Maxine is an adorable girl with big glasses and a big heart. Her family is gentle too and I enjoyed meeting them. The illustrations have a cozy feeling to them as we see into the places in Maxine’s world.
The book is definitely on the long side for a picture book. Obviously this isn’t unheard of, I simply tend to prefer keeping picture books shorter and saving more complex stories for transitional chapter books, but that’s totally a personal preference. I think the story and length does make the book a better fit for older audiences, first or second grade and up. If you could get your third and fourth graders into it, it would be great!
From a social justice standpoint I thought this book really tackled some interesting problems. Maxine and her family support being involved in community and helping out how and when they can. They volunteer at a food pantry once a month and started to do so after Maxine noticed an unhoused man and began asking questions. (Side note, I wish the book had called him unhoused instead of homeless.)
I really love that her family is so willing to engage in this way and the way Mubarak has written it, it comes across as genuine and sincere instead of didactic. It’s this ethic of service that leads Maxine to help Mrs. Sullivan, her neighbor across the street, solve a problem. It turns out Mrs Sullivan is functionally illiterate, largely because she struggled so much in school learning to read, never got the help she needed to be successful, and then dropped out of school. I have never seen a picture book that takes on this issue, but it isn’t an uncommon one.
I know my library system has a program for adults who are illiterate or need more reading instruction and it isn’t the only program like that out there by any means. It might not be super realistic that a fourth grader is going to help a woman with learning disabilities to learn to read, but I love books that take a positive stance on children stepping in and stepping up, even if it’s not totally plausible.
I think it’s a representation of sorts. It shows kids they can help and puts faith in them. No need to squash their optimism and willingness to do good. If anything I think it encourages them to stay engaged and find ways they can help even if it doesn’t look exactly the way they first think it will.
5.0 out of 5 stars Review written by Jedlie Maxine’s New Job written by Dr. Lynda J. Mubarak and illustrated by Adua Hernandez introduces us to a young girl named Maxine Hill who loves to read, work crossword puzzles, visit her best friend, Amanda Grayson, and play with her cat, Amos. Maxine is a fourth-grade student who is full of curiosity and wants to take up a career of forensic scientist when she grows up. Maxine is concerned by her neighbour Mrs. Sullivan’s strange behaviour and is determined to track down the cause.
She embarks on a fact-finding mission and finds out that Mrs. Sullivan was dropped out from school when she was in seventh grade and can’t read! Fortunately, Maxine with the help of her supportive family takes up a new job of being a tutor to Mrs. Sullivan and teach her how to read.
Maxine’s New Job is a nice introduction to what a neighbor is and the role a neighbor should play. Teaching service and helping others can’t be done through direct instruction. You can share positive examples of service via stories in great children’s books and Dr. Lynda’s book does a wonderful job at teaching kindness, service, and helping others. I especially love the sense of community that is prominent throughout the book. It introduces kids to what a community service is and the importance of serving people in need.
It’s a good lesson for our children to learn, that although everyone has deficiencies in some area, there is always something we can do to help if we are looking for opportunities and making ourselves available. I love the line said by Maxine’s mom “When a person needs help, you do what you can for them with what you have or what you know”. It’s a sweet story about open hospitality and generosity to those around us.
What I particularly liked about this book is that it features a young black girl as an adorable protagonist of the story. We know that all children love seeing faces like theirs within the pages of their picture books, but it can be hard to find books starring kids of color. Dr. Lynda’s book not only gives children of color an opportunity to see themselves in stories but also helps broaden the perspective of all children by fostering children’s sense of empathy and connection with characters who might look different from themselves.
The illustrations are so beautiful, and the plot is captivating. You’ll love this friendly little girl who has quite a fun and busy school life but takes the time to check on her neighbour and help her by teaching how to read. Highly recommended to kids of all ages!
It was a warm, bright Sunday morning and a special time for the Hills. Once a month on Sundays, the Hill Family spent four hours at the Helping Hands Food Pantry. Max had asked her parents several important questions after watching a homeless family standing on a corner last year. That’s when Mr. and Mrs. Hill decided that Max needed to learn how community agencies serve people in need. The Hills contacted the pantry and made arrangements for the family to volunteer one day per month. Maxine enjoyed the community service hours. Her job was filling each family meal box with a can of green beans and cereal. Mr. and Mrs. Hill worked in the pantry kitchen.
“Max, when a person needs help, you do what you can for them with what you have or what you know. Never forget that,” said Mrs. Hill. “OK mom, I won’t forget,” said Maxine.
The Hills completed their four volunteer hours and shook hands with the families before leaving. Max thought, Wow, it feels great to help someone who is having a difficult time. Mom says we should continue to do this once each month and I think she’s right! The Hills stopped at an ice cream shop for a treat and returned home so that Max could prepare for the first day of school.
The first day at B. H. Obama Elementary School was awesome! Maxine listened as the new principal welcomed the students and the parents. She was happy to see her classmates from the past year and she saw some new faces. The lunchroom had been repainted and it looked completely different. Maxine also discovered that she would be in the new wing of the school because the student enrollment had increased. Wow, everything was new in this area from the desks to the lockers! And to make it even better, she didn’t have to share a locker this year.
At the end of the day, she had shared some summer memories and made new friends. Maxine also had several school papers to take home. One of the papers was a flier about open house in a few days. When the evening school bus stopped on the corner, Maxine and four neighborhood kids hopped off and began walking home. As Maxine walked, she smiled, looked down at her new sneakers, and thought about all the new changes at school. She was trying to decide whether she wanted to join the chess, robotics or Scrabble club. When she looked up, she was facing her house and Mrs. Sullivan was watering the flowers in her little red well next door. Hmm, the Sullivans may want to come to my school’s open house, so I’ll give the flier to Mrs. Sullivan, thought Maxine.
She ran over to Mrs. Sullivan, handed her the flier and began discussing the first day of school. Maxine talked very hurriedly about the first day of school and said good-bye quickly. She knew it was time to get home and take Amos outside. Mrs. Sullivan listened and nodded, but had a concerned look on her face as Maxine walked away.
Maxine thought about asking Mrs. Sullivan if she was feeling alright, but she thought about what her mom said last week, “Max, please try to be courteous. You ask so many questions. Maybe you should be a detective!” She thought for a minute, walked back into the house, ran up the stairs and called Amos. It was time for his afternoon walk and his favorite doggie treat. I’ll talk with Mrs. Sullivan later thought Maxine.
Amos ran out of the bedroom, rubbed his head against Maxine’s leg and ran downstairs to the front door. He was ready to take the afternoon walk around the block. After walking with Amos and waving at the neighbors, Maxine and Amos slowly walked back to the house. Mrs. Hill was busy preparing dinner. Today was Monday, so it was going to be chicken tacos, Maxine’s favorite. Maxine looked at the Sullivan house from the kitchen window and inquired, “Mom, have you ever noticed anything strange about Mrs. Sullivan?”
“Max, what may seem strange or unusual to you could be normal behavior for another person.” responded Mrs. Hill. “I know that Mom, but she seemed uncomfortable when I spoke to her about my first day at school. She looked very uneasy when I gave her the announcement about the school’s open house”, stated Maxine. “Maybe she had something on her mind Max. People sometimes look at you when you are talking, but they are thinking about other important things. We all do it from time to time”, explained Mrs. Hill. I know Mom is right, thought Maxine but no one should look that weird if I’m discussing school or a piece of paper.
Maxine sat down at the kitchen table and enjoyed the tacos and ice tea with Mrs. Hill. Mr. Hill always worked late on Mondays so Maxine and Mrs. Hill had their special time to talk about all the new school developments. Amos was curled up in a furry ball under her chair. The first day of school had been great and she ended the day with her favorite meal!
Before Maxine went to bed she thought about Ms. Parker’s remark after math class ended today. “Max, if you are still thinking about becoming a detective, you should also consider a career as a forensic scientist. Both jobs require an interest in science, working with many pieces of information called clues, and solving mysteries”, explained Ms. Parker. I think I need to go to the library tomorrow at school or the city library on Saturday morning to see what this forensic thing is all about! thought Maxine.
The next day Maxine decided to finish her lunch early and ask the lunch monitor for a pass to go to the school library. When Maxine entered the library, she walked over to a student computer and began her search for detectives and forensic scientists. Maxine was surprised to learn that uncovering mysteries was one of the oldest sciences in the world. Wow! So solving mysteries involves reviewing pieces of evidence or clues and building a story or opinion around the material piece by piece. This sounds like fun!
Purchase Maxine’s New Job by Lynda Jones-Mubarak Download Kindle Link: http://a.co/34dskQW
ABOUT THE AUTHORDr. Lynda J. Mubarak is a retired special education teacher, facilitator, and adult ESL adjunct who read constantly as a child. Dr. Lynda is an advocate for early literacy and life long learning. She loves to create stories for young children with an emphasis on community service, global empathy, and human compassion. She is a graduate of Texas Christian University, Texas Wesleyan University, Nova Southeastern University and she is an Army veteran.
Dr. Lynda is a co-host of The Author’s Lounge Radio Show at the Fish Bowl Radio Network. She enjoys crossword puzzles, live theater, and traveling with her husband, Kairi, and their rescue dogs, Ebony Joyce and Shorty Junior. Dr. Lynda has established a life-long partnership with the Community Food Bank of Fort Worth, TX. A percentage of all book sales will be donated to the CFB to assist families in need. Visit our website today: https://www.stationsforkids.com
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STATIONS FOR KIDS is dedicated to early literacy and community service. The best way to ensure your child’s personal and career success is to begin the learning process as soon as possible. Academic success is always necessary, but your child also needs to see how he or she fits into the world community. A combination of community service and applicable educational concepts will give your child a balanced view of the world. Visit our website today: https://www.stationsforkids.com
Michele Nicole was born in Trinidad, West Indies and raised in Queens Village, NY. She left New York in 2001 to attend North Carolina Central University where she graduated. She stayed in North Carolina for eleven years and eventually relocated to Atlanta, GA to be closer to family. She is a servant leader, entrepreneur, photographer and traveler. She is also the author of the book Are You Done With Him?
Please consider joining the EDC Creations team by becoming a blog tour host, radio interviewer, chat host or by purchasing Stripped For Greater: Walk By Faith by Michele Nicole featured here and giving it to a friend. We welcome the community into the program and will support any of our partners with promotional gifts and book gifts in return.
Spread the word…we want to bring more entertainment, education and enlightenment to the community! Download book cover image and author photo from this page and share on your social media pages today.
1. Please share this flyer links on your social media pages. Each tour page has all of the details about the book and the author. Take what you need to add to your blog, social media walls or website. Here is the tour link: https://www.smore.com/tk7bq-stripped-for-greater
2. Let Ella D. Curry know that you are joining the tour by leaving your website or blog address in the comments section at the end of the page. You can also email her at: edc_dg@yahoo.com to claim your subscription gift box or book gift package.
TITLE OF BOOK:
Stripped For Greater: Walk By Faith by Michele Nicole
GENRE:
Biography & Autobiography/Personal Memoirs
Body, Mind & Spirit/ Inspiration and Personal Growth
Religion/Christian Living/Personal Growth & Development
AMAZON READER REVIEW
Stripped for Greater is a non-fiction thematic autobiography that chronicles the tough experiences of Michele Nicole in her homeless experience on the streets of Atlanta, GA. Michele depicts her experience as a religious rite of passage that was designed to elevate her on a higher spiritual level. Michele brings a personal, introspective lens on the challenging and sometimes mundane day to day activities of living out her car, bathing in public restrooms and having breakfast at various continental servings at local hotels. In her time surviving as a homeless woman, Michele journeys through various self-revelatory lessons that she would learn about herself and her relationship with God.
The theme that Michele announces through various points of her journey is that being homeless was God stripping her of her dependence on everything so that He could teach her how to depend on him. In additional, the greater represents the place that God would take her into after her time being homeless. Although the theme is present in the story, I’d like to see the story lead to “greater works” as depicted by scripture for the Christian walk. Though we share with Christ in his sufferings, we also shall reign with Him as well, according to Christian doctrine. I think Stripped for Greater would deliver a much stronger purpose if the “Greater” was tied to a much more powerful destination. Perhaps to achieve this, more recounts of Michele’s life after being homeless should be added to the story.
Michele delivers Stripped for Greater in a causal and sometimes comedic voice that allows the reader to understand her persona. You feel as if the story is being told to you over a casual lunch with a friend. The story does well with offering descriptive wording to assist with the experiences Michele faced from day to day while being homeless.
Purchase Stripped For Greater: Walk By Faith from Amazon
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STRIPPED FOR GREATER: WALK BY FAITH BY MICHELE NICOLE MITCHELL
I had $0.06 in my bank account and $5 in coins in my purse. As I sat in the car, the reality of this season of my life just hit me…homeless.
I am homeless.
I looked at myself in the mirror and the conversation in my mind began. “It’s all your fault. You did this to me. You. YOU failed us. You are 46 years old and you have nothing. You are stuck. You are yet again in “starting over” mode. You are not all here, you are functioning broken.
How do you go from having a job with benefits, having your own business as a travel agent, having almost paid off all your debt and making plans for the next season of your life, to sitting in the front seat of a car with $0.06 in the bank and $5 in your purse, your items in a borrowed storage unit, your clothes in a travel garment bag, a job paying $8.50 per hour working 15-25 hours per week and you have two college degrees?
How the hell did this happen to us Michele…please tell me…I would like to know.”
BOOK REVIEWS
“Michele’s book reminded me of my own story of struggle. Her words painted a very clear picture for me that immediately took me back to when I lived in my car. This book will inspire and encourage anyone that is currently down, that they can recover and excel.” -Pastor Johnson
“Your book has truly inspired me to be a better me. While reading, I found myself reading the scriptures that you referenced. It has motivated me to let peace be still, and listen for my directions from the most high.” – Ms.Tracy W.
“Truly an easy, inspirational page turner. As I was reading, I laughed and reflected on God’s amazing grace. The author is truly gifted. I look forward to sharing and reviewing this book with my book club.”- Ms. Karese M.
“I loved everything about the book , the emotional roller coaster, the scare, the bravery, the encounter with strangers later to know they was messengers God angels ,the willingness to learn how to obey and trust in oneself and in God. I recommend this book to anyone who needs reassurance that you’er not alone. This book goes to show you that no matter the place ,the time, the situation , if you feel you are lacking something in life or you feel lost, need change in yourself take a leap of faith ,believe , in the journey ,the change the season. Thank you Michele Nicole. P.S part 2 please” – Ms. Michelle J.
“I do not know where to begin. When I started reading, I immediately felt chills and the tears started. I found that the book is so relatable because a lot of the experiences that Ms. Michele went through or have gone through. I remember being homeless for half the time that she was when I was in high school with my mom and twin. We stayed in a couple of family houses for no more than a week and then in an extended stay.
There were days were money was so tight and we both went to different schools. I was in Atlanta and my sister in East Point. My mom works in Riverdale and I was in the Magnet Program where I was miserable due to being overweight, teased and bullied. Talk about a wake up call and stress build up, huh??
We made it through after a while and discovered who was really for us. I am so thankful that Stripped For Greater was written because I can start to finish my healing from grief and put my energy into my livelihood. Its a new dawn, its a new day and I a feeling good. Ms. Michele, this book is powerful, motivational and life changing and the best 10 hours spent. I appreciate you. Thank you!! – Ms Mariah
“I am a Believer, who was struggling with un-belief. Out of desperation I became bold enough to ask God to teach me to trust Him. What I did not prepare for was the process He would use to bring it to pass. Let me tell you something, when you ask God to teach you, you do NOT get to choose the HOW.” – Michele Nicole Mitchell
CHAPTER EXCERPT
It was time for some truth. It was the type of truth that needed to be said out loud. Would I offend God if I told Him what I was wrestling with? Would it insult Him after all He had done for me? Would it bring shame to me if I admitted out loud what I was struggling with internally? Would He separate Himself from me? After all He has done, I should have a different perspective, right? I believe the time has come to tell Him out loud what I already knew internally.
Look, let’s cut the nonsense. He Is God, and since He is God, there is no such thing as “breaking news” to Him. The fact is, He already knows, and He is waiting on me to be honest with MYSELF. He is waiting for me to admit it out loud, so my ears can hear it. But when I do, what happens next? Well I guess that is what I would find out because I was not going to hold it in and pretend any longer.
Well, I opened my mouth and said, “God, I believe but help the part of me that has un-belief. I don’t trust you anymore and my faith is wavering. I am frustrated belonging to you. You are silent when I need you to speak. You are elusive when I need you to be near. Belonging to you always requires sacrifice but I am tired of sacrificing for your name’s sake. I am sick of being yours. I can’t stand it anymore! I want to walk away but then where am I going to go? Will I go to the enemy? Don’t I have a say in what I choose for me? I have been raised in the church but church ain’t working for me anymore. Something is shifting in me that require more. I am sick of this. I just don’t… I can’t…it’s just…you know what… I’ve had enough. Yeah, I know what you have done for me since I have been homeless, and I know how you have covered me and taken care of me all my life, but I want more.
This agitation in me is causing me to be angry and pissed off and…I can’t continue like this…I just can’t with you…I just can’t.”
I stopped walking. “Did I just say out loud what was really in my heart towards God? What the hell was I thinking?” I said.
GENRE: Biography & Autobiography/Personal MemoirsBody, Mind & Spirit/ Inspiration and Personal GrowthReligion/Christian Living/Personal Growth & Development
Michele Nicole was born in Trinidad, West Indies and raised in Queens Village, NY. She left New York in 2001 to attend North Carolina Central University where she graduated. She stayed in North Carolina for eleven years and eventually relocated to Atlanta, GA to be closer to family. She is a servant leader, entrepreneur, photographer and traveler. She is also the author of the book Are You Done With Him?
BPM: Please share something our readers wouldn’t know about you.
I will start with my name. I am Michele Nicole Mitchell. I was born in Trinidad, West Indies. I came to the United State when I was about 7or 8 years old. My favorite thing to do is travel and I love to cook. I value gathering folks at my home once a quarter and having transparent conversations with women of different ages and experiences so we can eat, fellowship, pray, cry, laugh and pour into each other. My objective is to live for when I leave, so I pour out and that is the best receiving I can ever get.
I am a Believer, who was struggling with un-belief. Out of desperation I became bold enough to ask God to teach me to trust Him. What I did not prepare for was the process He would use to bring it to pass. Let me tell you something, when you ask God to teach you, you do NOT get to choose the HOW.
BPM: Tell us about your first published book. What was the journey like?
The first published book was a coming of age experience. It was about a one night stand that lasted for 3 years. I compromised my integrity and standards in the hopes of getting a man that was emotionally wounded, unavailable and chose not to commit to loving himself, to see my value, worth and love me. I discovered my sexual self at his expense and also discovered that you cannot heal someone who desires to stay broken. The journey was painfully therapeutic. It caused me to see and accept the part I played in my own demise.
BPM: Introduce us to your most recent work. Available on Nook and Kindle?
My most recent work is entitled Stripped For Greater: Walk By Faith. It is a very transparent and honest book. I am a Believer, that was struggling with un-belief. Out of desperation I became bold enough to ask God to teach me to trust Him. What I did not prepare for was the process He would use to bring it to pass.
This book shares with its readers the process and series of life events that occurred that taught me how to Trust God, even when I felt like I could not Trace God. I am working with my distributors to make the book available for electronic devices.
BPM: Can you share with us something about the book that isn’t in the blurb?
When you ask God to teach you to trust Him, you do NOT get to choose the HOW. As I began to learn to trust God during my season of un-belief, there were encounters with individuals that showed me how much He loved me and how far He would go to protect me. In my emotional state of “functioning broken”, He still used me to help others and meet their need at our point of meeting. My lack of trusting God and being a believer that was struggling with un-belief never stood in His way of taking care of me, it stood in my way of surrendering to Him.
BPM: Is writing easy for you? Do you feel lonely being a writer during the creative process?
Writing is not easy for me to do, but it is not difficult. What I mean by that is that for me writing is therapeutic and confrontational. I write from my perspective but as I write I am reminded that I am not the only one that was part of the event. That those who played their part in the event not only did I have an encounter with them but they had an encounter with me.
As I mature as a writer I am understanding that there is more than one perspective and more than one experience. Being a writer that is learning the value of understanding that transparency changes lives, writing, just like God, causes me to stop looking out of a window and start looking into a mirror.
I do not feel lonely during the creative process but I do feel the weight of understanding that it is important to convey the moment in a simple relatable way so someone who reads it can honestly say “its not just me”.
BPM: What advice would you give aspiring writers that would help them finish a project when so many ideas are running together?
Start writing from where you currently are in your journey. Stop trying to start from the beginning and frustrating yourself with thinking that it should go from A to B to C to D. Writing does not always have a systemic flow. Sometimes its a memory that surfaces, write that. Sometimes its s song that triggers an emotion or memory, write that.
Write from where you are. I love the feel of pen to paper because I feel as if there is a connection with what is about to be born, from the intangible to the tangible. When I first started writing, I wanted to see my progress, so what I would do is write then stick that sheet of paper on my living-room wall. There was no order to the writing but as it came, I wrote. Then I would step back and look at what came out of me.
Eventually, I began to stick the paper on the wall in order of the earliest memory forward. Then I wrote the connecting dots in-between. That is exactly how I wrote my first book Are You Done With Him. An old journal, memories, paper on the living-room wall, a song that reminded me of the yesterdays and lots of giving myself room to breath and heal. Write from where you are.
BPM: What were the key challenges you faced when writing this book?
When I was instructed that my journal was to become a published book, I sat in the living-room with all my journals, my niece laptop, a pen, notepads a cup of hot lemon water and stared out the window for hours. The challenge for me was the acceptance of what writing this book was about to do in my life, and that is, my voice was about to be born. Writing this book would be me accepting the mandate on my life, and that mandate is to go back and strengthen my brethren. For those who read this book, it might be just a book, but for me, it’s the accepting of my ministry as a fore-runner. It is knowing that I play a part in a bigger story that is being told.
BPM: Did you learn anything personal from writing your book?
The most personal thing that I learned from writing this book, is that when you ask God to teach you to trust Him, you do NOT get to choose the HOW. What I also learned, was that God is very patient and kind towards me. His Grace, is my best friend.
BPM: How do you feel when someone disagrees with something you have written?
There was a time when I would feel offended when someone disagreed with my writing. However, because I am maturing, I am listening to opinions that do not necessarily reflect mine. Now one thing I will not do is give someone permission to verbally stomp me or stab me with their opinions simply because they were confronted and the truth agitated them, that is something that they will have to wrestle with, but I do value a different perspective that is healthy in its presentation.
BPM: Are there under-represented groups or ideas featured in your book?
I would not say that me being a believer that was struggling with un-belief is under represented, but there are a lot of Christians that are struggling in their walk of faith that would never admit it. There are many believers that will not say “I need help learning to Trust God even when I cannot Trace God”. There are many believers who think that God cannot handle hearing the truth about whatever situation, emotion or disappointment their heart and mind is dealing with. Personally I think it is disrespectful to Him, to not be honest with Him and with ourselves.
BPM: How can readers discover more about you and your work?
Love For Liberty by Ann Clay (Love Like It’s Hot Boxset)
Mayor Liberty Kennedy is hell-bent on preserving Versa Village’s legacy, but that’s not why she agrees to Rani Brooks’ proposition. Everyone knows that she and the city councilman are feuding rivals. His proposition at first is far-fetched, but it doesn’t take long before his blazing kisses are the only expansion she yearns for.
Councilman Rani Brooks will move mountains to win Liberty’s love, even if it means backing her village development project. He could care less about the public works expansion at first, but if it will get him what he wants, Liberty as his own, he’s all in.
Versa Village is in for an unforgettable Independence Day treat. Kisses by day, and fireworks by night.
Excerpt: Love For Liberty by Ann Clay
“Mayor.” Rani’s eyes lowered to meet hers. She saw the fire in them, and it stirred the part of her she worked hard to ignore whenever he neared. After last night at the Bergman Fundraising Gala, the gentle touching and sweet kisses, the mere remembrance had her longing for more than his scalding glance.
“Councilman,” Liberty responded with a slight raise of her chin. What is he doing here this early in the morning? Man, you’re going to be the end of me. I just know it. He towered above her with broad shoulders, massive chest, and powerful arms bulging against his fitted, heavily starched shirt. His clean-shaven face drew her attention immediately; high cheeks and unforgettable eyes, hidden behind heavy dark lashes, lured Liberty into his hold without effort.
Rani garnered a lot of female attention: Being single with no children, the head of his family-owned business, and extremely handsome made him one of the most desirable men within a hundred miles of Versa.
He’d won the chair of the city council at the same time she was elected mayor. Until then, they’d practically moved in different circles. And like every other member of the council, with the exception of the city manager and herself, he worked for the village part-time. He didn’t normally come to city hall until the day of the monthly council meeting.
She moved past him as quickly as her clicking heels could take her across the marble floor. She would not be tortured by Rani Brooks. She had too much on her plate today. Once she escaped Rani, she sighed, but her relief would be brief. She saw the small crowd gathered at her office door once she turned the corner. She released an audible groan. “Lawd, give me strength.”
She picked up her pace and shifted the folders she carried from one arm to the other, momentarily shoving Rani to the back of her thoughts. She smiled as she neared the cluster. “Good morning. It’s always a pleasure to see you all. What brings you here at such an early hour?”
The lie struck a nerve in her head; she knew full well that she would much rather have arrived at her office without drama. And where was her assistant, Justin? He usually ran interference for her. She groaned. The interruption did not fit into her plan for the day. She’d hoped to jot down some notes before the Economics Development tiger team meeting this morning. The planning team needed her signature before the proposal went to the city council in a couple of days. If all went well and the council and the residents agreed on the proposal, she would plan a ground-breaking celebration in time for the Fourth of July to denote a landmark celebration for Versa.
Justin appeared, out of breath. “Sorry, Mayor Kennedy. I tried to man the front entrance. Apparently…”
So where did all of these people come from? Liberty tried not to frown. Instead she smiled and prayed it looked genuine.
“Not a problem, Justin. I have an open-door policy, and I’m here to serve.”
But she did have a problem, at least this morning. She hoped her displeasure didn’t show on her face. “Please, come in.” She tilted her head toward the closed door and dumped the folders into Justin’s waiting arms. “Just give me a minute to grab a pen and pad.”
The sound of grumbles followed her into the reception area, where cool air greeted them. The late spring weather in the southern region of the country seemed hotter than usual, and wilted everyone bold enough to stay outside for more than an hour.
Liberty reached across Justin’s desk and grabbed a pad and pen before turning to meet the crew now clustered in the room. She put on a smile as she glanced across the faces of each person. “All right! Good morning, again. What can I do for you?”
Mel Worrell spoke first. He moved closer than she liked. She almost stepped back, but stilled.
“We see the need for the development in Versa, but,” he turned and pointed to the people behind him, “we want to make sure it doesn’t negatively impact our community, especially our businesses.” He looked down into her face. “Sure, we can use some of the improvements you’re talking about. We came to make sure you know where we stand.”
Liberty paused before speaking. “Certainly I understand your concerns, and of course you’ll have the opportunity to voice all of them at the next council meeting.”
“That’s just it!” Maxine Oliver moved forward. “Seems to me there’s a whole lot of fussing and not enough discussing at these darn meetings. It’s just plum crazy. Now, here’s what we need you to do, young lady. In this proposal of yours, you need to make sure you’re not putting the burden on us. We pay our share, and we want to be sure this won’t hurt our businesses.”
Liberty raised a brow at the woman’s reference to her, as if she were a wayward child being reprimanded. She had to admit that since Rani Brooks joined the council, things hadn’t progressed as she’d liked. Their behind-the-scenes bickering had been recounted by those who witnessed it and was now public knowledge.
Before Maxine could continue, Connie Jenkins interrupted. “You and Rani need to take your spatting someplace else.”
“Certainly, Councilman Brooks and I have our differences, Mrs. Jenkins, but I assure you we’re on the same page when it comes to this public works project.”
She was lying through her teeth, for the development would undoubtedly meet resistance. She knew in her heart that if Rani Brooks, the councilman who headed the budget committee, had anything to say, he would certainly be opposed.
Then she once again remembered last night. Both of them had seemed to forget, at least temporarily, that they stood on opposite sides of the issues.
She had run for mayor to make a difference in Versa. Willie Martin, the previous mayor, had sat in this office for two decades, collecting the measly pay and attending social events like he’d been crowned king. A forward thinker, she vowed to improve the village. In the past, council members had proposed projects like this one that required the use of city funds, and often met NIMBY (“Not in my backyard”) opposition from residents. Of course, these oppositions were incredibly frustrating for Versa’s officials.
Still, determined to see this project through, she advocated the positives, like restoring their severely dated infrastructure and providing needed jobs for the residents. Liberty visited surrounding villages and saw how they’d made notable progress. She wanted those things for Versa. After all, her late father, the village’s first architect, had loved Versa. Liberty insisted on preserving its rich history and unique structures. Still, upgrades to public works needed much attention: better drainage, upgraded power sources and telecommunications services, and digital public infrastructure. The council had neglected restoration attempts over the last decade…a failure on their part. It was time to make changes, and she saw fit to make them. She had made a promise to her father that she would try, and she had ideas on how to make it work. This year marked the village’s centennial. What better time to keep a promise and simultaneously set plan’s for Versa’s future?
“Well, just so you know, most of our businesses can’t afford more taxes. It’s bad enough we’re scraping by now.” Mel stood his ground, frowning at her.
“Trust me, Mr. Worrell, I’m on your side.” She moved the pen across the pad, jotting down notes to look into later. She’d planned ahead of time to reassure the residents that the land use option would ease their tax burden. This concept had worked in other villages and she was prepared to share her plan on how to get this done.
“Hmph! Where have I heard that before?” Connie muttered.
“Please, bring your concerns to the meeting. We can discuss them then. I will address them as best as I can. I promise.”
Liberty looked up from her scribbling, her eyes straying across the room, and there he stood just outside of her open door, arms folded against his chest. Where did he come from, she wondered. They glared at each other in silent opposition, causing her to miss part of Maxine’s question. She quickly turned her attention to the woman. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Oliver; can you repeat that?”
“When can we get a look at this proposal of yours?”
“The proposal is drafted by the Economics Development tiger team and should be released tomorrow, which will give you plenty of time to prepare your questions,” she answered, then took another glance at the door.
Rani had vanished.
*****
Rani turned to go after Liberty once she turned the corner, but stalled. He originally intended to ask her about the proposal. At least that was the lie he told himself. Liberty’s soft touch had haunted him all night. He decided to use the proposal as a way to engage her again. He’d been waiting for her when she entered the corridor between lobby and parking garage. After she passed him and while contemplating his dilemma, he paced the lobby until he couldn’t stand it any longer. He needed to touch her again, or he’d go crazy. He hurried toward her office before he changed his mind again. When he arrived at her office door, he found her trapped in the reception area. He silently watched for a few moments before she glanced his way, paralyzing him where he stood. He considered helping, but decided to stay out of the debate for now. The moment she looked away, he moved, choosing to approach her later, after the crowd had departed.
Rani walked to the water fountain, dipped his head, and took several gulps of the cool liquid. Satisfied, he headed back to Liberty’s office. He inhaled heavily before releasing the trapped air when he saw the crowd had dispersed. Stepping into the now empty reception area, he caught a glimpse of Liberty as she bent over Justin’s desk. The sight stirred a yearning he’d long fought to control. The dark fitted skirt hugged her rounded hips, and tapered closely around her small waist with a blouse tucked into the folds of it. In that moment, he remembered how Liberty’s hourglass figure pressed against him had made his blood boil. Her eyes widened when she noticed him, then narrowed in a glare. She’d caught him admiring her; even so he hoped she wouldn’t deny him a few minutes to get reacquainted, as they’d done last night.
“Got a minute?” he asked, not recognizing his own voice. Seeing her made him lose control.
“Not really. You might want to make an appointment, Councilman.”
She stood to her full height, the dark skirt with a blue top hiding nothing from his imagination. Liberty’s well-endowed figure made her hard to forget. After their brief encounter last night, he had a hell of time getting her out of his system. In those few hours they spent together, they’d set aside their differences and enjoyed a cozy night; laughing, talking, sipping wine, and yes, touching one another when they slow danced. The music reached the garden terrace away from the main entrance, allowing them some privacy. When he kissed her, she hadn’t resisted.
“Last night.” He folded his arms across his chest.
She sucked in a short breath. “What about last night?”
He watched her trembling hand push stray hair from her face. Her reaction made him drop his arms. He wished he could leap forward and fold her into his embrace. Admittedly, he wanted more of what they shared last night, and he didn’t care if Justin witnessed it or not. But reasoning took over, so instead he tried again to have a conversation without prying eyes and listening ears.
“We need to talk, and it can’t wait.”
Seconds ticked by, filling the silence between them, and just when he thought Liberty wouldn’t give, she turned and headed to her private office. “Let’s talk in my office, please.”
He followed closely and once inside asked, “Open or closed?”
“Closed, please. Thank you.”
Rani closed the door and moved to the side of her desk, not giving her a chance to escape behind her desk. He took her hand and drew her toward him until their bodies stood mere inches apart. He leaned in, his face so close to hers their lips nearly touched. She trembled in his grasp, and the awareness of her response made him eager to taste her lips. Liberty’s lids dropped, elevating the passion between them. He controlled his urge, although he wanted to kiss her more than he wanted to breathe.
“Look at me, Liberty.”
Her eyes fluttered open. They harbored the same passion that was stirring through his blood. Unable to resist any longer, Rani captured her lips and savored their softness. He slid his arms around her waist, bringing her closer. She surrendered willingly as her arms eased around him. He lingered, pressing her gently and possessively against him. Once he lifted his head, she dropped hers against his chest. Their breathing matched and they remained joined until he finally stepped back without releasing her.
“What are we doing, Liberty?”
She stared without answering. Eventually, she stepped away completely, moving around the other side of her desk to escape. Before she could reach the door to see him out of her office, he blocked her path and faced her, silently demanding an answer.
“I don’t know.” She looked away. “I don’t know.”
“Something about last night…I can’t shake it. I don’t think I want to.” They’d been interrupted last night before he got the chance to ask that very question.
“Look, we both have jobs to do, and Versa depends on us to do exactly that, our jobs. Now, if that’s all you wanted to talk to me about, then this meeting is over with, Councilman.”
He stared at her in disbelief. “You’re telling me that what happened between us last night has no relevance today?”
“I think we should keep our distance, Councilman.” She gestured for him to step aside, and he complied.
Liberty moved to the door and pulled it open. He was halfway out before turning. “That’s not as simple as you think, Mayor. Have lunch with me?”
“No, but thank you. Enjoy your day, Councilman Brooks.”
“We’ll talk later,” he said with bold confidence. He left her office without looking back, not giving her a chance to have the last word.
Love Like its Hot! is a searing, sensuous box set featuring stories of love and romance from six of today’s hottest contemporary romance writers! Each story surrounds the Fourth of July holiday, bringing passion and heat to life. This box set abounds with smart, witty, and loving characters these authors are known for and their readers have come to expect. The featured writers for this BLISTERING e-box set are: Ann Clay, Barbara Keaton, Deatri King-Bey, Donna Hill, Nicki Night,Xyla Turner.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR An avid reader and lover of positive, strong men, award-winning author, Ann Clay began her writing venture in 1999. She has been duly recognized for her warm-hearted stories, bursting with memorable characters, places and special moments. Venturing into several genres, Ann still prefers her romantic versions of life and living. She resides in Southern Illinois with family and loves hearing from her readers. Check her out at http://www.annclay.com, by email at annclay@annclay.com, Ann Clay on Facebook, annclaywrites on Twitter, or annclay35 on Instgram.
Other Books by Ann Clay
More Than a Bargain Waving From the Heart A Fresh Encounter Cupid’s Connection A Love for all Times Priceless Protective Custody Blue Autumn in the Bayou Final Play Beyond the Blue Cypress A Perfect Blend Worth the Ride Faith in Ordinary Things Game Changer Love on the Run
Intimate Conversation with Ann Clay
An avid reader and lover of positive, strong men, award-winning author, Ann Clay began her writing venture in 1999. She has been duly recognized for her warm-hearted stories, bursting with memorable characters, places and special moments. Venturing into several genres, Ann still prefers her romantic versions of life and living. She resides in Southern Illinois with family and loves hearing from her readers.
BPM: What inspired you to become a romance writer? How long have you been writing? I absolutely love reading which led me to writing. I love tender stories about romance and fantasy. I like how they impact not just the hero and heroine, but their family and friends as well. I started writing professionally in 1999.
BPM: How do you think you’ve evolved creatively? I’ve found a voice in my work, no matter what genre I’m writing in. My stories tend to write themselves… and I let the characters have their way. I get my story concepts from places I’ve visited or from simply people watching. I like watching how people interact with one another. I pretend I know what’s going on in their lives and that helps me create storylines or writing projects. I’m always looking for an angle or a secret that connects the reader to the characters. I like relatable characters, but I also like a hero and heroine readers will love from the beginning to the end of the story. The more I do these things, the better I get at telling their truth.
BPM: Do you view writing as a kind of spiritual practice? Oh boy…let’s see. It’s definitely a craft you have to practice on a regular basis. Sometimes finding time to write is challenging because I still have a full-time job. Some days I just don’t feel like it, but do it anyway. It definitely requires commitment and should become a way of life if you’re serious about the craft.
BPM: How has writing romance novels impacted your life? Every story written/told has elements of romance in them. Which to me means that romance is a genre that touches every reader of the written word. Life has taught me joy, anger, sadness, and love. Love is what I like best. I enjoy both historical and contemporary romance, although I tend to stick to contemporary when writing romance. Pure romance, to me, appeals to all the five senses. I enjoy escaping into a good love story, even if I have to create one myself.
BPM: What was one of the most surprising things you learned while creating your body of work? That I like the characters I write about, and they’re people readers can relate to. And so far, I’ve been true to this format. I still have readers who ask about characters as if they’re members of the ‘family.’ It’s inspiring and what keeps me on the task.
BPM: How do you find or make time to write? Are you a plotter or a pantster? It’s sometimes hard, especially because I travel extensively. Sometime I just write small notes to add to a project later. I try to be consistent and write something every day. If I’m working on a project, I will make daily goals for myself because I have an end date in mind.
Definitely a pantster. I build my characters, and after that, they’re out of my control! Well, not always. I do build potential encounters and develop potential conflicts and encounters I think will keep the story interesting. However, I do allow my characters to drive the story.
BPM: Have you considered writing in another genre? I didn’t really read romance at first, but when I stumbled on AA romance, I was hooked. And mostly that’s what I write. I do write some women and inspirational pieces, but romance is my baby. It depends on where I am in life at the moment, which dictates what project I will start. I have several pieces still in draft that I have to go back and finish. I’ve also written a children’s book and a hilarious pet book. The pet book is yet to be published. Oh, I also started a funny christian book entitled, Church in an Uproar.
BPM: What is your story in Love Like It’s Hot about? Love For Liberty is a political romance that has village resident whispering. The secret love affair and a much needed city improvement project in Versa Village, sets the tone for a surprise the villagers least expects. The mayor, Liberty Kennedy is a freshmen politician, while her love interest, the city councilman, Rani Brooks, is seasoned; in politics, in business, and in the art of persuasion. Fireworks are igniting from all sides.
BPM: Give us some insight into your main characters. What makes each one so special? Liberty Kennedy has her work cut out for her. She’s smart, influential, and has a vision for making improvements. A freshmen politician, she finds herself in a love affair with the chairman of the Village Council. In the public they’re seen as rivals, but given the right circumstances, that rivalry turns into passion and create drama for the village they represent. Yet she is determined to finish the improvement project she started.
The hero is strong, ambitious, but respects family, work, and decency. Rani Brooks does his best to give Liberty space to do her job, but he is intentional in his resolve, making her his main focus. He knows what he wants and will do what it takes to get it (her).
BPM: What was your hardest scene to write, the opening or the close? The opening is always the hardest scene for me. I’m desperate to catch the reader’s attention at the very opening. I really strive to make the first few pages so engaging that the reader refuses to put the story down. I’m still working on it. One of these days I’m going to master this task. You’ll see!
BPM: Share one specific point in your book that resonated with your present situation or journey. Sometimes I’m so focused on the task that I don’t always enjoy the journey of completing the task. There is a point in the book where Liberty has to take several steps back to realize that she doesn’t have to do all the work by herself. Like a lot of us, we work hard, but not always smartly.
BPM: Is there a specific place/space/state that you find inspiration in? I’m a morning person, so I like quiet time. I listen to music. I like sitting in the park or on patio, watching nature. I also watch people and how they interact with one another. I’m always intrigued by what I hear and see.
BPM: Do you want each book to stand on its own or do you prefer to write series? I like both. But, I tend to write my series in such a manner that they can stand alone, and the stories are not required to be read in any particular order.
BPM: Does writing energize you? It does. There are so many stories in my head. They, the characters, talk to me non-stop. So, to quiet the voices, I have to put pen to paper.
BPM: Do you believe in writer’s block? I believe you come to a point in your writing where the plot is not playing out as you would like it to. It is the moment when you are force to step back and re-evaluate where the story is going. For some authors it’s as simple as taking a break or working on something else. For others, it may take discussing the plot with a trusted reader or writing partner.
BPM: Is there one subject you would never write about as an author? I’m not too interested in paranormal, mostly because I’m just not interested. I’m also not too keen on erotica. I have to feel some connection with the characters, and to me these characters are only interested in the sex, and not necessarily the relationship. I could be wrong about that, but that’s how I see it.
BPM: Is there a certain type of scene that’s harder for you to write than others? Sometimes love scenes are challenging because you want to make them as visual, natural, and often enough as possible to keep the story moving. I try not to be too graphic, but I do understand readers want to feel like those scenes are not robotic or unnatural. Most of my readers want lots of love scenes They want them hot, tender, sensual, and passionate all roll into one.
BPM: What projects are you working on at the present? I have couple of series I’ve started…Love’s in the Air, and Durbin Enterprises, both comprise of three books. Durbin Enterprises is all mapped out and I’m about halfway done with the first story, and have a single chapter for the other two stories. It’s a working progress.
I’m also working on a contemporary story entitled, Two Black Cats. It’s about two brothers from New Orleans. I’m actually pretty excited about this project and hope to have it released in late summary, early fall.
BPM: Tell us about your most recent work beyond this collection. Available on Nook and Kindle? I just tied up the Gumbo Love Series with four books. The last story takes place in Texas, but still have the bayou country feel. Worth The Ride is available both in print and eBook and can be found online. Also, Faith in Ordinary Things was released last year. It’s a little book of inspiration and funnies. It too is available in print and eBook formats.
BPM: What is your preferred method to have readers get in touch with or follow you? Readers can email me, follow me on my website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or at conferences. I’m gamed for it all. My Twitter handle is annclaywrites, and my Facebook is simply my name. My website is http://www.annclay.com and the email is annclay@annclay.com. I will be attending a number of book club and writing events this year. Would love to connect with readers there.
BPM: How can readers discover more about you and your work? Readers can just google me, normally it brings up all of my work. They may also search in Amazon or go to my website. I’m on Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, and Facebook. I would love hear from readers; if they’ve read my work I ask that they please leave a review, especially in Good Reads. That would help me out greatly. Thanks so much!
Don’t forget to look for Ann’s upcoming projects, including the Winter Games Series entitled Romance on Ice; and the new series, Love is in the Air and Durbin Enterprises. Happy Reading!
Books featured in the Love Like It’s Hot Boxset * Ann Clay – Love for Liberty * Barbara Keaton – Heat at First Sight * Deatri King-Bey – Best Laid Plans * Donna Hill – Summer Sizzle * Nicki Night – Sweet Heat Rising * Xyla Turner – The Fourth
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Love Like It’s Hot Celebrates Independence Day – a day celebrated around the country – and will never be seen quite the same as six of today’s contemporary, nationally best-selling romance authors bring the heat in this box set filled with unique stories of impassioned love and intense romance! The Fourth has never been hotter – be sure to Love Like its Hot! Available at Amazon & B&N.
Featured Authors in “Love Like It’s Hot!” Book Set:
* Love for Liberty by Ann Clay
* Heat at First Sight by Barbara Keaton
* Best Laid Plans by Deatri King-Bey
* Summer Sizzle by Donna Hill
* Sweet Heat Rising by Nicki Night
* The Fourth by Xyla Turner
Love Like its Hot! is a searing, sensuous box set featuring stories of love and romance from six of today’s hottest contemporary romance writers! Each story surrounds the Fourth of July holiday, bringing passion and heat to life.
This box set abounds with smart, witty, and loving characters these authors are known for and their readers have come to expect. The featured writers for this BLISTERING e-box set are: Ann Clay, Barbara Keaton, Deatri King-Bey, Donna Hill, Nicki Night,Xyla Turner.
Prince Ahbeh Mensah Ahmed Kwasi is going to be king of Libertad Island whether he likes it or not. To add to it, he must marry on his county’s Independence Day. An infamous playboy, the soon to be king realizes that he has no real prospects and doesn’t want the ones his mother has selected for him. He changes his mind once he sees the stunningly beautiful Trinity Nehemiah, someone he knows is his match in every way. The thing is, how to get her to marry him within 30 days.
Dr. Trinity Nehemiah is searching for a bacterium that is impacting the beautiful aquatic life of Libertad Island. Finding its source and coming up with a cure is her only charge, not the island’s handsome playboy who is set on getting under her skin and in her bed. Little does Trinity know, the soon to be king is more than interested in her bedroom skills.
Excerpt: Heat at First Sight by Barbara Keaton
CHAPTER 1
Thirty days. Mensah ended his prayer with the last words he’d heard from his father. He had thirty days to marry. Never mind that he didn’t have one female in mind, while he knew his mother had at least two. Mensah blanched at the thought – he wasn’t into marriage, couldn’t see what his brothers did – one woman, love, and eventually children running afoot. He then thought of his oldest brother, Helem, the next in succession, or that was until he’d dropped the bombshell a week ago – he and his wife were planning on moving from Libertad Isle to London.
Helem didn’t want to be king. Their father had announced a year ago that he would retire the next Independence Day and Helem would rightfully take his place. That was how it had always been, since Libertad and its surrounding islands had been founded nearly three centuries ago. Then a month ago, Helem broke the news to his parents and officially abdicated leaving him to be the next in line – next be sworn in as king of Libertad Isle, but in order for him to assume the crown, he had to have a wife.
Mensah wasn’t like his two brothers – Helem had settled down at the tender age of 21, marrying the only woman he’d ever dated – a woman from the island who had been born and raised to marry royalty. That was nearly fourteen years ago. Then there was his baby brother, Olabisi, who was about to marry his childhood sweetheart. While she hadn’t been raised for royalty, she was beloved by their parents, who were already talking about the children they would have.
“What do I do?” he looked up into the sky. He was a playboy, loved women, the very shape, color, smell and sway of their hips. He wasn’t ready to settle down and he knew that there was no one who would ever capture his heart – he’d seen too many women vie for his attention, not because they liked him, or were willing to get to know him, but because they knew that 29-year-old Prince Ahbeh Mensah Ahmed Kwasi was not only rich, but in line for a throne and a country he never thought he’d reign over.
As he turned from the balcony, he stopped. Movement captured his attention. He trained his obsidian-colored eyes across the varying hues and types of plush tropical foliage and flowers that rested several feet from the crystal blue terrain of the Caribbean Sea. Mensah spotted a lone figure as it swam toward the shore. He watched intently as the figure reached the shore line, then rose slowly from the pristine water. He blinked, turned his head slightly to the right then narrowed his dark eyes, his full lips pursed.
The figure had on a black wet suit that allowed him to make out the outline of hips and ample bosom. Reaching for his cell phone, he paused. His thick eye brows rose as the female pulled the wet suit down to reveal a white one-piece that stood in amazingly stark contrast to her mahogany skin. Absently, Mensah licked his lips. He loved mahogany.
He depressed a single digit then finally placed the cell to his ear. “Imam? Who is swimming on the east side of the island?”
Mensah absently nodded, his dark eyes fixed on the well-built female, as he listened to the head of security describe the stranger who had just slid out of the azure blue ocean and began crossing the isolated beach of white sand. “I see. Thank you, Imam. No. No, there are no problems. I will see father later. Shalom.”
The loud clang of the phone hitting the top of the railing before coming to rest on the marble flooring of the terrace momentarily stole his attention from the vexing view. He returned to his fixation, watching intently as she pulled the band from her hair, loosening twisted tresses to rest on her shoulders as she walked further from the ocean. Mensah even smiled when he noticed a large dog rush to her side. He watched as she knelt down, taking something from the animal’s mouth, looked it over, shook her head and then pitched the item over her shoulder. She rose, signaled with her hands toward the dog and then headed into the lush green foliage.
He had things to do. Heads of state to meet with concerning some additional business expansion for the island, lunch with a potential client, a tour of a newly opened resort and a dinner date with a woman he had met in the states who was coming to visit.
“Mensah?” from behind he heard his name called and recognized the voice as that belonging to his older brother, Helem. No matter the recent news, he smiled at hearing his brother’s voice.
Older by five years, Helem was always considered the most level headed of the three of them as evidenced by the types of business ventures he secured that would bring greater wealth to the already rich island. Mensah’s youngest brother, Olabisi, had been a child prodigy, playing over ten various instruments by the time he was five. Olabisi was a genius and a scientist, and was truly their mother’s favorite – only because mother had never had to scold him like she had Helem and Mensah. Especially Mensah.
Mensah smiled at that thought – he and his brothers were adventurous in just about everything – from sports to business; but one thing they didn’t share with Mensah was his adventurous spirit when it came to chasing women. Hands down, Mensah was a master.
“I’m on the terrace, brother,” Mensah responded, reluctantly turning his head from the mahogany beauty as she disappeared into the brush.
“Shalom,” Helem greeted his brother, wrapping him in his arms, kissing him on both cheeks. Mensah returned the loving gesture. “Have you eaten breakfast?”
“No. Have you?”
Helem shook his head. “Let’s go across the island and grab something. There’s much we have to discuss to get you ready and then I want to show you something on one of the other islands.”
Mensah absently grabbed his sun glasses and picked his cell phone up from the terrace floor. His curiosity, momentarily interrupted, had returned with a vengeance. He immediately wanted to know who the mahogany beauty was and he wasn’t willing to wait to ask his father.
“Go ahead. I’ll catch up with you in an hour.”
Mensah watched his brother as he narrowed his eyes.
“Ummm, uh. Okay. But do not stand me up, Mensah.”
“I won’t. I just got something to look at … I’m mean, look into.”
The sound of Helem’s laughter trailed behind him as he headed out of his brother’s living suite.
“Come on, Cousteau,” Trinity called out to her dog, a Cane Corso Mastiff, which she had gotten from her father as a puppy. “You can’t eat everything on this island. What are you trying to do, get us deported?” She tugged at her dog’s large jowls and smiled when Cousteau responded with a loud whine. “Oh, no, there will be no begging today.” She motioned with her hands, using sign language, to indicate she meant “no.”
Trinity shook her head, picked up Cousteau’s leash and the remaining samples she had retrieved from the sea. For the life of her, she couldn’t figure out what was killing off the jelly fish in large quantities and decided to ship several carcasses to a colleague in San Diego. As a result of the jelly fish dying, larger marine habitat was being affected as well. Just today, she had encountered what she thought was a rather lethargic bottlenose dolphin.
To Trinity, the behavior of the mammal was more than odd – this species exhibited a natural curiosity of their surroundings. She had come across this female dolphin several times during her exploration, recognizing it from others she’d encountered by the deep marks on her dorsal fin. She had named the dolphin Dolly and found her to be quite curious, swimming and diving alongside and jumping up and out of the water over Trinity. On this day the playfulness and curiosity were missing – instead Dolly just swam alongside her.
She slipped her wet suit from her body down to the white one-piece bathing suit she wore underneath. Pulling her hair from its band, she paused. Cousteau stood by her side. She looked up just as the lone figure left the expansive terrace which overlooked the ocean. She had never seen anyone standing there, even though she had seen lights on when she would come out at night.
She loved the island and had jumped at the chance to work there when her friend from college, Olabisi, called her and asked her to come to investigate the odd findings among the island’s aquatic life.
Dr. Trinity Marie Nehemiah had arrived on the large island, established in 1785 by escaped slaves with the help of a rogue Moor pirate by the name of Enrique El LeSans who deposited some 200 captives on the island along with a share of booty – food, tools, jewels and gold – that had been seized from a slave frigate, the Brigantine Dembia, heading to America. Trinity loved listening to Olabisi proudly reveal the rich history of the island named Libertad Isle – Libertad meaning Liberty in Spanish. Olabisi went on to mention that the island closest to Libertad was named after the pirate, with inhabitants adding the word “saint” in front – thus the nearby island was known as St. LeSans.
Olabisi was third in succession for the crown. His father, who had hired Trinity, was the king of the grouping of five islands, with Libertad its largest with nearly 50,000 inhabitants. Economically sound, the island boasted a healthy, robust tourist trade, rare mineral deposits found in the multitude of caves that dotted the islands and the vast deposits of crude oil beneath the sea floor. Olabisi’s father, King Busarah, had assumed the throne when his mother, the queen, died at the ripe age of 100 some twenty years prior.
Trinity first met King Busarah when he had personally flown to San Diego to meet with Trinity and her father, Nigel. The king had assured Trinity’s father that she, Nigel’s only daughter and the baby of his clan of four boys, would be safe on Libertad Isle. He’d personally see to it.
She had frowned on the meeting – at 28 she had seen more of the world than most women, and men for that matter, her age had, but that still didn’t preclude her older brothers and father from being a little too over protective. So, when King Busarah met her father, he not only gave his word to protect her, but saw to it that Trinity would have whatever she needed, including a private villa, security, servants and transportation – a moped, a high-speed jet boat and a helicopter whenever she needed to travel the farther islands.
Travel on each island was limited to small vehicles, bicycles and mopeds. A boat was needed to access the nearby surrounding islands – islands King Busarah’s ancestors helped to establish and added to the wealth of Libertad Isle.
Trinity agreed to the villa and two modes of transportation, a moped and motor boat, which is what she needed for her work, but she shunned a security detail and servants. She had Cousteau for protection, was pretty handy with a weapon and more than adept at cooking and cleaning.
Her thoughts back to the present, Trinity began singing a medley of Aretha Franklin tunes as she and Cousteau walked the trail leading to the three-story villa a short distance from the beach. At night, she loved to sit out on the roof-top veranda in one of the oversized pieces of patio furniture. The veranda boasted an unobstructed view of the ocean and provided her with one of her favorite past times – watching a full, high moon, its reflection rippling atop the ocean, surrounded by bright, winking stars overhead. Adding to the pleasing aesthetics were the sounds of the tide rolling in and out. Many a night, as she lay in her queen-sized bed covered by an ivory canopy of netting the sounds from the ocean had lulled her to sleep with Cousteau lazily lying at the foot of the bed. No matter what Trinity did, she couldn’t break Cousteau of the habit of sleeping at the foot of the bed – a habit her dog had taken up once they moved to the island.
Trinity stopped singing when Cousteau moved from her side to stand in front of her, a low growl emitting from her massive jowls.
“I have never been a pet’s meal,” Trinity heard the deep voice tinged with a noticeable island lilt. She watched as a tall, muscular man, his smooth skin a warm sepia, his eyes shaded by sunglasses, stepped out onto the path. “How vicious is that large animal?” He pointed then held up his hands in surrender. Trinity raised her right eyebrow when she noticed that Cousteau stopped growling as she sat on her hinds.
“Well, she’s not what I would call vicious,” Trinity replied, patting Cousteau on top of her large head. “But she is quite fond and protective of her master – she takes her time to warm up to strangers.”
“Good to hear,” he replied.
Trinity waited, watched the smooth-skinned brother watch her. She couldn’t see his eyes, but knew from the way he stood nearly motionless that he was studying her intently. She decided to break the spell. “Is there something I can help you with?”
“I was just wondering who was swimming in the waters.” He angled his head toward the crystal blue sea.
“Who wants to know?”
For Mensah, he wanted to keep her talking, wanted to hear the clear, warm, perfect cadence of her slightly raspy, but alluring voice. Closing his eyes briefly, he was glad his eyes were shielded behind sunglasses, for he couldn’t help but stare at the mahogany beauty standing in front of him. The sunglasses allowed him to feast unabashed, eyeing her from the tops of her crown of burnish bronze, sun-kissed mini-locs, to the cleavage of her ample breasts peeking from the top the white one-piece swim suit, down to her narrow waist, shapely hips and long, muscular legs. Legs made for wrapping around a man’s waist.
Mensah shook his head slightly and forced his eyes to train on her face, noting the shape of her lips – smooth with a slight pout. If he had no home training, he would have grabbed her and sampled the bewitching mouth, sure the feel of his lips would be just the beginning …
He thought she had asked him something, he knew he heard the sound of her of husky voice, wanted to hear her call his name, more than once. Crazy. He’d never …
“Again, who wants to know?” he heard her ask. Her question pulled him from assessing her mouth to staring into her eyes, which he noted was an arresting color – a light auburn with flecks of gold. He shook his foot, thinking one of the small island salamanders had scurried across it, but when he glanced down, he saw nothing.
He stepped closer and could see the sun playing off the varying colors of brown, bronze and gold mingling in the micro locs resting on her shoulders.
“How rude of me,” he said, removing his sunglasses. He placed his hand out toward her. He noted her pet watching the interaction, thought better, then placed his glasses in his breast pocket before placing his hands in the trouser pockets. “I am Prince Ahbeh Mensah Ahmed Kwasi, son of King Busarah Ahmed Kwasi and heir of Libertad Isle. My friends and family call me Mensah. And you can, too.” He affected a sensuous smile.
Trinity tapped down the urge to respond with a less than feminine retort – something that rhymed with truck. She didn’t release the items in her hands to return the gesture and held back the chuckle that wanted to bubble forth following his introduction – she wondered why on earth he had to tell her his whole name, who his daddy was and his stately position on the island. To say she was so unimpressed would be outright rude. Instead, she smirked when in fact she really wanted to gawk – she had seen some good-looking men in her day, her brothers and father were quite handsome, but the man standing in front of her was shockingly gorgeous. Yes, he was truly fine – his full lips were perfect, and luscious, and looked as if they were made for kissing – and his handsome broad nose, with nostrils that flared slightly, and his chiseled, clean shaven head and square jaw made her think of Tyrese. He was too good looking – just scrumptious – with eyes so dark they looked like stones of onyx. And his deep voice – OMG – could melt the panties off a woman. She caught the glint of a diamond stud. Nothing overly ostentatious, but enough to let you know it was there.
She shook her head, thinking, so, this is the playboy prince of Libertad. Trinity had heard a lot about him. But she’d be doggone if she would get caught up in the web of this infamous playboy’s antics. His reputation had truly preceded him. Just the other day she had overheard several of the women in the square talk about his sexual exploits going so far as to say he had bedded five women in one night and that he was quite healthy in the nether region. Trinity didn’t stick around to hear the rest – she had brothers and knew that their father frowned on loose ways, be it from men or women.
“Nice to meet you, my name is Trinity. And sorry I have to run, but I have some specimens I need place in the refrigerator soon.” She waited a beat and watched as his eyes took on odd emotions – one she recognized as unsurety. She didn’t wait for his response, nor did she bother introducing herself using all of her credentials. She bid him good bye before speaking to her dog. “Come, Cousteau.” She stepped around Mensah and continued to the villa. One thing she would not do is become involved with the King’s sons – especially this one.
Trinity kept her head high, refusing to look back over her shoulder to get one last glance at that sepia god standing at least six foot something, his arms straining the light Gosselin fabric of his button-down shirt, and the way the linen pants made a wicked puzzle of his massive thighs. Yeah, she had checked him out, but she didn’t want any parts of a man who made sport out of bedding women. No, she wanted nothing to do with Prince Ahbeh Mensah Ahmed Kwasi, son of King Busarah she silently mimicked.
Cousteau walked a few paces in front of Trinity as they neared the gate to the villa. Unable to resist, Trinity turned as she opened the gate and saw Mensah still standing in the same spot where she’d just left him. She wanted to laugh as he stood stone still, his hands now on his hips and his chin jutting upward. Guess he’s never been dismissed she mused and then chuckled under her breath, Well, there’s always a first time for everything.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR A Chicago native, Barbara Keaton loves the city and says she cannot imagine living anywhere else. Educated in Catholic schools up until 12th grade, Barbara credits the Oblate Sisters of Providence, the oldest order of black nuns, and her late maternal grandfather, Thomas Hill, for her love and respect of the written word.
Barbara’s first romance novel, All I Ask, was published in 2000. Since then she’s gone on to write thirteen total romance novels which celebrate black love. In addition to her books, she’s also written several articles and editorials that have appeared in various publications: Today’s Black Woman Magazine; The Chicago Crusader; The Chicago Defender; The Chicago Reader; Bronze Thrills; True Confessions; and, Affaire de Coeur.
Barbara holds a MS in Journalism from Roosevelt University and belongs to several civic and professional organizations, namely Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. In her spare time, she’s an avid reader and writer. Married to a minister, Barbara has no children of her own, but she considers her niece and nephew, Stephanie and Matthew, and her step-daughter, Candice, as her “babies”. In addition, she’s a grandma and a great-aunt. Barbara lives by a personal credo: I ANSWER TO TWO—MY GOD AND MYSELF! You can check Barbara out at Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Barbara-Keaton-582585395172168/
A Chicago native, Barbara Keaton loves the city and says she cannot imagine living anywhere else. Educated in Catholic schools up until 12th grade, Barbara credits the Oblate Sisters of Providence, the oldest order of black nuns, and her late maternal grandfather, Thomas Hill, for her love and respect of the written word.
Barbara’s first romance novel, All I Ask, was published in 2000. Since then she’s gone on to write thirteen total romance novels which celebrate black love. In addition to her books, she’s also written several articles and editorials that have appeared in various publications: Today’s Black Woman Magazine; The Chicago Crusader; The Chicago Defender; The Chicago Reader; Bronze Thrills; True Confessions; and, Affaire de Coeur.
Barbara holds a MS in Journalism from Roosevelt University and belongs to several civic and professional organizations, namely Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. In her spare time, she’s an avid reader and writer. Married to a minister, Barbara has no children of her own, but she considers her niece and nephew, Stephanie and Matthew, and her step-daughter, Candice, as her “babies”. In addition, she’s a grandma and a great-aunt. Barbara lives by a personal credo: I ANSWER TO TWO—MY GOD AND MYSELF! You can check Barbara out at Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Barbara-Keaton-582585395172168/
BPM: What inspired you to become a romance writer? How long have you been writing? I’ve been writing since I was like 11. My first diary is dated Jan. 1975; and I really don’t recall not writing. In regards to romance, I wrote All I Ask when my first marriage began to crumble – it was all that I had wished my first husband had been. After my divorced in 1998, I sent the manuscript to Genesis Press – got a letter some months later saying welcome to Genesis Press. In 2000 All I Ask hit the shelves and with a small break in novel writing, I’ve been writing ever since. Also, I love a GOOD love story, even more so Black love!
BPM: How do you think you’ve evolved creatively? Wow, this is a good question. Once I wrote a heavy romantic story – light on drama, heavy on romance. And even I loved it. The hero and heroine were totally into each other from first glance. When I saw the reviews I realized that I had achieved what I set out to do. Then I wrote a romantic suspense, that didn’t start out that way – again, the views came back and I was like: that was what I was aiming for. So, over the years, I’ve tried to draw characters who are realistic, yet very loving, low drama, instant chemistry, going the distance to prove their love, while drawing more complex characters.
BPM: Do you view writing as a kind of spiritual practice? Not sure about that. I do realize that there are changes in the business and I need to be aware of and abreast of those chances and how it may impact my work.
BPM: How has writing romance novels impacted your life? It has been my outlet – my way to tell a story that hopefully plants in readers minds that we as people of color love – we love true, we love hard, we love to eternity. I truly enjoy creating the types of characters who are strong, independent, loving, protective – engaging in non-traditional professional roles. I’ve written about lawyers, archaeologists, and now a prince.
BPM: What was one of the most surprising things you learned while creating your body of work? I love my characters – they are sorta like me or are who I once dreamed I could be. Also, I’ve learned that if I stay true to myself that all would work out. I had a publisher that wanted me to roll over into interracial – I wanted then, and I still want to now, showcase black love.
BPM: How do you find or make time to write? Are you a plotter or a pantster? Deadline is a serious motivator and when its on I write every evening after I get home from work. I don’t write at work – its a lot going on anyway. Before I re-married in 2012, I used to write on the weekends as well. With a hubby, I must save some time for him!
I’m a pantster – I don’t find plotting out the story too appealing – I like letting the characters run away with very little restraint from me. As a matter of fact I’m a serial pantster – all of my work has been created this way. I consistently build on what I’ve started until I get this feeling inside that says: oh, yeah, Barbara – that’s it!
BPM: Have you considered writing in another genre? Actually I have, in women’s contemporary. But for now, I’m still hooked on romance!
BPM: What is your story Heat at First Sight from the Love Like It’s Hot Book Set about? A notorious playboy has to assume the throne of his island country because his father is retiring and his oldest brother is abdicating. In order for him to be king, he must be married. Well, he has no prospects and he doesn’t like the two women his mother chose for him. Then he meets the marine biologist hired to research what’s impacting the marine life. When the playboy prince sees her – its game on! Yet, he falls hard for her and sets out to marry her within 30 days – on the day of the island’s Independence Day. Will he succeed in getting her to agree?
BPM: Give us some insight into your main characters. What makes each one so special? Mensah is a super smart, extremely intelligent business man who works to ensure the financial longevity of the island his family has ruled over for centuries – since the middle passage. An unapologetic playboy, he has a side of him he won’t show women. His having to assume the role of King as well as having to marry to do so has him flustered until he meets Trinity.
Trinity Nehemiah is a doctor of marine biology. She’s independent, smart and loves her work researching eco impacts on large bodies of water. The youngest of four boys, she loves adventure. When she meets Prince Mensah, she’s attracted on sight, but his show of arrogance turned her off. After a dinner with him and his family, she sees something there and allows him to insinuate himself into her life and her research – realizing no man had ever truly been interested her, in what drives her, nor her what her passion is.
BPM: Share one specific point in your book that resonated with your present situation or journey. Change is inevitable and change can be good.
BPM: Is there a specific place/space/state that you find inspiration in? I’m a chatty person who loves a good book, a good movie and hanging with people. I talk to just about everybody I come into contact with. I’m also a news junkie and I get out of sorts if I haven’t heard any in a couple of days. And I do ease drop on conversations heard in the store, at the beauty salon. LOL! As for where I write, I have a home office – so that’s where I write.
BPM: Do you want each book to stand on its own or do you prefer to write series? Both, even though I’ve written two books that were connected – All I Ask and By Design.
BPM: Does writing energize you? Yes, it does. I’ve got tons of characters running around in my head, trying to love and make it on paper!
BPM: Do you believe in writer’s block? Yes, I do – there are times when I’ve written lines that just don’t flow – that just doesn’t make me smile or engage me. I’ve learned, though, to set it aside and allow myself to become distracted by something else. If it still isn’t quite right I start over or save it and store it – it may be useful in something else.
BPM: Is there one subject you would never write about as an author? S&M/bondage- I’m way too sensitive for it, too sappy and don’t want to be spanked. Besides, to me, there is nothing loving or romantic in being beaten or chained.
BPM: Is there a certain type of scene that’s harder for you to write than others? Anger – I’m rarely angry; oh, I get miffed, a bit upset, but anger is a hard emotion for me – it means being knocked off my square, so to speak, and anger tends to cause individuals to use hurtful words. I know that once words are out there they can take on a life of their own and angry words can and does irreparable harm. I know – I still remember things said to me out of anger or things I’ve said.
BPM: What projects are you working on at the present? I have a series I’ve started…its about Football. I’m hoping to interest someone one of these days. I’m also working on a story about a single father.
BPM: Tell us about your most recent work beyond this collection. Available on Nook and Kindle? I re-edited and re-released a short story: Show Me. Its an older woman, younger man romance. It’s available at Amazon.com and B&N.com
* Love for Liberty by Ann Clay * Heat at First Sight by Barbara Keaton * Best Laid Plans by Deatri King-Bey * Summer Sizzle by Donna Hill * Sweet Heat Rising by Nicki Night * The Fourth by Xyla Turner
Other books by Barbara Keaton:
All I Ask To Love and Honor: Homeland Heroes and Heroines Anthology Unfinished Love Affair By Design Blaze Cupid Nights Over Egypt Love for All Seasons Anthology (Spring Fling) One in A Million Destination Romance Anthology (Show Me!) Good With His Hands Anthology (Mr. Telephone Man) Clean Up Love Show Me! (reissue 2019)
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Celebrity Chef Rome Pays Homage to His Culinary Roots with New Cookbook
Celebrity chef, Army veteran, and health correspondent Jerome Brown celebrates his Southern roots with his new cookbook Carolina Soul: The Down Home Taste of the Carolinas. In the book, the Personal Chef to the Stars showcases a compilation of family recipes, client favorites and low-calorie meals indigenous to North and South Carolina.
Chef Rome makes it no secret that he loves his home state of North Carolina, so it should be no surprise that his newly released cookbook is a celebration of sorts to the state’s cuisine and culture.
In the book Carolina Soul: The Down Home Taste of the Carolinas, the Personal Chef to the Stars showcases a compilation of family recipes, client favorites and low-calorie meals featuring frog legs, oxtails, marsala meatloaf, and other Southern delicacies indigenous to North and South Carolina.
“I put everything I could into this book, and I did it with love,” said Chef Rome, who has cooked for athletes and celebrities such as Shaquille O’Neal, Colin Powell, Byron Cage and Cam Newton. The former Food Network Star and featured Epcot International Food & Wine Festival chef prides himself on putting a healthy spin on Southern cuisine, helping many of his clients, like former NBA great Shaquille O’Neil, lose weight.
Similar to his bestselling cookbook, Eat Like a Celebrity: Southern Cuisine with a Gourmet Twist, Chef Rome included stories of his family and the influence that Carolina has had on his life and on the country as a whole.
“If you loved Eat Like a Celebrity, you’re absolutely going to love Carolina Soul,” Rome said. “I talk about the origins of Pepsi and some of my favorite restaurants along the Carolina coast. This book is nothing more than being authentic, giving readers what is within me.”
He added that Carolina Soul is especially special because his family contributed to bringing the book into fruition. For instance, he prepared many of the recipes in his sister’s kitchen, and he added the meatloaf recipe because it was specially requested by his nephew. Additionally, the book celebrates everything related to the history of North and South Carolina from its college-related color scheme to the photos placed throughout the book.
Carolina Soul has already amassed tremendous sales through social media. Carolina Soul was published by Prosperity Publications, LLC and is currently available for order on both Chef Rome’s and Prosperity’s websites.
Explore the Cook With Rome website: http://www.cookwithrome.com Chef Rome ranked #8 in the world. Co-owner of Rhema Restaurant Group. US Army Trained.
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Courage to Pursue is a guide in which readers will experience how they can conquer the spirit of fear to turn their dreams into reality. Each part of this book encourages readers to move out of their comfort zone to find the courage they need to succeed.
About the Author Lisa Blackmon fondly known as LisaB, is a motivation speaker, coach, mentor, author and business woman. She is passionate about seeing lives changed and when necessary resurrected.
After 20 years in the legal field as an attorney, she felt a prompting to do more and serve on another level in order to reach the masses that she has been divinely destined to impact. From this revelation, LisaBtheLifechanger was birthed, motivational videos hit social media and inspiring information flooded her page calling an audience of ordinary people like herself to become their own rescue.
Those that engaged have become known as a tribe of Lifechangers. This tribe is not only changing their own lives but creating a culture of change in the lives of others.
“Courage to Pursue” encapsulates LisaB’s coaching helps other to discover their God given purpose, create a action plan to make it happen and get in action to manifest their dreams.
LisaB is a Southern girl that loves good music, a good book and sharing her world with family and friends. Most of all she, is an advocate for change and growth even if it means doing what is necessary with “knees knocking.” Her mantra is “Provoking You to Think, Promoting You to Change.”
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