Must-read romances: 'Stand Your Ground,' 'Jezebel's Daughter,' 'Mama's Boy'
Join me every week as I share a few shout-outs on romance author goings-on, related events and recommended reads.
Stand Your Ground by Victoria Christopher Murray
Stand Your Ground by Victoria Christopher Murray is a fact-to-fiction examination of the human condition. Using a vivid, realistic premise, she takes a 360-degree view to bring all sides to the forefront for us to enjoy, learn from, judge and celebrate.
In this highly emotional journey, Murray has taken care and attention to detail, not only to the legal and ethical considerations, but with expertly capturing the essence of each character — the good and the bad. Since effectively created to stir our emotions, the characters draw us in for debate and conversation long after the final sentence. Stand Your Ground has great literary relevance for our time.
About the book (courtesy of Touchstone):
A black teenage boy is dead. A white man shot him. Was he standing his ground or was it murder?
Janice Johnson is living every black mother's nightmare. Her seventeen-year-old son was murdered and the shooter has not been arrested. Can the D.A. and the police be trusted to investigate and do the right thing? Should Janice take advantage of the public outcry and join her husband alongside the angry protestors who are out for revenge?
Meredith Spencer is married to the man accused of the killing and she sees her husband and the situation with far more clarity than anyone realizes. What she knows could blow the case wide open, but what will that mean for her life and that of her son? Will she have the courage to come forward in time so that justice can be done?
Let's meet Victoria Christopher Murray …
Michelle: Share three things that you are thankful for in your life and/or writing.
Victoria: There are so many things that I'm thankful for, it's difficult to just share three. But I am truly grateful for my family ... my mother is still with us, and my daughter is getting married this fall. I am grateful to still be writing. In this market, so many great writers have fallen away, which is a tragedy in the literary world. But even with the lower sales in publishing, I'm still under contract to write. I am so grateful for my health. I used to think that was such a cliché when I heard people say this, but now as I'm getting older, I cherish my health more.
Michelle: How did the idea for Stand Your Ground develop into a plot?
Victoria: The idea for Stand Your Ground came to me right after the Michael Dunn trial. During his first trial, the jury couldn't come to a decision as to whether Michael Dunn was guilty or not guilty in the murder of Jordan Davis. I was upset by the mistrial, but I understood. I had read the transcript from the Trayvon Martin trial and so I was aware of and I understood the judge's instructions to the jury. I understood that the jury didn't have much of a choice, not when stand your ground is part of the defense. But most people didn't understand how the jury couldn't find Michael Dunn guilty, and I realized that so many were not informed, so many didn't understand the SYG law. I decided then that I could entertain as well as educate through a story. And Stand Your Ground was born.
Michelle: How do you feel you've grown as a writer?
Victoria: I work very hard on trying to grow, trying to improve with each novel that I write. In the beginning of my career, I focused on the plot. The story was more important to me. But now, I'm more focused on the characters. I prefer character-driven novels, leaving the characters with the readers long after the story is done.
Michelle: Who or what formative events have been instrumental in your development as a writer?
Victoria: Interestingly enough, I'd have to say that two tragic events have not only shaped my life but have shaped me as an author. The death of my husband in 2001 and the death of my father in 2004 changed my life. The two men who loved me the most, who were my biggest fans, were gone and I couldn't imagine having to live the rest of my life without them. Those losses in my life changed my writing. I think I write from a deeper place. I write from my heart and now there are times when the words can come from my soul. Grief can make you reach places where you've never had to reach before.
Jezebel's Daughter by Jacquelin Thomas
Suspense, drama, romance and life lessons abound in Jezebel's Daughter by Jacquelin Thomas. Like an episodic TV series, this saga continues from a point of death and revenge. When characters are pushed to their limits and challenged by fears and insecurities, the outcome is surprising, shocking and enthralling. Thomas allows her characters the freedom to follow through with their agendas without inserting the author's voice. A page-turner — yes! A book club recommend — yes!
About the book (courtesy of Brown Girls Publishing):
Jessie Belle Deveraux is gone, but her legacy lives on …Natalia Winters vowed revenge on Jessie Belle from the moment she discovered the reason her father committed suicide. Her pampered, rich girl reputation puts her at odds with almost everyone, but is she sinister enough to push Jessie Belle over the balcony? Reina Cannon spends her days as a much sought after hairstylist and her nights reliving the cruelty of her childhood. For years, she has lived for revenge; to make Jessie Belle suffer for the pain she caused Reina. Her sweet smile and look of innocence is a ruse, a carefully calculated effort to hide a surprising and dangerous truth. Chrissy Barton yearned to take revenge on Jessie Belle—to pay her back for the beating she suffered by unknown assailants. She was no longer a prostitute, but she had never forgotten the triumphant look Jessie Belle had given her … at that very moment, Chrissy vowed she would pay with her life. Three women from very different worlds … a common goal However, Jessie Belle's family is determined to discover the truth behind the night she ended up on the pavement below her bedroom.
Let's meet Jacquelin Thomas …
Michelle: What prompted you to move into your new role as publishing manager?
Jacquelin: When Brown Girls Books offered me the chance to have my own imprint, it was a dream come true for me. I love working with new writers and have been doing so for over 15 years — this was the perfect opportunity to do two things that I love: writing and working with other authors.
Michelle: How has the landscape changed since your start as an author?
Jacquelin: E-books have taken the industry by storm. More and more authors are deciding to bypass publishers and form their own companies. The one disappointment is that there are fewer independent booksellers, especially African-American bookstores.
Michelle: What non-fiction reading inspires or soothes your spirit?
Jacquelin: I love inspirational books such as Life, In Spite of Me. It is the story of a young woman who attempted suicide on the train tracks. She survived but lost her legs. It was through tragedy that she found a reason to live. Stories of people who discover purpose and living through the storms of life inspire me the most.
Michelle: How do you balance your writing/editing schedule in a given day?
Jacquelin: I work 8-5 reviewing and editing manuscripts. Then in the evening, I write from 8-10 Monday-Friday. I also have two wonderful editorial assistants to help with submissions.
Michelle: What's on the horizon from you (as author and publishing manager)?
Jacquelin: As an author, I have Jezebel's Daughter currently in stores and Jezebel's Revenge coming out in the fall. I also have two romances that will be published by Harlequin. As publishing manager of Jacquelin Thomas Presents, we debut our first collection of books in September.
We are also having a launch party Sept. 26 in Raleigh, N.C., to celebrate Brown Girls Books' newest divisions: Brown Girls Faith and Jacquelin Thomas Presents. We will also present our first Brown Girls Books College Scholarship.
Mama's Boy by ReShonda Tate Billingsley
What may seem like a simple premise is anything but in this wonderfully deceptive story for our enjoyment. ReShonda Tate Billingsley's Mama's Boy is a multilayered story that when every level is revealed, there is more to discover. A twist here, a turn there and the story boldly takes us for a wonderful, fast-paced ride from beginning to end. Within these pages, the power of a mother's love shines through and gives us great thought-provoking discussions of a mother's role, duty and obligation. Mama's Boy is an insightful and entertaining addition for favorite reads.
About the book (courtesy of Gallery Books):
When her son is in trouble, a heartbroken mother finds the courage and faith to save him, in ReShonda Tate Billingsley's powerful family drama—a novel as timely as today's headlines.
The breaking TV news rocks Jasper, Texas, to the core: a white police officer is fatally shot in a scuffle with three black youths—and a cellphone video captures Jamal Jones, the sixteen-year-old son of esteemed Reverend Elton Jones, escalating the tragic encounter. Now, as the national spotlight shines on a town already rife with racial tension, Jamal is a murder suspect on the run. And all of Jasper—even the Reverend's congregation—rushes to judge the boy they thought they knew.
But Gloria Jones knows her son best, and she races to find Jamal before the law does—to the outrage of her workaholic husband. Once she finds him, she has to decide whether to turn him in or help him run. With ruthless prosecutor and Houston mayoral candidate Kay Christensen hungering to put another young thug behind bars, Gloria will face her biggest battle yet. And when long-hidden secrets and shocking lies come to light, throwing Jamal's case and his destiny into a tailspin, all Gloria can do is pray that the truth—and a mother's unconditional love—will be enough to redeem the mistakes of the past and ultimately, save her son.
Let's meet ReShonda Tate Billingsley …
Michelle: What prompted you to add your new role as publisher to your award-winning success as a writer?
ReShonda: Victoria Christopher Murray and I are blessed to be among the last black authors standing at our publishing house. However, we knew it wasn't because we were the most talented. In fact, some of our favorite writers/friends were without book deals because of the changing industry. We also knew how hard it was for new writers to break into the industry, so we wanted to give those fresh voices a chance to have their voices heard, as well as fan favorites who were ready to hang up their pens.
Michelle: How has the landscape changed since your start as an author?
ReShonda: The landscape has changed dramatically. Of course there are fewer authors with major houses, fewer bookstores (black bookstores have virtually disappeared), and with more people on the Internet, watching TV, etc., there are even fewer readers today.
Michelle: What non-fiction reading inspires or soothes your spirit?
ReShonda: I am generally a fiction reader, but when I do read non-fiction, I like to read memoirs. I'm inspired by real people who share amazing stories.
Michelle: How do you balance your writing/publishing schedule in a given day?
ReShonda: Throw in a family, caring for an invalid mother, and my schedule is bananas. But I believe every minute you spend talking about what you don't have time to do could be spent doing it.
Michelle: What's on the horizon from you (as author or publisher)?
ReShonda: I will continue writing and being a publisher with Brown Girls Books, but I'm also moving over to movies. My first book-to-film, based on my book Let the Church Say Amen, will premiere on BET on Aug. 30.
Michelle Monkou writes for Harlequin Kimani, Evernight Publishing, and Boroughs Publishing. Michelle's website is michellemonkou.com. You can also connect with her on Facebook.