One Year devotional, God’s Great Blessings

Patricia Raybon Virtual Book Tour
October 3 – November 7, 2011


Thursday, October 6

Simply Said Reading Accessories
http://simplysaidreadingaccessories.blogspot.com

The Secret of Courage
It’s dark, cold and early. But I’m excited. On this morning, the most important thing I have to do is hear from God. And not just a little bit. I want to hear without limits. Isn’t that what we’re all saying today? That we want to be blessed by God this year? So we can bless God without limits?

And with those words, I started my latest book—a One Year devotional, God’s Great Blessings. I tried to write bold, that is. And to sound courageous. But I’m not courageous. Not every day. And surely not by nature. More timid that tough—and more quiet than bold—I often stand in the background, not challenging myself or my gifts or my God.

But with my new book, I was writing on virtues—God’s great virtues—that He blesses. So my devotional started safely enough, exploring “soft” virtues—listening, love, kindness and so on. But a One Year devotional goes 52 weeks. And God “don’t play.” So soon enough I was writing about the tough stuff—persistence, truth, unity, enterprise, justice. Then courage, too. But what would I say?

I was thinking perhaps of times I’d held back from a battle—not feeling “enough” for a challenge. But I’d forgotten what fuels our courage. It’s God’s promise that, when we walk boldly for Him, He walks with us. Talking to Joshua of the Bible, as the young leader readied to conquer the Promised Land, God said it like this: “Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9 NLT)

Jesus put it this way: “Take courage! I am here!” (Mark 6:50 NLT) He was talking to his disciples, walking on water—but the disciples were terrified, thinking he was a ghost. But Jesus assured them at once. Don’t be afraid. Instead, take courage. I am here.

Reading those scriptures again recently, I finally saw the secret to courage. That living with courage, taking life on--even when we feel weak—assures God’s presence goes with us. Just a bunch of Jesus talk? Or the real deal? I dare you to find out. Stop now and pray bold. Ask for God’s courage and presence. Then get moving, knowing that as you face your fears for God, the Lord will bless you with Himself.

Award-winning author Patricia Raybon’s newest book is the One Year® daily devotional, God’s Great Blessings. She is also author of two acclaimed memoirs, My First White Friend and I Told the Mountain to Move. She also collaborated with calligrapher Timothy Botts in his upcoming gift book honoring African American spirituals, Bound for Glory. Learn more at her website: PatriciaRaybon.Com


My Review
This is such a perfect gift for the holidays. The One Year God's Great Blessings Devotional, is a daily guide of virtures.
The virtures are; listening, loving, compassion, kindeness, generosity, peace, patience, forgiveness, mercy, gratitude, hope, praise, faith, joy,hospitality,reverence, obedience, righteousness, humility, purity, trust, knowledge, prudence, self control, contentment,dignity and modesty, silence and solitude, temperance, sacrifice, rest, vision, justice, truth, honesty and intergrity, repentance, passion and zeal, strength and vigor, creativity, unity, wisdom, courage, persistence, hard work, order and discipline, preparation, vigilance, commitment, service, thrift, enterprise and industry and completion.

Each virture starts with "His Promise" and "My Prayer" to start the guide through each particular theme. Patricia Raybon writes 6 very moving reflections about the theme and then has questions about how you reflect these to your own life and which changes you would like to make.

This beautiful leather bound book, is a wonderful gift for any age and truly a gift in so many ways.



The Bound For Glory book by Timothy R. Butts with reflections by Patricia Raybon is BEAUTIFUL! This is Celebrating the Gift of African American Spirituals through Expressive Calligraphy. The photos in the beautiful coffee table book are spiritual songs creativly turned in to works of art using beautiful art backgrounds and artistic fonts to lyrics of our most sung and beloved hymns. Also each song is paired up with a bible verse.
This is an amazing book and I suggest you buy 2 because you may want to frame some of the artwork!

No Ordinary Noel by Pat G'Orge Walker

No Ordinary Noel!
Pat G’Orge Walker
Book Giveaway Lottery
CONTEST!!!!!!!!!!
http://www.amazon.com/No-Ordinary-Noel-Pat-GOrge-Walker/dp/0758259662/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1315916576&sr=1-1

Christmas—a time of giving. But how about receiving? In Pat G'Orge-Walker's hilarious new novel, a small-town congregation will need every miracle in the Book to rediscover the real reason for the season . . .
Trustee Freddie Noel wins the lottery for $150 million and wants to give the church $25 million.
BUT...
Some cHURch member ain't having nothing to do with the"tainted" donation...
Simply Said Reading Accessories and Pat (Sister Betty) G’Orge Walker is giving away review copies!

To enter the contest
1. “Like” http://www.facebook.com/SimplySaidReadingAccessories fanpage
and http://www.facebook.com/PatSisterBettyG’Orge fanpage
2. the release date of No Ordinary Noel iwas September 27, 2011
Sooooo……
927 is the Lottery Number you must post your guess of the combination of, that will change daily for 5 days
HINT…927 is NOT the number
We have 5 books to giveaway
3. you must post your Lottery Number on both Fan Pages
4. Winners will be announced each evening
5. Pat has chosen a number for each day, if 2 people choose the same number the first one wins
6. You must PROMISE to post a review on Amazon and your Face Book Page
YOU MUST FOLLOW ALL THE RULES................
Simply Said Reading Accessories Fan Page
Pat SisterBetty G'orge-Walker
Pat Sister Betty G'orge-Walker Fan Page

Travel Tips for Authors

Travel Tips
My view from the edge

As a lot of you know, I am pretty friendly with a lot of authors and most of them are having the same issues concerning traveling to book events, and book signing events. Just in case you don’t know most of these expenses come directly out of the author’s pockets, not the publishers. And if by chance the publishers do send an author, they want results….BOOKS SOLD… preferably ..SOLD OUT!

I read a Face Book post from author and publisher Zane, that posed a question
Zane Strebor
So I received some feedback regarding the Baltimore Book Festival. While some people are purchasing hard copy books, the majority are asking if they are available on Kindle or saying that they already have them on Kindle. That begs the question: should book fairs stop being held as well because people have no interest in hard copy books and/or having authors sign them? Is there any point in authors still going on tour? This has seriously made me reevaluate doing future tours/signings. If I don't sell enough books to cover the expenses, my publisher would be losing money.
Do not get me wrong. Most authors love the opportunity to be able to meet with current readers and to be discovered by potential readers. However, if they cannot afford to make that happen because they are not making enough to cover the expenses, where does that leave them? And no, I am not whining in regards to myself. I have not had a signing where a lot of books were not sold, but I have dozens of authors that I have to look out for. There are no Big I's and Little U's in this world so my concern is for the industry as a whole

I can see her point. When I’ve attended events and festivals this year, I saw people buying the books BUT in Eversion. Yes books were sold but the hard copies weren’t as much. I can also see the readers point of convenience.

I don’t own a ereader. I do consider getting one only because my home is literary filled with books I would never even think of getting rid of. My kids are saying they live in a library, and my reply is “well there are worse places you could live, and as soon as you move out I’m turning your bedroom your into a library”!

I still want to meet authors and have my BOOKS signed. Even if I had a Ereader I still want to meet the authors. I'm pretty sure I’m not alone when I say…..
Please don’t stop touring, signing and attending festival and events.

I got to hang out with Monique Mensah at The National Book Club Conference and yes they came to her table and bought her ebooks right there but she was also booking book club visits, doing sales trough her phone and selling hard copies.


So… as I was pondering these authors dilemma’s, I came up with a few ideas I think may help. Some of these tips come from traveling with my co-workers. We love to travel to hair shows and these tips help us save money on expenses. The suggestions have been adjusted to authors instead of hair shows.

Travel with a fellow author, in pairs or groups.
1 Traveling with another person or a group cuts the price of a hotel room.
You can just split the cost of the room by how many you are sharing with.
2 Ask for a business rate when booking the room. You can even get a suite for
the same price as a regular room. Don’t forget to ask for double beds.
3 Also in most hotel rooms that big comfy chair lets out to a twin bed and
the couch is a sleeper sofa!
4 Make sure to ask if the have a shuttle bus from the airport to the hotel.
If not and the hotel next door to them has one, take it.


This also helps with the prices of booths and tables at book festivals and events Some can run has high as $700.00 or more. Split that fee too. Most booths are large enough that you can share the with many people, which puts more money in your pocket. A table can fit 2 authors.

Let your fan base know your coming. With all of the new changes on Face Book, you can do groups by city and post to only those fans in those cities. One pet peeve of mine is getting invites to signings no where near where I live. Using all your social networks can bring people out that would not otherwise know you’re in their area. Also post an itinerary on your site, blog, and fan pages, far enough in advance for those who may want to travel to see you.


Ship your books ahead to the hotel or a friend in the area. Airlines have totally lost their minds with fees charged for a bag that’s over weight by even a pound. Arrange for pickup and shipped back to you, hopefully you won’t need it and can cancel the pick up.

When going to an event find out which bookstores and book clubs are in the area that you can connect with while you’re there.

Fly business class, if you book a flight early enough you can get this for the same price as coach. Sign up for air miles. Building up points can add up to a free flight. Save points for long distance travel, like California from the east coast or visa versa.

Do a signing at the airport book stores, arrange ahead of time
Sign at Walmart’s, Targets and hair salons in the areas you’re visiting, it can be arranged or impromptu.

While on a family vacation, line up places you can spend a few hours.

If you are going to a book club meeting, they may be able to put you up for the night. Book clubbers are aware of the struggles of authors and are very willing to help and assist in any way they can. They will also feed you a good home cooked meal! Make sure to send a thank you gift for their kindness.

One thing I could never understand is if you come to New York aka Manhattan, why not do Queens, Brooklyn, The Bronx , Staten Island and New Jersey???? The surrounding areas are only a train ride away. Get a Metro Pass and plan it out so you know which buses and trains to take.

Same with Florida. It never ceases to amaze me that authors will come to Jacksonville and not do Orlando, Fort Lauderdale and Miami One word…Amtrak, ok 2 Greyhound.

Better yet rent a car they have really great rates during the week.

And refer back to your networks to make your travel plans worth it.

If you are on the road, sell other books besides your own and ask the other authors to do the same for you. It’s like you being in 2 places at one time. autograph the books to up the value. This also helps with shipping costs.And extra money for both authors.

Since readers are buying Eversions, have your Amazon Associates set up so you still get paid. Let them buy from your laptop or your store.

Also offer a Kindlegraph as a perk for those downloading your book on site.

Let the post office travel for you, if you can’t be at certain events; send your marketing materials for placement in swag bags. This is another way of you being in several places at one time.

Wear your tee-shirt when traveling, read your own book, pass out bookmarks and post cards, you never know who you may run into. You could be sitting next to “Your Biggest Fan” or a bookstore owner.

Take lots of pictures and blog about your adventure. People wish they could travel and will live vicariously through you. They will also make an effort to catch with you on your next road trip.

There are authors services that do all of the planning and arrangements for you, but with planning you can do it yourself

If your would like to add any suggestions, please do. I'm sure the authors and publishers would appreciate the feedback.

Mind Your Own Business

Mind Your Own Business
Lutishia Lovely
Bianca Livingston is tired of playing second place to her to older brother Jefferson and she’s just back from Europe is ready to cut her teeth into the newest addition to the new family’s business: Taste of Soul L.A.. Jefferson wants this restaurant too but wants to relocate for more than one reason, a new love.

Bianca’s fiancée Cooper Riley Jr., is not happy with her wanting to re-locate and put off the wedding he waited so patiently for her while she attended Le Cordon Bleu. Both the Livingston’s and the Riley’s have been friends forever and no one can understand her sudden determination to leave the nest, for the west coast.

But she’s got a secret, that she thought she left in Paris…

Cooper is devastated when she breaks the engagement and vow’s to get even.

Jefferson’s new love is not the person he thinks she is and when he finds out who she really is… all hell breaks loose.

Huge amounts of money starts disappearing from the family fortune, and it’s looking like it’s an inside job. The family hirers, Sterling Ross, a prominent detective, to find out who’s out to destroy the family.
They are also still looking for the man who shot Adam and nearly destroyed a family legacy.

Adam and Candace’s marriage is finally back on track after a nasty itch gets out of the way, until a deal breaker shows his hand

Chardonnay is as always all up in the business. Looking for a huge payoff and she just got the information she needs to be set for life. But of course there’s a “Lovely” twist!!

I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!!!
Lutishia has a way of keeping you salivating for more as she teases you with just a taste more. She brews a great story and stirs the pot (pun intended) keeping the story simmering to a boil. And the story lines are hot enough to burn these characters in your mind.
This part 2 of new Lovely Series is The Business

Taylor Made

Taylor made
By Sherrlye Kiser Jackson

Pamela "Pill" and Corey Taylor are 6 months into their marriage and are having some serious issues already.

"Pill" her nickname, is a hair stylist and a fashion diva who wants nothing but the best, even if she can't afford it. She hides her bags and baggage from her hubby, who is a UPS driver with his own dreams, differred.

"Pill" was always struggled and has carried over into her life and marriage a lot from her mother who was more concerned about getting over, getting high, and using her daughters.
None of this her husband knows.

Corey comes from a family with means but wants to make his way on his own. But after finding out his new wife's addiction to shopping, the newlyweds start a marriage maintenance class at their church, to try and get things back on track before they derail for good.

Corey also has some baggage that he needs to stop dragging around too, That his new bride doesn't know.


First Lady Rawls becomes their counselor after Deacon Tripp realizes this young couple are in much more trouble than they thought. She has a very unique and unorthodox way of counseling but understands Pill's baggage and Corey's frustration.

This was a very enjoyable read. I liked the personalities of all of the characters and appreciated the lessons that were given. Devotion to each other with a couple of slaps upside the head may be just what's needed to keep things in perspective of what's Taylor Made for you. Which can be a bitter "Pill" to swallow

Money Can’t Buy Love

Money Can’t Buy Love Blog Tour

About the Author
Connie Briscoe has been a full-time published author for more than 17 years. Her work has hit the New York Times, Chicago Tribune, Washington Post, Boston Globe, Boston Herald, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestseller lists.
Visit her online at http://conniebriscoe.com.

About the Book
At age thirty-eight, instead of socializing with Baltimore’s A-list, Lenora Stone photographs them for Baltimore Scene, a glossy magazine filled with beautiful people who, unlike Lenora, never have to worry about car trouble and overdue bills. Lately even things with her boyfriend Gerald haven’t been right. They’ve been together for three years but he can’t seem to ask the one question she’s been waiting to hear.

Then just when she thinks things can’t get worse, Lenora wins the jackpot in the Maryland lottery. In a heartbeat, all her dreams become possible. She quits her job and indulges her every desire—starting with a shiny, silver BMW and a million-dollar mansion. Gerald is finally ready to put a ring on her finger, and the city’s most exclusive women’s group is dying for her to join.

Yet as her life starts to come together, the things Lenora holds dear begin to fall apart. Has her world really changed for the better, or does fortune come with a heavy price?
Purchase the Book Online at:
Amazon.com
BarnesandNoble.com
BooksaMillion.com

Book Review
Lenora Stone is a 38 year old photographer who really loves her job, it’s her bitchy boss Dawna that is the negative. She has been sent out to a shoot a pictorial on the handsome and sexy Raymond Shearer and his crew for the magazine she works for. She arrives late and is unable to photograph her assignment. Sharks fly in more ways than one, but has to put up with Dawna’s nasty temper, even though it’s partially her fault that she was late.

Lenora’s life is a mess. She has ton’s of bills and a boyfriend Gerald, who won’t put a ring on it. By chance she picks up a lottery ticket and wins.

Finally she’s able to get rid of her debt and get her dream car, one better than her friends’ Alise’s. The Girlfriend s social club that she and her other friend Monica have been trying to get into for years suddenly want her, but still not Monica. Alise who has always been well of, gets kind of funky and distant. Gerald has finally “popped” the question but she is confused as to why now, is it the money? Sexy Ray has become her secret love, a man that she never thought she could have, But Ray has secrets of his own.

We’ve all heard the saying that money changes people, but in this story I was thinking the money changed the others not so much Lenora. I think she was able to do something’s she’s always wanted to do and “do” the man she found extremely appealing instead of the “same ole same”ole with distant Gerald. She was trying to get some of her wants, after struggling so hard for only her bare needs for so long. But then the tables turned

Great read, lots of provoking thoughts 5 stars.




For More Information

Visit the author online at http://conniebriscoe.com.

Visit blog tour schedule at http://bit.ly/MoneyCantBuyLoveBlogTour

A Good Excuse To Be Bad Blog Tour

A Good Excuse To Be Bad Blog Tour

About the Author
Miranda Parker is the author of the Evangeline Crawford Bounty Hunter Series. After graduating from college, she began working as a features editor for various magazines and spent many years as a publicist for national recording artists, actors, ministers, and authors. However, writing fun, fiesty, redemptive bad girl gone good stories is her passion. She resides with her family in Georgia near a horse ranch and her daughter’s Girl Scout Troop. On a perfect day she can be found curled up with a good book or in a movie theater with a bucket of popcorn.


Visit the author online at http://www.mirandaparker.com/.

About the Book
Smart gorgeous and too tough for her own good, bail recovery agent and single mom Evangeline Crawford moved to the burbs for a quiet life. Fortunately, it’s not turning out that way…

Angel has to admit she’s feeling restless. The only excitement in her life is her schoolgirl crush on the town’s new pastor, Justus-too-Hot-to-be-Holy Morgan. But a fateful encounter and a job gone wrong at Club Night Candy in Underground Atlanta is about to change all that…Soon, Angel’s trying to save her divazilla twin sister from her big mouth and a scandalous murder charge, and probing a church cover-up–with none other than Justus by her side. But Angel has one more pressing concern; will Bella be ready for kindergarten? Only time will tell for this bad girl gone good whose days are once again far from boring–and hopefully far from numbered…
Book Trailer
Watch on You Tube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_-iIDGCMP4
Embed Code


Purchase the Book Online at:
Amazon.com
BarnesandNoble.com
BooksaMillion.com

Book Review
Angel is a bail bonds woman who gets knocked around on one of her captures. She was a reporter but makes much better money finding bad guys. Angel wakes up in the hospital to find the minister of her church, Justus, whom she has a crush on, standing over her to take her home. She is then surprised to find her twin sister Ava, with her 2 children on her doorstep. Her estranged sister is the wife of a prominent minister and he turns up dead. And she’s being arrested for the murder.

Miranda’s ambitious first installment in this new series has a great blend of humor, romance and mystery. Angel has a slightly crooked halo and a snappy personalality, that I really enjoyed.
5 stars!



For More Information

Visit the author online http://www.mirandaparker.come at /.
Visit blog tour schedule at http://bit.ly/AGoodExcuseToBeBadBlogTour

Mama Ruby

Mama Ruby
Mary Monroe
Anyone who is a fan of author Mary Monroe, knows she tells a damn good story. Mama Ruby is the prequel of her first story The Upper Room. Ruby Jean Upshaw is the 7th daughter of a 7th daughter and she’s also a Preachers kid, of which she cares nothing about. She doesn’t care for the superstitions that go with the 7th of the 7th, or being under the strict supervision of her well to do daddy. It was all a burden to her.

Ruby meets Othella Mae Cartier, a “fast” girl and child of Simone, mother of 7 and a prostitute, and finds her much more interesting than the girls her age. Ruby and Othella, form a secret friendship. Ruby also has a crush on Ike Simone’s brother.

Ruby’s “whoremores” start acting up and she gets involved with Ike and several boys, and ends up pregnant. Ruby hides the pregnancy until one night she gives birth at a party at Othella’s house. Simone knows how to make this “problem” go away, especially since it may be Ike’s baby. The “good” Reverend Upshaw would kill Ruby, Ike and Simone if he was to find out. Ruby wants her daughter, but they talk her into letting Simone take the child to an asylum, and makes the “problem” go away.

The “good’ Revered Upshaw gets busted by Ruby, in the same bed she gave birth in with Simone. She then uses that information to blackmail her father into letting her quit school and go to New Orleans with Othella. They want to find jobs and husbands. Ruby’s mama thinks someone has worked some voodoo on her husband when he tells her.

They make their way the The Big Easy, but life is not as easy as they thought it would be. They end up saying with a mangy old man named Mr. Boatwright. Ruby who is very proficient with her switchblade, and has to help Othella out of a bad situation. They end up at a whorehouse, the very place Othella was trying to get away from. Privileged Ruby is a maid.

The girls do find husbands, but the one the Ruby longs for, a baby girl, she can’t have. Othella has 8 children ,by 8 different men. Ruby always teases her about stealing the newest girl.

This story was so heart wrenching and times, I always wondered how she got the name Mama Ruby. The agony of her daughter being taken away from her, left a hole, that nothing could fill.
This was a fantastic, well told story that was a 5 star read.

http://www.marymonroe.org/

Message From a Mistress

Message From a Mistress
Niobia Bryant

Friends Jaime, Renee, Aria and Jessa, thought their secrets and husbands were safe amongst each other. Three of the husbands leave on a day long fishing trip, and over lunch Jaime, Renee and Aria get a text from the widow of the bunch; Jessa.
Yep all 3 ladies get the same message!
“You saw him for the last time this morning, Tonight he comes home to me. Thanks for not being woman enough 4 him xoxo”


Whoaaa….. Jessa is sleeping with one of their husbands and they have to wait until the end of the day to see which husband does not come home
Renee finds a bottle
Jaime finds Pleasure
Aria is ready to go into her very disguised sista gurl mode


All 3 ladies are in shock. Each thinking it can’t be my husband. But they all start tripping down memory lane. One finding signs that were not there, only her own ghosts. One wondering if her career has hurt her marriage enough for it to be him? And one who has had one discretion and who has paid and still paying dearly for it.
Jessa knows all of their secrets.

This book was AWESOME. I could not fathom, the day of getting that message and then having to wait and see if my husband would be the one not coming home that night. All of the ladies went through some serious agony. Each one is living 12 long hours of bitter and sweet. They all rush to Jessa’s home to find the house vacant and no clues. Wondering how could the all live within steps of each other and not notice she’s made moves on one of the husbands and out of the close knit community.

Well then….. All 3 husbands come home………

I was like WHAT???? And Jessa was too!
I RAN TO THE BOOKSTORE!

Mistress No More
is part 2 to the madness. The wives are all shook up from waiting to find out if it was their husband and when they ALL come home, the real stuff still hits the fan…. None of them are aware of the message that was sent. Not even the husband that is the one…….


And Jessa is mad as hell. She proceeds to blow their lives apart, with the confidences they shared with her
I am sooooo trying not to give the story away….

But we all know God don’t like ugly so
Run to the bookstore and buy both books and enjoy this double drama
5 Stars for each book
http://www.niobiabryant.com

New Book: Mama Ruby by Mary Monroe

Mama Ruby by Mary Monroe
Prequel to the Upper Room

If you are a fan of Toni Morrison and Zora Neale Hurston, you will love Mama Ruby and the writings of Mary Monroe!

New York Times bestselling author Mary Monroe presents an unforgettable tale featuring Mama Ruby, the indomitable heroine of her acclaimed novel The Upper Room. Now readers will get a peek into Ruby’s early years, as she transforms from a spoiled small-town girl into one of the South’s most notorious and volatile women…

Growing up in Shreveport, Louisiana, Ruby Jean Upshaw is the kind of girl who knows what she wants and knows how to get it. By the time she’s fifteen, Ruby has developed a taste for fast men and cheap liquor, and not even her preacher daddy can set her straight. Most everyone in the neighborhood knows you don’t cross Ruby. Only Othella Mae Cartier, daughter of the town tramp, understands what makes Ruby tick.

When Ruby discovers she’s in the family way, she’s scared for the first time in her life. After hiding her growing belly with baggy dresses, Ruby secretly gives birth to a baby girl at Othella’s house. With few choices, Othella talks Ruby into giving the child away and with the help of a shocking revelation, convinces Ruby to run off with her to New Orleans.

But nothing can erase Ruby’s memories of the child she lost or quell her simmering rage at Othella for persuading her to let her precious baby go. If there’s a fine line between best friend and worst nightmare, Ruby is surely treading it. Because someday, there will be a reckoning. And when it comes, Othella will learn the hard way that no one knows how to exact revenge quite like Ruby Jean Upshaw!

Excerpt from Mama Ruby by Mary Monroe

Mama Ruby - Coming June 1, 2011!

How did Ruby and Othella Mae come to be who they are today? Find out in the exciting prequel to The Upper Room. There’s a fine line between best friend and worst nightmare…but there will be a reckoning....


Introduction to Mama RubyPrequel to The Upper Room

Originally published in 1985, Mary Monroe's engaging debut novel, The Upper Room, features Ruby Montgomery, an obese, indomitable character who steals her best friend's baby daughter and flees to rural Florida, where she establishes herself as an almost mythical figure. The dialogue and setting are reminiscent of Zora Neale Hurston. The Upper Room by Mary Monroe is a candid portrayal of the cold-blooded yet fascinating Mama Ruby.


~ Shreveport, Louisiana, 1934 ~

Nobody ever had to tell Ruby Jean Upshaw that she was special, but she heard it from every member of her family, her father’s congregation, her classmates, and even the people in her neighborhood almost every day. She was the seventh daughter of a seventh daughter. To some black folks, that was a very high position on the food chain. It meant that she had mystical abilities usually associated with Biblical icons. But as a child, Ruby didn’t care one way or the other about being “special” like that.

She balked when people insisted that she’d eventually have “healing hands” and the ability to “predict the future” like other seventh daughters of seventh daughters. But Ruby didn’t care about healing anybody, that was God’s job, and those snake oil salesmen who rolled through town from time to time. And she certainly didn’t want to be telling anybody what the future held for them. Because if it was something bad, they didn’t need to know, and she didn’t want to know.

The bottom line was, and she’d told a lot of people this when they brought it up, she didn’t want those responsibilities. The last thing she needed cluttering up her life was a bunch of superstitious people taking up her time, and drawing unwanted attention to her. Just being the daughter of a preacher was enough of a burden.

And since Ruby was the youngest member of the Upshaw family, her parents watched her like a hawk, and tried to monitor and control most of her activities. “Why do I have to go to church every Sunday?” she asked her mother one Sunday morning when she was just eight. “I want to have some fun!”

“You go to church because you are supposed to, gal. How would it look to the rest of your Papa’s congregation if his own daughter don’t come to church?” Ida replied, giving Ruby a stern look. “Don’t you want to be saved?”

“Saved from what, Mama?” Ruby questioned, looking out of the living room window at the kids across the street building a tent in their front yard.

“Saved from the world, worldly ways. This planet is full of all kinds of pitfalls out there waitin’ on a girl like you. Drinkin’. Men with more lust in their heads than brain matter. Violence. Loud music and sleazy outfits that would shock a harlot,” Ida answered.

Ruby already knew all of that. From what she’d been able to determine; it was a lot more fun to be “worldly” than it was to be the way her parents wanted her to be.  “I want to have some fun like the rest of the kids!” she pouted, knowing that she faced a no-win situation. Her parents’ minds were as nimble as concrete. Once they laid down the rules for Ruby, there were no exceptions.

“You can still have fun and keep yourself virtuous,” her father insisted. “Me and Mother ain’t makin’ you do nothin’ we didn’t make your sisters do, and look how well they all turned out.”

Ruby pressed her lips together to keep from laughing. Before they got married, all six of her older sisters snuck out of the house at night, drank alcohol, slept with men, and wore clothes that would shock a harlot. That was the life that Ruby thought she wanted, and she had already started on the journey that would lead her to a life of fun and frivolity. And as far as violence, she wondered what her over bearing, but naïve, parents would say if they knew that she was already carrying a switchblade in her sock.

Ruby made good grades in school and she had a lot of friends, but it was hard for her to maintain both. She didn’t like to study, and she didn’t like having to attend that run down school four blocks from her house. Those activities took up too much of her time. She appreciated the fact that her classmates and playmates were at her beck and call, not because they liked her, but because they feared her. They all knew about that switchblade she carried in her sock, and they all knew that she was not afraid to use it. She was the most feared eight-year-old in the state.

(continued)


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About the Author
Mary Monroe is the author of the award-winning, New York Times bestselling God series, which includes God Don’t Like Ugly and God Ain’t Blind. Mary Monroe is the third child of Alabama sharecroppers and the first and only member of her family to finish high school. One of her proudest moments was when she became a winner of the PEN/Oakland Josephine Miles Award.

She is currently celebrating the release of Mama Ruby, the prequel to the Upper Room, the book that started it all. She still writes seven days a week and gets most of her ideas from current events, and the people around her, but most of her material is autobiographical.

Mary Monroe currently lives in Oakland, California. She is divorced, loves to travel, loves to mingle with other authors, and she'll read anything by Ernest Gaines, Stephen King, Alice Walker, and James Patterson.  Author website: http://www.marymonroe.org/


Mama Ruby by Mary Monroe
ISBN-10: 0758238614
ISBN-13: 978-0758238610

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