Cheri Paris Edwards

Course Offered

2012-01-31T09:35:00.000-08:00

This spring I will again teach my Discover your Inner Voice at the Corinth Campus of North Central Texas College. Budding writers will be introduced to the mechanics of structuring a novel or a creative non-fiction writing. There is a weekly lesson along with a selection of prompts. Guided journal exercises help students self-assess and formulate personal writing goals. Students have weekly writing tasks to assist them in starting a personal book project and are asked to post their efforts in a class blog. At the completion of the course, students may continue to use the blog as an online writing discussion group and can carry those meetings to the local library or another offline location f they choose.

The course will be offered again in March at the Flower Mound campus. If you live in North Texas and are interested in signing up for the course, more information (page 51) here. Scholarships are available.

Know the facts...

2012-01-28T10:37:00.000-08:00

Did you know?

• African Americans are the racial/ethnic group most affected by HIV.*

• In 2009, African Americans comprised 14% of the US population but accounted for 44% of all new HIV infections.*

In The Other Sister, youngest Jefferson daughter Sanita is delivered startling news by her California friend, Foxie. Foxie has slept with a man has died of AIDS and Sanita prays with her friend. But when she hangs up the telephone Sanita picks up her Bible and prays again--this time for herself...

"Sanita folded the page and let out her pent-up sobs. Foxie was no longer her concern. She whispered through gasps, “God, I’m so, so sorry. My mother, my father, they did right by me. And look how I’ve repaid them. Please forgive me, Lord,” she cried.

She crept onto her favorite spot on the bed and curled into fetal position. She pulled the Bible close and cried until there were no more tears left. Her life was falling apart, and now another awful thing could happen on top of the terrible incident that sent her home in the first place. What she hadn’t told Foxie was that she had been with Davon Jackson too."

Weeks later, after hearing her father preach at Sunday service, Sanita gets another call from her friend. As Foxie talks, Sanita thinks about her predicament..

"As Foxie droned on, Sanita thought about her night with Davon. Once again, Preacher had broken their plans, leaving her waiting without even a call. She had angrily gone out to a club on her own, and happy to see a handsome face, embraced Davon like an old friend. They were a pair throughout the night, and after their inhibitions were loosened by too many shots of Henny, they’d danced their way to his second-story apartment.

His kisses were soft and warm and when he held her close, he made her feel wanted—even though he hadn’t been the best lover. She thought she needed to feel that someone cared, but afterward, she immediately regretted sleeping with him. It was too late though. The deed had been done."

February 7, 2012 is National Black AIDS Day.

Learn more and how YOU can participate at Black AIDS Day.

Know the facts.

All it takes is ONE bad choice.

Read Sanita's story and meet the Jefferson family.

The Other Sister is available in e-book edition at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

*CDC Report. AIDS among African-Americans

Inspire...

2012-01-16T09:04:00.000-08:00

My desktop dictionary describes "inspirational" as 'imparting a divine influence on the mind and soul.' It's a lofty goal, but while I hope my writing entertains, I also hope to inspire. Inspiration rises to hope and hope lights the way even in the darkest hours. I write inspiration fiction because I often needed inspiring in my own life and have found that a connection with the Spirit can provide the resiliency to face life's challenges.

Whether you need inspiration or are simply looking for a good read, I invite you to meet the Jefferson family and the sisters Sanita and Carla who grapple with life issues, choices and consequences in The Other Sister...

The Other Sister is available in e-book only with your choice of cover for only $4.99!

Sisters....

2012-01-14T12:42:00.000-08:00

Searching for a good winter read? My second novel, The Other Sister is available for $4.99 in e-version. Reader can choose from the Autumn Leaves cover shown above or the Jenny Lloyd illustrated cover. Both are available for download at Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Same book, reader's choice in covers.

The Other Sister introduces the Midwestern family The Jeffersons, and focuses on sisters like my first novel, Plenty Good Room. In Plenty Good Room social worker Tamera Britton searches for a family and discovers kinship is closer than she thinks. And, in the The Other Sister, sisters struggle to find relationship and balance in their lives. Both wrestle with insecurities fueled by overindulgence and bad choices. Despite their conflicts they learn to appreciate one other and accept their differences.

The sister relationship interests me because it can be so complicated. At times it is fraught with competitiveness, envy and feelings of inferiority. Or the very differences that make women unique may fuel sister challenges. Still, I believe the ties of sisterhood extends bloodlines and sisters/women often discover the bond can overcome much.

I invite you to read The Other Sister.

Top Ten....

2012-01-02T12:45:00.000-08:00

The Other Sister made a top ten list too! What a fantastic start to the New Year! Not just any list either, TOS made the list at Push Nevahda Reviews! So for those who don't know, who or what is Push Nevahda Reviews and why do I care about making the top ten list there?

Push, Nevada was a fictional town in a 2002 mystery show created by Ben Affleck and Sean Bailey. Viewers were offered the opportunity to almost become part of the story, by following along with the story, figuring out the mystery and one lucky viewer eventually won a prize. Push Nevhada is also a fictional character in a book Writer/Instructor Jeremy Williams's wrote who is searching for humanity. The well-received online website that Williams conceived is also where he takes readers on a memorable ride. Williams's reviews are often delivered through the eyes of his world-weary character and are full of smokey ambiance, astute observations and clever humor.

....Anyway, I'm stoked to be included for all the reasons above and because Jeremy Williams/Push Nevhada might not be considered my usual reader. To create stories capable of appeal to a wide-range of readers is my goal and I'm thrilled that The Other Sister resonated in some way with Williams.

View Push Nevahda's complete top ten list here....

In the Spotlight...

2012-01-02T11:53:00.000-08:00

Thanks to OOSA (Only One keyStroke Away) book reviewers for placing my writing and me in the forefront on their website this month. These hard working reviewers been around for seven years and are well respected. They have a large group of reviewers who literally read hundreds of books in a year and are well-known for their honest reviews. I'm gratified to have a great review from them!

Here is a portion of my OOSA review: "The Other Sister" by Cheri Paris Edwards is a very good read that I'm highly recommending. I love that you get knee-deep in the church business as well as the relationship with the sisters and the lesson on forgiveness. I'm looking forward to reading this author again."

The Author Spotlight article allows me to reveal more about myself and answer some fun questions presented to me by OOSA staff. Read the entire OOSA Spotlight interview here....

One plus one = Trouble

2011-12-11T17:01:00.000-08:00

"Life is the sum of all your choices." ~Albert Camus

Sanita discovers this truth the hard way when she flees California to move back in the comfortable confines of home. Caught up in pursuing her dream, she transformed herself into streetwise Jazzy and in the process almost loses track of Sanita. Once home Sanita hopes to put the past behind her, but the lover she leaves behind, wanna-be rapper and hustler Preacher doesn't intend to let her forget him that easily. His calls to Sanita grow more frequent and almost menacing until finally his threats become reality. When Preacher rolls into town carrying all her secrets Sanita finds herself leaning on an unexpected ally but once her house of cards begins to tumble and the real preacher, her father James Jefferson, finds out about her past doings--this time there's no where to run.

More in The Other Sister....

Love Jones....

2011-11-20T12:20:00.000-08:00

"I've done some dreaming in the nighttime but lately I've been dreaming in the daytime too. Guess you could say my dreams I've been believing, but since you brought your love into my life, Dreamin's out of Season..." ~from the 1974 Montclairs single, Dreamin's Out of Season

Ex-NBA player Terrance Catchings wasn't looking for romance the day he dropped off his uncle Deacon Calvin Catchings to meet with Bishop Jefferson at the church, but one look at Sanita Jefferson standing with a basketball tucked under an arm and he was smitten. Staring into Sanita's glowing face as they exchanged small talk under a warm autumn sun his attraction was confirmed--they shared a love for sports and he thought she was the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen. So when Terrence realized the pretty young principal he'd dated a couple times was Sanita's sister Carla, he kept quiet. Secrets have a way of revealing themselves at the most inconvenient times though and when Carla finds out Sanita is dating Terrence, the simmering relationship between the sisters finally boils over. And, when Terrence finds out that his lecherous uncle tries to put the move on Sanita, his anger threatens to explode too...

Read more in The Other Sister ...

Other folks business...

2011-11-14T11:59:00.000-08:00

“But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.” I Peter 4:15

Perpetual busybody Marcella Lewiston takes no heed to the biblical admonishment to mind one's own business. The attractive Marcella has plenty of money courtesy of her father and an excellent divorce lawyer. And, now that she's without a husband she has lots of free time on her hands. Marcella makes it her business to know everyone else's. Elegant, well-spoken, and tastefully groomed, Marcella is delightfully snooty, and unflinchingly honest in her unsought commentary. Marcella's father recruited James and was his strongest advocate making it difficult for James to tell her what he really feels though her desire for control makes her often a thorn in his side. Still he manages to keep her in check--at least until now.

When Sanita returns wearing mystery like a too-snug winter coat, Marcella vows to discover the youngest Jefferson daughter's secrets, certain the knowledge will give her the vantage point she needs to one up James. The only one standing in her way is Lena Jefferson, and Marcella has a secret of her own and once she reveals it to Lena it will change everything...

Read more in The Other Sister

All for one...

2011-11-02T05:14:00.000-07:00

"The family is a haven in a heartless world." ~Christopher Lasch

Lena Jefferson's soothing demeanor and caring spirit makes her an ideal wife of a minister. With her commitment to husband James, Lena places family first in her life. Lena is overjoyed when daughter Sanita returns, but feels the tension between her daughters and hopes that they find common ground. Something is changing in Lena though. Her inner calm is warming with the changes of life and when church busybody Marcella reveals a simmering secret, Lena's long-suppressed anger threatens to spill over.

Read more in The Other Sister...

No place like home...

2011-10-22T09:31:00.000-07:00

"Home is the place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in.
~Robert Frost"

When youngest Jefferson daughter Sanita finds herself in an untenable situation, she stuffs all that she can carry into suitcases and flees California for the safety of her hometown in Illinois. While away she drifted into a lifestyle far different than the one she lived with her family. Like the prodigal she squandered riches, but it wasn't money she was a little too free with. Once she's back at home, Sanita wonders why she ever left. She envies the accomplishments of her friends and when a budding relationship begins with handsome ex-NBA basketball player Terrence Catchings, Sanita starts to believe she can leave the lifestyle she lived in California behind. But with the situation that sent her running home haunting her, old lover Preacher hot on her trail and an unexpected crisis looming, starting over won't be as easy as she hopes.

Read The Other Sister....

Perfect...

2011-10-15T13:08:00.000-07:00

"Perfectionism is the voice of the oppressor." ~Anne Lamott

In The Other Sister Jefferson sister Carla's life has followed her perfect plan and now she's principal at a charter middle school, owns a beautiful home, drives a luxury car and is well thought of in the community. But, Carla doesn't always think as highly of herself and her insecurities heighten when she faces an unexpected insurgence at the school. As the pressure mounts Carla comforts herself with food and thoughts of the future. Handsome Terrence Catchings has asked her out for a couple dates, and Carla is certain he's the perfect man for her.

But, when Terrence's interest is diverted by not-so-perfect sister Sanita, and pressure at the school mounts Carla's emotions spiral. Carla's perfect life is unraveling and so is Carla...

Forgiveness...

2011-10-09T08:49:00.000-07:00

"Love is an act of endless forgiveness, a tender look which becomes a habit.~ Peter Ustinov

In my sophomore novel, The Other Sister, loving father James Jefferson is ecstatic when younger daughter Sanita arrives home after a mysterious disappearance. Sinewy and athletic, Sanita left home on a basketball scholarship to attend college. She is the son that James never had and he's been deeply concerned about her. But, when Sanita's doings in California finally become known, James is faced with a challenge he never expected. Forgiveness. Like most parents, he had his own hopes for Sanita and finding she's strayed far away from the values she was raised with is devastating.

Never mind that his boyhood friend, the good Bishop Calvin Catchings may be a cad and a womanizer--James's is praying for him. But his daughter? Forgiving her is proving to be very difficult--maybe even impossible....

Read The Other Sister...

Siblings

2011-10-04T06:42:00.000-07:00

"I do not believe that the accident of birth makes people sisters and brothers. It makes them siblings. Gives them mutuality of parentage. Sisterhood and brotherhood are conditions people have to work at. It's a serious matter. You compromise, you give, you take, you stand firm, and you're relentless...And it is an investment. Sisterhood means if you happen to be in Burma and I happen to be in San Diego and I'm married to someone who is very jealous and you're married to somebody who is very possessive, if you call me in the middle of the night, I have to come." ~Maya Angelou

In my newest book, The Other Sister, Jefferson sisters Carla and Sanita are siblings who have never been close. But, when both face adversity they learn the work it takes to strengthen the bond of sisterhood to be worthwhile and that the love they have one another is greater than their differences.

The Other Sister--now available in e-book.

Upcoming Course

2011-09-30T11:46:00.000-07:00

This spring I will again teach my Discover your Inner Voice at the Corinth Campus of North Central Texas College. Budding writers will be introduced to the mechanics of structuring a novel or a creative non-fiction writing. There is a weekly lesson along with a selection of prompts. Guided journal exercises help students self-assess and formulate personal writing goals. Students have weekly writing tasks to assist them in starting a personal book project and are asked to post their efforts in a class blog. At the completion of the course, students may continue to use the blog as an online writing discussion group and can carry those meetings to the local library or to somewhere else offline if they choose.

The course will be offered again in March at the Flower Mound campus. If you live in North Texas and are interested in signing up for the course, more information (page 51) here. Scholarships are available.

Course Offered...

2011-09-21T10:54:00.000-07:00

I am offering an Introductory Writing Course at North Central Texas College in Corinth beginning October 4th. The course is designed to help fledgling writer's discover their inner voice through use of writing prompts and guided journaling. Motivated writers can finish the course with 1-2 usable chapters for a fiction or creative non-fiction manuscript. More information here.

She's up and ready to go...

2011-09-14T10:59:00.000-07:00

Still trying to figure out how to connect my domain to this site, but for those who make their way here The Other Sister is now for sale with the Autumn Leaves cover. Look for Jenny Lloyd's beautifully illustrated cover to be available soon.

I'm already finding that wearing the publishing hat is not all easy! I found a mistake in my first upload, and instead of waiting--I corrected and uploaded another. So, now I have two copies on Amazon and both are "publishing," which is a long process on Amazon.

But we're all good at Barnes and Noble. Purchase The Other Sister with the Autumn Leaves cover for $4.99 here.

Update...

2011-09-12T08:43:00.000-07:00

Finally!

I'm hopeful I think we have a signed document that both parties should be able live with. I wanted to take a moment while the experience is fresh to share what I've learned in both of my publishing experiences.

1. The publisher/author relationship (or even publisher/agent) may be friendly, but it should not be considered as an arrangement "between friends." It is a business relationship based on the author signing away a signficant amount of earnings.

2. Different strokes for different folks. Expectations about a publisher's responsibiities and viewpoints about what constitutes these services can be quite different. Be shrewd and realistic about what you're contracting.

and finally.

3. Realize the significance of signing a document. Ultimately for me as an artist it's about control. I will be much more cautious about giving control over my creative endeavors to another. I realize that this a wonderful time for an eclectic one like me to do ME. And, that's what I plan to do.

We live. We learn. Life goes on.

I'm grateful for the opportunity and wish Plenary the best. I expect to relaunch The Other Sister under new cover in e-version soon. She's reformatted and ready to go!

I will be offering cover design (typesetting) through my other website and I may offer some low-cost assistance with basic formatting as well-- at least until I enter graduate study next semester. For those with some HTML knowledge who are willing to go it alone, Signil is a great formatting program and Calibre is a wonderful conversion program to use. Both are free for downloading on the internet.

Thanks for your support.

:-) Cheri

2011-08-31T20:33:00.000-07:00

Until my new site launches, I'll share one of my favorite poems. It's about nature and God, no wonder I love it.

Clear Night

By Charles Wright b. 1935 Charles Wright

Clear night, thumb-top of a moon, a back-lit sky.

Moon-fingers lay down their same routine

On the side deck and the threshold, the white keys and the black keys.

Bird hush and bird song. A cassia flower falls.

I want to be bruised by God.

I want to be strung up in a strong light and singled out.

I want to be stretched, like music wrung from a dropped seed.

I want to be entered and picked clean.

And the wind says “What?” to me.

And the castor beans, with their little earrings of death, say “What?” to me.

And the stars start out on their cold slide through the dark.

And the gears notch and the engines wheel.
________________________________________________________________

Charles Wright, “Clear Night” from Country Music: Selected Early Poems. Copyright © 1982 by Charles Wright. Reprinted with the permission of Wesleyan University Press, www.wesleyan.edu/wespress.
Source: Country Music: Selected Early Poems (Wesleyan University Press, 1982)

ABOUT THIS POEM

Discover this poem’s context and related poetry, articles, and media.

Poet Charles Wright b. 1935

POET’S REGION U.S., Southern

Subjects Religion, Stars, Planets, Heavens, Nature, God & the Divine, The Spiritual

Poetic Terms Free Verse

To Hell with the rules...

2011-07-04T06:49:00.000-07:00

Let me warn any possible readers of "Think I'll Call it Morning" that there are curse words. None of the big ones, but you will find a few "Hells and Damns" sprinkled in the storyline because they fit into this inspirational fiction tale. There's no sex, but that's because I've not felt a need to date to write about the act of sex. So far it's not my emphasis and not something I've been all that interested in writing about. There were no curse words in 'Morning, but as soon as I decided to publish it myself I added 'em in, because I felt no longer bound to "the rules." One of the most frustrating aspects of writing today are all the rules. I mean there are genre rules, fiction writing rules, rules that apply only to black writers, rules for female writers, etc.

One rule that's become a mantra is that writers should be reading as many new fiction works as you can or at least every author in your "genre" thought to be good/great. If you're not reading some question, "How can you know what readers are interested in?" Umm-- how about because I read profusely for 2/3 of my life which encompasses about 40 years (more than some writers life-span) and because I still read when time allows and I'm interested. A writer who's work I respect, read TOS and 'Morning and commented that in her opinion, they are reminiscent of Bebe Moore Campbell's writings. I'd only read one work (Brothers and Sisters) of Ms. Campbell's when I began to write, but that story lodged deep into my psyche because it was the first book I'd read by a contemporary black author that combined social issues with fiction and I loved it. Because the story resonated so deeply with me, I could see it influencing my writing (along with Koontz, King, Paretsky, and other pop fiction writers I love) and I am honored by the comparison.

Honestly, I think all of this "mandatory" reading of each others work by writers has set in motion the sort of comparative described well by W.H. Auden in this quote, "The critical opinions of a writer should always be taken with a large grain of salt. For the most part, they are manifestations of his debate with himself as to what he should do next and what he should avoid." ~W.H. Auden. When done by rote, I think the purpose of these "readings" for some is to assess whether "my work is better than yours," which to me is a ridiculous waste of time and anyone over 50 knows that time is precious. Besides, why in the world would anyone purposely set out to write like someone else? They're offering their own creative dynamic--what's creative about making their model, "your" model? To my thinking, it would lack authenticity to write from someone's else's worldview or purposely mimic another's style. I write what I like to read-I don't set out to write a book for a certain group, or that I think will sell well--I just write about what I care about and innately structure the work in the accessible storytelling styles I enjoy as a reader.

In the Creative Writing course that I've developed, one of my first suggestions is that folks don't get too obsessed with the rules. Writing is a creative venture. Yes, we want to keep passive phrasing to minimum--just finishing a final check on that with 'Morning, we want to make sure we loosely fit a genre mold, stories should have structure and flow and we want a book to have some literary quality, but worrying too deeply about the rules is anti-creative to me. Note that there is passive phrasing in every writing, authors successfully stride genres and create interesting stories that are well-liked, many break structural rules and it works quite well for them and what's literary to one reader can be simply boring to another.

I agree writers should always write within limits, but I say enjoy being creative, telling stories that matter to you and to Hell with the rules.

Update...

2011-06-30T06:52:00.000-07:00

I realized I had too many blogs/websites and need to pare down. I also see some real time restrictions on the horizon which means I need to be able to post quickly and have sites that are easy to access and efficient. Additionally, I believe we're nearing the completion of arrangements regarding The Other Sister. I'm grateful to have a friend who is helping me navigate the legalities of getting the rights reverted on The Other Sister. Her schedule has been mad busy this month, but it looks like we may get it done in the next few days. So look for this site to go down once that happens and I'll be unveiling two new blogspots--one primarily for promotions and the other a more personal blog that will also serve as my website. Both are Blogger sites because they're easier for me to maintain. I'll also be closing down the Word Press website and retaining that domain for future use. I don't like Word Press which makes it too difficult to maintain. I am just going to switch domains here at Blogger so nothing new will be needed to access the new personal website/blogspot.

On the publishing side Think I'll Call it Morning is being reviewed now--hope he likes it. It's been through an editing process, and I'm in the process of formatting it for e-booking. I don't have a release date yet, because I'm waiting for rights to revert on TOS before I proceed, but I think it will be ready to go before mid-month. It will be available in e-book only and I plan to price it at $3.99.

I'm excited about the upcoming release of Think I'll Call it Morning! I wrote the story in 2005 so it's been in my spirit for a while and as the release time nears, I find I'm happy to be letting it go. I think DeAndre and Elisha's story is bittersweet, but also inspiring. Both find themselves in difficult situations--one has never had their faith tested while the other has never had faith at all. I think readers will enjoy this story...

Cover adjustment...

2011-06-22T17:45:00.000-07:00

Okay, now I know to read first before I make a choice. The other cover was beautiful but when I took my broke self over and checked the price it was $70! So, we have to readjust. This cover fits my budget and actually depicts the story just as well, if not better. Almost looks like it could be DeAndre crossing that bridge. As an aside, I'm doing covers--well setting the type for covers. I love designing type and it's a good break between writing, editing and all of that. Contact me here if you're interested. As far as Morning is concerned, it's moving along nicely. Should be soon and very soon...

And, this cover still may change--the type. We'll see--

Cover for my e-book...

2011-06-08T14:36:00.000-07:00

So, between applying for jobs and getting turned down, I've been working on preparing a second manuscript to go straight to e-book. I've been ambivalent about it because I wrote the story back in 2006 and in many ways have evolved past some of the ideas in the book. But, I love the characters and think they deserve to have their story told. Today as I was meditating the title came to me. It's from an upbeat Gil Scott-Heron tune that I discovered just lately and a way of memorializing my love and respect for him. I found cover art to play around with and went to work with my PhotoShop! Here's the finished result, which will hopefully motivate me to get this editing job done by the end of the month. I'll be selling it for under $5.00 though I haven't settled on a price yet. Of course the "stock photo" emblem will be gone--just need to look at a few days to make sure it's the one I want before I pay....

Check out the first two Chapters here.

Changes a-comin'...

2011-05-28T05:17:00.000-07:00

This edition of The Other Sister will still be available for a few more weeks while we finalize reverting rights. Change is part of life and I'm not quite sure how this is gonna "roll out" I'm convinced it will be a good change for The Other Sister and me! So know, she (TOS) may go down for moment, but she'll be back..

In the meantime...

Check out cover and first two of my upcoming e-book, "Think I'll Call it Morning..."

Zadie Smith's rules for writers...

2011-04-28T19:09:00.000-07:00

Love this Zadie Smith rules for writers list so much I'm re-posting it here.

1. When still a child, make sure you read a lot of books. Spend more time doing this than anything else.

2. When an adult, try to read your own work as a stranger would read it, or even better, as an enemy would.

3. Don't romanticise your "vocation". You can either write good sentences or you can't. There is no "writer's lifestyle". All that matters is what you leave on the page.

4. Avoid your weaknesses. But do this without telling yourself that the things you can't do aren't worth doing. Don't mask self-doubt with contempt.

5. Leave a decent space of time between writing something and editing it.

6. Avoid cliques, gangs, groups. The presence of a crowd won't make your writing any better than it is.

7. Work on a computer that is disconnected from the internet.

8. Protect the time and space in which you write. Keep everybody away from it, even the people who are most important to you.

9. Don't confuse honours with achievement.

10. Tell the truth through whichever veil comes to hand – but tell it. Resign yourself to the lifelong sadness that comes from never being satisfied.

Here's the link to the actual post...

Christian fiction?

2011-04-22T17:51:00.000-07:00

"Not" would be my reply. But then I'm not a fan of micro-genres. Before we became so genre based, books with a Scripture in the storyline were not designated Christian Fiction. Today contemporary writers like Jan Karan and Dan Brown include Christian themes as part of their stories but they are sold as Contemporary Fiction written for everyone and this is where I see my writing.

I write about flawed folks who find themselves in difficult situations. I don't write a "hard" story, but it may not be what the typical Christian Fiction readers expects either. I'm not looking to minister to readers through my stories, but if the reader is inspired by what they read, well that's alright with me. And, I guess my biggest reservation about being included in fiction deemed "Christian" is for me "the spiritual" is larger and more expansive than can be contained in any book. It's more than being gifted with a house, a car or a new pair of shoes. The spiritual is even greater than a character getting the husband, wife or companionship they've longed for or "holding on" to their marriage. My interest is in writing about spiritual themes that transcend religion like faith, love, forgiveness, hope, joy and peace. Lately my question is what happens if things don't go our way? If prayers aren't answered how do we cope?

Anyway, now The Other Sister is available for download on the Nook or for your Kindle! Is the story Christian fiction or not?

I think you should read it and decide for yourself.

:-) Cheri

Love's in need of love today...

2011-04-10T13:11:00.000-07:00

What do you get when you add writer, Jeremy Williams's honest observations with the style and verve of his alter-ego Push Nevahda? Well, frankly I didn't know what to expect when I asked Brother Push if he'd be interested in reviewing The Other Sister, and I've read enough Push Nevhada reviews to know the ride might be a bumpy one. I really enjoyed this review though. Clearly, Push "got me" as a writer and that's always refreshing. To some degree he got "The Other Sister" too. It's inspirational fiction, and if the reader closes the book thinking more deeply about the characters, contemporary concerns like HIV, forgiveness and family, AND feel a little warm and fuzzy, well that's alright with me...

Read Push Nevhada's review here....

WIP - Sneak Peek

2011-04-05T16:34:00.000-07:00

As a change of pace, I'm sharing a sneak peek here of a WIP. Well, it's not really a WIP, since I finished it in 2005 right before I wrote "The Other Sister." The story is inspirational fiction with an urban edge, so it might be considered a little dark. Got a lot of rejections on this one, but I loved DeAndre's character so much that I didn't want to let the story go, so anyway, this is the project I'm working on now, doing a light-re-write/edit and hope to have it ready to go straight to e-book by summer. The story synopsis follows and this link or the tab above will take to you to Chapters 1 and 2 to meet DeAndre Davis and Elisha Lawrence...

Secret Freedom Synopsis

Elisha “Faith” Lawrence skates along comfortably on the surface of life, at least until the bottom falls out. First she loses her job unexpectedly and then Elisha’s mother Sandra suffers a stroke and she is forced to move back home. Elisha shares a close relationship with her father Vernon, but not with her mother Sandra, or her younger brother Mario. Now, living in the same house with both of them, Elisha struggles to find common ground. Paternal grandmother Latrice’s home is a warm haven, and she provides Elisha with consistent love and guidance.

When longtime friend Chantell Johnson offers Elisha a position as fundraiser at the local Community Center, Elisha accepts reluctantly although working in social service is not part of the upwardly mobile career path Elisha had planned. After a rocky beginning, Elisha begins to embrace the friendship and advice of Malachi Douglas, the young minister who is also Director of the Community Center and becomes a mentor to teen Shawnie Davis. But, just as Elisha begins to regain her footing she stumbles upon a family secret about her parentage that delivers her the worst loss of all.

Meanwhile, living in the projects on the other side of town, nineteen-year old DeAndre Davis struggles financially and emotionally. He’s had to mature before his time to care for his younger sister Shawnie during the too-frequent absences of his single mother Brenda. Brenda loves them, but her bad relationship choices have made her a repeat victim of domestic abuse. DeAndre’s friend Jermaine is a player in the drug game and though the money is good, DeAndre wants no part of it. After the death of his beloved grandmother Mama Jean, neighbor Mavis Cook provides him with solace and support while girlfriend LaNea wants more than he can give.

One thing Mavis can’t give DeAndre is a reason to believe that life holds something better and he battles a growing hopelessness about life. A budding relationship with a stranger named “Chi” he meets at the basketball court, curtails DeAndre’s discouragement and he starts to become more upbeat about life. Then, DeAndre faces his own devastating discovery. DeAndre is forced to reconsider his thoughts about his mother Brenda when he learns Mama Jean’s boyfriend Bud repeatedly abused her.

When LaNea tells DeAndre that despite his efforts to not be like his own missing Dad, he may have fathered a child he can’t care for, DeAndre makes an impulsive decision that brings him face-to-face with Elisha Lawrence who then makes her own unexpected choice. Secret Freedom is an inspirational story that reminds us that there truly are only seven degrees that separate us.

New Push Nevahda Review of "The Other Sister" to come later this week...

Writing is what I do.

2011-03-16T08:14:00.000-07:00

Welcome readers!

That afroe'd girl in the first photo is me back in 1975 sitting in my SIU dorm writing. I wasn't looking to publish a work then and I didn't finish college then either, but all these years later I'm still writing--because writing is just what I do. I now have two fiction works published. I write contemporary stories about familiar folks who find themselves in dfficult life situations. If you enjoy fast-paced, plot-driven suspenseful stories that are salted with humor, sweetened with romance, and peppered with faith and inspiration then my stories are for you!

You can read reviews for my newest offering, "The Other Sister" on the sidebar and if you write a review and e-note it to me, I'll put yours there too. The book is available for purchase at Amazon and Barnes and Noble as well as through local bookstores, though you may have to order it there. It's my goal to write entertaining stories I believe aren't being told and I want to know what you think, because I write for you. Send me a snapshots of you with either of my books in hand and your big ole photo will take the place of mine here at this spot, and be featured on my FB Fan page, because I appreciate you!

Today's special thanks is to the enthusiastic young customer assistant and the lovely shopper I met at the Brookshire Grocery on S 35th yesterday morning. And a warm thanks to the freckled, hazel-eyed possible cousin (we found we have the same last name and some shared physical characteristics) at the laundrymat later on. Ya'll took my book cards, vowing to pass them on to friends and whoever else you thought might be interested and I appreciate your support!

More to come...

Switcheroo..

2011-03-16T07:47:00.001-07:00

So, for old visitors this a new spot. I'm still working it out. My rambling blog is still available-- I gave it a face lift and a new title-Marinade. I think clicked something too quickly and will have to re-add all my links to webpages and blogs manually, so bear with me old friends.