Unika Welcomes AAMBC Spring Tours Featuring Author Kimberly Ranee Hicks

Kimberly Ranee Hicks (pronounced Ronnie) is a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and grew up in the Hill District. She currently resides in the city of New Kensington, Pennsylvania, where she shares a home with her husband, Wesley, and stepdaughter, Nicole. 


Hicks has done it again by incorporating the zest and appeal that her fans came to love in Mello and June, but with a whole new twist.  She is currently in the process of writing her third novel.


Get to Know the author:

Describe for our readers who Kimberly Ranee (pronounced Ronnie) Hicks is?
I’m a kind-hearted, charming, witty, genuine, sincere, energetic and animated soul who wants to share my gift of word usage with the world.  There isn’t a better form of communication than the use of words to tell a great story.  My creation was no mistake.  I was placed here for the soul purpose of sharing my experiences with others.  Gifts are meant to be given, and when readers enjoy what I have to say, it’s the highest paid honor one may receive.

What inspires you to write?
Life inspires me to write.  When I look at the trials and tribulations I’ve been through, I now realize I was placed in those situations for a reason—to share what I feel with others who may be going through a similar thing.  But the biggest thing that drives me to write is pain.  Whenever I go through something difficult, my soul becomes full, and when it becomes overloaded, I have to write to release its pain.  Some of my best work written has been through my personal pain, and being a sensitive soul, more so than others, I also can write from the pain of others and come up with great storylines to spin.


What do you want your readers to come away with from the stories you write?
I want my readers to come away with a valuable lesson—for I truly believe there isn’t a person too old to learn.  I don’t just write stories for the sake of doing it or just because it’s the only thing that truly makes my soul at peace, but I want to teach someone something.  I want a person to pick up one of my books and see there is more to it than just good old-fashioned entertainment.  I want a person to be able to identify with a character or characters and think how it relays to his/her own life, or possibly how it relates to someone they know. 

Many of my readers tell me one of the greatest things they love about my stories are they appear so real and they can truly relate to what is happening, and more importantly, receive the strong message behind what they are reading.  When readers are still talking about my novels, long after they have read them, I know I have accomplished my goal as an author.  It’s the most gratifying feeling an author can feel.  I am forever humbled by the experience.

What avenues did you explore for publishing your novels?
Before I published my first novel, Mello & June, I researched for an entire year before the outline of my first novel was complete.  I spoke with agents, authors and publishers to get their views and opinions on what worked best for them and why.  After trying for many years to get into a traditional publishing house and receiving rejection letters, not because my writing wasn’t strong necessarily, but because what I was writing wasn’t what they were looking for at that time.

 I’ve had a couple agents review my work and tell me that it’s good, but many of the publishers they dealt with wouldn’t want to put money into my type of novels.  So, after compiling my information for a year, I decided to self-publish.  I was warned of the pros and cons into doing this, but for me, in order for me to write what I enjoyed, I had to do what was best for me.  Many of your big named authors started out self-publishing, Stephen King and John Grisham.  I waited twenty years before I began writing Mello and June because that love story had to wait to be told.  Self-publishing isn’t for everyone, not so one could tell by the millions being published yearly, but it is worth investigating and seeing how it works out for you.

What makes you different from other authors?
I pride myself on being different.  I don’t want to do what everyone else has done, and I don’t want to get stuck in a particular genre because that happens to be what is selling now.  Some have criticized me for being that way, and I say to those, so be it.  I will never sell myself short nor compromise my artistry for the sake of a dollar. 

Sure, do I want to make money off of writing, I most certainly do, but I will not ever write stories that I don’t feel have any substance behind them.  As a woman of color, I find that many writers of my same race write basically the same things, and for me, that gets old.  The urban experience doesn’t always have to be the hard-knock life, thugs, drug dealers, sex, etc., there are so many stories that need to be told showing African-Americans in a positive light, which can be shared through drama, but leaving the reader saying, “hey, I got something from this story.” 

As I stated before, I want my readers to come away with a powerful message, one that will give them pause.  I want to see more positive characters being written about people of color, instead of the same ole same.  This is what sets me apart from other authors.  It may be the reason my success is slow crawling, but moving forward nonetheless.  I want people to feel my words, not just read them, and I want people to think about what my characters are doing and why.  I’m changing the literary world one word at a time, and I’m finally gaining ground.

Why did you decide to write your current novel, Silent Knight, in the 70s era?
Simply put, I loved the 70s and it was a great era.  When I think of the 70s, I am immediately thrown back into Afros, Disco, belle-bottom jeans, halter tops, platform shoes, (which are back in style again), Soul Train, TV shows such as What’s Happenin’, The Jeffersons, Saturday Morning Cartoons, The Six Million Dollar Man, etc.  When I think of those things, why not write about it?  Silent Knight, the novel, is a tribute to my childhood—a time of better days gone by.  It’s something you don’t see in many self-published novels, so why not write a good story based in that time period? 

What better way to mix the past with the present, and put a spin on it while you’re at it?  Again, I don’t write stories like other authors write, and as I mentioned before, I pride myself on that.  I am my own person.  I hold my own artistry that I’m proud of.  I use my gift to educate others, and no one said you can’t have fun while doing it.  I couldn’t think of a better way to pay homage to my childhood than by displaying that era in print.  I had an awesome time reliving it, going through old family albums, and talking with people who lived in that time.  The 70s rocked, and will forever live on in Silent Knight.  Right on with the Right on!

What are your favorite genres to write?
Being that there are only 250 plots an author has at his discretion to write from, whatever way I may twist a plot, I will do it.  Many of my fans were surprised to learn that I am not a huge fan of romance, but my first novel was just that.  Believe me, it came as a total shock that I would choose to write such a novel, but it was meant to be—plus, romance is the largest read genre in all categories.  If you’re going to put yourself out there, why not go with something that will grab the masses’ attention? 

There isn’t a genre I will not tackle.  I believe in writing about any and everything I can.  I do not like to get stuck in one spot too long, so immediately I will begin my research into topics that I feel my readers will be interested in.  I do tend to like the suspense genre more so than any others, but I have several other books in mind that will be challenging, but told in the true fashion as many of my readers have come to know.  I enjoy writing drama, but I most definitely do not want to live it.

From award-winning writer Kimberly Ranee Hicks comes another gripping work that is sure to stir the literary world. Published through Xlibris, Silent Knighttells how a supposedly informative documentary turns into a series of perplexing revelations.

Clarence Knight, a filmmaker who is making it big out in Hollywood, is suddenly uprooted from his city life when his best friend, Reggie Dunn, summons him to come back home because Reggie’s father is dying. After all, Mr. Dunn played an intricate part in Clarence’s upbringing.

 He unwillingly returns to his old stomping grounds of Woodland Heights, the Projects. Once he arrives, he discovers that his old hood isn’t quite the way it used to be when he and his family moved there twenty years ago. While visiting with his best friend and catching up on old times, Clarence figured he could make the best of the trip by surprising his friend with a camera crew that is in the process of making a documentary about their lives in Woodland Heights, the way it was in the 70s. But he also has another motive for this documentary; he longs to know what has happened to a kid named Marcus Paige whom they used to hang with.

As the camera starts rolling, secrets—dark and shocking ones—also begin to unravel. Clarence discovers that his old neighborhood has some extremely harsh realities he will have to face. After all is revealed, will Clarence still remain friends with his old crew? Or better yet, will what Clarence learns keep him silent forever? Readers will find out in this fast-paced, breathtaking mystery-suspense thriller. For more information on Silent Knight, interested parties may log on to www.Xlibris.com, go to www.70silentknight.com, www.amazon.com or any major bookstore (order desk) to get a copy.

Find the author:
Mello & June, It’s a Book Thang Blog: http://mellojune.blogspot.com
Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/Kiwes
Facebook Fanpage of Mello & June:  http://www.facebook.com/#!/MelloJune2009
Email Address:  mellojune@kimberlyraneehicks.com

Unika Welcomes Paulette Harper Johnson Blog Tours Featuring Author Felecia Killings and The Fear, Faith, and Patience Blog Tour

About the Author

Felecia S. Killings is a quintessential educator and promoter of change, transformation, and innovation within the educational field. Her years of dedicated service to education, and ascribing to the motto that “Learning is a Lifestyle,” has resulted in extensive years of training and preparation in the educational spectrum. 

She received her Bachelor’s Degree from the University of California, Davis in 2005 with double majors in English and African and African American Studies. She also obtained her Master’s Degree from UC Davis’s School of Education in 2007. She has received preliminary Doctoral of Education course work at Argosy University from 2008-2010; and will complete her Doctorate of Philosophy in Education with emphasis in Organizational Leadership at Northcentral University in Arizona. 

Felecia has provided her community with five years of service as a public-school English instructor. She has also created educational programs that help minority youth reach their full potential through excellence in education, job training, and college and career preparations. Felecia is also an author and publisher, and founder and CEO of Power, Faith, and Love Ministries, which oversees seven organizations. 

Commitment, dedication to service, and a desire to help others become successful and prosperous are her driving force. Furthermore, her unconditional love for the things of God, and expanding His Kingdom in the earth serve as the foundation for the ministry that God has placed in her spirit.

Visit Felecia at: http://fearfaithpatience.weebly.com

Author Interview

What inspired you to write your first book?

My desire is to ignite a fire within God’s people to become active in earthly affairs inspired me to write this book. I’m not the type of person who can idly sit back and let injustices go on without speaking up, because I realize that my silence, and that of others, gives license to ungodly, destructive behavior. I have learned over the last few years that my words, when enveloped in God’s anointing, have the power to bring forth the change that is necessary in public schools. Thus, publishing a book that accomplishes this very task is my driving force.

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

The message that I want readers to grasp is that we all have an obligation to get active in earthly affairs for the sake of the next generation. If we remain silent about issues that plague our schools—issues such as racism, sexism, discrimination, and sexual abuse (especially from students to teachers)—then we cannot expect any change for our youths. 

Do you have any advice for other writers?

My advice for other writers is to simply share whatever God places on your heart, and trust that the words He gives you is exactly what the people need to hear in order to bring them out of a terrible situation.

What marketing techniques have you used to sell your books and which ones have been most successful?

As a novice publisher, I knew that in order to get my book out there, I would need the help and expertise of one who has gone before me. My mother, Paulette Harper-Johnson, was just the person because she had already established herself as a prominent Christian author. After discussing with her my vision of this book ministry, she gracefully accepted the role as my publicist and marketing supervisor. I cannot emphasize enough how much of a help and support she has been to me; and I would highly recommend her services to anyone, especially new authors.

Why should we buy your book?

Purchasing this book is especially important for parents and families that have an investment in the public school system. Anyone who sends their children to these schools needs to understand what is going on in it, and to learn that they have rights that entitle them and their children to receive better and equal education. This book is also important for educators who feel trapped in a system that commits serious offenses against them. It is an eye-opening text, one that many will find difficult to believe because it is so atrocious. In spite of what goes on there, the book (and the subsequent books to follow) provides hope and encouragement for all those who are facing tough challenges.

Is there a special place that you prefer when you write?

For me, I love writing in the comfort of my home.

What projects are you currently working on?

This book is one of a three-part series; so I am currently finishing the other two books that will provide a conclusion to the stories presented in the first book. In addition to working on my book ministry, I am in the process of licensing my first non-profit organization that works with adolescent females who are caught up in prostitution within the Bay Area, including Fairfield, CA.

Readers wishing to purchase this book can find it on Amazon.com and other online book stores. 

They can also visit my website at http://fearfaithpatience.weebly.com to receive a copy.

Purchase book at Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/7dbrtcv

About the Book

We often wonder what it is like to be a teacher in today’s time. With so much happening in the public schools, it seems any wonder how it is able to function given all the atrocities that go on in the system. But this is the story about a young, beautiful teacher named Felecia Killings. As a child, she dreamt of the opportunity to be what many call one of the most admirable professions in society: an educator. 

And when her father witnessed this aspiration in her, he did everything in his power to protect it and to ensure that she fulfilled her mission. Yet, like so many countless individuals who enter the public school system, Ms. Killings was met with tragedies and struggles. But through it all, she allowed her faith to keep her strong, even in the midst of hell.

This book is one to be commended, for it takes what we think we know about the public school system and brings to light another side that is never talked about. Through this text, you will learn about the power of unconditional love and personal sacrifice. For every teacher who chooses to stand up for what’s right, even when everyone is against you, this book will minister to you in ways that even you could not imagine. You WILL be inspired.

Purchase book at: Amazon.com http://tinyurl.com/7dbrtcv

Author website: http://fearfaithpatience.weebly.com

Unika Welcomes AAMBC Spring Tours Featuring Author Kai Mann

Kai Mann, a member of the Motown Writers Network is the author of 30 Day Notice; a novel published by Scriblical Vibez Publishing, a company that she founded in 2011. Kai is also an independent contract writer for Examiner.com as Detroit’s Best Friend Examiner.


 As a contributor to the poetry community, Kai’s online poetry blog Kaiology Wet Your Intellectual Taste Buds is where she purposefully inspires thought pertaining to the themes of love, friendship, self-love, and self-progression. As a writer for the Scriblical Vibez publishing blog; Kai’s mission is to contribute inspiring content that not only promotes self-growth, but also content that inspires a vibrational change through written word.

Get to Know Kai:

1.How did you get into writing? I have been writing ever since I could hold a pencil. As a young child you could find me sitting in my room reading a book or writing poetry. Somewhere around the age of twelve I decided that one day I was going to write a book. I never knew what I would write about but I just knew that I would. A child-hood friend had been reading some of my poetry posts on facebook a few years ago and suggested that I start blogging. I think she believed in me more than I did myself; however, I decided to take her up on the challenge. Professionally I got into writing in 2009 when she later suggested I write for examiner.com. While writing for examiner I began writing 30 Day Notice.


2.Who are some other writers you read and admire? I admire the writings of Iyanla Vanzant, Terry McMillan, Nikki Giovanni, James Baldwin, Maya Angelou, and the late E. Lynn Harris.


3.What is your book 30 Day Notice about and how did it come to fruition? 30 Day Notice is about a woman’s journey after she has been given a 30 day notice from her lover. It’s about love, relationships, friendships, betrayal, spirituality, self-reflection, and ultimately growth. The book references many of the notices that we receive in relationships and life in general; and how we overlook those notices because we get distracted by something or someone. 30 Day Notice came into fruition one day when I was forced to think about the distractions and notices that I received in my own life, shared by countless others. I thought that some of the lessons learned could be an example to someone else. Hence, 30 Day Notice was born.


4.How did you come up with the title? When I knew that I wanted to write about a lover being left after a 5 year relationship, I thought about the timeframe that was needed to give someone a heads up so I decided to call the book 30 Day Notice.


5. Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp? Yes, there are a number of messages that I would like for readers to grasp, I’ll give you a few. 1. Don’t over-look the notices that happen in your life. Those notices are there to protect you, sometimes from yourself. 2. Realize that no matter where you are in your life, the Creator is always with you. 3. No matter what happens in your life you can pick yourself up. The key is to keep picking yourself up. 4. Let the Creator take care of your light weight; meaning, don’t get stuck in the negative actions of others let God handle it. 5. You don’t have to always physically fight someone to win.


6. Are experiences in the book based on someone you know, or events in your own life? Both. The book is a mixture of some of my own experiences and other people’s experiences with a lot of imagination here and there. These are experiences that almost everyone has gone through; heartbreak, betrayal, or some type of loss. Many of us haven’t gone through those experiences the same exact way, but we’ve gone through something similar.


7. What are your current projects? I am working on the 2
nd installment of the Eviction Chronicles called “Abandoned Property”. Abandoned property is about the perceptions of abandonment. I’m also working on a poetry book called “In My Mother’s

Contact Info: Email:

kai@scribicalvibez.com Website: http://kai-mann.com 

Blog: http://kaiologywetyourintellectualtastebuds.blogspot.com 

Scriblical Vibez Blog: http://www.scriblicalvibez.com/blogstuff 

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006LDLQYE 

Goodreads Author page: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5392397.Kai_Mann 

Examiner: http://www.examiner.com/friendship-in-detroit 

Twitter: http://twitter.com/kaiology 

Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Kai-Kaiology-Mann/119336204811849 

Purchase your copy of ’30 Day Notice’ on Publisher’s website Scriblical Vibez: http://bit.ly/s3EMzi Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006LDLQYE 

Smashwords.com: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/113170 

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/uTWPde

Goodreads.com: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13241635-30-day-notice 

To view 30 Day Notice Book Trailer: http://t.co/OOjGXVzP

Kori Maitland leaves behind everything that matters to find herself. In her search she travels from the east coast to the Midwest to find the love of her life. At least, that’s what she believes. After moving across the country and a five year relationship with Layla Bradford, Kori is given a 30 day notice. 

Although Kori didn’t believe that Layla would leave, she does and Kori is left with the challenges of dealing with a broken heart, being left on the west coast, and permanent employment. As Kori struggles to get her life back together she realizes that Layla’s 30 day notice was not the first one she had ever received. 

Kori deals with all the notices as she looks over the past five years of the relationship. As she tries to mend her broken heart she travels back to the Midwest to find a job and to hopefully start a business. It isn’t until Kori gets back to the Midwest that the betrayal from old friends turns her world upside down. Kori finds herself faced with eviction, an accident, a cheating lover, and her past.

Can Kori find who she is without losing herself along the way? Or will she succumb to the trials in life without reaching her intended goal?



(Book Excerpt)
The Beginning of the End


April 4th I woke up uneasy. I had been scrapping the side of my tongue with my teeth all night long and it was sore. Layla and I woke up on Aundrea’s couch feeling like we had been beaten with a bag of rocks. Well, I did if she didn’t. I dreaded this day and I became not mean or nasty, just pissy. I wouldn’t dare talk to Layla about it. She was walking around here like the day was the best day of her life because it was. It marked the first day of the rest of her life. Today began a new chapter for her and was the ending of one for me. I couldn’t blame her though; I knew what that was like. I’d felt that feeling before. I just guessed that now it was my turn to feel the sting of someone I love leaving me behind.


Even though it was a beautiful day, I didn’t notice it. I felt like I was driving to my doom. My quietness filled the empty spaces of the car; today was the last day and our time was up. As I was driving down the 405 to the L.A. airport, I couldn’t help but think “Man, it’s over.” So many emotions began to well up inside of me and I felt like I couldn’t do this, but I had to be strong and put on my big girl boxers. I pulled into the short term parking lot, helped her with her bags, and walked her inside. I knew I couldn’t stay there and watch her leave so I said, “Goodbye” and walked away without so much as a kiss or a hug. I’d never told anyone goodbye before. Goodbye always felt like forever, that’s it, no more, adios; I’ll never see you again. I knew that I probably would see her again, but I knew it would never mean the same ever again.


As I walked back to the parking lot, I began to feel numb. I got into my truck and made it a point to not look back. I headed back on the 405 in the other direction toward North Hollyhood, affectionately called that because it is the hood of Hollywood. I pushed play and Mary J’s “No More Drama” began to play. My feelings began to spread all over me like hot butter on third degree burns. I found myself crumbling and the composure that I was trying to keep lost its battle as tears strolled down my face. My phone rang and it was my sister. My sister’s timing was always right. As I got older, it was always like she could feel when something wasn’t right. Of course when I answered the phone she would have to ask me how I was doing and that made me cry even harder as she listened like the mother in her always did.


I could feel the life seeping from my body. I laid out for my sister the feelings that I had been trying to keep inside for thirty days as they spilled over and I could no longer talk and had to get off of the phone. I tried to convince myself as well as my sister that I would be all right. I didn’t even know how long the ride took or even how I got home, but somehow when I pulled up to Aundrea’s apartment complex, I knew it was time to get out. I took the elevator up to the fourth floor, placed my key in the lock, and began to thank God when I noticed no one else was home. I sat myself down and the pain of hurt overtook me once again. I cried like a baby as I lay balled up on the floor holding my
knees to my chest.


 I couldn’t believe that the woman I had loved so dearly for the past five years could leave me. The woman whom I thought the sun rose and set because of her left me. My heart ached so badly. I could physically feel it breaking into a million pieces, so I held my chest as I swallowed hard, trying to take in air. I had never felt like this before. It wasn’t like I hadn’t ever broken up with anyone before because I had. This was different.


I finally got myself off of the floor and took a shower thinking that would help soothe me but it didn’t. I kept thinking “How in the hell did I get here?” I had always thought Debra Cox’s song “How Did You Get Here” was stupid, but now I knew exactly what she meant. Thirty days ago I was living in a three-bedroom, two-bath, two-car garage home, with a pool in Orange County and thirty days later, I was sleeping on Aundrea’s couch. What the hell happened? The sad part was I knew what had happened. Thirty days ago, Layla told me she was leaving and even though I knew it, something in me still did nothing about it. I was given thirty days and still wasn’t prepared. I guess somewhere in the back of my mind I thought she wouldn’t really leave me.


While I was still contemplating, Aundrea walked in and said, “Hey! How did everything go?” When I turned turn to look at her, I guess she could see how everything went. “Oh, not so good, huh?”


I pulled the covers up over my head and tried to act like I was going to sleep. All night long I could feel myself tossing and turning. After five years of sleeping with someone and they were no longer there to nuzzle up under and spoon with, how the heck were you supposed to sleep? What was I supposed to do now with this left hand that always seemed to creep under her right breast as we lay asleep like two spoons in the silverware drawer? I could feel my tongue being scraped so hard that I thought my mouth was bleeding. The stress of what to do next even in my sleep haunted me. 


I woke up the next morning to go to a temp job I had lined up making half the money I was making after leaving my cushy job in Orange County because this time in my life had been carefully thought out by Layla for me. After returning from a trip back home to Detroit, she stated that she could no longer live on the West Coast anymore. She said that her children were unhappy and she felt like she was on the other side of the world. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing because this was the place that she chose to live over three years ago when she said she no longer cared to live in Detroit and wanted a new start. Me being me, I would’ve moved to Timbuktu if she had wanted to and would’ve been happy doing it. I wouldn’t have even cared if I had to wear a bone in my nose and put leaves on all of my private parts.


Trying to get myself ready for work, I ironed my clothes and I got into the shower. I tried to use the noise from the shower to drown my sobs and the water to rinse away my tears. I didn’t want Aundrea to hear me. The bathroom was literally in her room. I stood there lifeless for about twenty minutes before soaping up.


I couldn’t help but feel like this was the worst time to start a new temp job, but I still tried to seem pleasantly happy. The manager of the title agency came over and greeted me and gave me a quick tour of the office. I remember her giving me instructions on what I needed to do but for the life of me I couldn't remember exactly what they were. Even though my mind drifted in and out on Layla, somehow I seemed to go through the motions exactly as I was told. I was on auto-pilot. At the copier, I thought of Layla. While entering in all of the loan documentation, I thought of Layla. I went over in my head every single day and every single moment that I could remember which all seemed good. 


When it was time to go to lunch, I walked over to Mickey D’s and grabbed a fish filet combo without cheese like normal but when I sat down to eat I took one bite and stared out the window. Forty-five minutes had passed and I had not taken another bite. I got up, threw away everything except the drink and headed back to the office. On my way I thought of the same things all over again until it was time to go home. When I pulled up to Aundrea’s, I realized once again that I had no idea of how I had gotten there. I was just glad the day was over and that I hadn’t killed myself or anyone else for that matter. I had an urge to write. Like always when things in my life weren't going right, I needed to put my feelings on paper. This whole situation felt like it was burning a hole on the inside of me and if I didn't get it out soon, I was going to go down in flames. I grabbed a journal from the back seat and began to write.


Right now I feel broken, like a person who was stripped down to nothing. The one person who I probably loved more than life itself is gone. Where do I go from here? How do I go on from here? My heart aches so badly. It’s all because I didn’t listen. I heard but I didn’t want to listen. Those subtle hints that people tell you without really saying the words . . . I heard them long time ago in my spirit but didn’t want to believe them. I didn’t want to hear the words even when they were spoken to me. I felt like all I needed to do was show more love, be more patient, let things just go, and now look how far it took me. I’m down to nothing once again. At least the first time I stripped myself bare to find myself, I had a bed, a room, something to retreat to. Listening to R. Kelley’s “I Believe I Can Fly” got me into this mess.


 Now I sit alone, lonely in my despair. Using Aundrea’s couch for a bed. How could I love someone else more than I love myself? How could I give up myself to fit into another’s world? Was I just being needy? Of all the people that I made myself available to, watching out for, doing for, making sure that they were okay, and now I’m not. I treated them better than my own family, but I guess that’s what I get. The people I have looked out for are not looking out for me. It’s my turn and when I turn around no one is here. No one could possibly understand the place that I am in. Why would they? I don’t even understand. God, help me to get out of this funk. This place is no good for me. I can’t feel any life around me. I feel like I am in the valley and the shadow of death is all around me. Lift me up, Lord, hold me to your bosom. Keep me close. Show me my errors and help me to get past all of the hurt and pain.


God, please restore my soul.


Copyright © 2011 by Kai Mann

Unika Welcomes DeeGospel PR Featuring Author Rhonda Bowen and The One Way Or Another Book Blog Fest

Book Bloggers United presents:

 

Rhonda Bowen

 

new novel

 

One Way or Another

Dafina; Original edition (February 28, 2012)

 

***Special thanks to Dee Stewart of DeeGospel PR for sending me a review copy.***

 ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Christian Fiction Romance Author Rhonda Bowen writes for Kensington Publishing Corps (Dafina Books.) She has written two faith based novels Man Enough for Me and her current release One Way or Another. She is also an event planner and currently resides in Toronto, Ontario Canada.

Visit her at www.rhondabowen.com or her Learning the Ropes Blog at www.learningtheropes.wordpress.com.

SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:
Atlanta reporter Toni Shields will do whatever it takes to get a good story. So when she's arrested for sneaking around the mayor's house, she's prepared. What she's not prepared for is getting demoted--or her run-in with stubborn Adam Bayne, director of the local young men's rehab center. . .

The first time Adam saw Toni, she was wrangling with the cops. Now she's looking for a scoop at Jacob House. Adam has no intention of letting her near his boys--yet as usual, her pushiness wins. And when she genuinely helps a teen in trouble, Adam sees a side of her that cares about more than just a headline.


 Soon, they become close--their attraction growing. But there's more to both their lives than meets the eye. Toni has a haunting family secret, one that is taking a great toll on her. And when she uncovers that Adam has a devastating past of his own, not only their relationship, but their futures, and their faith, lie in the balance.

Praise for Man Enough for Me

"A sweet Christian romance." –Publishers Weekly

"Enough drama, romance, and faith that keeps you turning pages." --Tiffany L. Warren, Essence® bestselling author 

 

Product Details:
List Price: $14.00

Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Dafina; Original edition (February 28, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0758259581
ISBN-13: 978-0758259585


AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:

 

ONE WAY OR ANOTHER
Rhonda Bowen

(February 28, 2012)

Chapter 1

The metal felt icy and unwelcome as the cuffs snapped tight around Toni’s wrists. She grimaced. This was not how she planned to spend her Wednesday night.

The burly police officer dragged her to the cop car, placing his hand on her head of long dark silky hair as he lowered her into the backseat. At least he was being civil. The same couldn’t be said for the one manhandling Afrika.

“Get your nasty hands off my butt, you perve,” Afrika snapped, shoving him away with her shoulder.

The short dull-looking cop stumbled back a bit, seemingly surprised at her force. Yeah, he didn’t know. Afrika might look tiny but you didn’t want to mess with her. More than once Toni had seen her friend take a chunk out of her pro-basketball-playing ex-boyfriend Tyrone. She was nobody’s victim.

For once though, Toni wished Afrika would take it down a notch. It was bad enough that the cops had caught them snooping around the mayor’s premises. No sense encouraging the Atlanta PD officers to find a creative way to actually charge them.

Toni’s mind scrambled for a solution as she sat in the back of the cop car on the way to the station. The clock on the dash said 10:34 p.m., leaving her with barely an hour to file her story and get out of this mess. She thought of all her possible lifelines, including her brother, Trey, and her sister-in-law, Jasmine. But none of those options were appealing. Her brother’s smug look she could deal with, but she would rather spend the night in a cell than get another lecture from Jasmine, who seemed to forget that at twenty-seven she was the same age as Toni and not in fact her mother. That left only one person. Unfortunately, said person was sitting beside her, just as helpless as her, and a lot less cooperative.

By the time they got to the mini-precinct, south of downtown Atlanta, Toni realized that she was on her own.

“So, Miss Shields, you want to tell us why you were in the area of the mayor’s residence tonight?”

Toni smiled at the large man who had been the one to handcuff her earlier. “Just taking a walk, Officer Powell.”

“I’m looking at your file here, Miss Shields, and you seem to like taking walks near the homes of well-known people in this city.”

Toni shrugged. “What can I say? I’m a fitness buff.”

She hoped Afrika was holding up okay. They had been separated, and the other officer was questioning her in another section of the station. Toni could see her, but couldn’t hear what was going on.

“And what about that camera you were carrying?” he asked, an eyebrow raised.

“I like photography too. It’s a new hobby.”

Officer Powell rubbed his eyes. “Where’s the memory card, Miss Shields?”

“Memory card?”

“Yes,” he said. “You know, that little thing that records the pictures? There was none in the camera. And we didn’t find it when we searched your things.”

Toni shrugged. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Officer Powell sat forward, his forehead wrinkling. “Miss Shields, you were caught wandering near the mayor of Atlanta’s home in the dead of night with a very professional grade camera and a major zoom lens,” he said. “I personally think you might have even been on the mayor’s property but unfortunately there’s no way to prove it. Do you expect me to believe that there was no card in this camera?” he asked. “Now, either you produce the card on your own or we’re going to have to search you.”

“But you already searched me,” Toni said innocently.

The officer glowered. “A full body search.”

Toni pursed her lips. “You can’t do that. Full searches can only be conducted by someone of the same sex. And I’m looking around and all the officers I see on duty tonight are men.”

He rubbed a hand over his head tiredly. “Then you can be someone else’s problem.” He closed her file and stood. “My shift is over anyway.”

Toni looked at the wall clock. 10:45. Right on schedule.

“Okay, please tell me you have a plan to get us out of here,” Afrika hissed into Toni’s ear moments after Officer Powell seated them beside each other in the holding area.

“Sort of.” Toni turned her head left and then right as she tried to work the kinks out of her neck. The back of that cop car had not been good to her.

“Sort of? You’re gonna need to give me something better than that.” Afrika twisted around in her seat, giving Toni full access to her glare. “I can’t go to prison, Toni. I may act hard, but I ain’t no criminal. I can’t go down like this!”

The hysteria in Afrika’s whispers went up a notch at each statement, and Toni had to bite her lip to keep from laughing. Afrika would definitely not see the humor. And with Toni’s hair looking a shaggy mess, she couldn’t afford to have her best friend and hair stylist not talking to her.

“Afrika, we weren’t caught doing anything wrong,” Toni said, hoping her even tone would mellow her friend out. “They have nothing to charge us with. All they can do is detain us for a couple hours.”

She left out the part about what could happen if they searched her and found the memory card in her bra.

Afrika narrowed her eyes at Toni. “How long is a couple?”

Toni shrugged and glanced away. “Maybe four or five.”

Or seventy-two, she thought.

“A lot could happen in four or five hours,” Afrika murmured.

Toni saw her friend glance out the corner of her eye at the thick red-skinned woman who had taken up the entire bench across from them with her size ten frame and size twenty attitude. The bottle blonde had skewered them with her bloodshot eyes when they first came in, before going back to the production of picking her nails, which were so long they seemed like weapons themselves. A darker skinned woman of indeterminable everything lay buried in multiple layers of clothing on the only other bench, snoring.

“Don’t worry. It’s usually pretty quiet this time of night,” Toni said, leaning her head back against the wall.

Afrika scowled but didn’t say another word. Toni knew her friend was still mad, but she was glad that Afrika had calmed down. It would be a long twelve minutes if she had to sit there and listen to her whine.

“Well, well. Looks like it’s ladies night up in here.”

“Mikey?” Afrika had a puzzled expression on her face. “What you doing here?”

“Hey, cuz.” Mikey chuckled and unlocked the door to the holding cell. “I work here. What you doing here?”

“Keepin’ bad company,” Afrika said, throwing a nasty look Toni’s way.

“Toni,” Mikey said. Her name on his lips sounded as oily as the chicken grease that had stained his uniform. There was no doubt he’d had a three piece for dinner.

Toni forced a smile even though she really wanted to gag. If he was any other cop on any other day, Toni would have given him a piece of her mind for the way his eyes were roaming all over her. But she needed this Good Times reject, and he knew it.

She got up off the uneven bench and followed Afrika out of the cell, feeling the heat of Mikey’s gaze on her behind. She scowled. She was used to guys raking their eyes over her five- foot-four frame, particularly her generous behind, but it still disgusted her.

“So it says here that you aren’t charged but you need to be searched,” Mikey said, a toothpick in the corner of his mouth as he flipped through Afrika’s and Toni’s files.

“Don’t even think of putting your nasty hands on me,” Afrika warned.

“Easy, cuz.” Mikey laughed. “The search would have to be done by another woman.”

He turned his eyes on Toni. “Unless you want to waive that right.”

Toni fought her gag reflex again. “Thanks, Mikey, but you can already see we don’t have any weapons. Plus, like you said, there are no charges. You’re gonna let us out in a couple hours anyway. Why not save yourself some time?”

Mikey raised an eyebrow and Toni sugared up her statement with a smile. He laughed again. She wasn’t sure if that was good or bad.

“I guess you have a point there,” he said a moment later, stepping forward and removing the cuffs from Afrika’s wrists.

“It’s about time.” Afrika scowled. “Where’s my stuff?”

Mikey pulled a small plastic tray of items from behind the station desk and slid it over to Afrika.

Toni held up her wrists toward him expectantly

He glanced at her hands but didn’t reach for the keys. “You’ve been in here an awful lot lately. Maybe you need to sit in a cell a couple hours and cool off.”

Toni scowled.

“Or maybe you could help me change my mind,” he suggested. His eyes swept her frame again and she noticed his voice had ducked to a whisper.

“How about dinner again?” He leaned forward to drop the last words. “This time at my place.”

Toni resisted the urge to step back as the slightly rank smell from Mikey hit her. She would bet anything that homeboy had been rocking the same frowsy uniform all week. Nothing short of a gun to her head was putting her anywhere inside Mikey’s place.

“I don’t think so, Mikey,” Toni said, just as she heard the doors to the station open behind her.

He glanced up and nodded to the newcomer before moving around the desk and away. “Well then, I think I’m gonna have to take a little more time writing this release,” Mikey said stiffly. “I don’t want to miss anything important.”

He looked past Toni at the person behind her. “How can I help you?”

“I heard one of my kids was here. Rasheed Roper?”

“Oh yeah,” Mikey said, turning back to the desk and flipping through the stack of reports. “He got picked up with some other youngbloods near the old Bankhead Courts. Residents called it in--said they were a bit noisy. We found a little weed on a couple of them, but your kid was clean.”

Toni tapped her foot impatiently as she listened to the exchange. She glanced up at the clock--11:00. The Thursday morning edition would go to print in the next hour with or without her story. And if the latter was the case, all the crap that she had gone through tonight would be for nothing. She wasn’t having that--not after she’d had to beat out the other Metro section reporters for the front page.

“Let me get him and then you can sign him out.” Mikey turned away.

“Mikey”--Toni grabbed his arm before she lost him completely--“the cuffs?”

“Toni, we going or what?” Afrika asked from the door, a sour look plastered on her face.

“What did you say your kid’s name was?” Mikey looked past Toni as he started moving toward the back again.

“Rasheed Ro--”

“Come on, Mikey,” Toni whined, slapping the desk in frustration with her handcuffed palm. “You really gonna do me like this?”

“Like what? Girl, I never told you to get your behind locked up. You the shizzle up at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Tell your boss come bail you out.”

“Do I look like I have time for all that?” Toni shot back.

“Uh, hey, you think you could get Rasheed . . . ?”

Forget Rasheed.

“Can you just hold on? Your kid will still be a criminal in five minutes,” Toni snapped, swinging around to glare at the stranger who kept interrupting.

Her anger died on her lips when she saw exactly who was behind her. As she craned her neck to take in all of his six-foot-something frame, she couldn’t help but think of the fence she nearly broke her neck scaling less than an hour earlier. Now here was a brother who did not need a boost. And with his I-do-real-work-every-day arms he could have probably hoisted her over without breaking a sweat.

However, the expression on his gorgeously angular face told her he wasn’t inclined to do anything for her at that moment, except maybe help Mikey put her back in the holding cell. The slight downward turn of his full lips and the tightness in his strong jaw confirmed the irritation.

But, boy, did he make ticked off look good.

She was trouble personified.

Adam could tell before she even opened her pouty mouth. It was in her flushed cinnamon-toned skin, the dark inquisitive eyes, and the legs that he was mad at himself for looking at. Women with legs like hers shouldn’t be allowed to wear jeans that looked like they had been painted on. It was just wrong to mess with a brother’s head like that. Especially when he was trying to keep it PG-13 upstairs.

He felt bad for staring. But she kept looking at him with those huge eyes and he couldn’t turn away.

“You don’t look old enough to have grown kids,” she said after a moment.

“I think you got bigger things to worry about,” he said. “Like making it out of this place tonight. But it looks like you already have a plan for that.”

The big beautiful eyes turned into slits. “Maybe you shouldn’t be so quick to judge, seeing that I’m not the only one at the police station in the middle of the night.”

“Only one of us is wearing cuffs,” he shot back.

“It takes one to raise one,” Toni said. “In your case I’m sure the blunt wasn’t rolled far from the weed.”

“Whatever.” Her tongue was sharper than an army knife. He had nothing.

He didn’t even know why he was getting so riled. Maybe because he was ticked off that his day had had to end with him in a police station picking up Rasheed. But more likely it was because the woman in front of him was stealing more of his attention than he wanted to give. And the joker in the too-small uniform sexually harassing her was working his last nerve.

“All right, here he is,” Mikey said, returning from the back with a cross-looking Rasheed only a few steps ahead of him.

Adam felt the corners of his mouth drop into an even deeper frown. He saw Rasheed visibly tense when he saw him.

“Yo, Bayne, I wasn’t even doing anything!” he protested.

“I don’t wanna hear it, Rasheed,” Adam said, shaking his head. “Go sit over there, till I get through with this mess.

“You got something for me to sign?” he asked the sloppy officer.

Mikey nodded and began pulling together a sheet and clipboard for Adam.

“Toni, I’m calling a cab, and I’m leaving.”

So her name was Toni. Adam glanced back at the young woman standing at the door. She looked even more annoyed than he felt.

Toni turned back to the officer. Desperation and frustration fought for position on her face. “You really gonna make her leave me, Mikey? You know if I don’t get back and get this story in I’m done.”

Mikey shrugged as he handed Adam the clipboard.

“Say the word and you can be out of here right now,” Mikey answered.

Adam found himself hoping that Toni turned down whatever homeboy was offering. Instead, she stomped her foot, and uttered a word he used to use quite frequently before God put a noose on his tongue.

“Fine, I’ll do it,” she hissed through her teeth.

“Really?” Mikey said, sounding surprised. “I never actually thought--”

Mikey stopped short when he caught her glare. “So eight on Friday then?” He tried to whisper but Adam still heard him. Adam shook his head in disappointment.

“Whatever,” Toni said. “Just get me out of these.”

Mikey grinned as he fumbled with the keys and freed Toni’s hands from the restraints. With a look of pure annoyance, she snatched the release form from Mikey’s pudgy fingers and examined it. She probably wanted to make sure that whatever she had done didn’t end up on her record.

Adam frowned but began to scan the form in front of him. He just wanted to sign Rasheed out and be done with it. The night had gotten too weird. However, when Mikey leaned in a little too close to the woman, Adam couldn’t help but look up again. And when the rent-a-cop put his hand on Toni’s behind, Adam didn’t even think before he reacted.

“Brothah, you need to back up,” he said, stepping forward angrily. Who did this toy cop think he was?

But before he acted on his temptation to handle matters in a less verbal manner, the petite woman turned around and kneed the officer hard in a place so close to the groin that it made Adam shudder. Mikey hollered like a five-year-old and doubled over in pain.

“You think you feel something now?” Toni hissed at his bent over form. “You lucky I never put my foot where it really wanted to go.”

“Oh man, she got you!” Rasheed hollered with a laugh.

“If you ever put your hands on me again, you’ll be sorry you ever met me, you got that?” Toni snapped angrily in the officer’s ear.

Rasheed was still hooting in laughter as she stuffed the release into her pocket and grabbed her stuff out of the tray on the table. Adam stepped way out of her way as she stormed past him and through the door, pulling her friend behind her.

He glanced at the cop, still crouched over and holding on to the table for support, then at the door where Toni had just exited.

Yes. That woman was definitely trouble.

--End of Chapter One--

   

Unika Welcomes Tywebbin Virtual Tours Featuring Author Tyora Moody and The When Rain Falls Virtual Book Tour

Virtual Book Tour Schedule

About the Author

Tyora "Ty" Moody is an author and entrepreneur.  Her debut novel, When Rain Falls, will be released March 2012 (Urban Christian/Kensington). This is the first book in the Victory Gospel series.  She is a member of Sisters in Crime and American Christian Fiction Writers. 

She owns and operates TywebbinCreations.com, a design and marketing company. Her company’s niche is assisting authors with branding and developing an online presence.

Tyora, welcome to Create a Unique Xperience. What do you feel has been the unique experience in your literary journey or while writing this novel?

Unika, thank you for having me on Create a Unique Xperience today.

To answer your question, writing fiction has been a bit of a unique surprise over the past few years. I had been mainly writing how-to articles, bible studies and devotions for about ten years. When these characters popped into my head, it came at a time in my life when I was seeking new direction. Once I received a small glimpse into the character’s background, I was hooked. Took me about two years to get the story. Lots of twists and surprises along the way as I was writing.

In my debut novel, When Rain Falls, I’m introducing readers to the first of three main female characters.  When Rain Falls is the first book in the Victory Gospel Series. The series  introduces women whose pasts insist on walking beside them like a maddening visitor, unwilling to depart. Through a series of twists and life-altering experiences, these women learn victory over pain truly only comes in developing a deep trust in God. I pray that for any readers who are currently experiencing the same struggle.

I also have to say my literary journey has been very unique. I had an author friend email me one day in 2010 and said you are going to submit a short story to this anthology. I didn’t know if I could with the 8,000 word count. But it worked out and my first published work of fiction was the short story, Birthing Pains, in the anthology, Home Again: Stories of Restored Relationships was. The anthology was published November 2010.

A few months after the short story was accepted, Tiffany L. Warren offered pitch sessions at the 2010 Faith and Fiction Retreat (check it out this year in Texas at http://faithandfictionretreat.com/). It was in Atlanta that year and I knew I could drive. I prepared the query letters and proposals about a week before attending. On the day of the pitch, I sat in front of four editors with my heart on my sleeve and talked about the story that had been apart of my life since 2006. It took a few months to hear back from anyone. There were two rejections, but December 2010 was an answer to a prayer and a dream come true. I’m still pinching myself. :)

For More Information

Visit the author online at:

www.TyoraMoody.com

www.facebook.com/AuthorTyoraMoody

About the Book

“Why does God keep taking away the people I love?”

This is the lamentation of widow CANDACE JOHNSON when her best friend is brutally murdered. Ensnared by a deep-rooted bitterness, seeping her faith day by day, Candace is determined to seek justice.

Detective Darnell Jackson is in need of clues fast. The police captain is coming down hard on him and his partner to find out who murdered Pamela Coleman, the daughter of a high profile judge. Darnell confers with Candace to get the inside track on events leading up to the murder. As the investigation heats up, his growing attraction for Candace plays havoc on Darnell’s judgment.

Little does she know, Candace’s quest to find the truth has led her straight to the killer. She’s already lost loved ones. Now Candace must choose to completely trust God with her own life.

When Rain Falls Books Galore Giveaway

Virtual Book Tour - March 5 - 30, 2012

It's raining books!

From March 5-30, 2012, a winner will be chosen each week  to receive a gift pack from Tyora Moody.  There will be four (4) chances to win an autographed copy of When Rain Falls by Tyora Moody. The winner will also be eligible to win the following books during the week they are offered. The winner may choose the paperback or ebook version (except in the last week which is all ebooks).

Week 1  - March 5-9, 2012
What Kind of Fool by Rhonda McKnight
One Way or Another by Rhonda Bowen

Week 2  - March 12-16, 2012
A Good Excuse to Be Bad by Miranda Parker
Broken by Patricia Haley

Week 3  - March 19-23, 2012Coming Home by Stacy Hawkins Adams
Stepping Into the Good Life by Tia McCollors

Week 4  - March 26-30, 2012 
Kayla's Redemption by Wanda B.Campbell (ebook only)
The Playboy's Redemption by Vanessa Miller (ebook only)
True Beauty by Shelia Lipsey (ebook only)

What do you need to do to win? 

Simply answer the following question in the comments area of this blog post and REMEMBER to include your email address.

Have you ever asked a similar question to what Candace has asked. "Why does God keep taking away the people I love?"  What was your why and what were your reasons for asking? 

If not, how can you encourage someone who has experienced loss without sounding cliche? Remember loss can come in various forms (death, divorce, broken relationship, unemployment, etc.)

 To qualify, please respond with a thoughtful answer.

DISCLAIMER: Drawings void where prohibited; open only to U.S. residents; the odds of winning depend upon the number of participants. See full disclaimer at http://tywebbinvirtualevents.com/contest-rules/