Book I and II are about Love and Faith spread over 4 generations...in an Afro American inspiring tale, set in the South that enamors the Power of clinging to an Imperishable God while continuously reaching for His sure reward, Heaven! As a candid writer, I don't 'clean-up' my characters...God does that by the end of the story.

EXCERPT BOOK II His eyes searched the earth’s blue roof as if he could find an antidote for his feelings of despair there. On a summer’s cloudless screen his mind projected images of the beloved woman who was his mother. He saw her as clear as the sun; feisty, determined, strong willed - Nell. She was a woman with a sure stride, who was his friend and mentor, and who would go up against anything or anyone…for her children. He remembered the night he saw his father alive for the last time. He was young, but the memory of that night was imprinted in his mind. Joe Vance had been out gambling and drinking for the whole weekend and had come home that Sunday night drunk, cursing and demanding food, as usual. He, and his two older brothers, who had been playing marbles by the chimney, stopped and huddled together. His mother went to the stove, as his father sat down heavily at the kitchen table. “C’mer,” he bellowed with a drunken slur, looking directly at Steed. Steed didn’t move. He was scared of his father when he was drinking. He eyed his mother who had stopped what she was doing and was looking at Joe, who had a mean, frightful look on his face. “Dija hear me boy?” He yelled at him, “you, the so called ‘heir’ - the one that owns ‘my’ house! Bring your %#. over here, now!!!” He demanded. Steed was petrified. He wanted to get to his mother. He started moving slowly towards his father then changed directions and started to run to Nell, but Joe tripped him up and grabbed him up in the air by his collar and swung him around against the brick wall, bumping his head, hard. Steed began to scream and kick. Nell, picking up an iron frying pan, ran and brought it down with all the force she could muster on Joe’s head. Momentarily stunned, he dropped Steed, but he recovered quickly and turned, landing a blow in Nell’s face that sent her sprawling. The boys ran and grabbed his legs, trying to stop him long enough to enable their mother to run out of the house, as she had done so many times in the past. Suddenly, Joe stopped trying to kick them away. He stood motionless looking straight ahead. The boys turned to see their mother holding a pistol, which was pointed directly at Joe. She wiped the dripping blood from her nose with her hand. “Come on over here boys,” she said in a tone of voice that they had never heard before. They ran and stood beside their mother. Steed would never forget the expression on his mother’s face that night. She was no longer just their mother. She was their general. She was a compelling, defending force that was there to protect them and Steed remembered that he moved close to his mother, so that he could feel the warmth of that protection. “You have touched me and my children for the last time.” Nell spoke resolvedly. “I want you to pack your clothes, now, tonight - and get out! And if you ever come back, I’ll kill you!!” The boys knew she meant it, but Joe took a step towards her. A fine line of purpose appeared at her jawbone, as her eyes narrowed. She cocked the pistol without even so much as a flinch. It was then that Joe, too, knew she meant it. He left that night and the next time Steed saw his father; he was in a coffin. He recalled how tender and lovingly his mother had gathered him and his brothers in her arms that night, when she told them that from then on she was their momma and daddy. She promised them that as long as God gave her strength, no one would ever hurt them again.

EXCERPT BOOK I “You’re making a big mistake Almay,” her father warned her, “only God can turn Steed around. If he comes back it has to be because he made up his own mind to do so. Otherwise he’ll never stay.” “And just where are you planning to live while you’re up there?!!” Came the cold, hard, condemning voice of her mother from behind them as she slowly lifted her head. Almay turned and faced her mother as she answered defiantly , “With Steed or as close as I can get to him!” Mayora had a nasty sneer on her face and her fingernails dug into the couch as she leaned forward unsteadily and her words lashed out at her daughter, “He’ll never marry you! If you leave here like this don’t you ever come back!” Almay turned back to her father and could hardly bear the pain she saw in his face but she couldn’t turn around. Kissing him on the cheek, she picked up her suitcases and walked past him and out of the door. He was the only thing she regretted leaving behind at that moment. Allen heard her car as she drove away and he sat down on the stairs and stared at the door for a long while before he got up and went over to the couch. Tenderly he picked up the pathetic bundle that was his dear wife and climbed the stairs. Going into their bedroom, he carefully laid her on their bed and ever so gently he removed her robe and slippers before pulling the covers up around her. She was awake but did not look at him nor did she speak. He went back into the hall and entered his daughter’s room. When he switched on the light his breaking heart now crumbled into pieces and tears ran down his cheeks. For he saw that in her haste, his daughter had left behind that which was most important. She had left her bible. COPYRIGHT; 5/28/21