Angela Benson
This one is from Booklist:
“Strong female characters, charming settings, and sweet rather than salacious romance add up to an entertaining and uplifting inspirational read as Destiny learns that mistakes are not the end of the world, and forgiveness is the beginning of freedom. For fans of Beverly Jenkins, Jane Green or Kendra Norman-Bellamy.”
Read the full review HERE.
Thanks, Booklist!
Angela Benson
In case you missed The Summer of Me blog tour in April, here are some of the reviews:
Angela Benson’s characters are pretty real. Their friendships are fun and supportive. Even when things get heavy, the tone remains light, which made this an easy, enjoyable read.
I flew through this book over the course of one day . . . The book is lighthearted and fun, it’s about female empowerment and ultimately taking care of yourself to be better for other people, something all of us should be doing anyways.
The Summer of Me is a book you can read in one sitting, but it’s a book you’ll be thinking about long after. The characters will work their way into your heart, and the story will keep you turning the pages to find out what happens next. Angela Benson has crafted an enjoyable and inspirational novel that’s perfect for your next vacation read or even just next weekend.
I found The Summer of Me to be incredibly well written, just sexy enough to keep things interesting, and full of dimensional characters I truly cared about. I recommend it for anyone who wants an easy (but still satisfying) summer read, especially children of single parents.
This was my first introduction to Angela Benson and I found her writing style focused and pleasant. It was my first encounter with a novel including a spiritual overtone, which I found refreshing and it seemed to raise the stakes of the issues many of the characters faced.
The Summer of Me is a great read. There is so much going on that this could have been a couple of books, yet it wasn’t too much for one book . . . I recommend The Summer of Me. It is not always a soft, easy, and pretty story but it is always a good story. This is my first book by Angela Benson but hopefully not my last.
Being raised by a single mother, I was drawn to the description of this book right from the very beginning . . . Following Destiny’s path throughout the book I could see visions of my own mom growing up. Never looking at all she did for us throughout that time, I was thankful to have this opportunity to see some of the dreams Destiny had and how she was going to try and make them come true while still taking care of her children. Overall a very enjoyable story.
Angela Benson
The national bestselling author of Delilah’s Daughters and The Amen Sisters returns with a moving story about a single mother who, in one unforgettable summer, discovers the woman she can become. . .
As a single mother, Destiny makes sacrifices for her children—including saying goodbye for the summer so they can spend time with their father and stepmother. Though she’ll miss them with all her heart, the time alone gives her an opportunity to address her own needs, like finish getting her college degree. But Destiny’s friends think her summer should include some romance.
Destiny doesn’t want to be set up…until she meets Daniel. The handsome, warm and charming pastor soon sweeps Destiny off her feet. But is romance what she really wants? Or needs?
As the days pass, Destiny will make new discoveries—about herself, the man she’s fallen for, and the people around her. And she’ll face challenging choices. But most of all, she’ll grow in ways she never imagined, learning unexpected lessons about trust, forgiveness, and the price of motherhood…and truly become the woman she wants to be.
The Summer of Me
ISBN-10: 0062002724
ISBN-13: 978-0062002723
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Angela Benson
“I could not put it down. The themes of faith, family and forgiveness drew me in and wouldn’t let go until the very last page.” -Vanessa Miller, bestselling author of How Sweet the Sound
An inspirational story about the allure of fame and the faith that binds a family forever . . .
Delilah Monroe has done everything in her power to keep her three daughters strong since the death of her husband. And a big part of that connection is their singing group, Delilah’s Daughters. Veronica, Roxanne, and Alisha each have their own unique sense of self, but they all share the dream of Delilah’s Daughters hitting the Billboard charts.
Now, just as they enter the final round of a national talent show, a record producer approaches Veronica with the promise of fame . . . if she goes solo. Then the man Delilah has always leaned on wants more from her than just friendship, and someone from her past comes calling with a shocking secret. Will Delilah be able to hold her family together?
Delilah’s Daughters
ISBN-10: 0062002716
ISBN-13: 978-0062002716
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Angela Benson
“Wonderful….An entertaining, enjoyable novel that deserves to be on every bestsellers list.” –Victoria Christopher Murray, bestselling author of Too Little, Too Late
God asked the biblical Abraham to sacrifice his son. But Abraham Martin’s only god is money. Successful media mogul Abraham Martin has great wealth, an elegant wife, Saralyn, and a rebellious son, Isaac. He also has a secret: a second family that no one knows about. Now, after thirty years—driven by the urging of his long dormant conscience—Abraham is determined to do the right thing by finally bringing his illegitimate children into the light…and into the family fold.
But beautiful, manipulative Saralyn will never accept the proof of her husband’s indiscretions. Isaac the heir, shaken by his father’s revelations, will fight mercilessly when his world is threatened, and may lose everything that matters as a result. And while Abraham’s forgotten daughter Deborah is open to the undreamed-of possibilities suddenly awaiting her, son Michael cannot forgive the man who cruelly abandoned them to near poverty. And he’s driven by only one desire: revenge!
Angela Benson’s Sins of the Father is a powerful story of a house bitterly divided—a rich, multilayered family saga of betrayal and redemption, rage and compassion, faith, forgiveness, and ultimately, of love.
ISBN: 9780061468520
Publisher/Imprint: HarperCollins / Avon A
Angela Benson
“With characters you can’t help rooting for, Up Pops the Devil is a wonderful story about hope, faith, and redemption–the kind of story we can all learn valuable lessons from.” –Kimberla Lawson Roby, New York Times bestselling author of Sin No More
Two hard years in prison have changed Wilford “Preacher” Winters for the better. He did his time, now he’s going to “do the right thing.” But the women in his life have other ideas.
Tanya, the sleek and sexy mother of his two kids, is much too comfortable with her pearls-and-Porsche lifestyle, and she’ll do whatever it takes to keep it going–even use Preacher’s small sons as weapons…
His sister, Loretta, kept “the business” running smoothly while Preacher was inside, and she can’t believe he’d trade Easy Street bling for a nickel-and-dime dead-end job…
His one-time girlfriend Serena, now married to his main man Bernard, is hiding a secret–and if past sins come to light, they’ll ruin several lives and a very new, very precious friendship between Preacher and Bernard’s beautiful-inside-and-out sister, Natalie.
Up Pops the Devil
Publisher/Imprint: HarperCollins / Avon A
Angela Benson
What happens after all your dreams come true? In these uplifting tales of faith and fortune, delve into the lives of three people whose hearts–and wallets–are on the line when an unexpected windfall tests them like never before. . .
Showers of Blessings, Angela Benson
Assistant pastor Ronnie has a shameful secret: he’s a compulsive gambler. And just when it seems he’s run out of luck, he finds salvation in a miraculous win. But nothing can keep Ronnie from recklessly betting his family’s future. His only way out is through renewed faith–and a desperate act of redemption.
Second Chance Blessings, Marilynn Griffith
Pro football player Craig Richards has it all, from the trophy wife to the lavish mansion–until an injury costs him everything. Defeated, he returns to the community and church he left behind–and discovers his loss just might be a blessing in disguise. But will a second shot at fame and fortune lead him astray once more?
Knight In Pink Armor, Tia McCollors
Dara Knight’s dream goes far beyond the multi-million dollar lottery she just won. Her real desire is to rebuild a poverty-stricken Atlanta community. But when a vicious gang sets out to destroy her project, will she have enough courage to prove that investing in people, against all odds, yields heaven-sent rewards?
EXCERPT
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A Million Blessings
Angela Benson
Add Nanette at Alive on the Shelves to the list of reviewers who have enjoyed Delilah’s Daughters.
When I got a copy of Delilah’s Daughters, I followed my mom’s example and curled up on my side of the bed, turned the night table lamp on and read, and read. This book is that kind of read. I found it absorbing. . .
Check out her full review HERE. Be sure to leave a comment HERE.
Angela Benson
I did an interview with Michelle Monkou that appeared on USA Today’s Happy Ever After (HEA) blog last Monday. She did a great job with it. If you have some time, please give it a read and leave a comment HERE.
Angela Benson
“Overall, this was a fabulous read and I recommend it to anyone who likes a family oriented story with faith-based values.” –Books Are Fabulous blog
Read an excerpt HERE!
Angela Benson
Good news! Michelle Monkou‘s review of Delilah’s Daughters is up on the USA Today Happy Ever After blog.
“Reading Delilah’s Daughters, I came away with the warm coziness of faith, family and fresh starts. Definite book-club recommend.” – Michelle Monkou, USA Today
The full review is below the interview with Suzanne Brockmann. Read and enjoy!
Angela Benson
Today my publisher sent me Booklist’s review of Delilah’s Daughters. I’m happy to report that they liked it.
“This sweetly tender story of one family’s attempt to navigate the rocky waters of stardom focuses on the importance of loyalty, sacrifice, and second chances. Benson’s intimate knowledge of the music industry is evident, and her charming, inspirational novel will appeal both to fans of Martha Southgate and loyal Behind the Music viewers.” — Stephanie Turza (Booklist)
Angela Benson
Enter for a chance to win an Advance Reader’s Edition of DELILAH’S DAUGHTERS by @eAngelaBenson! @Morrow_PB http://bit.ly/1cGX4Li
Pass it along!
Angela Benson
The first review from Delilah’s Daughters is in and it’s a pretty good one. “…instead of Samson’s secret, it’s Delilah’s that threatens to destroy the spiritual foundation she and her late husband, Rocky, build for their three daughters…Delilah’s Daughters is a captivating story from the beginning to the breathtaking end.” 4.5 stars (out of 5), Romantic Times Magazine.
Don’t forget to enter for a chance to win an Advance Reader’s Edition of DELILAH’S DAUGHTERS by @eAngelaBenson! @Morrow_PB http://bit.ly/1cGX4Li
Angela Benson
If you love music, you’ll love the Delilah’s Daughters Spotify playlist (HERE). It includes great titles from Whitney, Beyonce, the Supremes and many more of your favorites.About Delilah’s Daughters. Listen while you wait for the release of Delilah’s Daughters on 1/28. (
About Delilah’s Daughters
An inspirational story about the allure of fame and the faith that binds a family forever . . .
Delilah Monroe has done everything in her power to keep her three daughters strong since the death of her husband. And a big part of that connection is their singing group, Delilah’s Daughters. Veronica, Roxanne, and Alisha each have their own unique sense of self, but they all share the dream of Delilah’s Daughters hitting the Billboard charts.
Now, just as they enter the final round of a national talent show, a record producer approaches Veronica with the promise of fame . . . if she goes solo. Then the man Delilah has always leaned on wants more from her than just friendship, and someone from her past comes calling with a shocking secret. Will Delilah be able to hold her family together?
Angela Benson
I wish you all a happy and healthy new year! Take care of yourself and be good to those you meet. A couple of New Year’s treats from me to you:
My publisher has made the Sins of the Father e-book available for the reduced price of $1.99 at most e-book retailers (see retailer list HERE).
About Sins of the Father
God asked the biblical Abraham to sacrifice his son. But Abraham Martin’s only god is money. Successful media mogul Abraham Martin has great wealth, an elegant wife, Saralyn, and a rebellious son, Isaac. He also has a secret: a second family that no one knows about. Now, after thirty years—driven by the urging of his long dormant conscience—Abraham is determined to do the right thing by finally bringing his illegitimate children into the light…and into the family fold. But beautiful, manipulative Saralyn will never accept the proof of her husband’s indiscretions. Isaac the heir, shaken by his father’s revelations, will fight mercilessly when his world is threatened, and may lose everything that matters as a result.
As a special treat, you’ll find an excerpt of my January 28 release, Delilah’s Daughters, in the back. You can pre-order Delilah’s Daughters HERE!
About Delilah’s Daughters
An inspirational story about the allure of fame and the faith that binds a family forever . . .
Delilah Monroe has done everything in her power to keep her three daughters strong since the death of her husband. And a big part of that connection is their singing group, Delilah’s Daughters. Veronica, Roxanne, and Alisha each have their own unique sense of self, but they all share the dream of Delilah’s Daughters hitting the Billboard charts.
Now, just as they enter the final round of a national talent show, a record producer approaches Veronica with the promise of fame . . . if she goes solo. Then the man Delilah has always leaned on wants more from her than just friendship, and someone from her past comes calling with a shocking secret. Will Delilah be able to hold her family together?
Music lovers will enjoy the Delilah’s Daughters Spotify playlist HERE. It includes great titles from Whitney, Beyonce, the Supremes and many more of your favorites.
Angela Benson
It’s NOOK Free Friday! Be sure to download your free copy of Sins of the Father today! The free version has an excerpt from my upcoming January 2014 release, Delilah’s Daughters.
Angela Benson
Yes, this is a Newlywed at 50 post and yes, the title of my latest book is A Million Blessings, an anthology with three novellas. So what’s the connection? My novella, Showers of Blessings, is about an assistant pastor with a gambling addiction. This post is about the gambling habits of me and my new hubby.
Before y’all start praying and laying hands on stuff, I confess that neither one of us are gambling addicts. We have a casino about 40 miles from us that we visit occasionally. In fact, we saw Frankie Beverly and Maze there last year.
Our casino has about 1500 slot machines, no table games, and some type of dog racing activity where the dogs are on tv. I don’t know much about the dogs. We just pass through that area on our way to the buffet. Yes, buffet.
Our casino has the cheapest buffet in the world. Okay, maybe I’m exaggerating, but for $6.50 each we can get a salad, an entree, two sides, corn bread, dessert and a drink. The price is not bad and the food is very tasty. It’s really down-home southern cooking, almost as good as my mom’s. I haven’t decided yet if we go to play the slots or to eat the food. We always make sure we have at least $15 left over from gambling so we can eat.
Now about the gambling. We rarely win. We understand that the odds drastically favor the house. But we play anyway. We started out with the penny machines and now we’re up to two cents. We used to play the minimum but somewhere along the line we learned about progressive slots so now I’ll play the maximum. Not him.
We tend to break even when we go, though there have been times when the house has beaten us soundly. If I’m winning, he’s losing and vice versa. That’s most of the time and that’s a break even night. When we’re both losing it’s a good night for the house. My problem with slot machines is that I don’t like to lose. As long as we’re breaking even, I’m fine but once we get down, I want my money back. So then I try to play to get my money back. A losing proposition if there ever was one. Hubby just shakes his head and lets me lose until I reach our limit and then we go eat or go home, if we’ve already eaten.
How do we justify losing money? Well, our limit is less that we would spend if we went to a concert or show, so we look at it as our entertainment for the evening. Once you throw in that cheap buffet, it really does turn into an inexpensive night out.
My new hubby plays the lottery. We don’t have a lottery in Alabama but if we’re anywhere that there’s a lottery, he buys a couple of tickets. He even played when we were in England. The problem with my husband is that he plays but he rarely checks the numbers to see if he won. Believe it. To be honest, half the time, he can’t remember where he put the tickets. So much for us winning anything. The other day I volunteered to check his tickets for him. He had some as old as May of last year. Some were so faded you couldn’t read the numbers. I gave up.
So those are our gambling habits. Going to the local casino has lost some of its appeal so we haven’t been in a while. It’s sorta hard to sit there stuffing money in those slot machines when you know there are folks in your family who are out work and could use that money.
Another reason we haven’t been in a while is that they’ve changed the machines. You see, gambling is illegal in Alabama so they call the slot machines electronic bingo. There’s actually an electronic bingo card on each machine that flashes when you pull the slot handle. I’m not quite sure why.
Recently, our governor has cracked down on these illegal bingo halls, as they call them, so they have changed the way you play the slots. You have to pull the handle (or press the button) multiple times on each spin. I’m not sure why but some of the fun of it is gone with all the extra presses.
Several casinos (electronic bingo halls) in Alabama have been raided and shut down by our governor’s new task force. However you feel about state-sponsored gambling, for me, it felt very wrong to hear the governor say he was helping people who lost their casino jobs get unemployment and other public assistance. However you feel about gambling, how can you put people out of work when the economy is this bad? Unless, of course, they make more money by not working.
What makes all this so sad is that the states surrounding us–Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana and Tennessee–all have a lottery, casinos or both. So if folks want to gamble, they only have to drive a little a little longer to do it.
What’s your take on the lottery and casinos? Have you ever been? Do you know any gambling addicts? I really didn’t have a model for my character in A Million Blessings since I don’t know any preachers who are gambling addicts. The idea for Showers of Blessings was a light-hearted one: If you preach against the lottery but you secretly play it, what do you do when you win the jackpot and your face is going to be blasted all over the media?
Angela Benson
What happens after all your dreams come true? In these uplifting tales of faith and fortune, delve into the lives of three people whose hearts–and wallets–are on the line when an unexpected windfall tests them like never before. . .
Showers of Blessings by Angela Benson
Assistant pastor Ronnie has a shameful secret: he’s a compulsive gambler. And just when it seems he’s run out of luck, he finds salvation in a miraculous win. But nothing can keep Ronnie from recklessly betting his family’s future. His only way out is through renewed faith–and a desperate act of redemption.
Second Chance Blessings by Marilynn Griffith
Pro football player Craig Richards has it all, from the trophy wife to the lavish mansion–until an injury costs him everything. Defeated, he returns to the community and church he left behind–and discovers his loss just might be a blessing in disguise. But will a second shot at fame and fortune lead him astray once more?
Knight In Pink Armor by Tia McCollors
Dara Knight’s dream goes far beyond the multi-million dollar lottery she just won. Her real desire is to rebuild a poverty-stricken Atlanta community. But when a vicious gang sets out to destroy her project, will she have enough courage to prove that investing in people, against all odds, yields heaven-sent rewards?
On Sale: Monday, February 23, 2010
Format: Trade paperback
Price: $14.00
Publisher: Dafina
ISBN-10: 0758242115
ISBN-13: 978-0758242112
I’ll be posting all week about my story and the book so check back often!
Angela Benson
As many of you know, Sins of the Father deals with the issue of absentee fathers from the perspectives of the adult children of an absentee father, their mother, and the absentee father himself.
Since the issue is a common one, I started a Facebook page so that children of absentee fathers, their mothers, and the absentee fathers themselves could share their stories. Guess what? Not many people have taken me up on my offer. So I’m making an appeal to you here today to participate with us as we discuss questions about absentee fathers and their adult children.
For adult children of absentee fathers:
How do you feel about your father now?
Do you want a relationship with him? Why or why not?
For mothers of children whose fathers are not in their lives:
How does it feel that your child’s father is not involved in his/her life?
Does your child miss their other parent? How do you know?
How do you feel about the absentee father?
Would you welcome a relationship between your child and his/her father? Why or why not?
If you’re an absentee dad:
How did you come to be separated from your children?
Have you tried to get to know them? How did that go?
Have they reached out to you? How did that go?
What do you want for your relationship with your kids, if anything?
If you’re interested in sharing your story, please join us on the Sins of the Father Facebook page or post here in the Comments section. I truly believe sharing the stories will be beneficial to all of us. You may end up being a blessing to someone you’ve never met.
Angela Benson
During my interview with RAWSISTAZ on the Sins of the Father virtual tour, I was asked about a movie version of the story.
If Sins of the Father was turned into a movie who would you cast to play your characters?
Denzel would play Abraham, Angela Bassett would be Saralyn and Whitney (the old Whitney) would be Leah.
After seeing the first day of the two-day Oprah interview with Whitney, I’m convinced the old Whitney is back, older and wiser. I think the interview is must-see TV so if you missed the show, please catch it HERE. Whitney’s openness was refreshing and I think what she said will speak to a lot of us. I know it spoke to me.
By the way, I’m more convinced than ever that Whitney would make the perfect Leah. What do you think?
Angela Benson
Since I’ve been so focused on the blog tour the last couple of weeks, I wanted to make sure you all knew about the SORMAG Online Conference that was held August 23 – 29, 2009. I was fortunate to participate in three sessions, two of which were archived:
Writing with a Day Job. This was a great session with a lot of interaction. People were honest and supportive.
Meet the Mainstream Author. This was a great session as well. More light-hearted than the Day Job one, but still a lot of fun. Six mainstream authors participated, one a NY Times bestselling author. You’ll have to go to site to find out who was there.
This was a great conference. There’s something for readers, new authors and advanced authors. If you missed, be sure to check out the archives.
Angela Benson
Reviewers HERE and HERE have suggested that Sins of the Father is contemporary drama, not Christian fiction. What do you think?
Angela Benson
I don’t know about y’all, but the two-week Sins of the Father blog tour about wore me out. I didn’t have to leave my house but it was still tiring. While it was a lot of fun, I’m glad things are back to normal.
As a part of my normal, I’m trying to update my blog and website regularly. For that, I do periodic Google searches to see what folks are saying about me and my books on the web. Guess what I found out?
Well, Harriet at Genre Go Round Reviews characterizes Sins of the Father as soap opera. So does Cecelia at My Christian Fiction Blog, Amy at My Friend Amy, and Dera at APOOO.
I’ll bet some of you are slapping your palms against your forehead about right now, feeling sorry for me. Well, don’t feel sorry for me because each review was positive and a couple were downright glowing.
So all you opera lovers, go out and get your copy of Sins of the Father and have yourself a good ole soap opera reading party. And for those of you who don’t like soap operas, take some time and read the reviews. I’m betting there’ll be something in them that sparks your interest and makes you want to pick up a copy, too.
Oh, yes, I have a secret to share with you. When I turned in the original manuscript for Sins of the Father, my editor said it had a bit too much drama so we reshaped a few scenes and changed the backstory for a couple of characters. If you continue to be nice to me, I just may tell you what we changed.
Angela Benson
Today is the tenth, and final, day of the the Sins of the Father Blog Tour. We’ve had a grand ten days, but even good things have to end. We wrap up the tour, with two great stops:
I’m also doing a short segment on ABC 33/40 News at Noon in Birmingham today. The segment will air sometime in the 11 am to noon block, but I don’t have a definite time. If you’re around a television at the time, be sure to visit with us. If you saw the show today and decided to stop by, please leave a comment. I would love to talk to the 33/40 viewers.
You should also check out the new Sins of the Father Facebook community where absentee father issues like the ones explored in the book are being discussed.
Click on the graphic above to catch up on all the tour stops.
Angela Benson
The Sins of the Father Blog Tour enters its ninth day today. I appreciate all of you who have visited with us along way. Tomorrow, Friday, September 4, will be the last day of the tour. Today’s stops are:
Finally, I encourage you to check out the new Sins of the Father Facebook community where absentee father issues like the ones explored in the book are being discussed.
Click on the graphic above to see the rest of the tour stops.
Angela Benson
The Sins of the Father Blog Tour continues today through Friday, September 4. Today’s stops are:
Finally, I encourage you to check out the new Sins of the Father Facebook community where absentee father issues like the ones explored in the book are being discussed.
Click on the graphic above to see the rest of the tour stops.
Angela Benson
The Sins of the Father Blog Tour continues today through Friday, September 4. Today’s stops are:
You should also check out the new Sins of the Father Facebook community where absentee father issues like the ones explored in the book are being discussed.
Click on the graphic above to see the rest of the tour stops.
Angela Benson
The Sins of the Father Blog Tour continues today through Friday, September 4. Today’s stops are:
As we begin the second week of the tour, I want to thank each of you for your support of Sins of the Father. Everything you do is important and very much appreciated, from following the tour, to purchasing a copy of the book, to posting a review on Amazon. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
Finally, I encourage you to check out the new Sins of the Father Facebook community where absentee father issues like the ones explored in the book are being discussed.
Click on the graphic above to see the rest of the tour stops.
Angela Benson
We wrap up the first week of the Sins of the Father Blog Tour by spending the day with Joey Pinkney. Be sure to come visit with us.
You should also check out the new Sins of the Father Facebook community where absentee father issues like the ones explored in Sins of the Father are being discussed.
Click on the graphic above to see the rest of the tour stops and to catch up on stops you may have missed.
Enjoy your weekend!
Angela Benson
The Sins of the Father Blog Tour continues today through Friday, September 4. Today’s stops are:
I forgot to tell you that yesterday I participated in the Meet the Mainstream Author Discussion panel at the Shades of Romance Online Conference. Check us out. I’m sure some of your favorite authors were there.
You should also check out the new Sins of the Father Facebook community where absentee father issues like the ones explored in the book are being discussed.
Click on the graphic above to see the rest of the tour stops.
Angela Benson
The Sins of the Father Blog Tour continues today through Friday, September 4. Today’s stops are:
I left off a stop yesterday. Carleen Brice hosted me at White Readers Meet Black Authors. Please drop by there today and let her know how much we appreciate her support. She has a new book out as well, Children of the Waters.
You should also check out the new Sins of the Father Facebook community where absentee father issues like the ones explored in the book are being discussed.
Click on the graphic above to see the rest of the tour stops.
Angela Benson
The Sins of the Father Blog Tour continues today through Friday, September 4. Today’s stops are:
I’ll also be participating in the Shades of Romance Online Conference today. I will be conducting a workshop, Writing with a Day Job, and an online chat, Contracts. The Contracts chat is scheduled for 9pm ET while the Writing with a Day Job workshop will go on all day.
You should also check out the new Sins of the Father Facebook community where absentee father issues like the ones explored in the book are being discussed.
Click on the graphic above to see the rest of the tour stops.
Sins of the Father goes on sale today. Don’t forget to pick-up a copy. I’d love to hear what you think of it.
Angela Benson
The Sins of the Father Blog Tour starts Monday, August 24, and continues through Friday, September 4. Monday’s stops are:
In advance of the tour, I spent an hour with Tifany Jones at Sistah Confession on BlogTalkRadio on August 18, 2009. Be sure to take a listen. As always, we had a very good time.
You should also check out the new Sins of the Father Facebook community where absentee father issues like the ones explored in the book are being discussed.
Click on the graphic above to see the rest of the tour stops.
Angela Benson
My new book, Sins of the Father, hits bookstores on August 25. Over the coming weeks, I’ll be sharing more about the book, its orgins, and the events planned around its release. Today’s treat is an excerpt of the first two chapters. Read and enjoy!
Angela Benson
I’ve gotten my first review for Sins of the Father. Thanks, Tea!
Angela Benson
Drum roll, please!
The four lucky winners are:
2. DonnaD
5. Sonya
11. Marta Daniels
13. AJ
I need to receive mailing addresses for each of the winners by June 12. If I don’t hear from you by then, I’ll have to select a replacement winner. Send your mailing address to books [at] angelabenson.com
I wish I could have provided a book for everyone who signed the blog, but my supply was limited. I’ll be getting copies of the final book in early August and I’ll host another drawing then so there’s still hope.
Aa always, thanks for your support.
Happy Reading!
Angela Benson
Advanced Reading Copies (ARCs) of my September release, Sins of the Father, arrived on Monday. If you’re interested in a copy, please comment on this blog post. All I ask in return is that you write a review on your blog or on Amazon or anywhere and let me know where you post it. The winners will be announced on June 1.
Sins of Father by Angela Benson
Successful media mogul Abraham Martin has great wealth, an elegant wife, Saralyn, and a rebellious son, Isaac. He also has a secret: a second family that no one knows about. Now, after thirty years—driven by the urging of his long dormant conscience—Abraham is determined to do the right thing by finally bringing his illegitimate children into the light…and into the family fold.
But beautiful, manipulative Saralyn will never accept the proof of her husband’s indiscretions. Isaac the heir, shaken by his father’s revelations, will fight mercilessly when his world is threatened, and may lose everything that matters as a result. And while Abraham’s forgotten daughter Deborah is open to the undreamed-of possibilities suddenly awaiting her, son Michael cannot forgive the man who cruelly abandoned them to near poverty. And he’s driven by only one desire: revenge!
Sins of the Father is a powerful story of a house bitterly divided—a rich, multilayered family saga of betrayal and redemption, rage and compassion, faith, forgiveness, and ultimately, of love.
Angela Benson
Quiz time: What is this book about?
Publication date: September 1, 2009
Angela Benson
I got an email from my editor today informing me that Up Pops the Devil was featured on GalleyCat. I was pretty psyched. My agent had heard about their new column by Jeff Rivera, People of Color, and submitted the book for consideration. It’s nice to see that effort bearing fruit so soon. Most times than not, they come to naught.
Kudos to all, especially Jeff for choosing to feature Up Pops the Devil.
Angela Benson
Not me, exactly.
I received a letter in the mail today from an editor at Grand Central Publishing informing me that they had an overstock situation with the hardcover version of The Amen Sisters. I think this is code for the hardcover is being taken out of print, but don’t quote me.
Anyway, given the overstock situation, I’ve been given the opportunity to buy copies of The Amen SIsters for $2.00 plus $0.50 shipping for a total of $2.50. Pretty good deal, huh? Well, it depends.
Guess how many copies I get to purchase from this excess inventory? You’ll never guess, so I’ll tell you — 8. Yes, 8. I had to do a double-take myself. They must not have had much of an overstock, huh?
I guess I’ll go ahead and buy the 8 but it hardly seems worth it. I may make a call tomorrow to make sure the 8 wasn’t a typo or something.
Angela Benson
Last week (September 3-5) I participated in my first Christian Fiction Blog Alliance (CFBA) Blog Tour. My publisher, HarperCollins, provided copies of Up Pops the Devil to somewhere around 50 – 60 CFBA reviewers who, in return, were to participate in the blog tour. CFBA reviewers may post the generic review provided by CFBA or they can write their own personal review. As of today, 62 CFBA reviewers have participated in the tour, with 14 of those reviewers providing personal reviews of Up Pops the Devil.
I would like to thank the reviewers who requested Up Pops the Devil for review. A special thanks goes to the 62 who participated in the tour and my deep appreciation to the 14 who took the time to read Up Pops the Devil and provide a personal review. I apologize to those reviewers who haven’t yet received their copy of Up Pops the Devil or who received it too late to post a review during the tour.
In addition to getting Up Pops the Devil into the hands of readers who had never read me before, this tour also allowed me to get to know some new blogs and bloggers. It’s been a great experience. I’ve provided the list here so that you can check some of them out for yourself. I’ll be updating the list over the coming weeks as new reviews of Up Pops the Devil are posted.
Enjoy!
Alexis at Ramblings From Life
Amy at My Life (with review)
Andie at frommipov
Angela at One Baby, Seven Dogs, and a Mommy
April at Projecting A (with review)
April at Living In A State Of Constant Kansas
Bonnie at Bonnie Writes
Caleb at Reviews Plus+
Camy at Camy Tang
Carol at Blogging With Carol (with review)
Carolyn at Serenity
CeeCee at Book Splurge (with review)
Cheryl at Writing Remnants (with review)
Dave at Dave Rhoades
Dave at Novel Spotlight
Deanna at Deannna’s Corner (with review)
Debra at Soul Reflections
Deena at A Peek At My Bookshelf (with review)
Delia at Gatorskunkz And Mudcats
Erin at Life Around Here
Janis at The Nearsighted Bookworm
Janna at Cornhusker Academy (with review)
Jeni at Allen Family Circus
Jennifer at So Many Books…So Little Time
Karen at Mommy of Three (up, review coming later)
Karla at Ramblin’ Roads To Everywhere (not up yet)
Kelly at A Disciple’s Steps
Kelly at Scrambled Dregs (with review and interview)
Kim at Window To My World (with review)
Kristi at Stamped With Grace
Kristinia at Loving Heart Mommy
Kristy at I Need To Read
LaShaunda at See Ya On The Net
Leah at Ponderings From My Heart
Margaret at Creative Madness (up, review may be coming)
Marilynn at Rhythms of Grace (not up yet)
Michelle at Edgy Inspirational Author (up, review coming later)
Michelle at Just A Minute (up, in the sidebar)
Michelle at Michelle’s Great Blogs
Nora at Finding Hope Through Christian Fiction
Pam at Pam’s Private Reflections (up, review coming later)
Pam at Daysong Reflections (with review)
Rachelle at Stifled Squeal
Rel at Relz Reviewz
Rulan at Fiction Showcase
Sean at Bookmark Cafe
Tabitha at 123pizza’s Weblog
Takiela at Beauty 4 Ashes
Tara at Tara’s View Of The World (with review)
Ty at CB Reviews (with review)
Jill at Christian Work at Home Moms
Marcia at Writer-lee
Todd at A Place Called Fiction
Diane at Spunk on a Stick’s Tip
Jenny at My Buckling Bookshelf
Ashley at Ashley – A Daughter of the King
Laura at Laura Williams’ Musings
Patricia at Readin N Writin with Patricia (with review)
Georgiana at Georgiana Daniels
Trish at Books and Book Reviews
AmyAnne at Sprightly
Carolina Chritian Writers Blog
Christy at Split Ends
Brandy at Brandy Bruce
Angela Benson
Yes, I’m joining about 50 other bloggers and hosting myself on the CFBA Tour. You can host me, too. All you have to do is create a post that links to Up Pops the Devil on Amazon.com. Here’s the link. If you’ve read Up Pops the Devil, then you can include your review in the post.
To make this post totally about me, I’ll include a link to a interview that I did tonight with Tifany Jones of Sistah Confessions. I think somebody’s gonna muzzle me pretty soon.
To all my girlfriends who listen to this interview, I was NOT talking about you. I was talking about generic girlfriends. 🙂
Angela Benson
Okay, the reader mail for Up Pops the Devil has started to pour in. It seems some of you see a sequel in the future. So tell me your idea for a sequel. Which characters and/or storylines would you like to see again?
Those of you who haven’t read Up Pops the Devil might want to stay away from the Comments to this post. They may contain spoilers.
Angela Benson
For those of you in the Charlotte, NC area, I’ll be in your stomping ground on Saturday, August 30 at 1p at Joseph-Beth Booksellers in (or near) the SouthPark Mall. Come by and visit with me if you have some time. I’d love to see you.
In news that I’m still trying to get my mind around, Up Pops the Devil has been chosen the November African-American Book Club Pick for Books-A-Million. This is great news as it means Up Pops the Devil will be featured prominently in all Books-A-Million stores from September 1 through November 31.
If you follow this link, you’ll see that Victoria Christopher Murray’s Too Little, Too Late and ReShonda Tate Billingley’s The Pastor’s Wife have been recent picks. LIterary great Richard Wright had two 
picks.
This is the first time one of my books has been chosen for as a book club pick for a chain bookstore so I’m very excited about it. Be sure to drop by your local Books-A-Million and look for it.
In fact, you can be my eyes and ears. If you send me a photo of you in a Books-A-Million store next to the book display for Up Pops the Devil as the African-American Book Club Pick, I’ll post the photo on my blog and enter you in a contest to win a $15 Books-A-Million gift card. Three GRAND PRIZE winners will be selected from the entries. The contest will continue through September 31 and the winners will be announced on October 15.
You may submit your entry (or entries) via e-mail to me at the address HERE or you may submit via snail mail to Angela Benson, PO Box 868643, Tuscaloosa, AL 35486-0077.
Each entry should include your name (first name or nickname is sufficient) or the name of your group, a photo of you standing near the book display with a book in hand, and the location of the Books-A-Million store where the photo is taken. All photos become the property of Angela Benson and will be posted on my blog at angelabenson.com.
I’ll probably run the contest again in November so if you don’t win this time, you’ll have another chance in November.
NOTE: This is the second version of this post. My computer ate the first one and I’m sure it was much better than this one. Trust me.
Now get to clicking those cameras. I can’t wait to see your smiling faces on this blog!
Angela Benson
Well, not exactly roar. I did an interview with Radiah Hubbard from Urban Reviews earlier this month. I’m posting it here for your listening pleasure. You know, sometimes I need a script. Here’s the link: Urban Reviews Interview
Radiah also did a review of Up Pops the Devil that you can read HERE.
Angela Benson
I’m blogging today at FreshFiction.com. The topic is siblings. I originally wrote this piece back in December when I did my blog tour for The Amen Sisters. I’ve revised it a bit to include Up Pops the Devil.
You know, siblings are getting to be standard in my work. Francine and Dawn in The Amen Sisters. Preacher and Loretta and Barnard and Natalie in Up Pops the Devil. The manuscript I’m working on now has siblings, a son born within the marriage and a son and daughter born outside the marriage.
One of the reasons I have so much fun with siblings is that I have such a good relationship with my brother. It’s a good relationship but not without its bumps. I was talking to him on the phone the other day and I told him that there were times I had stopped speaking to him, but he hadn’t realized it. He started to laugh, really hard. When he finally piped down, I asked him what the laughter was about. He laughed again before telling me that he had stopped speaking to me, too, but I hadn’t realized it. Isn’t that a kicker? Now it’s your turn to laugh. It’s even funnier when you think that my brother and I talk multiple times a week.
Now that you know about me and my brother, tell me about you and your sibling(s). And don’t be surprised if you find yourself in one of my upcoming books.
Angela Benson
It’s time for our final drum roll in the Another Book Giveaway contest. Ready?
Drum roll, please.
The winners are:
1) Angie Poole
2) Ty
3) Rosiland
Congratulations to the winners! Each will receive an autographed copy of Up Pops the Devil. Winners, please email your mailing address to me using the address HERE.
Now that one contest ends, another THREE begin. Yes, you read it right, THREE.
A “Win a Bag of Books” Contest is being run by two different sites as two separate contests, with three winners being selected from each site. The sites are located at FreshFiction.com (runs through the month of August) and Pageturner.net (runs through August 15). You’re welcome to enter both contests.
The new Review Postings and Sightings Contest will run through August 31. All you have to do to enter is Comment on this message with the URL of a review, discussion or even a mention of Up Pops the Devil.
You can also write a review of the book on Amazon.com and post a Comment here that you’ve done so. If you have some news about Up Pops the Devil that isn’t found online, you can include it as your Comment here and that will serve as your entry.
FIVE lucky winners each will receive their choice of a $10 Amazon.com gift certificate OR any item(s) (total value of $15 or less) from my Online Store.
If you’re a member of a Book Club, don’t forget the Book Club Contest. Scroll down until you see Contest #2.
If you haven’t already done so, you can join the For Book Clubs Only mailing list HERE. Scroll down until you see Mailing List for Book Clubs.
Happy Reading!
Angela Benson
This wonderful promo was done for me by Good GIrl Book Club Online!
Angela Benson
CONGRATULATIONS!Three lucky Book Clubs have been selected winners in my FOR BOOK CLUBS ONLY Book Club Contest. The winning Book Clubs will each receive THREE copies of Up Pops the Devil.
1) Page Turners Book Club, Cleveland, OH
2) Reading Divas of Birmingham Book Club, Birmingham, AL
3) The Good Book Club, Highlands Ranch, CO
The winning Book Clubs have until August 5, 2008 to get their mailing addresses to me at the address HERE.
All Book Clubs are welcome to join the Book Club mailing list, For Book Clubs Only from Author Angela Benson, on the Contacts page HERE. Just scroll down to the section for Mailing List for Book Clubs.
Congrats again to the winning Book Clubs!
For all other site visitors, I’m extending the Another Book Giveaway until Friday so that more of you will have an opportunity to participate. I’m also increasing the number of books awarded from two to three.
Good luck and thanks for celebrating my new release with me!
Angela Benson
This wonderful promo was done for me by Black Christian Book Promo!
Angela Benson
When I signed the contract for Up Pops the Devil in June, I was given a September 1 deadline. I hate to confess this but I missed my deadline. The good news is that I knew I was going to miss it so I was able to inform my agent who informed by editor who gracefully gave me a three-week extension.
I made the September due date and submitted my manuscript via e-mail at 7:30 am on Monday, September 24. I’ve figured out that I do better with Monday due dates, as they give me the weekend to focus totally on the manuscript. Since I have a full-time job, this is very important. I can’t take full days during the week to work on my writing so weekends are precious.
For those of you wondering, I submit my manuscript as a single Word document with one-inch margins, using Times New Roman with a font size of 12. As I’m writing the manuscript, I have a separate file for each chapter (Using Word’s master document feature to view/print them as a single document), but once I send it in, I consolidate the chapter files into a single file and that’s the way I work on the manuscript from that time forward.
So I turned my book in on September 24 and settled back thinking it would be around Thanksgiving before I got back a revision letter. Now Thanksgiving is a perfect time for me because I’m out on Thanksgiving break. Well, guess what happened? You’ve got it.
Angela Benson
I found this graphic for the 2008 Soul Expressions Author Tour that I’ll be a part of in August. You’ll notice that there are a variety of genres represented, with Up Pops the Devil and Rhythms of Grace, by one of this week’s guest bloggers, prominent in the mix.
I hope to see you on the road so check out the dates below the image for a stop near you.
TOUR STOPS
Thursday, August 7th INDIANAPOLIS area
10am – 11:15am, Wal-Mart in Lawrence, 10735 Pendleton Pike
2pm – 3:15pm, Wal-Mart in Fishers, 8300 East 96th Street
4:45pm – 6pm, Wal-Mart in Indianapolis, 3221 West 86th Street
Friday, August 8th NORTHERN INDIANA area
10am – 11:15pm, Wal-Mart in Fort Wayne, 7502 Southtown Crossing Blvd.
2:30pm – 3:30pm, Wal-Mart in South Bend, 3701 Portage Road
5pm – 6:15pm, Wal-Mart in Hammond, 1828 165th Street
Saturday, August 9th CHICAGO area
10am – 11:30am, Wal-Mart in Country Club Hills, 4005 West 167th Street
2:30pm – 3:30pm, Wal-Mart in Joliet, 2424 W. Jefferson Street
6:30pm- 9:00pm, Free Reception, Holiday Inn in Matteson, 500 Holiday Plaza Drive CANCELLED!!
Sunday, August 10th CHICAGO area
11:00 am- noon, Wal-Mart in Crestwood, 4700 W. 135th Street
3pm – 4:00pm, Wal-Mart in Lansing, 16771 Torrence Avenue
You may want to bookmark this page for easy reference. You can also find the dates on my Event Calendar.
If you think you’re going to make it to a stop, please comment on this post and let me know where on the tour I should expect you.
Angela Benson
Drum roll, please! The winners of the Another Book Giveaway contest for the the week ending Friday, July 18, are Rhonda McKnight and Jeanette Wallington. Congratulations, Ladies! Please send me mailing addresses so that I can get your books out.
Rhonda and Jeannette, I can’t believe you two won. I almost did a re-drawing (smile). Just so you know this doesn’t let either of you off the hook for buying a book when I see you in Atlanta (Rhonda) or Indiana (Jeannette). You’ll just have to buy one for a friend. I’ll make sure to bring you a special addition to go along with it. You’ll have to wait until we meet to find out what it is.
Don’t forget that the contest starts anew today. Next Friday I will give away two more books to folks to comment on blog posts between now and then.
I also gave an unplanned prize today. I got my 200th friend over at shelfari.com so I gave a free book to that lucky friend.
NOTE: For those of you wondering how I picked the winners, I used a the random number generator at http://random.org/integers/. All you do is enter the number of entrants (A) and how many winners you want to pick (B). The program then spits out (B) random numbers. I had 33 entries this week from which to pick two winners. The random number generator spit out 30 and 7 so I picked the 30th comment and the 7th comment as winners.
It’s raining books! Enjoy!
Angela Benson
In 2006 when I signed with my agent, Natasha Kern, I was in the middle of a two-book contract with Walk Worthy Press and Warner Books (now Hatchette Book Group). With the demise of the Walk Worthy / Warner agreement in late 2006, I found myself with an agent but without a publisher. For a while, it looked like I might be staying with Warner but by the end of the first quarter of 2007, we knew that was not going to happen.
At that point, Natasha began aggressive action to find me a new publishing home. We talked extensively about the possible paths she saw for my writing career and my personal goals for where I wanted to be. Independently, we came up with lists of publishers that we thought positioned to get me to where I wanted to be. As an agent, Natasha was knowledgeable about which editors would be most inclined to like and appreciate an “Angela Benson” story.
Natasha then went to work contacting editors. The good thing about an agent is that they can do simulatenous submissions. That means they can send a proposal to editors at multiple publishing houses at the same time (letting them know, of course) while authors submitting their own work are required to submit to one publisher and wait for an answer before submitting to another.
The feedback started flowing in pretty quickly. Natasha had conversations with the editors who expressed interest in the proposal. These conversations were crucial in learning the ideas and strategies the editors had for the book and for my career. By early May, we had accepted an offer from Carolyn Marino at HarperCollins.
Angela Benson
If anyone had asked me if I had any writing rituals, I would have answered with a resounding NO. I would have been lying.
As I was reflecting on how I started on Up Pops the Devil , I realized that at some point early in the process, I pulled out Donald Maas’ Writing the Breakout Novel and gave it a review. Then I realized I do this with EVERY book!
As one would expect, the book is BIG on conflct. One of the things Mass talks about is "inherent conflict." The best examples I can give of this are the growing numbers of books set in churches, or what I call, "church fiction." Placing characters with severe moral problems and hypocrisies in a church immediately heightens the conflict. It’s one thing to have adultery, fornication, lying and deceit going on, but it’s taken to a whole other level when it’s going on among folks in a church because church is not the place you would expect to find such activity. Or most people wouldn’t. The same could be said for the "urban lit" phenomenon. If your story takes place on violent streets or in violent neighborhods, you’ve heightened its conflict. With "inherent conflict" you add to the tension of your story because of the setting you choose. John Grisham did it with his mob lawyers in The Firm.
You can do this in Christian fiction by putting your Christian characters in situations that are or seem to be at odds with their faith. In Up Pops the Devil, my protagonist, Preacher, has a jailhouse conversion. Right off the back, you begin to wonder if it’s real.
Another thing that Maas discusses is "advanced characters," or something like that. Here he talks about having characters take on multiple roles to enhance conflict. For example, the antagonist and protagonist are related or have some shared history. Or the hero and heroine come from fueding families.
I used this one a lot in Up Pops the Devil . The story is about Preacher, his sister, his fiancee’, one of his old girlfriends and a new friend. It’s one thing to become a Christian and have to deal with friends who aren’t Christians. In that case, you can cut them off. It may be difficult, but you can do it. You can’t exactly cut off your sister or your fiancee’ or doing so is much, more difficult. Because of the difficulty, the conflict/tension is heightened in the story. Then there’s Preacher’s old girlfriend. Well, it’s one thing to have to deal with her, but it’s a whole other thing if she’s married to his Christian mentor. Again, heightened conflict.
Those are just two points from the Maas book. I think it’s good reading for any writer so consider giving it a try.
Now that I’ve told you about my writing ritual, you can tell me about yours. Who’s going first?
Angela Benson
Friday was a great day! My author copies of Up Pops the Devil arrived. It’s real, y’all. Come July 29, you should start seeing it in bookstores. Be sure to look for it.
As we lead up to official release date, I thought I’d tell you the book’s story, starting with how and when it soul on through the writing and editing process and now finally the marketing and publishing. I can do this mainly because I haven’t met an e-mail message that I could easily delete. Therefore, I have all the email communication that i’d had with my agent and editors about this book. I look forward to reflecting back on the process and I hope you enjoy reading my musings.
To whet your appetite for Up Pops the Devil a bit, I’ve placed an excerpt HERE . Take a read and let me know you think. I should have a book trailer coming soon so I’ll keep you posted on that. Oh, yes, I may test you on the excerpt in an upcoming contest so read carefully.
Don’t forget to look for my stories of Up Pops the Devil "over the coming days.
Angela Benson
Okay, gang, the visitor stats for this site tell one story but the number of comments on posts and pages tell another. So to get you all back in posting mode, I’m going to start another little contest. Every Friday until the release of Up Pops the Devil, I’m giving away two autographed advanced reading copies (ARCs) of Up Pops the Devil .
To enter the contest all you have to do is make a comment on a post, any post on this site, during the week leading up to the drawing. In other words, to be considered for next Friday’s drawing you have to comment between today and the time I announce the winner next Friday. The contest starts anew next Friday.
If you make multiple posts, you’ll have multiple chances to win for that week. And you’re encouraged to participate each week. If you win more than one time, you get to choose an item from my Online Store as your prize instead of another book. UPDATE: When choosing from the Online Store , you must select an item under $25. The Amazon Kindle at $359 is not a choice. I love all of you, but that’s a bit much.
You can comment on any of the blog postings on the site, regardless of how new or old they are. I have access to a list of the most recent comments so yours won’t be missed. You can also post a comment on a page. For example, you can ask a question in the Comments section of any of the pages linked from the For Writers page. Comment on what interests you. And if nothing interests you, write a comment about that and I’ll try to fix it!
Be sure to tell your friends about the contest. If your friend is a winner and mentions your name in his or her comment, then you’ll be a winner, too.
Let the commenting begin. I want to hear from you.
Angela Benson
You all did a good job of guessing what Up Pops the Devil was about by just looking at the cover. You did so well that I had to pick THREE winners instead of two. Drum roll, please! The winners are: Areen, Vyta and Dera . Ladies, please send me your mailing addresses so I can get the books out.
For those of you who can’t remember their responses, I’ll list them here followed by the back cover copy from the book and let you be the judge.
Arean:
I think this book is about relationship problems-and the devil is the person who is causing these problems. She goes up unexpectedly, bold with no remorse for her/his interference.
Vyta:
I think the novel will be about a married man with a less than perfect past. He has been caught in infidelity in past relationships and in his current marriage but has been forgiven by his wife. Currently, a woman from his past has returned. He has always had a problem with resisting her. She walked out of his life and although he was devastated at the time, he’s is grateful because God blessed him with a wonderfully loving wife and mother to his children. This woman of his past tries to re-enter his life as a “Friend.” He allows (ignoring his conscience) her not only back into his life but into the lives of his family members. No one knows of their past together. But when he doesn’t agree to ALL of her demands, she changes and threatens to expose the truth.
Dera:
I think it is about a man who while he would do good, evil is always present, hindering his walk with God. But he refuses to fully give in; he realizes he is a work in progress and will see it to the end.
Back Cover Copy:
Two hard years in prison have changed Wilford “Preacher” Winters for the better. He did his time, now he’s going to “do the right thing.” But the women in his life have other ideas.
Tanya, the sleek and sexy mother of his two kids, is much too comfortable with her pearls-and-Porsche lifestyle, and she’ll do whatever it takes to keep it going–even use Preacher’s small sons as weapons…
His sister, Loretta, kept “the business” running smoothly while Preacher was inside, and she can’t believe he’d trade Easy Street bling for a nickel-and-dime dead-end job…
His one-time girlfriend Serena, now married to his main man Bernard, is hiding a secret–and if past sins come to light, they’ll ruin several lives and a very new, very precious friendship between Preacher and Bernard’s beautiful-inside-and-out sister, Natalie.
With his world about to explode all around him, Preacher’s going to need every ounce of his new-found faith to remain strong. Because it takes a lot to become a new man, sometimes even a miracle.
Angela Benson
Good news! I’ll be participating in the 2008 Soul Expressions Author Tour, where I’ll be signing copies of Up Pops the Devil. The tour visits ten WalMart stores in the Indianapolis and Chicago areas during August 7-10. I’ve posted the tour schedule on my Event Calendar. I hope I get to see some of you at one or more of the events.
The tour group consists of the following 13 authors (NOTE: I’m not sure why I’m listed as romance instead of fiction or Christian fiction):
Angela Benson, Up Pops the Devil (romance)
Beverly Jenkins, Jewel (historical romance)
Brenda Jackson, Just Deserts (romance)
Donna Hill, Chances Are (romance)
Earl Sewell, If I Were Your Boyfriend (young adult)
Geneva Holliday, Seduction (romance)
Kimberla Lawson Roby, One in a Million (fiction)
L. Divine, Drama High: Lady J (young adult)
Rochelle Alers, Taken By Storm (romance)
Seven, Gorilla Black (urban lit)
Wahida Clark, Payback is a Mutha (urban lit)
Victoria Christopher Murray, Too Little, Too Late (Christian fiction)
Angela Benson
Here’s the lovely cover of my upcoming release from HarperCollins. Instead of me telling you what the book is about, how about you telling me what you think it’s about given the cover. I’ll send advanced reading copies to two of the participants. I’ll give this about two weeks so the drawing will be held on July 8.
Angela Benson
The publication date for my next book, Up Pops the Devil, has been moved from September to August to accommodate a special August promo activity. I’m pretty excited about the new pub date and the promo opportunity. I certainly appreciate my editors’ efforts to get the book off to strong start.
To that end, I’ve been told that bound galleys (advanced reading copies) will be ready by the end of the month. In the meantime, I’ll be getting page proofs on Monday that I have to review for errors. It’s also time for me to write the Dedication and Acknowledgements pages.
I’m anxious about the release, of course. It’s my baby and I’m throwing it out into the world. My prayer is that it lands in the hands of those who need to read it and will be encouraged by it. I always like for people to see themselves or people they love on the pages of my stories and become a fully engaged participant in the action. I want the read to be enjoyable, but I don’t want it to be forgettable.
Get ready, y’all. My baby is coming!
Angela Benson
My agent’s posted it to Publishers Lunch, so I guess it’s close enough to official to reveal here–Drum roll, please. . .
My next two books will be published by HarperCollins and edited by the brilliant Carolyn Marino.
Somebody (I wonder who?) is watching out for me when it comes to editors because Carolyn Marino is among the best in the business, if not the best. You only have to do an Amazon search on her name to find out how her authors feel about her. Now I’m in that group and I’m looking forward to working through the editorial process with her. Hmm, I wonder if she uses red pens. 🙂
I know I say this every time, but my new book is a special one. Really special. Trust me. I’ll tell you more about it when it’s finished. As some of you know, I’m not comfortable talking details about a work-in-progress. It’s like telling the story before I write it, and doing that takes some of the enjoyment out of the discovery process of writing.
Well, that’s my news for today. What’s yours?
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