Debut Novel

A new novel will debut February 20, 2007 by author Ravi Howard titled "Like Trees, Walking." The books subject matter revolves around the last American lynching of a black man, Michael Donald, in Mobile, Alabama, in 1981. Howard an Alabama native himself, won the 2001 Nora Neale Hurston/Richard Wright Award for a short story on this very subject. Although this is a fictionalized account, Howard uses the facts of the case to write an extended version of it's short story.

The body of an African American high school student in Mobile, Alabama, in 1981 is discovered by Paul Deacon, son of a prominent black funeral home director. Initially, three drug addicts are accused of the crime, but the case against them quickly falls apart, and no progress is made for several years, even though it is obvious that local Klansmen are the murderers. Paul's brother Roy recalls these events 20 years later as a grown man with a family of his own. Howard's novel is not primarily a whodunit or a police procedural, although it does have a strong CSI slant. The subject is really the city of Mobile and the rapidly changing Gulf Coast community two decades after the major struggles of the Civil Rights era (Library Journal).

Here is a link to Wikipedia Encyclopedia of the actual case of the lynching of Michael Donald in Alabama. Warning! there are some graphic photos http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/Michael+Donald+

This sounds like a great read and was recommended by noted award winning author, David Anthony Durham of "Gabriel's Story," "Walking Through Darkness," "Pride of Carthage" and soon to be released (June 2007) fourth novel "Acacia" a speculative novel set in an alternative world.

Links:

Interviews:

Comments

Kelly said…
Thanks for the suggestion. It sounds really good.
1:07 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Double Take: Copy Kat Book Cover Designs

Image
I discovered a strange coincedence, book covers that are similar or using the same artwork. Is it that there are just so many books and not enough unique ideas? Like the old school music remixed with the new music today. Is it better to have one attention getting cover idea recycled continuously than have a hideous cover? I tend to think that similar book covers will lead me to believe that i've already read or brought the book. In my quest for answers to these questions, I discovered that recycled covers may not be an author's issue, but a publishers issue. The art is stock and publishers have no idea that another publishing company may have used the same artwork. Is it innocent coincedence or great minds thinking alike? Simon & Schuster seems to be the biggest abuser according to these few books. Omar Tyree's What They Want (Simon & Schuster, 2006). Loving his life of carefree travel and insecure women, male model Terrance Mitchell experiences profound guilt whe
Read more

Authors & Me

Image
Me and author Jewell Parker Rhodes at the Detroit Public Library (Douglass Branch) on 2-25-2009. E. Lynn Harris and I at Borders Books in Dearborn, Michigan on 8-12-2008 picture taken by fellow bibliophile Roberta Thornton Me & Bernice McFadden aka Geneva Holliday at a book signing at the Detroit Main Library on 3-1-2006 The following are other authors in which I took pictures of or with, but are unable to transfer from my phone camera. Me & Mary Monroe on a Book tour for "Deliver Us from Evil" at a book signing. Picture taken 9-8-2007 with friend Roberta Thornton. Pearl Cleage at Shrine of the Black MaDonna Bookstore in Detroit on 3-4-2006 Kimberla Lawson Roby Promoting "Changing Faces" at Borders in Dearborn on January 26, 2006 Others Authors I've Met include: Rosalyn McMillan, Terry McMillan, Eric Jerome Dickey, Van Whitfield, Tina McElroy Ansa, J. California Cooper, Bebe Moore Campbell, Virginia DeBerry & Donna Grant, Connie Briscoe, Evelyn Colem
Read more

Life After Whitney Houston

Image
As I was listening to the Tom Joyner Morning Show this morning in the car, an interview with Cissy Houston. A question was asked of her whether she knew that BeBe Winans also wrote a book on his relationship with Whitney and had she given permission to pen this book. Cissy replied that she was aware of the books release and that she firmly said "No", "I did not give him permission to write the book". In her words, she states that it was just "HIS side of the story", being that he was a friend of Whitney's. I'm certain that from now to eternity, we will hear all versions of her life's downfall from grace from very many sources. The question is, "Who's account of Whitney's trials, tribulations and triumphs are you most likely to believe?". I personally, would like to read both accounts and not weigh heavy on one viewpoint over the other because emotions are involved and I'm sure neither person wants the memory of Whitney&#
Read more