THE SAGA OF TWO FAMILIES
THE SAGA OF TWO FAMILIES
Rehoboth Road and The Dancing Willow Tree
Location: Rehoboth, Georgia
A Fictitious Community Located Thirty Minutes South Of Macon, Georgia
Rehoboth Road opened in 1950 Rev. John Turner was a tall, well built, pleasing to the eye, handsome man in his late thirties. He was a proud man and was well respected in the community. He believed the words of the Bible were the only acceptable way of living a Christian life. He was a proud man and although he preached that he was called by the Lord, he failed to realize it was his duty to first minister to those who were lost; he considered them too lost to heed the word of God.
When his daughter, Elizabeth delivered her son in the girl’s bathroom at the high school, Reverend Turners was only concerned with how much she had disgraced him. He disowned her and her son, Johnny for the next thirty-six years, even when he had finally realized the truth about her being raped by his assistant pastor, Rev. Owen Oliver.
Rehoboth Road is a work of fiction that was inspired by an elderly family friend who shared her secret of being raped at age fifteen with me. Soon after its publication, many people asked if my friend became pregnant by her rapist and I said no. Today, My Friend is in the moderate stage of Alzheimer disease and last fall I met a lovely lady who appeared to be in her late seventies. She told me she was My Friend’s daughter.
I believe My Friend told me her story because she had been diagnosed with the early stages of Alzheimer and she didn’t want her secret to be lost; she wanted to be counted along with the hundreds of thousands of other women who had been violated and who are still being violated today. There are other messages that came from Rehoboth Road. Among them are:
- Even when you have let go of the Lord’s hand, He is still holding on to you.
- Parents and guardians protect your children. Don’t dismiss the things they say.
- Parents and guardians teach your children that the lease likely person they come in
contact with may be a child molester. With reference to their body, if something
doesn’t feel right, it isn’t right.
- Parents and guardians must teach their children, ‘When to Tell’. And parents and
guardians must listen and take the necessary action.
Rehoboth Road Book Information
Publisher: Genesis Press Inc
Page: 385
ISBN 10: 1-58571196-9
ISBN 13: 978-15857119-6-3
Retail Price: $12.95
Purchase online and bookstores
The Dancing Willow Tree
In 1950, young Elizabeth Turner was raped by Reverend Oliver, the assistant pastor of her father’s church. After a hidden pregnancy she gave birth to a son, Johnny. Reverend Turner, Elizabeth’s father refused to respond to her story of rape and disowned her and her son. He forced Elizabeth and his wife Loretha to hide the identity of the baby’s father and live the next thirty six years with lies and secrets.
In 1986, Reverend Oliver was forced to confess to his family as well as the Turner family, but before he could leave Rehoboth he became seriously ill. The ripple effect of his confession touches everyone causing them to have an array of physical and emotions reactions. As Elizabeth continued to move on with her life, she didn’t know the secret her husband, Nat harbored was the cause of his suffering and enormous pain.
Thea, Reverend Oliver’s wife, could not escape the disgrace and shame she was feeling. She watched painfully as her son, Malcolm tried to forge a relationship with his brother, Johnny. And she never knew Malcolm was also struggling to come to terms with his sexuality.
Thea’s most plaguing dilemma had to do with her relationship with her husband. Her only consolation was an old weeping willow tree in her front yard where the graceful branches would dance on the mild summer breezes. Thea called it her dancing willow tree and she would sit under it daily to pray and receive guidance from the Lord. She knew if her husband was to be saved, she had to give him a life threatening ultimatum
The Dancing Willow Tree Book Information
Publisher: Black Deer Books
Page: 212
ISBN 10: 0-9729455-2-0
ISBN 13: 978-0-9729455-2-3
Retail Price: $15.00
Release date: October 26, 2007 Early release to the publisher, Black Deer Books.
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books a Million, and other online sites. May be purchased through major book stores.
The much awaited sequel, The Dancing Willow Tree, addresses family disgrace, hidden paternity, and questionable sexuality, while presenting a series of ultimatums. The readers will take an unforgettable literary journey.
Note: 15% of all book sales will be donated to the American Breast Cancer Foundation.
Anita Ballard-Jones is touring America greeting book lovers and the publishing community. She is available for book signings, bookclub chats, and all literary events. Email requests for speaking engagements or bulk book orders to: Email: ABallardjo@aol.com. The Dancing Willow Tree is available for purchase at all major online book sellers, Amazon.com, and through the author.
The Dancing Willow Tree | Released Oct.26, 2007 | ISBN-10: 0972945520 | ISBN-13: 978-0972945523
Contact:
A. Jones
Black Deer Books
P.O. Box 841
Henderson, NC 27536
Telephone: 252- 432-1518
Email: ABallardjo@aol.com
Website: http://www.anitaballard-jones.com
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