3 posts tagged “anita ballard jones”

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Black Expressions Featured Author Returns to Rehoboth Road

Henderson, N.C., March 29, 2008 — Anita Ballard-Jones, author of the highly acclaimed Rehoboth Road, releases the sequel, The Dancing Willow Tree. The Dancing Willow Tree continues the action filled saga of two families, which have been harboring secrets, lies, and emotional pain. Rehoboth Road was released on July 7, 2006, and during the same month it was the featured book for the Black Expressions Book Club. Today, it remains one of Black Expressions’ member favorites. Within weeks of the release, Anita began receiving e-mails from her new fans from every corner of the United States and the United Kingdom, and it continues to this day. Everyone sang their praises for Rehoboth Road, and almost everyone asked for a sequel. Ms. Ballard-Jones says, "The Dancing Willow Tree was written for the love of her fans."

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.

Thirty-six years later in The Dancing Willow Tree, Reverend Turner is in is late seventies and he has had a major heart attack. The pain he caused Elizabeth and Johnny, and the rift he created in his family have taken a toll on him. In 1986, Reverend Oliver was forced to confess to his family as well as the Turner family that he raped Elizabeth. The ripple effect of his confession touches everyone causing them to have an array of physical and emotions reactions. As Elizabeth continues to move on with life, she didn’t know her husband, Nat was holding a secret that was causing him to suffer enormous pain.

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

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Rehoboth Road by Anita Ballard-Jones ---Black Expressions Featured Title

Praise for Rehoboth Road
"Anita Ballard-Jones uses her excellent storytelling abilities to capture the disposition of the African American culture in a rural community starting in the 50's. She told a very inspirational and heartrending story. I could not put this one down, as I soaked up the essence of the characters that lived through the pain inflicted because of one man's sin." --Brenda M. Lisbon of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

This book was well written, and kept you wanting more the entire book. It made you feel that you were a part of the book. You could feel the emotions coming from each character. This book made you feel like you were there on Rehoboth Road. I didn't find the english derrogatory, nor a put down of people from the South. I hope Ms. Jones continues to bless us with more novels. I for one would like to be informed when she writes another book. God bless her and her family..I'll be looking for a sequel. --Debrah E. Carr "dee-dee carr" (Takoma Park, MD)

Rehoboth Road is one of the best books I have yet had the pleasure to read. I loved each and every character (even the bad guys). The story was well put together and held my attention from start to finish. Each character is very believable and realistic. The story flows nicely, makes a lot of sense, and does not have one boring moment. I was intrigued during the entire length of the book, and put it down only when I was just too tired to read. The story was so fascinating that I truly hated to see it end and I now eagerly await for more from this exciting new author. If you just want a story with a nice flow, interesting plot, and believable as well as likable characters - Rehoboth Road is what I highly recommmend. It is not rocket science or anything complicated - it is just a darn good book. My hat goes off to Miss Ballard-Jones and I look forward to reading more written by her.--Yvonne Ford (Capitol Hgts., MD)

This book was so enjoyable. The spritual tone of the book combined with the reality of what spritual people go through and how they react was great!! I could not put it down. When I got to the last page and realized the book had ended, I immediately raced to my computer to send the author an e-mail to find out about the next book...LOL... I have not written to an author in a long time, so you know this book was great!!
I'll be the first on line to purchase the sequel. :-) T. Carter (Franklin Park, NJ)

Product Details

Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Genesis Press (July 1, 2006)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1585711969
ISBN-13: 978-1585711963
Available at Amazon.com and all major book stores

This book was an intriguing tale of what happens when lies infiltrate a family. This book literally brought tears to my eyes because I was so captivated by characters. Well written and a delight to read. You will fall in love with some characters and dispise others. The ending has a moral struggle for many readers I am sure but it was still a great story. --Erica Dice (Chicago, IL)

Additional reviews will be listed at Amazon.com as they are posted

Keep up with my news and events at:
http://www.myspace.com/anitaballardjones

Meet Author Anita Ballard-Jones

Anita Ballard-Jones is a native of Brooklyn, New York and attended George W. Wingate High School. Later, she went on to attend the State University of New York at Farmingdale and the C. W. Post Campus of Long Island University. During her formal education, Anita received a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education, and ultimately she earned a Master's Degree in Special Education.

Anita was employed by New York State's Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities. She is retired after a 33 year career providing services for children and adults having severe developmental disabilities, first as a teacher and later as an administrator. Anita resides in Long Island, New York and enjoys spending time in North Carolina. She is married and has three adult children and five grand children.

Anita Ballard-Jones says writing Rehoboth Road and then returning to Rehoboth Road in The Dancing Willow Tree has been an exciting journey. She hopes you will continue to write her and share your comments. It would also be very nice and help to improve sales if you would post your positve reviews to Amazon and Barnes & Noble's online book stores.

15% of all sales will be donated to the American Breast Cancer Foundation

Please feel free to e-mail Anita if you or your organization would like her to appear on your program. Arrangement may be made with her to attend your bookclub meeting, in person if local or via telephone.

Events will be posted on my MySpace Blog.

Anita is available for book club chats and online virtual tours. Please write Anita with any questions or comments at: aballardjo@aol.com

Black Deer Books
In December 2002, Anita Ballard-Jones established her own publishing company whereas she self-published the first edition of Rehoboth Road in June 2003. Black Deer Books is a very small, full service printing press. The first 2000 books of the first edition of Rehoboth Road were printed, bound, and trimmed by Anita Ballard-Jones in her home. At the same time, another larger company was hired to help keep up with the demands for the books. Since then, the company has used the equipment for printing calendars, pads, pamphlets, and promotional material.

The rights to Rehoboth Road were sold in June 2005 and the second edition was published by the mainstream publisher, Genesis Press Inc. on July 7, 2006. On the same day, Black Expression Book Club posted Rehoboth Road as it's feature book for the month.

Right away, Anita's fans began requesting a sequel to Rehoboth Road and she went to work writing The Dancing Willow Tree. When her publisher failed to set a timely release date as verbally promised, Anita could not let her fans down. She pulled the manuscript and decided to self-publish it.

Anita believes that many blessings come in disguise. She has had the experience of being a self-published writer and that of being a mainstream writer. There was a time when she believed being mainstreamed published was the most important thing that could happen to a writer. She will always thank the people at Genesis Press Inc., the staff and members of the Black Expression Book Club, and all the book lovers who purchased Rehoboth Road. Anita gives special thanks to everyone who took the time to write her. She believes everyone has freed her to do what she loves best--write. The most important thing that can happen to a writer is to be authenticated as an author.

The Internet has opened up a world of opportunities for the self-published author, Anita believes she will be much happier in that world.

The next novel by Anita Ballard-Jones and to be published by Black Deer Books is titled, Ring Around The Roses. The release date will be announced at a later time.