Sugar Rush: Love’s Liberation Author Yolonda D. Coleman to Host a Sweet Book Signing
DC Author Yolonda D. Coleman released her much anticipated debut romance novel "Sugar Rush: Love's Liberation" and will host a book signing during the Howard University Book (HUB) Store's 2005 Independent Author Fair, Thurs., Nov. 17, 2005, from 4:30 p. m. - 6:30 p. m., at 225 Georgia Ave. N. W., Washington, DC 20059. .
Washington (PRWEB) November 10, 2005
There was a time where love took time to develop in stages. Dating was an experience to get to know one another. Marriage was an eternal, ever growing, and renewing commitment. And as society operates at microwave speed for just about everything, Author, Poet, Coffeedreamz. com Publisher, and Teacher Yolonda D. Coleman puts on the breaks, and invites readers to be courted by 346 pages of old-fashioned authentic love as she introduces her most anticipated newly released romance novel Sugar Rush: Love’s Liberation during Howard University Bookstore’s 2005 Independent Author’s Fair Nov. 17, 2005, 4:30 p. m. – 6:30 p. m.
“It’s an honor to be invited to host my book signing at Howard University Bookstore, the HUB of the African American Cultural Experience,” Coleman said. “Coincidently, the college is featured in Sugar Rush: Love’s Liberation! I’m looking forward to this momentous occasion! Readers who attend the book signing will learn how HU is featured, among other things, like my inspiration for the novel, the importance of getting to know your partner mentally and spiritually first, and putting physical intimacy on hold for a little while.”
With an omni-potent blend of fictional prose and poetic verse tossed in as a pre-course of what’s to come in each chapter, Coleman has carefully woven together the experience of two people who meet on a path to spiritual enlightenment. Her readers appreciate the respect, honor, and patience given to the love story.
In an Amazon. com review, reader S. Charity, Richmond, VA, described Sugar Rush: Love’s Liberation as engaging romance with just enough plugs from reality to make it magic. She appreciates how Coleman sets the tone for the novel with creative relevance and is looking forward to the sequel.
Sugar Rush: Love’s Liberation is “definitely not the norm from many authors that I've read who use so much eye-popping language and scenarios to keep the reader,” Charity wrote. “…[The novel] is a dose of romance growing in the spirit! What a breath of fresh air!”
Delila Smith, Maple Springs, GA, wrote, “This book is crammed with romance, passion, surprise and detail. It was truly a page-turner! For someone who has been in love, lost it, gave up on it and is now looking to break the chains surrounding their heart, this book peels away the pain and re-defines the essence of love under spiritual enlightenment.”
Shanda Gordon read the book in two days. “It was so good I couldn't put it down,” Shanda wrote. “I can't wait for the sequel. This book shows the love and passion two people can share. It is truly a good book.”
The main characters of the novel are Darlene “Dolly” Hunter, and Gerald “Blacksax” Washington, a magazine publisher by day, and musician by night. Dolly, who has been hurt by relationships in the past, earned the nickname “Spider Woman” by family and friends because she vowed to never get caught-up emotionally in a relationship. Like a spider, at the first sign of something awry, she packs here emotions and any possibility of a love connection and leaves. That is until Dolly is absorbed by the energy of Blacksax on stage one evening, while sipping a glass of cranberry juice with her girls at Blackplatinum Café. She soon learns Washington is not only talented and fine, but someone who wants to perfect every note to her heart.
Sugar Rush: Love’s Liberation is written from both the male and female perspectives. “I made a concerted effort to make sure and tell the male side of the story,” Coleman said. “This is not a male-bashing novel. Balance, communication, and respect are key to a healthy relationship. This novel is for everyone young and seasoned. It’s for those who are in love, have lost love, are searching for love, and the reformed player.”
Coleman, who was first published at the age of 15, has always had a love for words since she was a little girl. After working with Black Entertainment Television (BET) in high school, and graduating the top of her class from Hampton University in 1998 with a B. A. in Mass Media Arts, Broadcast Journalism, Coleman began teaching high school students back in her hometown in D. C.
Her love affair with jazz and words began to bubble over as she faithfully wrote and garnered the courage to recite her poetry during public readings. Poetry is an immediate satisfaction to sort out her thoughts and ideas. However, she was longing for more. She has always encouraged young people to follow their dreams, but she never realized her own. Her affirmation to write her novel arrived when two of her students (twin sisters), whom she affectionately calls FBI and CIA because they always know what is going on in school, told her she needs to quit her job and write her novel. That’s what she did. Coleman became a fly on the wall observing many of her friends and family conversations and interactions.
“One relationship I truly admire is that of my cousins Andre and Latoya Strain,” Coleman said. “Statistically marriages do not make it beyond the fifth to seventh year mark and they’ve been together for five years and have two beautiful children. Sugar Rush: Love’s Liberation was born on June 9, 2001, while I was preparing to attend Latoya’s surprise birthday party, planned by her husband. The little things that made the event so memorable moved me. Andre’ did a role reversal and baked her cake! They helped me to believe in love again. “
If you ask Coleman, it is a blessing that she is still here. The proud member of Delta Sigma Theta has overcome many hardships as she completed her novel Sugar Rush: Love’s Liberation within the course of four years. She survived two near-death auto accidents. She sold her home and quit her teaching job and took a 55 percent pay-cut to move to Florida and be near her mother, who eventually lost her battle to cancer. Coleman was still steadfast and completed the novel because that’s what her mom would have wanted for her baby girl.
Holding her book for the very first time was a most memorable experience. “I wanted to cry, scream when the first shipment of books arrived,” Coleman said. “I was like a child on Christmas morning. I couldn’t wait to get inside the box, rip it open, and hold my baby. It has been a very long journey. The manuscript was lost briefly when my computer crashed, there were several miscommunications with the publisher, there were dream killers, and deadlines to meet. I’ve probably read the book at least 20 times between 2004 and 2005, and enjoy it each moment I crack it open. The very first copy was reserved for my mom’s spirit. I know she’s reading it when she has a break from her angelic duties.”
Inspired by legendary luminaries like Zora Neal Hurston and Langston Hughes, Coleman escapes to a place of total relaxation and solitude when she writes. That place can be anywhere from the airport, riverfront, to a new city. Coleman is known in her family as one who never stays still. The same could be said about her scribes.
She is currently penning two novels simultaneously: Traveling Letters and Black Frost: One man, one journey, one God. In Traveling Letters, A. Brown Girl shares the experiences of her life journey as she travels the world. Black Frost, written from a man’s point-of-view, chronicles the life of a native Detroit, MI, male who has been ridiculed during his youth. “All that he is, all that he was, has transformed to what you wouldn’t want your child to be,” Coleman said. “He goes from being a vulnerable boy, to a more confident young man, to a cocky young man, to a destructive man who eventually finds peace personified.”
Her advice to young and seasoned writers is, “Stay the course, even in the face of death. Life is a journey of beautiful struggles. Your story or someone else’s story may be a source of inspiration for another human being. That’s how God works through His children.”
For additional information regarding the author, novel, excerpts, and scheduling or attending book signings, please visit www. coffeedreamz. com. For interviews, please contact Yalanda Oglesby at (313) 658-9896 or (313) 259.3063. To purchase Sugar Rush: Love’s Liberation, attend a book signing. Annually, during the months of March, May, and August, a portion of the novel, purchased and pre-ordered will go towards the patron’s charity of choice: The American Cancer Society, The Wild Dolphin Foundation, or Hampton University Endowed Scholarship Fund. For additional information about the Howard University Bookstore 2005 Independent Author’s Fair, call (202) 238-2640, (800) 919-5997.
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