Sadeqa Johnson's Blog - Posts Tagged "sadeqa-johnson"
My books are now available in the U.K.!
I’ve been waiting for this for a long time friends and it’s finally come to fruition!
Yellow Wife and The House of Eve are both available in the UK! Spread the love and tell a friend across the pond!
Yellow Wife and The House of Eve are both available in the UK! Spread the love and tell a friend across the pond!
Ruffling the Imagination - Part 2
(The full blog post appeared on Reese’s Book Club site on Feb. 6)
[Part 1 was posted last week on this blog]
All of this got me wondering about the other women of my grandmother’s era who found themselves accidentally pregnant. What did that culture of secrecy do to women? What were the options for pregnant unmarried women during the 1940s and 1950s? That’s when I stumbled upon maternity homes. These were places where teenagers and single women went when they became pregnant. They were usually forced to give up their babies after birth.
I began to wonder what would have happened if my grandmother had been sent away to a place like this to erase the humiliation of bearing a child out of wedlock. These maternity homes weren’t perfect by any means—in fact, abuse and forced labor were rampant at many of them. But still, if my grandmother had gone to a maternity home, maybe she could have returned to her life in North Philadelphia and started over. Like it had never happened. But my grandmother was Black and poor, and in all of my research into these homes, I only found the stories of white women. Still I was determined. As a historical fiction writer, I feel charged to uncover stories that have been forgotten, hidden or untold. So I kept searching for a Black girl's trial and tribulation. The Black experience has never been just one narrative, no matter what is shown on television; it was up to me to put the pieces together and tell the story. Thus The House of Eve was born.
The House of Eve is about the difficult decisions women of all races have made throughout history regarding love, sex and their fundamental rights. This is a novel about ambitious women who refused to give up on their dreams. May this book open your heart and your mind, may it give you a glimpse of a life you have never considered, and may it enlighten you to pass the gift on.
[Part 1 was posted last week on this blog]
All of this got me wondering about the other women of my grandmother’s era who found themselves accidentally pregnant. What did that culture of secrecy do to women? What were the options for pregnant unmarried women during the 1940s and 1950s? That’s when I stumbled upon maternity homes. These were places where teenagers and single women went when they became pregnant. They were usually forced to give up their babies after birth.
I began to wonder what would have happened if my grandmother had been sent away to a place like this to erase the humiliation of bearing a child out of wedlock. These maternity homes weren’t perfect by any means—in fact, abuse and forced labor were rampant at many of them. But still, if my grandmother had gone to a maternity home, maybe she could have returned to her life in North Philadelphia and started over. Like it had never happened. But my grandmother was Black and poor, and in all of my research into these homes, I only found the stories of white women. Still I was determined. As a historical fiction writer, I feel charged to uncover stories that have been forgotten, hidden or untold. So I kept searching for a Black girl's trial and tribulation. The Black experience has never been just one narrative, no matter what is shown on television; it was up to me to put the pieces together and tell the story. Thus The House of Eve was born.
The House of Eve is about the difficult decisions women of all races have made throughout history regarding love, sex and their fundamental rights. This is a novel about ambitious women who refused to give up on their dreams. May this book open your heart and your mind, may it give you a glimpse of a life you have never considered, and may it enlighten you to pass the gift on.
My books are now available in even more countries!
Hi Love Lights!
Just a quick note to let you know that The House of Eve and Yellow Wife are now available in the U.K, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand and I could not be more thrilled!
I am big on vision boarding and making my books available in other countries have been on my board for years. It is so fulfilling to see this dream come to fruition. I can't wait to hear from readers from around the world.
Here's to many more countries to come. You know me, I'm claiming it!
Sadeqa
Just a quick note to let you know that The House of Eve and Yellow Wife are now available in the U.K, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand and I could not be more thrilled!
I am big on vision boarding and making my books available in other countries have been on my board for years. It is so fulfilling to see this dream come to fruition. I can't wait to hear from readers from around the world.
Here's to many more countries to come. You know me, I'm claiming it!
Sadeqa
AAMBC Literary Awards
Thank you to the AAMBC Literary Awards for this wonderful acknowledgment. I love that the people voted and selected The House of Eve!
The House of Eve is an Audible Best of the Year Top 20 audiobook!
There's nothing like sharing a bit of good news to kick off the week!
I'm so excited to share that The House of Eve is an Audible Best of the Year Top 20!
Thank you so much to everyone who listened to the audiobook! If you were one of the listeners, I'd love to hear what you thought of it!
Here's the full list of the Top 20
Happy Monday Love Lights!
Sadeqa
I'm so excited to share that The House of Eve is an Audible Best of the Year Top 20!
Thank you so much to everyone who listened to the audiobook! If you were one of the listeners, I'd love to hear what you thought of it!
Here's the full list of the Top 20
Happy Monday Love Lights!
Sadeqa
The House of Eve is up for a GoodReads Choice Award!
The good news just keeps rolling in!
I'm beyond excited to discover that THE HOUSE OF EVE has made it into the first round of the Goodreads Choice Awards!
What an absolute honor!
It's in the Best Historical Fiction category and I would be so grateful if you’d take time to cast your votes! It would be a dream come true for me to win this award because it's voted on by readers and that makes it extra special.
Lots of Love,
Sadeqa
I'm beyond excited to discover that THE HOUSE OF EVE has made it into the first round of the Goodreads Choice Awards!
What an absolute honor!
It's in the Best Historical Fiction category and I would be so grateful if you’d take time to cast your votes! It would be a dream come true for me to win this award because it's voted on by readers and that makes it extra special.
Lots of Love,
Sadeqa
The House of Eve is a Goodreads Choice Awards Finalist!
I am in my office doing my happy dance. My mouth is wide open in a smile that hurts my cheeks. THE HOUSE OF EVE is a Goodreads Choice Awards Finalist for Historical Fiction! Say what?
Ruby and Eleanor have made it to the final round. I can't do this without you. I need your help friends, so that we can bring this award home. Please vote and share with all of your peeps. Voting ends on December 3rd. Please spread the word.
Thank you so much for making so many of my dreams come true!
Sadeqa
Ruby and Eleanor have made it to the final round. I can't do this without you. I need your help friends, so that we can bring this award home. Please vote and share with all of your peeps. Voting ends on December 3rd. Please spread the word.
Thank you so much for making so many of my dreams come true!
Sadeqa
New book tour dates!
It's almost time for the paperback publication of The House of Eve!
I've enjoyed my time at home but I'm itching to get back on the road and see you all. We are lining up some fantastic conversation partners so please share my tour cities with your friends and book lovers.
Let me know if I'll see you at one of my stops! For more information, please go to my website, www.sadeqa.net
I've enjoyed my time at home but I'm itching to get back on the road and see you all. We are lining up some fantastic conversation partners so please share my tour cities with your friends and book lovers.
Let me know if I'll see you at one of my stops! For more information, please go to my website, www.sadeqa.net
New Book Announcement!
Hello Love Lights!
I’ve been hinting to having a new novel brewing but I couldn’t say much about it until it was announced formally. Well just a few days ago it was announced as the Deal of the Day in Publisher’s Marketplace (our trade magazine) and I couldn’t be more pleased.
Watch for more details about BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN coming soon!
Sadeqa
I’ve been hinting to having a new novel brewing but I couldn’t say much about it until it was announced formally. Well just a few days ago it was announced as the Deal of the Day in Publisher’s Marketplace (our trade magazine) and I couldn’t be more pleased.
Watch for more details about BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN coming soon!
Sadeqa
My new short story, Fallen Grace
Friends! I have a short story coming out with Amazon Publishing in a collection called BLAZE!
Do you remember Bubbles from THE HOUSE OF EVE? Ruby’s friend who escaped out of the window? Well, FALLEN GRACE is the continuation of Bubbles story! You’ve asked for it and now I’ve delivered!
You can add it to your Goodreads 'Want to Read' here
You can purchase it on Amazon here
I hope you enjoy it!
Sadeqa
Do you remember Bubbles from THE HOUSE OF EVE? Ruby’s friend who escaped out of the window? Well, FALLEN GRACE is the continuation of Bubbles story! You’ve asked for it and now I’ve delivered!
You can add it to your Goodreads 'Want to Read' here
You can purchase it on Amazon here
I hope you enjoy it!
Sadeqa
