Before the Calling

by P.L. Wilson

Reverend Goodlove III wasn't always the God-fearing man of the cloth he is today. Before the calling he was anything but. Take a glimpse of the pastor who turned religion into a moneymaking machine like no other.

Back in the day Ethan Ezeekel Goodlove was known for his after-hours speakeasy clubs where any and everything was available for the asking. In this e-quickie we travel back in time when the jive turkeys looking for a good time knew just the man to call. Back then, Goodlove was synonymous with the kind of good times that had nothing to do with the Holy Ghost!

Audible Audio

First published June 17, 2012

About the author

PL Wilson is the pen name for Pat Tucker. By day, she works as a radio news director in Houston, TX. By night, she is a talented writer with a knack for telling page-turning stories. A former television news reporter, she draws on her background to craft stories readers will love. With more than 15 years of media experience, the award-winning broadcast journalist has worked as a reporter for ABC, NBC and Fox affiliate TV stations and Radio stations in California and Texas. She also co-hosts the literary talk show, From Cover to Cover. Pat has wowed editors with her ability to turn out five to ten thousand words a day. But it's not just quantity that has Pat at the top of her game. The quality of her stories is what keeps the readers coming back. A much sought-after ghost writer, Pat gets her greatest joy in creating her own stories. She is the author of six novels and has participated in three anthologies, including Zane’s New York Times Bestseller, Caramel Flava.

A graduate of San Jose State University, Pat is a member of the National and Houston Association of Black Journalists and Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. She is married with two children.

Reviews

[Author Lesley Hal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Before the Calling gave insight into the world of Pastor Goodlove before life behind the pulpit. He was a hustler and ran a wh*re house along with another friend Red. They had a set up similar to what you saw in Harlem Nights with the same problems as Eddie and Richard Pryor ... police shakedowns. As the story progressed, we did get to meet the mother of the Goodlove boys, Carol. She was a plus-sized diva with a no nonsense Preacher for a father. After going against her parents to be with Ethan, she found out just what he meant about the type of man that Ethan was. Even with all the material trappings that she could want, Carol found herself lonely and in need of male companionship in which she found in the arms of a couple of men unbeknowst to Ethan. All good things come to an end as it did with Harlem Nights. Ethan found himself behind bars and this is where he later became "Pastor" Goodlove. After saving the life of someone who had a lot of clout his good fortune in ministering paid off and bought him his freedom.

The short was a good glimpse into Pastor Goodlove's life, but I would have liked to have seen more as far as what happened with Carol. I don't really recall Carol being in the series except and I'm going out on a limb here to say that I think it was mentioned that she had passed on. I know a short is a short, but I hate abrupt endings. There's a difference between a cliffhanger and an abrupt ending. Otherwise good job!