Masquerade Lib/E: Book Two of the Unchained Trilogy

by Maria McKenzie, Madison Vaughn (Reader)

Audio CD

Published June 20, 2017

About the author

I was a librarian for several years, and librarian, of course, equals book lover! I enjoy curling up with a good book when not writing, or daydreaming about a new novel to write. I'm a sucker for a good love story, and live on a steady reading diet of romantic suspense, thrillers, historical fiction and non-fiction, and biographies.

I've always been a daydreamer, but didn't enjoy reading until I discovered Nancy Drew at age 10. As for writing, I never thought I'd actually pen a novel. I'm not a talker, so how could I ever fill up a book? As a quiet person, I internalize a lot. And later in life I discovered that internalizing can create some wonderful stories!

Being in an interracial marriage (I'm black and my husband's white), I enjoy exploring the topic of interracial/multicultural romance in our nation's past and writing tales of forbidden love.

Mixed race romance from decades gone by is emotionally explosive, providing heart-wrenching conflict, as well as incredible pain. Those elements combined create amazing stories. Love transcends all boundaries. If two hearts are meant to be together, they'll find a way, regardless of circumstance.

I graduated from Wittenberg University with a degree in English, then received a master's in Library Science from Atlanta University. While working as a librarian in North Carolina, I met my husband. Our marriage inspired my novel Unchained. One day I thought how sad it would have been if we'd fallen in love 150 years earlier and couldn't have married (as mentioned earlier, he's white, I'm black). I kept thinking "what if, what if," and eventually Unchained came into being, but I turned it into a trilogy because the story kept going on and on!

Essie Mae Washington Williams's memoir Dear Senator provided the idea for The Governor's Sons. Ms. Williams is the African American love child of South Carolina Senator Strom Thurmond. After reading her story, I wondered what would have happened if a southern governor fathered a son by a black woman, and that son grew up to become a civil rights leader.

I live in Cincinnati with my husband and our two sons. I'm a foodie, love old movies, history, museums and antiquing. I'm also into fitness and enjoy running. During my morning runs I can come up with some great story ideas, if I'm not listening to a book! Book junkie that I am, audio books are an addiction!