Giant Slayers

by Wendy Raven McNair

Chainey Fields, a declining African American community, is experiencing significant changes. Taylor Charles and her two best friends, Leticia and Renee, are all back together again in their old community. But Chainey Fields is undergoing the same growing pains as the trio's relationships. The three women learn to negotiate their neighborhood as adults while tackling the challenges presented by the men in their lives. A painful secret has bound David to this historical community which he feels driven to help rejuvenate. And Carl has followed his beloved back to her community where he now feels ostracized by her because of his race. And Matthew, who grew up in Chainey Fields, is shocked when his lifelong animosity for one of the women begins to turn into desire. The women realize that relationships and communities are very similar, you have to stay involved and fight to get what you want out of them.

270 pages, Paperback

First published December 28, 1999

About the author

Wendy Raven McNair was born in Houston, Texas and grew up in the Third Ward projects. She didn't travel outside of Texas, until she was an adult, except vicariously through stories. "... I travelled past the bounds imposed on me by my circumstances ... through books. They took me away from my insecure, sometimes frightening but mostly monotonous poverty existence. Stories brought to my awareness a bigger world beyond my limited surroundings and transported me to places I would eventually live or visit and others I can still only dream about."

Storytelling has always been an integral part of McNair's life. As a child, she shared a room with her younger sister and made up bedtime stories for her. In school, she wrote short stories to share with friends. As a young mother, she made up stories to entertain her daughter.

McNair has a B.A. in English from the University of Texas and a Certificate in Graphic Design through Kennesaw State University's Continuing Education. She is currently working on a trilogy inspired by her daughter. "My teen daughter enjoys fantasy stories but I couldn't find any that were age appropriate with main characters who reflected her." Thus, ASLEEP, was born. It's a fantasy love story that chronicles an African American teen's introduction to the secret world of super beings.

GIANT SLAYERS, McNair's first novel, tells the story of three childhood friends learning to negotiate their declining African American community as adults while tackling the challenges presented by the men in their lives.

"I feel doubly blessed that I'm still able to create stories and can now share them with a larger audience. My hope is to inspire others to overcome their challenges and pursue their dreams."

Reviews

[Madeline · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a good quick read.