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Chasing the 400
Vera and Bobby Marshall, two African American siblings from a working class neighborhood on Philadelphia’s Main Line, try to make their dreams of a better life come true in the 1950’s despite the obstacles that "the 400"—Philadelphia’s Black Bourgeoisie—throws in their way.
230 pages, Hardcover
First published November 14, 2005
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About the author
Sheilah Vance
7 books10 followersSheilah Vance, is the author of several bestselling and award-winning books. They are the novel Becoming Valley Forge (2016), Creativity for Christians: How to Tell Your Story and Stories of Overcoming from the Members of One Special Church (Sept. 2010); the novels Chasing the 400 and Land Mines, and its companion journal, Journaling through Land Mines.
Becoming Valley Forge won the Regional Fiction Category in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards (2016).
She is also the author of the ebook, Six Days in December: General George Washington's and the Continental Army's Encampment on Rebel Hill, December 13 - 19, 1777, a prequel to Becoming Valley Forge.
Chasing the 400 has been a Top 20 bestseller at Black Expressions Book Club, and Land Mines was a Featured Selection for Women's Fiction.
Vance lives in suburban Philadelphia's Main Line area. Pennsylvania. She is also the President and CEO of The Elevator Group, an independent publishing company based in Paoli. Land Mines was named in May 2009 as a finalist in the 2009 Next Generation Indie Book Awards in the categories of 1) Multicultural Fiction, and 2) Best Cover Design Fiction. Chasing the 400, her first novel, was the first selection of the African American Museum of Philadelphia Book Club. Land Mines also was named a finalist in the categories of Fiction: Chick Lit/Women's Lit, and Fiction: African American in the National Best Books 2009 Awards. Journaling Through the Land Mines was named a finalist in the category of Self Help: Journals and Quotes in the National Best Books 2009 Awards.
Vance has a B.A. in Communications from Howard University, where she majored in journalism, and a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center. She maintains a private law practice in Philadelphia, PA. She worked as President and General Counsel of the Institute for Educational Equity and Opportunity in Washington, DC, a nonprofit that focuses on public school finance research, education and training issues. Vance teaches Education Law at Villanova University Law School, where she previously was Assistant Dean for Academic Support and a legal writing professor. Vance had a successful career as a journalist and editor before graduating from law school.
She was born in Bryn Mawr, PA and has lived in the Main Line and Philadelphia area for most of her life. Vance created The Elevator Group in 2004 to manage her creative pursuits. One New Year's Eve, she decided to take control of her future, step out on faith, and publish her first novel, Chasing the 400. She has grown The Elevator Group to a true independent publishing company publishing other authors.
Vance received the 2006 Woman of Distinction Award from the Barristers Association of Philadelphia, a National Bar Association Chapter, for outstanding contributions to the legal profession, legal education and community service.
Vance has been interviewed in numerous media outlets about Chasing the 400, and has given many talks about topics mentioned in the novel, such as the Black Bourgeoisie, African American social organizations, The Talented Tenth, and the history of the African American community in the Main Line area of Philadelphia.
Vance has been interviewed in numerous media outlets about her novel, Land Mines, and about issues related to separation, divorce, dating again and rebuilding you life. As a motivational and informational speaker, her most popular presentations on these issues include: Top 10 Land Mines of Divorce, 10 Things Every Married Woman Should Know, Divorce from the Client's Perspective, How to Chase Your Dreams and Make them Come True, and Reinventing Yourself. Many of these interviews and informational articles are listed on The Elevator Group website.
Becoming Valley Forge won the Regional Fiction Category in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards (2016).
She is also the author of the ebook, Six Days in December: General George Washington's and the Continental Army's Encampment on Rebel Hill, December 13 - 19, 1777, a prequel to Becoming Valley Forge.
Chasing the 400 has been a Top 20 bestseller at Black Expressions Book Club, and Land Mines was a Featured Selection for Women's Fiction.
Vance lives in suburban Philadelphia's Main Line area. Pennsylvania. She is also the President and CEO of The Elevator Group, an independent publishing company based in Paoli. Land Mines was named in May 2009 as a finalist in the 2009 Next Generation Indie Book Awards in the categories of 1) Multicultural Fiction, and 2) Best Cover Design Fiction. Chasing the 400, her first novel, was the first selection of the African American Museum of Philadelphia Book Club. Land Mines also was named a finalist in the categories of Fiction: Chick Lit/Women's Lit, and Fiction: African American in the National Best Books 2009 Awards. Journaling Through the Land Mines was named a finalist in the category of Self Help: Journals and Quotes in the National Best Books 2009 Awards.
Vance has a B.A. in Communications from Howard University, where she majored in journalism, and a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center. She maintains a private law practice in Philadelphia, PA. She worked as President and General Counsel of the Institute for Educational Equity and Opportunity in Washington, DC, a nonprofit that focuses on public school finance research, education and training issues. Vance teaches Education Law at Villanova University Law School, where she previously was Assistant Dean for Academic Support and a legal writing professor. Vance had a successful career as a journalist and editor before graduating from law school.
She was born in Bryn Mawr, PA and has lived in the Main Line and Philadelphia area for most of her life. Vance created The Elevator Group in 2004 to manage her creative pursuits. One New Year's Eve, she decided to take control of her future, step out on faith, and publish her first novel, Chasing the 400. She has grown The Elevator Group to a true independent publishing company publishing other authors.
Vance received the 2006 Woman of Distinction Award from the Barristers Association of Philadelphia, a National Bar Association Chapter, for outstanding contributions to the legal profession, legal education and community service.
Vance has been interviewed in numerous media outlets about Chasing the 400, and has given many talks about topics mentioned in the novel, such as the Black Bourgeoisie, African American social organizations, The Talented Tenth, and the history of the African American community in the Main Line area of Philadelphia.
Vance has been interviewed in numerous media outlets about her novel, Land Mines, and about issues related to separation, divorce, dating again and rebuilding you life. As a motivational and informational speaker, her most popular presentations on these issues include: Top 10 Land Mines of Divorce, 10 Things Every Married Woman Should Know, Divorce from the Client's Perspective, How to Chase Your Dreams and Make them Come True, and Reinventing Yourself. Many of these interviews and informational articles are listed on The Elevator Group website.
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May 20, 2013
Absolutely wonderful book! I wish it were a movie!
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