Virginia Deberry
Hardcover
The authors of What Doesn’t Kill You bring us Uptown, where the heir to a real-estate empire plans to erect a luxury building in Harlem. But when money and power are at stake, family bonds get pushed to the edge.
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VIRGINIA DEBERRY
"The second book is a harder book to write," states Virginia DeBerry, one half of the sensational writing team that delivered TRYIN' TO SLEEP IN THE BED YOU MADE with such success. "We wanted to do something a little different from TRYIN'," adds Donna Grant. "We wanted to address issues of mother/daughter relationships as well as telling a story that takes place in one year, not over a twenty-five."
FAR FROM THE TREE, is an examination of several themes: relationships between mother and daughter, husband and wife, self-image, self-awareness, and how the past affects the present. "We wanted to have situations and characters that everyone could identify with," says Grant. "Readers can walk away thinking 'And I thought I was the only one...".
"These stories are little morality tales - how to mend a relationship, how to solve a conflict. ..."they say with a laugh.
The issues of mothers and daughters are especially important. "Readers were intrigued by Pat and Verna (of TRYIN'), that their relationship had no real resolution. What a tricky relationship it can be between mothers and daughters. Some are best friends, others have very difficult relationships. However, we're all women and sometimes we hide behind the mother and daughter roles. [This story examines] what would happen if one has to reveal herself."
Of reading groups, DeBerry and Grant are grateful. "Blacks are claiming books, reading and sharing - and even criticizing - in way we haven't before. It's an exciting time," adds Grant.
They are equally supportive of new authors. "It's still tricky to get published if you have a "different" voice, but given a chance," says DeBerry, "that voice will find it's own audience."
