Join BookTowne in welcoming author Sadeqa Johnson

610 South Street,Brielle NJ 08730

27 January, 2022

Description

Join BookTowne for a conversation with author Sadeqa Johnson on January 27, 2022 at 6:30pm Sadqa Johnson, author of The Yellow Wife, will be in conversation with Pastor Mary Farnham at the Brielle Public Library on Thursday, January 27, at 6:30PM. *A Most Anticipated Selection by Oprahmag.com and Buzzfeed* *Winner of the African American Literary Show award* The Yellow Wife by Sadeqa Johnson: Reviews "A challenging read but beautifully told... Yellow Wife doesn't pull any punches in telling its story about this painful period in American history. However, with a central character who is more than up to the task, this thought-provoking, well-paced tale brims with heart and intelligence." – NPR "As Americans continue to deal with issues of race today, “Yellow Wife” is the perfect book to help the country see, in part, how it got here." – Christian Science Monitor "[A]n absorbing story. A deeply researched and truly transfixing narrative told with heart, soul and skill — one that will no doubt grip the reader as much as it did the author." – Toronto Star "...This well-researched and intensely moving [novel]...is perfect for fans of historical fiction with strong female characters..." – Library Journal, *starred review* “A horrifying but ultimately moving story anchored by a complex narrator.” – Kirkus Reviews, *starred review* “Johnson writes with imagery so vivid that it's impossible to look away, even during gut- wrenching moments. Readers will be engulfed in captivating suspense…” – Booklist “Johnson achieves a powerful, unflinching account of determination in the face of oppression.” – Publishers Weekly After winning both the Phillis Wheatley award and the National Book Club award for Best Fiction, Sadeqa Johnson entered the world of historical fiction with her novel YELLOW WIFE (S&S, paperback, December 28, 2021). Inspired by the real life of Mary Lumpkin, this story is one of unyielding sacrifice and fierce resistance as our heroine comes of age in antebellum Richmond. The Yellow Wife: Summary Throughout her young life, Pheby Delores Brown was set apart: born as an enslaved child, she was sheltered by her mother’s position as the plantation’s medicine woman and marginally protected by her father, the owner of the plantation. Freedom on her eighteenth birthday has been promised to her, but instead of the idyllic life she imagined with her true love stable hand, Essex Henry, Pheby is forced to leave the only home she has ever known and unexpectedly finds herself thrust into the bowels of slavery at the infamous “Devil’s Half-Acre,” a jail in Richmond, Virginia where the enslaved are broken, tortured, and sold every day. Unexpectedly, she finds herself forced to become the jailer’s mistress, and her survival – and the lives of her children and those she loves – suddenly rests in her hands. At the heart of the page-turning historical novel is a passion-fueled resistance and a mother-daughter relationship that will be unforgettable to the reader. With intellect, passion, and perseverance, the resonate characters are faced with impossible situations and still hold their own within the most inhumane chapter of American history. YELLOW WIFE is “a heartbreaking stunner of a book” (Aimie K. Runyan) and “a reminder that the inner lives of black women are as complicated as they are fascinating” (Attica Locke). Readers are – and will continue to be – transfixed as Johnson breathes new life into a little- known woman and her chapter in American history. About the author: Sadeqa Johnson is the award-winning author of four novels. Her accolades include the National Book Club Award, the Phillis Wheatley Book Award, and the USA Best Book Award for Best Fiction. She is a Kimbilio Fellow, former board member of the James River Writers, and a Tall Poppy Writer. Originally from Philadelphia, she currently lives near Richmond, Virginia, with her husband and three children. To learn more, visit SadeqaJohnson.net. Additional Praise for Yellow Wife “A fully immersive, intricately crafted story inspired by the pages of history. In Pheby, Sadeqa Johnson has created a woman whose struggle to survive and to protect the ones she loves will have readers turning the pages as fast as their fingers can fly. Simply enthralling.” – Lisa Wingate, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author of Before We Were Yours and The Book of Lost Friends. "Seldom do I get to enjoy a novel so wholly engrossing, so exquisitely researched, so timely. Sadeqa Johnson has brought a fresh telling to a story we think we already know, making it beautifully relatable and human. Riveting and suspenseful, I highly recommend this novel." – Kathleen Grissom, New York Times Bestselling author of Glory Over Everything and The Kitchen House "Yellow Wife by Sadeqa Johnson is a page-turner of a novel that is utterly transporting. Johnson's rich historical detail and enchanting prose sucked me into another world from the very first page. The book is a reminder that the inner lives of black women are as complicated as they are fascinating and make for some of the most affecting literature in American history. I loved it." – Attica Locke, New York Times Bestselling author of Blue A Local Independent Bookstore in Manasquan NJ, just minutes from the beach!