My book giveaway at Goodreads ended on December 25. I want to thank all of the 534 people who entered the contest. It’s nice to see so many folks interested in my book Fearless Freedom. It was fun and I will do another giveaway this spring.

I’m on my way to the SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) conference in Miami. I especially look forward to attending an all day workshop, led by literary agent Jen Rofé, editor Stacy Abrams, and writer Chris Crutcher, to work on my latest manuscript, Saving Kenny. On Saturday and Sunday there will be panels, presentations and workshops, lunches, dinners and receptions. The Clockwork Ball, a steampunk costume affair, is on Saturday night. I won’t be sporting a corset, but I think my costume, a no-nonsense day-outing look, will represent.  

My book, Saving Kenny, is also historical fiction. It is not a sequel to Fearless Freedom, but my characters are the beneficiaries of advances won during the civil rights era. The story begins in 1968 on the day after Dr. Martin Luther King is assassinated and incorporates the flavor of the late sixties, when Black was Beautiful, Afros were big, and the war in Vietnam was unpopular. It is an exciting time period that I am very familiar with, having lived through it.

Twelve-year-old Kenny Reed, from inner city Boston, has always lived in the shadow of his charismatic, justice-seeking, Black Panther Party member, big brother, Vaughn, and his gorgeous, smart, talented, opera-diva, sister, Gwen, but he finds a new sense of confidence when he discovers his passion for costume design.  All three kids are veterans of their mother’s abusive rages, but since he’s only twelve, and can’t escape living alone with Ma, the Reed siblings must find a way of saving Kenny.

The book has lots of details from 1968, but deals with the serious subject of child abuse. I’m proud of this book and I believe my readers will enjoy it.