Debbi Mack, ‘Identity Crisis’
Debbi Mack describes her novel “Identity Crisis” as “a hard-boiled mystery novel in which a lawyer investigates murder and identity theft.” She was quick to clarify that the protagonist is a female, and admitted that her own experience as a lawyer “informs” the book a little, although the fictional story is not like anything she has undergone. Mack will be holding a reading and book-signing at the Barnes and Noble at Potomac Yard, 3651 Jefferson Davis Hwy., 703-229-9124, on Saturday, April 8 at 7 p.m.
The reading will be from the first chapter of the book to introduce people to the characters — mostly Sam McRae, the heroine — and the situation, Mack said.
As a reader, “I’ve always kind of been partial to books that have action sequences in the book,” Mack said, so as an author, she set herself the task of incorporating action sequences into “Identity Crisis.” “Most lawyers aren’t doing daredevil things, it was kind of challenging to think of situations where [McRae] could do a little of that,” she said.
Mack hopes to bring McRae back into the action with a series of novels similar to “Identity Crisis,” where she will investigate crimes related to the cases she is working on.
Spring Fling Bookfair, Saturday, April 8
The Woman in Me 2002 Bookclub will host numerous authors at their Spring Fling Bookfair at the Comfort Inn, 5716 South Van Dorn St., Saturday, April 8.
The bookfair, with a theme of “It’s All About Us,” will feature books by Teressa I. Leath, Frederick Hargrove, Sylvester Fleming, Crystall Ellis, Derek Jackson, Jamie Walker, Renee Allen, Kevin Young, Jessica Tilles, Brenda Thomas and others. The group promotes literacy among women in the area, and reads African-American fiction, plays and movies. Discussions focus on books the entire group reads, as well as what each member has been reading individually. Contact president and founder Nalo Ervin at naloee@yahoo.com or 202-487-5996.
LaJoyce Brookshire, ‘Faith Under Fire’
Already a best-selling author for fictional stories “Web of Deception” and “Soul Food,” LaJoyce Brookshire put her pen to paper with a personal story for “Faith Under Fire: Betrayed by a Thing Called Love,” a book detailing her own experience marrying a man who knew he had AIDS, but kept it a secret from her. After more than 10 years, Brookshire decided to share the emotional story of her first marriage because similar stories are becoming familiar to Americans, especially African American women.
Brookshire will be at the South County Government Building, 8350 Richmond Hwy., on Thursday, April 13 at 6 p.m. for a discussion and book-signing.