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Features
National Bestselling Author Set For Book Signing At Saunders Library
BY KENYA WOODARD Sentinel Feature Writer
It’s a running joke in au- thor ReShonda Tate Billingsley’s family that you may not want to say much around her or you could end up being a character in her next book.
But for Mrs. Tate Billingsley, it’s natural for her characters to be a reflec- tion of the people around her.
“I write reality,” she said. “I write what people struggle with day to day. I write about real people dealing with real issues.”
The national bestselling author of more than 40 books – including the popular adult novels “What’s Done in the Dark,” “Let the Church Say Amen,” and “Say Amen, Again”– this month released her newest title, “The Perfect Mistress.”
Fans of Mrs. Tate Billingsley can pick up their copy this week when she vis- its the Robert Saunders Li- brary as part of the tour to promote the book.
Before entering publish- ing, Mrs. Tate Billingsley was a journalist for two decades working at news sta- tions in Oklahoma City, Okla., and Beaumont and Houston, Texas.
Mrs. Tate Billingsley,
currently an editor at the Houston Defender, said her background has proved in- valuable in her writing ca- reer.
“Being a journalist taught me attention to detail,” she said. “So if I have a character who is a doctor, I’m going to do my research because I don’t want my doctor talking to the janitor about a patient because that’s not real.”
A lover of storytelling,
Mrs. Tate Billingsley
started writing books and
RESHONDA TATE BILLINGSLEY
soon was juggling two roles. “I stick to the facts by day and let my imagination go
wild at night,” she said.
In 2001, she self-pub- lished her first book, My Brother’s Keeper after re- peated rejection from several publishing companies. The book soon was picked up by top publisher Simon & Schuster, which has printed
many of her titles.
Several of Mrs. Tate
Billingsley’s books have been optioned for movies. It was a random act of kindness that led to her second book, Let the Church Say Amen, being developed into a film.
At a book signing, Mrs. Tate Billingsley gave a copy to a woman who couldn’t afford to buy it.
The book turned up in the hands of Juanita Bynum who shared it with producers while visiting Hollywood.
Soon after, Mrs. Tate Billingsley signed a produc- tion deal. Actress Regina King came onboard as the director and Bishop T. D. Jakes and Queen Latifah signed on as producers. The film, which aired in August 2015, scored high ratings on BET.
Two other books – “The Secret She Kept” and “The Devil is a Lie” – also have been developed into movies
that will air on TV One this year.
Mrs. Tate Billingsley, co-founder of Brown Girl Books, said the mass appeal of her books and the themes they address makes them fa- vorable for the small screen.
More importantly, Mrs. Tate Billingsley uses her talent to bring awareness to issues that often go under the radar.
For example, “The Secret She Kept” tackles mental ill- ness.
“I really wanted to bring to light how we treat our bod- ies but not our minds,” she said.
The mother of three said she’s embracing screenwrit- ing and has completed her first screenplay titled “Holy Rollers.”
Screenwriting was a chal- lenge compared to penning books, she said.
“It’s not as easy or every- body would do it,” she said.
No matter the medium, Mrs. Tate Billingsley said she enjoys crafting the capti- vating stories that her fans have come to expect.
Developing characters is especially fun, she said.
“I consider it a personal challenge to change your mind (about a character),” she said. “You go in thinking one way about a character and end up thinking another way.”
If You Go
National bestselling au- thor ReShonda Tate Billingsley will host a book signing of her newest release, “The Perfect Mistress”, and other titles from 7 to 8 p. m. Wednesday, July 13 at the Robert Saunders Library. A percentage of proceeds from the event will benefit Ada T. Payne Friends of the Urban Libraries.
Rep. Corrine Brown Indicted In Fraud Case
JACKSONVILLE --- U. S. Rep. Corrine Brown of Florida and her chief of staff have been charged with multi- ple fraud and other federal of- fenses in a grand jury indictment unsealed last Fri- day after a federal investiga- tion into a fraudulent charity with ties to the congress- woman.
Brown, a 69-year-old De- mocrat, was charged with mail and wire fraud, conspiracy, ob- struction and filing of false tax returns.
She has represented a Jacksonville-based Congres- sional District since 1993 and is seeking re-election in a newly-redrawn district.
The indictment comes after an investigation into the char- ity One Door for Education Foundation Inc., which federal prosecutors say was purported to give scholarships to poor students, but instead filled the coffers of Brown and her as- sociates.
Also charged in the 24- count indictment was Elias "Ronnie" Simmons, 50, of Laurel, Maryland, who has served as Brown's chief of staff since 1993.
Earlier this year, One Door
President Carla Wiley
pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud after it as determined that she had deposited $800,000 into the founda-
REP. CORRINE BROWN
tion's account over four years. Over that time, federal prose- cutors say it gave one scholar- ship for $1,000 and that Wiley transferred herself tens of thousands of dollars.
The indictment says that Brown, Simmons and Wiley "used the vast major- ity" of One Door donations for their personal and professional benefit, including tens of thou- sands of dollars in cash de- posits that Simmons made to Brown's personal bank ac- counts.
According to the indict- ment, more than $200,000 in One Door funds were used to pay for events hosted by Brown or held in her honor, including a golf tournament, lavish receptions during an an- nual Washington conference and the use of luxury boxes for a concert and an NFL game in the Washington area.
PAGE 2 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY TUESDAY, JULY 12, 2016