Page 4 - Florida Sentinel 11-16-18

Local
16th Annual Pre-Thanksgiving Blessing Planned
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
For several years, a local organization has provided a Pre-Thanksgiving Blessing to the community. On Saturday, November 17th, from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m. The event will be held at the Open Air Market, 3601 N. 29th Street, (28h Street and E. Lake Avenue), Tampa, FL 33610.
This marks the 16th year that Children With A Vision, Inc., has sponsored the event. Those in attendance will enjoy a hot Pre-Thanksgiving meal, entertainment, live music, kid zones, and give- aways. There will be commu- nity organizations, vendors and free gently used clothing available.
Ms. Tonya Lewis,
founder of Children With A Vision, Inc., said, “We want to pray, fellowship, and give thanks in everything. With so much happening around the world with killings, hatred, and devastation, we want to
TONYA LEWIS Founder of Children With A Vision, Inc.
see unity, laughter, and everyone having wholesome fun.”
Ms. Lewis further asked those planning to attend to be mindful of parking areas and bring your own chairs.
The event is free and open to the public. Children must be accompanied by adults. For more information contact Ms. Lewis at (813) 235- 5656.
By Popular Demand:
Success Of Debut Novel ‘Promises’ Leads To Sequel
Casey Curry’s “A Pillar of Fire” offers dimensional rep- resentations of Black love past and present
Author and educator Casey Curry understands the pressure of teaching cre- ative writing while forging a career as a creative writer. Four years ago, Mrs. Curry wrote and published a debut novel, Promises, which was so highly-received and ac- claimed, requests for a sequel were immediate. This week she releases A Pillar of Fire, her second novel, and the an- swer to questions posed in Promises.
“Life can challenge a writer’s time, and I am no ex- ception,” says Mrs. Curry. Time proved to be an ally for the author who would decide not only how to tell the story, but which character would narrate it.
Unlike the first novel, which was narrated by the heroine, Pamela, A Pillar of Fire is narrated by Pamela’s deceased father, Jonas. “The story is still Pam’s, but it is an important part of her back
MRS. CASEY CURRY
story, which only Jonas can tell.”
Mrs. Curry’s debut novel challenged representa- tions of the Black military family and especially the wives of officers. The sequel is a continuation of Mrs. Curry’s advocacy for dimen- sional and diverse imagery of African Americans. She says, “I wanted to shatter a few stereotypes about our elders as well as the complicated ways we love as a people.”
This is a story of a family – blood and chosen – and the ties that bind. It is a story of faith that transcends reli-
gion. All of the questions are answered. We understand the past, present and the fu- ture of those led through the darkness by a pillar of fire.
Since Promises’ debut, the retired military spouse and mother has enjoyed re- ception as an author across the nation as a speaker, and signing books for book clubs. She has been the invited guest at history conferences, and events hosted by women’s groups such as The Tampa Chapter of the Links, Inc., and her sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha. She has also shared the stage with Wal- ter Mosely and Pamela
Samuels Young.
“The experience has been phenomenal and life-chang- ing but not nearly as phe- nomenal and life-changing as finishing something I began as a passion.”
A Pillar of Fire can be purchased at Amazon.com or via her website at Casey- Curry.org.
Mrs. Curry’s first pub- lished work, I Remember You Today, was an interactive picture book for children dealing with loss and grief.
Because grief is a process, and silence will not erase the
pain, Mrs. Curry wrote this book as an effort to affirm the feelings of young children dealing with the loss of a sib- ling or parent. It is also meant as a catalyst for dialogue for grieving parents.
Mrs. Curry is an award- winning author and the Di- rector of Creative Writing at Tampa’s Howard W. Blake High School, a fine arts mag- net school.
Mom to four daughters, Mrs. Curry spends her spare time entertaining with her husband, Bruce, and en- joying their empty nest.
PAGE 4-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2018