The Dancing Willow Tree
the much awaited sequel to
The Rehoboth Road by Anita Ballard-Jones
In 1950, young Elizabeth Turner was raped by Reverend Oliver, the assistant pastor of her father’s church. After a hidden pregnancy she gave birth to a son, Johnny. Reverend Turner, Elizabeth’s father refused to respond to her story of rape and disowned her and her son. He forced Elizabeth and his wife Loretha to hide the identity of the baby’s father and live the next thirty six years with lies and secrets.
In 1986, Reverend Oliver was forced to confess to his family as well as the Turner family, but before he could leave Rehoboth he became seriously ill. The ripple effect of his confession touches everyone causing them to have an array of physical and emotions reactions. As Elizabeth continues to move on with her life, she didn’t know her husband, Nat was holding a secret that was causing him to suffer enormous pain.
Thea, Reverend Oliver’s wife, could not escape the disgrace and shame she was feeling. She watched painfully as her son, Malcolm tried to forge a relationship with his brother, Johnny. And she never knew Malcolm was also struggling to come to terms with his sexuality. Thea’s most plaguing dilemma had to do with her relationship with her husband. Her only consolation was an old weeping willow tree in her front yard where the graceful branches would dance on the mild summer breezes. Thea called it her dancing willow tree and she would sit under it daily to pray and receive guidance from the Lord. She knew if her husband was to be saved, she had to give him a life threatening ultimatum.
Anita Ballard-Jones has the ability to pull you into her stories and keep you captivated until the last page. Another brilliantly crafted novel.
--J. J. Michael, best selling Karibu author of, It’s Not Over Yet and Life is Never As It Seems
Book Details
Purchase Your Copy Today!
Publisher: Black Deer Books
Perfect Bound: Soft cover
Size: 6.14 x 9.21
ISBN 10: 0-9729455-2-0
ISBN 13: 978-0-9729455-2-3
Retail Price: $15.00
Amazon Reviews by Book Lovers
Very Nicely Done, December 12, 2007
By Deonna J. Mcclendon (El Paso Texas)
I am very pleased with the sequel. I was so disappointed with the way the first book ended. This second book put everything in perspective. The characters were alive and very moving. I felt like I was right there with them. The best thing is you see how a wrong can be made right no matter how bad it is. Forgiveness is the best medicine.
Wonderful Book, December 29, 2007
By Lilly Engleman (Waco, Texas)
This is one of my favorite books. I waited so long for it to become available. I stayed up all night reading it. Ms Jones gives all families in tumult hope. I was happy the way the book ended but do hope she will write a sequel. I would like to follow the families into the third generation. This is one of those special books that one hopes will never end. you?
Praise for The Dancing Willow Tree, December 18, 2007
By Patricia J. Blanton (Stone Mountain, Georgia)
This is a terrific book to read, an awesome sequel. Anita makes you feel like you know the characters in this book, they are alive. There are some surprises too. This book needs a sequel, in other words, a sequel to a sequel.
Anita Ballard-Jones is available for Keynote Addresses, Book signings and Personal Book Club meetings. Anita would love to attend your next book club meeting by calling on a 3-way conference!
Email: ABallardjo@aol.com
Website: www. BlackDeerBooks.com
Website: http://www.anitaballard-jones.com
Purchase Your Copies of the Book Today!
The Dancing Willow Tree is available for purchase at all major online retailers, Amazon.com, or here at the Sankofa Literary Society.
Rehoboth Road by Anita Ballard-Jones
When Rev. Oliver becomes assistant pastor in the small Georgia community of Rehoboth in the early 1950s, everyone agrees it's a stroke of good fortune. He's young, he has a beautiful and vivacious wife, and he seems just one to bring new life to both the church and the community. Unfortunately, Rev. Oliver has a little problem: he just can't seem to get the senior pastor's daughter, Elizabeth, out of his mind. The beautiful teenager haunts his every thought until, overcome with lust, he catches her alone and rapes her. Elizabeth is consumed by shame and hides her pregnancy until, finally, she gives birth to a son in a bathroom at her high school. When Elizabeth's father refuses to believe her story of rape, she becomes determined to hide the father's identity and raise the child alone.
Rehoboth Road follows Elizabeth, her family, and the Rev. Oliver through the decades that follow as they try to deal with the secrets surrounding the birth. As Elizabeth's family unravels and Rev. Oliver tries to deal with his guilt, the burden of concealment becomes too much to bear until their secret explodes, marking them forever.
Book Details
Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Genesis Press (July 1, 2006)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1585711969
ISBN-13: 978-1585711963
Available at Amazon.com and all major book stores
This book was an intriguing tale of what happens when lies infiltrate a family. This book literally brought tears to my eyes because I was so captivated by characters. Well written and a delight to read. You will fall in love with some characters and dispise others. The ending has a moral struggle for many readers I am sure but it was still a great story. --Erica Dice (Chicago, IL)
Additional reviews will be listed at Amazon.com as they were posted.
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Anita Ballard Jones
Anita Ballard-Jones is a native of Brooklyn, New York and attended George W. Wingate High School. Later, she went on to attend the State University of New York at Farmingdale and the C. W. Post Campus of Long Island University. During her formal education, Anita received a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education, and ultimately she earned a Master's Degree in Special Education.
Anita was employed by New York State's Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities. She is retired after a 33 year career providing services for children and adults having severe developmental disabilities, first as a teacher and later as an administrator. Anita resides in Long Island, New York and enjoys spending time in North Carolina. She is married and has three adult children and five grand children.
Anita Ballard-Jones says writing Rehoboth Road and then returning to Rehoboth Road in The Dancing Willow Tree has been an exciting journey. She hopes you will continue to write her and share your comments. It would also be very nice and help to improve sales if you would post your positive reviews to Amazon and Barnes & Noble's online book stores.
Anita is available for book club chats and online virtual tours. Please write Anita with any questions or comments at: aballardjo@aol.com
from The Rehoboth Road and The Dancing Willow Tree---You are going to love this!
Note: excuse the Talkshoe.com intro
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Article by Anita Ballard Jones
A SUBCULTURE OF OUR YOUTH
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