Madeline's Protector, Author Vanessa Riley

The Regency and early Victorian eras have always been a magnetizing draw for Vanessa Riley. Even as she worked to complete her doctorate in Mechanical Engineering , she made time for renaissance fairs and any novel or cinematographic work depicting these genteel societies of old. Perhaps, the attraction arises from the kinship she feels with the period being brought up in the restrictive Southern Bible Belt with its stringent definitions of decent behavior and life expectations. Perhaps the common dominator to this appeal is her own thirty day Christian courtship or even the arranged marriages of her uncles; each is emblematic of the nuptials of those earlier times.

A technology muse like Dr. Vanessa Riley is probably not the immediate choice to write about haute ton English society set in the 1800's. With published works such as 'Reducing Deformation by Phase Manipulation,' the common visceral reaction is Providence has given another mule a voice to tell His story. Nevertheless, this mule uses her determined spirit and dogmatic tenacity to discover the hidden nuances of a character making him believable, her touchable, and both ready to be used of God.
Vanessa holds a doctorate in mechanical engineering and a masters in industrial engineering and engineering management from Stanford University. She also earned BS and MS in mechanical engineering from Penn State University. She has been a radio anchorwoman and church announcer. She is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers Association, Romance Writers of America, and Specialty RWA Chapters: The Beaumonde, Faith, Hope, & Love Chapter, and the Georgia Chapter.

Today, Vanessa juggles mothering a eight year old, her seventeenth wedding anniversary, engineering, writing and speaking at women's events. She is known for her humorous delivery of poignant truths. Vanessa is currently, editor in chief of an online social network, www.busymama.net.
 
About the book
f all the young men of England leapt off a cliff, Madeline St. James wouldn't care. Then she'd have peace. Her nightmares of courtship would end, and she'd cozy up with a Psalm in her aunt's quiet sculpture garden. Yet, a chance meeting and a bullet wound change everything, and Madeline must trust the Good Shepherd has led her to the altar to marry a dashing stranger, Lord Devonshire. Death and pain are no strangers to Justain Delveaux, Lord Devonshire, and he vows his dutiful bride will be kept safe and in her place. Though this compromised marriage is in-name-only, his wife and her unwavering faith both intrigue and allure him. Perchance when he thwarts his brother's killer, Justain will tempt the unpredictable Madeline with the comfort of his arms. But can Madeline and the stubborn earl forge a true bond before the next disaster strikes?

Madeline's Protector - Part One Debut Regency Romance by Vanessa Riley Trailer

The Unlikely Remnant, Author Tracey Michae’l Lewis-Giggetts

 

 About the Author 

Tracey Michae’l Lewis-Giggetts is a writer, editor, and educator. The author of six books including The Integrated Church: Authentic Multicultural Ministry and Interruption: The Gospel According to Crystal Justine, Lewis-Giggetts explores in her work both the personal and collective impact of the intersection of identity and faith.

 About the Book 

Faye is a mother in the AME church. She has spent 40 years of her life working for the Lord. Chad is a white, conservative Christian radio talk show host. He enjoys riling up the masses about issues related to race, gender, class, and politics. Jeremiah is a popular, Christian tele-evangelist. The charismatic, African American pastor of a popular mega-church, he is celebrated for his knowledge of scripture.


Rosa is a Hispanic, single mom. An English teacher in the Catholic school she grew up in, she is a survivor of domestic abuse. So what happens when these four very different people find themselves trapped in a historical church in North Philadelphia AFTER THE RAPTURE? More than left behind, the characters in THE UNLIKELY REMNANT are left to deal with the personal truths and tragic secrets that led to them missing God; all while wrestling with the prejudices that inevitably surface in their relationships with each other. Who will press in and who will give up their soul forever?


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Book Trailer

I Lift My Voice

March was Endometriosis Awareness month, so I lift my voice as I remember the days of years past. “Vanessa, remember you have endometriosis.” Those words swirled around in my head, but my mind refused to process the meaning behind them. My doctor’s eyes compassionately swept over my face, finally settling on my eyes. He patiently waited for his words to sink in; unfortunately they wouldn’t. Firstly, I didn’t know what endometriosis was, and if he had explained it to me during the process of my treatment, it went unnoticed. Secondly, I was battling catamenial pneumothorax at the time, this is when a woman has her menses and within 24-48 hours her lung collapses, roughly affecting 1 percent of women in America. By this time, I’d underwent major lung surgery and had a total of 10 chest tubes, so endometriosis was the last thing I was thinking about.

I recall one fateful night being forcefully awakened by severe pain in my abdomen and lower back. Try as I might, I just could not go back to sleep; I couldn’t escape the severity of that continued sharp pain. This would go on for months — the pain was blinding and crippling, often leaving me bedridden for days. It seemed to me my life was a constant battle to live (not exist) and be happy in life. My battle was against my own body and mind. Yet, I was determined to win.

“I do?” I asked my doctor. I barely recognized my voice; it was weak with pain and disappointments. My doctor nodded his head. “Yes, you do. You have had to be one of my most difficult cases treated. I’ve removed an incredible amount of Endometriosis from inside of you. Remember you also have it on your lung. These tissues may have escaped to other areas of your body. Doing more surgery runs the risk of causing more damage than good.”

Those were not the words I wanted to hear. I wanted to be fixed, to be made whole again. I left My doctor’s office burdened with despair. I was silent and reflective during my ride home. The world seemed a different place to me. In the matter of minutes I had been changed inside forever.

There was a gamut of emotions swamping me. Anger was in the lead. I am not perfect by any means, but, I’ve always been mindful of my deeds and actions. I respected myself and others.
I believed in God and attended church faithfully. Yet, I was living a life of daily chronic pain. “There was no cure for me.” Those words became a song in my head; it played on repeatedly. “There’s no cure for me.” I looked up and noticed the sun was still shining, and almost became angry. I looked around and the world was still going on, oblivious to my struggle. “There was no cure for me.” How dare the world still move forward, and my world had just been turned upside down!

I made a decision that day, I was too young to be bitter for the rest of my life. I decided I would not let this situation defeat me. I was too young to carry this cross for the rest of my life. I went home and began to research what endometriosis was. I was Trojan; I studied and applied what I learned to my daily living. Sometimes it can take up to 10-12 years for a patient to be diagnosed with Endometriosis. It goes a little further here, I had to deal with this weakness, really, who want’s to be considered weak. I realized this weakness was my strength and I would not be embarrassed about it. I don’t want young girls to suffer in silence as I did. Although there is no cure there is treatment.

Approximately 176 million women and girls worldwide suffer from endometriosis; 8.5 million in North America. I’d also learned how to eat all over again. I had to cut out red meats, I’ve gotten rid of dairy products, and I’d removed wheat products out of my diet as well. I start eating healthily. I removed myself as best as I could from stressful situations, as this could exacerbate pain levels. I began to do meditations. I began to come to grips with the fact that, I could live and not exist; in spite of what’s been assigned me. I just had to readjust. Again, I also made it an issue to not remain silent anymore. Respectively, talking about something as private as your cycle can be quite awkward, but this slight discomfort is all worth it; if I can inform and enlighten people (men and women) about endometriosis. I don’t want anyone to suffer needless for years, because of lack of information. So, I continue to lift my voice, sharing my testimony, enlightening people about endometriosis — and I continue to keep the faith, because endometriosis doesn’t have me.

Endometriosis Resources
www.medicinenet.com/endometriosis
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/endometriosis/DS00289/DSECTION=tests-and-diagnosis
http://www.endo-resolved.com/diet.html
Vanessa Richardson can be reached at: vanessajackso90@hotmail.com