INTERVIEW and EXCERPT
Marvelous Are Thy Works
by Meiah Shaun
Marvelous Are Thy Works is currently on tour with Write Now Literary Virtual Book Tours. The tour stops here today for my interview with the author and an excerpt from the book. Please be sure to visit the other tour stops as well.
Description
Fatima, her best friend Lauryn and her cousin Sheba are natural hair stylist at All Natural Hair Salon in Washington, DC.
Fatima wants to build a brand and invest into other business ventures for their salon. She desires to empower African American women by motivational speaking about the natural hair movement. She wants to travel nationally to spread her message.
Lauryn and Sheba have rejected Fatima’s business proposal. They are going through different life events and are struggling to maintain their friendships while doing business together.
Fatima’s boyfriend has not proposed after dating her for over five years. Fatima has to stand on her faith and follow her instincts as she moves into her destiny.
Marvelous Are Thy Works is an inspirational story about natural hair empowerment, self love and relationships.
Book Video
Excerpt
Chapter 1
All Natural Hair Salon’s busiest time was the first weekend of the month. Fatima made it to the salon at ten o’clock that morning. After parking her car in front of the salon, she noticed Lauryn and Sheba were already inside. The front window shades were pulled back and the lights were on.
“Good morning, ladies,” Fatima said as she walked through the door.
“Good morning, Fatima,” Lauryn answered, while sashaying to her workstation in her high heels and locs pulled back into a lobster tail style. Always the diva, Lauryn appeared to be in a good mood and eager to work.
“Hey, girl, you finally made it in,” Sheba said as she sorted through her laundry bag of towels. Her hair was loose in a kinky and curly twist-out hairstyle. She was dressed comfortably in white skinny jeans.
“Are there any messages for me?” Fatima asked.
“A young lady called to make an appointment. She requested a low maintenance hairstyle.”
“What time did she call?” Fatima inquired.
“She called a few minutes before you walked in,” Lauryn replied. “She said her name was Danielle Evans.”
“Did she leave her phone number?”
“I put it on your desk,” she said.
Fatima continued to her station so she could check her itinerary for the day. It was unusually free. “I’ll just work a half day and meet up with my honey later,” she told her co-workers.
Fatima then sat in her chair and started daydreaming about the day she would become Mrs. Ephraim Okoye. She could not wait to see him.
“Ladies, what are your plans today?” Fatima questioned.
“I have a couple of appointments for locs retightening, and I got a new client scheduled this morning. He’s a chef and new in town.” Lauryn smirked while doing a shimmy with her shoulders to show her excitement.
“A new male client? Girl, you be pullin’ the men,” teased Sheba.
“I need to pull a husband.”
“Baby, I met my husband when I wasn’t even lookin’. I was minding my own business down at the Farmer’s Market and––”
Lauryn rolled her eyes. “Sheba, you’ve told that story so many times,” she said, cutting Sheba off and looking down at her iPad to show her disinterest in hearing it again.
Sheba walked over to Lauryn and tapped her on the knee with her forefinger. “When you least expect it, that’s when you’re gonna meet him. It happened to me, girl!”
“I wish God would hurry up and send him!” Lauryn snipped. “Most married people forget what it’s like to be single, so it’s easy for them to tell someone else to be patient.”
“That’s not true,” Sheba replied.
Fatima butted in. “Some women who are married have never had to experience being single for long.”
“Don’t you just hate that, girl?” Lauryn said. “Then they try to tell you to wait and have faith. Chile, please!”
Featured Review
Marvelous Are Thy Works is an inspirational story told by a strong woman. The story encourages all black women to embrace their true hair. The character of this story is easy for readers to connect with. Especially when as her life is going in the right direction, her friends are less and less. We all know that feeling. What was interesting was that I found the character to be just as strong and inspirational as Meiah Shaun, who wrote the beautiful and stunning novel. The main character also goes through other issues throughout the story. Her boyfriend is busy building his career higher up in ranks and her two business partners have an issue going on between them. I enjoyed reading this novel. It is not just a book that is inspirational to black women but to white women as well. White women should embrace their natural hair color too. A very emotional and delightful read is Marvelous Are Thy Works. I would highly recommend this novel to all women out there.
Interview With the Author
I love encouraging African American women to embrace and wear their natural hair. I am passionate about the natural hair movement. I have worn my natural hair since 2007. I‘ve worn an afro, braided hair styles, twist and traditional locs. My twin sister and I have sisterlocks. My natural hair journey is the inspiration behind my book Marvelous Are Thy Works.
Please share three interesting facts about your book which are not covered in the synopsis.
1) Fatima’s long time boyfriend, Ephraim is African.
2) Lauryn is on a mission to get married before she turns 30 years old.
3) Sheba and her husband is a biracial couple.
2) Lauryn is on a mission to get married before she turns 30 years old.
3) Sheba and her husband is a biracial couple.
Who is the most complex character from your current novel?
Fatima’s long time boyfriend Ephraim is the most complex character. He is a man’s man and he needs to feel needed in a relationship.
Are there any characters in your book that remind you of yourself?
Yes, there are similarities with Fatima and me. Fatima is a vegetarian. She had a real estate career before opening her salon. Fatima’s long-time boyfriend is African.
I was a vegetarian for 3 years. I’ve dated an African man. I am a licensed realtor.
If you could pick any well known or famous author to review your book who would you pick and why?
I would choose Tyler Perry. I love his stage plays. I love that he has inspirational messages in his writing and that he always publicly shares his faith in God.
How many books have you written? Which book is your favourite and why?
Marvelous Are Thy Works is my first book.
One of my favourite books is Kinky Gazpacho by Lori Tharps. I read it while I was transitioning into wearing my natural hair. The story fascinated me as Lori penned in her memoir about how she was perceived by her brown skin and her kinky hair texture when she went to Spain.
Is there anything that helps get you in the mood to write?
I prefer to write at home. I listen to jazz music and write. Sometimes I like quietness.
Tell us some of your personal favs.
Drink – Fruit smoothie
Food – Seafood
Vacation – I need to take one desperately
TV show – Top Chef
Movie – The Pursuit of Happyness
Animal – I want a Maltese
Sport – Basketball
Book - Bible
Food – Seafood
Vacation – I need to take one desperately
TV show – Top Chef
Movie – The Pursuit of Happyness
Animal – I want a Maltese
Sport – Basketball
Book - Bible
Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by today, Meiah. Have fun on the rest of your tour.
About the Author
Meiah Shaun is an inspirational author and freelance writer. She is a graduate of LeTourneau University. She is a native of Orange, Texas, and currently resides in Plano, Texas.
Meiah Shaun is the author of Marvelous Are Thy Works, a novella. Meiah Shaun has a special interest in empowering African American women to self love and to embrace their natural hair. She and her twin sister rock Sisterlocks. Her fraternal twin sister is thirteen minutes older than her.
Meiah Shaun is featured on ezinearticles.com as a platinum level author penning articles on numerous topics such as inspirational, spirituality, goal setting to shopping and product reviews.
Meiah Shaun enjoys writing, reading, cooking, jazz music, and making scrapbooks.
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