New Novel Explores the Domestic Violence Epidemic

Set in the volatile 1960s, THROUGH THE STORM navigates an era of historical importance with intense and emotional drama.

Alexandria, Virginia -- Close your eyes and imagine yourself in a home -- your home -- where tasks like breathing, talking, sleeping or eating carry a thick veil of fear. Where one wrong" move elicits severe punishment from the one you love. Then imagine the abuse trickling down to your children. What would YOU do to save your life?

THROUGH THE STORM is the powerful new novel by Fatima Alexander, which follows the story of Libby Brown, a young woman living in the rural south, who fights to help her neighbor Silvia and her three children, escape the brutal physical, mental and sexual abuse administered by her husband. As Libby falters in this losing battle, she soon sacrifices her own life to assist her friend in escaping her storm.

Set in the volatile 1960s, THROUGH THE STORM navigates an era of historical importance with intense and emotional drama. From within a national climate of racial hatred and segregation, STORM whirls together the many social, spiritual and economic issues that plague one African American family, drawing a dark cloud over generations to follow.

Domestic violence is an epidemic. While many books focus intently on the clinical exploration of domestic violence, Fatima Alexander steps inside the eye of the storm and draws from it a sensitive, emotionally jarring, often painful view from all sides affected, from abuser, to victims, to friends.

Herself a survivor of an abusive relationship, the story came out of Fatima Alexander with a sincere and superb balance of education, entertainment and information.

Being freed from an abusive relationship myself, I felt a strong need to educate women of all ages about abuse in a way where they can be both entertained and informed simultaneously," says Alexander, a native of Jamaica, New York currently living in Alexandria, Virginia with her two sons.

Alexanders words cut deep in illuminating the importance of some of societys most dreadful issues. Writing for more than 10 years, her aim is to write engaging stories that touch the heart, mind and spirit. That journey began with her 1997 debut play Power Pistol, which was locally televised in the Washington, DC area. THROUGH THE STORM is her first novel.

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Through the Storm by Fatima Y. Alexander
1st Books Publishing, 2003
ISBN Number: 1-4033-7790-1, paperback: $15.50 or
ISBN Number: 1-4107-2498-0, hardcover: $22.50
www.FatimaAlexander.com