New Independent Press Announces Debut Novel

Rabid Press, a new independent publisher in Austin, Texas, is proud to announce it's debut author Rhett DeVane.

Official News Release of The Madhatter's Guide to Chocolate

About the Book: When Hattie Davis returns to her hometown of Chattahoochee, Florida for her mother's funeral, getting away again is the first thought on her mind. However, that was before she ran into Jake Witherspoon, a dear and flamboyant childhood friend who has recently returned to town himself and purchased the local floral shop.

Acceptance of Jake's homosexuality comes much easier for Hattie than some others. When Jake is abducted and brutally beaten by two local teenagers, Hattie and the community are forced to face their own prejudices and the spotlight of national media attention. Interwoven with an air of magical realism, The Madhatter's Guide to Chocolate is a rich tale of small town humor, tragedy, and the extraordinary twists of fate. It is a look at how we, ourselves, must learn both tolerance and acceptance.

Rhett DeVane, a born and bred Southerner, addresses the crimes of prejudice and hate in her novel head on. She exposes the reality of living through such painful events, and how life must go on for everyone involved, including the family of the perpetrators.

The Madhatter's Guide to Chocolate is a naked look at the circular nature of life and friendship with a Southern twist. Take a trip through the looking glass, where the world keeps rolling along, regardless of the weather.

The first book of a trilogy, The Madhatter's Guide to Chocolate can be ordered from Rabid Press, P.O. Box 4227, Cedar Park, TX. It is listed at a price of $14.95 plus $3.95 priority shipping. More details can be found online at www.rabidpress.com.

About the Author: Rhett DeVane is a true Southerner, born and raised in the piney woods of the north Florida panhandle. Originally from Chattahoochee, Florida, she now lives in Tallahassee where she is completing a series of southern fiction novels. Rhett is owned by two cats, Sisko and Saki, and a rescued Florida Cracker Retriever named Shelly.

Book Statistics
Title: The Madhatter's Guide to Chocolate
Author: Rhett DeVane
Publication Date: October 15th, 2003
ISBN: 0-9743039-0-9
Category: Mainstream Fiction, Southern Fiction, Hate Crimes
Length: 304 pages
Retail Price: $14.95
Binding: 6x9 trade paperback
Publisher: Rabid Press