Back to School - YA Southern Memoir - Reading, Writing, Education Matters

Southern memoir set in Louisiana and Mississippi by award-winning author Barbara J. Robinson takes the reader on a coming-of-age, growing-up journey with the loss of Magnolia's father to the meeting of her first high-school sweetheart.

Magnolia: A Wilting Flower Title: Magnolia: A Wilting Flower
Author: Barbara J. Robinson

August, 2003 -- Bio: Barbara J. Robinson is the author of Magnolia: A Wilting Flower, The Lord had Something Better in Mind, My Special Mother" in Mothers of Writers Vol. II, and Mothers Glimpse of Heaven," in Fate Magazine. Her testimonial appears in Chicken Soup for the Teachers Soul. Robinson her husband, Scott, her German Shepherd,Dakota, and Siamese cats Star and Princess happily make their home in Florida.

Magnolia: A Wilting Flower by Barbara J. Robinson took home a trophy from the Florida Writers Association (FWA) Convention last October when the creative nonfiction Southern memoir won a Royal Palm Award. Her short story The Lord had Something Better in Mind" took first place in Southeastern Louisiana Universitys fiction-writing competition, and she developed her award-winning short story into the novel THE LORD HAD SOMETHING BETTER IN MIND, soon to be released.

Mom used to always say,The good Lord has something better in mind," when I was disappointed about life, and I got the title from the line I often heard as I grew up and Mom comforted me whenever I was disappointed about the way things were going." Her new paperback, The Lord had Something Better in Mind, will soon be available.

Robinson penned the short story with that same title sitting on the banks of the old Tangipahoa, and it won first prize in Southeastern Louisiana Universitys (SLU) fiction-writing competition and was published in their literary magazine, Gambit. That was the beginning of the paperback you will soon be able to hold in your hand. She wrote it while taking a creative-writing class at SLU. Magnolia is now available as an e-book at www.publishamerica.com for only $5.95.

Southern Reviewer Joyce Dixon of Southern Scribe Reviews: Our Culture of Storytelling says, . . . set in Ponchatoula, Louisiana follow the young life of Magnolia. The changing South of the 1950s and 1960s is experienced through the young girls eyes. Magnolia could be an interesting book for young reader book groups, because it covers a number of social issues: the death of a parent; interracial friendships; security at home; homeless men; poverty; education; single mothers; and simply growing up."

Authors Site: http://pages.prodigy.net/bud25 Authors E-mail: Magnolia2002@prodigy.net Address: 4750 Jay Drive, St. Cloud, FL 34772Phone: (407)957-1927

Publisher: Publish America, Publishers Site: ww.publishamerica.com or phone toll free 1-877-333-7422 to order.

Available at favorite online bookstores such as www.amazon.com, www.bn.com, www.walmart.com, search books, Barbara J. Robinson, Magnolia. Available at Spring Arbor Distributors/Ingrams for Bookstores ISBN # 1-59129-430-4 Category: YA Southern memoir in creative nonfiction. Description: The story of a young girl growing up in the South during the 1950s and 1960s, a coming-of-age Southern memoir in creative nonfiction.

A Southern reviewer,
Joyce Dixon of Southern Scribe Reviews, Our Culture of Storytelling, said, Magnolia: A Wilting Flower is a memoir done in creative non fiction and aimed for young readers; thus it stands apart from the usual memoir. The collection of short stories set in Ponchatoula, Louisiana follow the young life of Magnolia. The changing South of the 1950s and 1960s is experienced through the young girls eyes. Magnolia could be an interesting book for young reader book groups, because it covers a number of social issues: the death of a parent; interracial friendships; security at home; homeless men; poverty; education; single mothers; and simply growing up." 201 pages, paperback, 5 x7. Published June 2002. $19.95, but may catch sales online at various online markets,even E-bay.

Synopsis: Set in the Strawberry Capital of the World and Americas Antique City, Magnolia: A Wilting Flower is the story of a gutsy girl who lost her father on Christmas Day in a little Southern town. Get a glimpse of the past through this coming-of-age Southern memoir of creative nonfiction and share Magnolias pain, heartache, coming-of-age struggles, and growing-up pains as she learns some of lifes lessons the hard way. Readers journey with Magnolia from her four year-old visions of the loss of her father to her first date.

Education was important to Magnolias father, and he left her a symbol of what education meant to him in the little, red-plaid booksack he bought for her. Magnolia is raised on fairy tales. Will Prince Charming come? The spunky youngster gets her little sister and herself into some pretty cementing situations. Even as a child, Magnolia wanted to become a teacher. Do fairy tales come true, after all?