"I [Sharon Ewell Foster] write with the hope that the words I give, if they are given in truth, will entertain, uplift, bless, heal, and serve. I write because I hope that my own struggles to live a truer life will help someone else. I write because it is my calling and I couldn't run from it anymore. Believe me, I tried. Finally, I've stopped running--and I'm so glad I did.
Born in Marshall, Texas and raised in East St. Louis, Illinois, I now live near Baltimore. I am the only daughter among five children, which probably accounts for why I know as much about wrestling holds as I do about baking cookies. Raised by two wonderful parents, I am the mother of two--an adult daughter Lanea, and a teenaged son Chase. They are my first editors, and my books are as much theirs and mine!
Beginning January 2000, I surrendered my career plans and began writing full time. Now I also write devotionals for Daily Guideposts, an occasional short story like the one featured in The Story Tellers' Collection, and news/magazine articles. Passing by Samaria was my first novel; my second, Ain't No River, will release January 2001.
My desire is to write in a way that brings honor to my family, to my people, and most importantly to God. As I write, I discover everyday that writing is truly the desire of my heart. I thank God for blessing me with this gift and opportunity, and I pray that there is a blessing in each book for you."
Foster is winner of the Christy Award, the Gold Pen Award, Best of Borders, and several reviewers' choice awards.
The Resurrection of Nat Turner, Part 2: The
Testimony: A Novel
Click to order via Amazon
Paperback: 432 pages
Publisher: Howard Books; Original edition (February 7, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1416578129
ISBN-13: 978-1416578123
The sequel to The Resurrection of Nat Turner, Part I: The Witnesses shows
the story of Nat Turner through his own eyes, from growing up a slave
through his violent uprising and death. In the predawn hours of August 22,
1831, slave Nat Turner stormed into history with a Bible in one hand and a
sword in the other. Leading a small army of fellow slaves in an uprising
that left more than fifty whites dead, Turner became a tragic hero and a
lightning rod for abolitionists. His rebellion put Virginia in the national
spotlight and tore a nation‘s trust.
In Part I: The Witnesses, Harriet Beecher Stowe encounters a mysterious
runaway slave who recounts stories of people who knew Nat Turner, both
friends and enemies. In their words are the truth of the mystery and
conspiracy of Turner‘s life, death, and confession. Part 2: The Testimony,
relates the whole story‘from Turner‘s early slave years with his
Ethiopian-born mother through the uprising, his trial, and hanging‘from
Nat‘s perspective. It‘s a story full of greed and betrayal, faith and
courage, villains and heroes.
The
Resurrection of Nat Turner, Part 1: The Witnesses: A Novel
Click to order via Amazon
Paperback: 480 pages
Publisher: Howard Books; Original edition (August 2, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 141657803X
ISBN-13: 978-1416578031
Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 1.3 inches
The truth has been buried more than one hundred years . . .
Leading a small army of slaves, Nat Turner was a man born with a mission: to
set the captives free. When words failed, he ignited an uprising that left
over fifty whites dead. In the predawn hours of August 22, 1831, Nat Turner
stormed into history with a Bible in one hand, brandishing a sword in the
other. His rebellion shined a national spotlight on slavery and the state of
Virginia and divided a nation‘s trust. Turner himself became a lightning rod
for abolitionists like Harriet Beecher Stowe and a terror and secret shame
for slave owners.
In The Resurrection of Nat Turner, Part 1: The Witnesses, Nat Turner‘s story
is revealed through the eyes and minds of slaves and masters, friends and
foes. In their words is the truth of the mystery and conspiracy of Nat
Turner‘s life, death, and confession.
The Resurrection of Nat Turner spans more than sixty years, sweeping from
the majestic highlands of Ethiopia to the towns of Cross Keys and Jerusalem
in Southampton County. Using extensive research, Sharon Ewell Foster breaks
hallowed ground in this epic novel, revealing long-buried secrets about this
tragic hero.
Abrahams
Well
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Amazon
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Bethany House (November 2006)
Language: English
ISBN: 0764228870
A young woman and her family struggle to hold on to their dreams through decades of heartbreaking separations, forced relocation, escapes, and eventually, the Civil War. They belong to people who are themselves despised, whose land and rights are stolen.
As Armentia's son grows, she points to a well on the land their Cherokee master owns. "It seems hard to believe now, but someday we'll have our own land. Land with a well just like this one. And when we get our well, we will call it--Abraham's Well." Here is a story of courage, hope, and destiny that will not be denied.
Passing
into Light
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Amazon
ISBN: 1590520661
Format: Paperback, 350pp
Pub. Date: March 2003
Publisher: Multnomah Publishers, Inc.
The characters that readers loved in Riding Through Shadows are at it again! Mother and Ma Dear, Tony Taylor, and others are back to make readers laugh and cry. Readers of this sequel will find troubling mysteries resolved: Does Sheri exist outside of Shirley Ferris' imagination? What was in Shirley's letter and who was it from? This story, told through the life of a grieving single parent, shows how we can recover from past failures and find our way to sustained love and joy.
Riding
through Shadows
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Amazon
Format: Paperback, 350pp.
ISBN: 1576738078
Publisher: Multnomah Publishers, Inc.
Pub. Date: November 2001
Living in one of the most tumultuous decades of America's history, an eight-year-old African American girl experiences the anguish of real-life heartache: she loses her beloved father in the Vietnam War, endures the dissolution of her family, and faces the challenge of integration. Yet, through a wise and eccentric old woman, she also discovers the tenacity of joy. A powerful, eye-opening read!
Ain't
No River
Click to order via
Amazon
Format: Paperback, 364pp.
ISBN: 1576736288
Publisher: Multnomah Publishers, Inc.
Pub. Date: January 2001
When a doting grandmother transforms into a
silver fox with a new attitude, it's up to her granddaughter to help her "Meemaw"
get it together before she goes too far!
Author Bio: Sharon Ewell Foster, author of the bestseller Passing by Samaria, is
a former instructor, writer-editor, and logistician for the U.S. Department of
Defense. Her previous publications include a daily wire news column and
devotionals for Daily Guideposts. The mother of two, Sharon makes her home in
Maryland.
Passing by Samaria
Click to order via
Amazon
Format: Paperback, 382pp.
Publisher: Multnomah Publishers, Incorporated
Pub. Date: January 2000
Read an Excerpt of Passing
When the discovery of a schoolmate's lynched body puts her own life in jeopardy, Angela is sent by her parents from her beloved Mississippi home. With thousands of other African-Americans, Angela begins making her way north to the Promised Land of turn-of-the-century Chicago. On the way she meets two men who will dramatically impact her life: James, a young African-American believer determined to establish a newspaper in Chicago, and Pearl, a man with questionable intentions. A stirring novel by an exciting new writer, Passing by Samaria beautifully shows readers the path to truth, purpose, reconciliation, and joy.
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Praise for Passing by Samaria "Passing by Samaria takes a sensitive and thoughtful look at a revolutionary
time in American history. Foster's characters are unforgettable; full of
life and unhesitatingly charming, they drive this powerful book." "In this first novel, Foster's poetic telling is soft enough to capture and
sharp enough to cut as she evokes the strength of faith needed to survive
when all seems lost. This unique addition to the Christian fiction genre is
highly recommended for all collections. " "Passing by Samaria is a Rhapsody in prose. It is an
intriguing look back that also speaks loudly to the times we live in...Readers will be thankful
for this rare and splendid work of love, faith, and art." |
Who knew that you would read it?
I wanted to write a novel that would sell millions and make me the darling of the literary world. So, I came up with a surefire 7-point plan.
1. Steamy romances are the rage; sex sells.
My response: Who cares? I'll write a book with only a thread of romance but no explicit sex scenes; no one will be able to keep the book in stock. And while I'm at it, I'll write without curse words. People will love it!
2. Books with tragic endings make headlines and best seller lists.
My response: I'll write a book that is full of faith, optimism, charm, and hope.
3. People are angry, frightened, and sick of talking about race.
My response: Great! I'll write a book that confronts racism and classism-particularly among Christians.
4. As a long-time Defense Department employee, though I am a Christian, I know nothing about the Christian fiction genre. It is a genre only read by a set group of Christians.
My response: If "discovered," I will have my book published by a Christian publishing house and pretty much ensure that my book will be catalogued as "religious." All kinds of people will run to buy a religious novel with references to God, gospel music, and Jesus. And I'll expect that Christians and non-Christians alike will want to read my novel.
5. Christian fiction readers are overwhelmingly white women, and they don't buy books with African Americans on the cover.
My response: Pooh! Pooh! I'll intentionally write for men, as well as, women...even for young people. My protagonist will be a black female. There will be an African American on the cover, and I will expect that book will be bought by African-Americans. Sales will cross gender, racial, and religious lines.
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6. Christian fiction is usually thought to be pretty tame, predictable, and idealistic-always showing Christians in the most positive light and "heathens" as the bad guys.
Fabulous! I'll include lots of adventure, controversy, and plot twists. The story will include Christians who are murderers and non-Christian characters who are funny, charming, and lovable.
7. Oh no, not more history! No one wants to read about history.
Oh, yes! Passing by Samaria will include actual accounts, from 1919, of riots and African American troops serving in WWI. I think I'll talk about Mississippi, about the Chicago Tribune, about W.E.B. DuBois and the black press. That ought to do it.
I wrote this book because I wanted to sell a million copies, get rich, and move out of the townhouse I lease.
Hardly!
Actually, I wrote Passing by Samaria from my heart, from the love in my heart. I wrote it because I could no longer avoid writing it. I wrote it because I love books, and hoped that I could tell you a good story that would make a difference. I wrote Passing by Samaria because I bear on my body healed scars from deep wounds caused by the anger and pain of racism. I wrote it because, like most people who have been miraculously healed, I could no longer avoid talking about the source of my cure. I wrote Passing by Samaria because I wanted to offer comfort and love to you, no matter where you stand on the difficult issues I confront in my novel. I wrote Passing by Samaria because I hoped that if I honestly shared my own frailties and struggles, I might help you or someone you love. I wrote the book from my naked, exposed heart because I had to; and I never really believed you would read it.
Who knew?
May you find a blessing within the pages of the book!
~Sharon Ewell Foster, August 13, 2000
Related Links
Author's Web Page Multnomah Publishers
http://www.multnomahbooks.com/Authors/Default.asp?AuthorID=1011
Author Talk.com (Nice Web page,
includes audio and video)
http://www.authortalk.com/Authorpages/Foster/Foster_A2-JPEG.html
The Bookdragon Review
http://www.bookdragonreview.com/archives/af/
American Library Association's Booklist
http://www.ala.org/booklist/v96/adult/ja1/31x.html
Realaudio Files
http://www.playstreamserver.com:8080/ramgen/multnomah/MP22/passingby.rm
http://www.playstreamserver.com:8080/ramgen/multnomah/passing_aud.rm
