2 Books Published by BerNerd Publishing on AALBC — Book Cover Collage

Witness this gripping novel that spins a web of murder, racism, adoption, sexuality, social media safety, and redemption. Something’s brewing. Someone’s watching. And time is running out! Midnight is fast approaching. What will go down when the clock strikes twelve?!

(Recommended reading for ages 18+ and includes discussion questions at the end for reading groups and book clubs)

At the center of a fierce, fiery, and invisible battle is Dr. Garnet Gibbs, a history professor, who is considered to be both a guidepost for and a mystery to many on the job. After hours, she often finds herself caught in a vortex of drama surrounding her family, associates, and friends. Although she tries to offer support as best she can, the shenanigans of all involved may prove to be too much for her, especially given the potpourri of players in her world, including: Jamay, her adopted daughter; R.J., her grandson, whose father is facing challenges as he serves overseas; Kemal and Manuela, a kinky church couple; Tario, a Que Dog, whose frivolity and wry wit lead to his nail-biting confrontation with death, igniting a spirited rally in the city; Nieko, a gay gentleman, who is rethinking his sexuality but whose ex-boyfriend is making it tough; Rusty, an avowed redneck, who makes a shocking decision since he believes President Trump is taking too long to do something about the current state of affairs; and Celeste, her what-comes-up-comes-out co-worker, who has a knack for catching people off guard with her uncanny sense of humor. Critical interactions reveal key life lessons, but not all interchanges end on an upswing.

Set in modern times, Two “Til Midnight is a soap-operatic dramedy that presents two distinct and separate worlds that thrive together, both influencing the other in their own unique way. Ultimately, their coexistence produces a jaw-dropping ending that no one sees coming. Something’s brewing. Someone’s watching. And time is running out! Midnight is fast approaching. What will go down when the clock strikes twelve?!

“Thank you very much for your consideration in purchasing Lemonade. I know you will enjoy it, as I have poured my all into this literary endeavor. It took about 2 years to write, and then I sat on it for 6 months, pondering whether or not I should publish it. And then it took 1 year to edit. Since I decided to self-publish it, I was my own editor. Thankfully, I was an English major in college, so it wasn’t so bad. So 3.5 years and 16 rejection letters later, here we are!

I hope this book is able to speak to you and help you understand that you are not alone. Despite obstacles you’ve encountered on the road to your selfhood, you deserve the right to celebrate for making it to where you are today. This book just helps us to co-sign on each other’s victory and let you know that we made it together to this point in time. YES!

So sit back, grab something (healthy) to eat and drink and join me on my Lemonade journey. Laugh with me. Cry with me. Celebrate with me. Rejoice me with! The best for both of us is yet to come!

Winner of the Global eBook Award in the Autobiography/Memoirs Non-Fiction category.

At this time, maybe you should be drinking some ….. Lemonade!

In the spirit of overcoming!“ — Bernard Dillard, The Lemonade Man

From the Back Cover
A small, quaint house in North Carolina blends in with its environment as most typical American homes do. Neighbors speak. Dogs bark. Children play. And the Dillard name is highly respected within the local community. Within the four walls of this home, however, beyond the facade of respect and normality, a war zone exists, and Bernard Dillard discovers that he unwillingly must prepare for battle and transform into a soldier at an early age. With no manual for this exhausting role, he is forced to get on-the-job training and to learn quickly the art of survival throughout his teens and young-adult years. And he does his best to fight as he stumbles upon a new destination called manhood.

In this new space of adulthood, Bernard seeks to make sense of his early years while being forced to keep pace with the requirements of being a right-now citizen. Feeling like a fish out of water often, he commits to maintaining a steady social, professional, and spiritual beat. Pushing to lay to rest the experiences in his past that have frustrated him greatly, he embarks on the journey of self-discovery and reinvents himself to become the champion that he knows he is.

His odyssey, with all of its unsuspecting ebbs and flows, highs and lows, successes and failures, proves challenging yet rewarding. Although some of the memory wounds persist and badger him as he comes of age, he relies strongly on his faith, perseverance, and humor to successfully manage the new terrain he now occupies. Even so, Bernard courageously opens his hands and unveils what he has done with the lemons of life that he found himself holding.