Party goers wear shoes symbolizing characters from the book A Better Pair of Shoes . A Book Lovers Meet-Up.  It’s not your author-centered book reading.  Come and enjoy Grace Call Communications Presents... Book Reading Parties, as the spotlight is turned on the readers, and they take on character roles from the novel, A Better Pair of Shoes.

Congratulations Jeffrey Dunbar for "A Moving Performance!"  Start the book now:  https://abetterpairofshoes.blogspot.com/2017/05/chapter-1-camies-secret.html

Congratulations Aisha for "A Captivating Performance!"  Start the book now: https://abetterpairofshoes.blogspot.com/2017/05/chapter-1-camies-secret.html

Congratulations Kayla!! Excerpts from Kayla’s Role the Book… A Better Pair of Shoes, Novel “My eyes settled on a thin envelope with large cursive writing in heavy blue ink, and I became very curious to know what was enclosed.” “I sat in silence for a few moments after Camie had dragged her skeleton out of the closet.  I tried to put myself in her shoes and say something similar to the kind of thing I would have wanted to hear, but I couldn’t seem to put the words together.  Eventually, I heard myself mutter “wow”.   This was obviously a hat I had never bothered to try on, and surely there was a good reason why; it just didn’t fit.  ” “How our individual orbits had directed us both to Dr. Kat Shepherd, I did not know.  As I made the dreadful realization, my heart began to pound fast and hard.  I tried to get a look at my sister without staring or making a fuss.”

Congratulations to Reece! Excerpts from Reece’s Appearance in the Book… A Better Pair of Shoes, a novel “ She had a way of talking and smiling at the same time.   Her sway was definitely intentional and sent waves through the large room, but up until now, it was still unknown what it was after.” “Just then, I noticed Reece at one of the tables across the floor, joined by a couple.  I assumed they were her guests.” “Reece smiled and just like that; she was gone.”  

Congratulations Ketly Chenille!! Excerpts from Ketly’s Role in the Book… A Better Pair of Shoes, Novel “The drive was pretty quiet.  There was lots of anxiety.  …Raina was not cool.  She was not care-free, and bubbling over with smiles and funny stories she’d heard.  I understood it, and left it alone.” “It felt as though I was in the belly of the whale with guts all around me.  …When I’d collected the parts of me I wanted to leave with, I made my way back to my seat.” “When it was all over, everyone was there, and Raina was gone.”    

Congratulations to Jeffrey Dunbar who didn't have a name in "Renegotiating Kayla", but certainly made a name for himself in ABPOS. Excerpts from Jeff’s Role in the Book… A Better Pair of Shoes, Novel “…I just wish you could be patient.  I love the way I feel when I’m with you, but I don’t know that I can be faithful to you.” “I hadn’t written a single word in over two weeks.  … I kept trying to pin point what was so different about her.” “I stepped into the large tub, and relaxed my heavy mind.  I waited for the water to overtake me, and in the meantime I continued to flood my insides.”   Start the book now:  https://abetterpairofshoes.blogspot.com/2017/05/chapter-1-camies-secret.html

Congratulations Tony!! Excerpts from Tony’s Role in the Book… A Better Pair of Shoes, Novel “I usually looked in on all the action in the club from my window upstairs and hardly ever went down.  On this night however, I already knew that if she would show up, I would join her.  Suddenly, just after ten, I spotted her.”  “I was done pulling teeth, and I just needed to get this dark into the light once and for all.” “What?  No.  No, no, no…. God, don’t do this.”  I laid my head flat on my desk, and held the back of my head.” 

Congratulations Aisha! Excerpts from Aisha's Role in the Book...    A Better Pair of Shoes, a novel " Finally, after a half hour of waiting, the Doctor called for me.   I got up slowly hoping to down play my urgent need for the visit."   "Tony and I were happily married!   I was sure of it—so how could I have ended up with this?   It just wasn’t possible.     ... Funny, how when I was way out there, I hadn’t caught a single thing—not even the flu..."     " I found the crumpled piece of paper hiding behind one foot of the bed, and opened it up to Evan’s sloppy writing.  I punched the first three numbers into my cellphone and stopped.  What am I doing ?  I punched in the last four numbers, and I hit talk without another thought."   

Excerpts from Camie's Role in the Book A Better Pair of Shoes, a novel "...This shameful secret was one I had considered many times, but continued to keep.   I also learned it was especially easier when dealing with men.  ... Every now and then, I’d start to feel the emptiness."   "I just needed a little bit of reality.   Not the one I had created and now knew, but the one that waited for me in Tampa where Camie was simply a fictional character.   As I left Miami behind, I felt more and more like a fraud."   "Desperate and furious, I pulled my cellphone from the holder on my waist and speed-dialed Kayla’s number.   I just needed someone to talk to; someone who had some dirt too, and wouldn’t judge me."  

Introduction Just as we are living souls; life itself has a soul.  And there’s a heartbeat to life.  I call it the rising and the falling.  Just as we must rise, I’ve learned that we must fall.  I find that I’m grateful for the things I learn when I fall, yet I often dislike the cuts they bring and the scars they leave behind.  Today I fell, but perhaps for months I’ve been falling, and I have all the bumps and bruises to prove it.  Although they’re not visible to the eye, they are surely recorded on my soul.  It’s funny how often my spirit tried to warn me, with a bit of melancholy here and uncertainty there, but at the time, I hadn’t considered that life was forcefully trying to get me to step into a better pair of shoes.  I guess I thought I had more time.  Interesting, the rising never appears to be as long lived as the falling, and the discomfort of improper shoes can usually be cushioned. I bet you’re wondering how I got here...

Meet Kayla Behind her ravishing looks, Her designer wear, Welcoming smile, And seemingly free spirit, Lies her starving soul, Her depleted esteem, And the absence of confidence, Witness the searching for self. Meet the woman, The girl, The child, Sentenced to adult life, Armed with mistrust, And scarred intensely by the memories of abuse, Confused by what love truly means, Tarnished by the hands of a man, Not knowing that where she’s running from, Is exactly where she’ll land. She’s simply reacting to life, And this one so full of strife, But it’s time the beast is beheaded. His hand-print must be erased, From her skin, His claws must be ejected, From her heart, His grip must be loosened, From her neck! Return to her the ability to scream for help. Return to her the feeling of purity, Lead her towards maturity, Place her before her true identity, Free her mind, And body, From their ruthless captivity, Tear down th...

Kayla .husband Wood .28 yrs old .1 step child .hairstylist and salon owner .sexually abused as a child Personality A Sneaker- "Grounded and Designed to Absorb Pressure.  Her heart is hidden in secrets and her soul is draped with the stains of her past.

Aisha .husband Tony .30 yrs old .no children .college professor .former exotic dancer Personality A Stiletto- "Narrow Minded and Daring.  With her back against the wall and her heart set against failure, she motions for familiar.

Camie .single .29 yrs old .serial dater .interior designer Personality A Platform- "Mounted and Deceivingly Constructed.  Feeling regretful and tired, she takes a leap into her future.

Ketly .single .31 yrs old .in love with Jeff .1 son .writer Personality A Wedge- "Comfortable and Care-free.  Standing at the corner of bitter and sweet, she wonders how she will get back to the intersection of sweeter and better."