“Where did the time go?” That’s a common topic of conversation these days, and one I ask myself almost every day. Before you know it, the kindle-countdown-one-year celebration for In the Promised Land will be over. I hope you took advantage of the deep discounts over these 3 days to get your copy of this captivating novel.

In order to whet your appetite further while there are still a few hours left, I am posting an excerpt that captures one of the scenes written around the true event which forms the backdrop of this novel – the bombing of the police headquarters as a small Muslim group staged a bloody coup in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad.

Excerpt

As he checked his watch, something on the television screen caught his eye. A man resembling Dennis Kallipersad, the evening news anchor, sat at a table. Behind him, stood two men dressed in army uniforms, carrying rifles. Derek frowned. Not one of those bad plays at this time of day. It was just after four. He was about to switch to the other station when the man sitting said in a tremulous voice, “We have suspended regular programming to bring you this report. Trinidad and Tobago television was taken over by the Muslimeen forces of Yasin Aboud Bakr this afternoon around 2.30 p.m. It has been learned that our sister radio station, Radio 610, has been taken over. Muslimeen forces also stormed the Parliament building and bombed the Police Headquarters on St. Vincent Street earlier this afternoon. Motorists are urged to stay away from those areas.”

Derek dashed across the room and yanked the bathroom door open. June stood there drying herself, but for the first time her nakedness failed to excite him. He grabbed her by the hand and ran with her back to the bed. Snatching up her clothing, he thrust them at her. “Here, get dressed, quick.”

“Honey, my hair —”

“Never mind, you’ll fix it in the car.”

While she scrambled to get into her clothes, Derek shoved his feet into his socks and shoes, then felt his pocket for his keys. June, clad in underwear, paused, looking at the television. “What’s going on? Is that a play?”

“Here. Put on your skirt.” He held out the garment, she stepped into it, and he quickly pulled her zipper up.

She reached for her jacket.  “What’s that about the Parliament?”

Derek turned off the TV. “Here’s your jacket, let me help you.” He pushed the sleeve over one arm, and she shrugged the other arm through.

 “Ready? Let’s go.” He grabbed her arm while she was still buttoning her jacket.

She twisted free. “Wait. What’s the rush?”

“The Muslims have taken over. Come on.”

June barely had time to grab her purse before he dragged her by the hand and out through the door.

Everything seemed normal as they got into their car, and Derek wondered if it was some type of hoax. But when they eased into the mainstream of traffic, chaos confronted them. Drivers turned in the middle of the road, passed on the shoulder, cut in and out, showing off their skill in amazing ways.             

 Derek decided to turn around. Signaling, and not giving the car behind him time to pass, Derek spun the wheel, bringing his bumper right up to the paint of another car. The driver shook his fist and mouthed something, but Derek ignored him, backed up, then zoomed off in the opposite direction. After a half mile they encountered another traffic jam. This time they saw the reason. Police were stopping everyone and checking their identification.

“Oh, boy,” Derek muttered, leaning his head back against the head rest.

June switched on the radio. An announcer’s voice came through the static. “Motorists are asked to avoid St. Vincent Street where the Police Headquarters building is still smoldering after this afternoon’s bombing —”

Derek switched off the radio, cursing under his breath. June’s face had gone pale. She stretched out her hand to turn the radio back on, but he growled, “Leave it alone.”

“I heard something about Police Headquarters —”

“I said leave it alone.” He spoke through clenched teeth, his knuckles white as he gripped the steering. He dared not look at her. He hated speaking to her like that especially after the lovely time they had just had, but he was scared as he’d never been in his life. His father worked at Police Headquarters.

So, I won’t hold you up any longer. Get your copy of In the Promised Land while the price is still $2.99.

Tomorrow, June 29th, will be one year since In the Promised Land, Cbook 3 of the Egypt trilogy, made its debut into the world. And in order to to celebrate, I have arranged a countdown deal starting today and going up to Jul. 1. Join me and others who have read and enjoyed this gripping novel by celebrating this important milestone.

Here’s what one reviewer had to say about In the Promised Land:

 In the Promised Land is a captivating story of family and forbidden love. A story that captures your attention at the very beginning and holds it until the unexpected ending. In the Promised Land will take you on an emotional roller coaster that will have you laughing one minute and crying the next. A story that will stay with you long after reading. I was so drawn in that I finished reading this in one night. In the Promised Land is the perfect beach read. – Truly Trendy

In the Promised Land – Backstory

If you have been reading my blog, you would know that
In the Promised Land is based on a true event—a horrible blotch on the history of Trinidad & Tobago that took place when a small Islamic group calling themselves the Jamaat al Muslimeen staged a short-lived coup. They held the government hostage, killed innocent people and caused widespread carnage. Marva, the protagonist, and her family—like the rest of the country—were deeply shaken by this event.

Always the levelheaded one, the rest of the family looked to her to help them make sense of this terrible tragedy, but for the first time in her adult life, Marva felt her faith floundering. It was against this background she came to realize that loving a man and needing his support when unthinkable situations arise did not mean she loved or needed God any less.

In the Promised Land wraps up the Egypt series, which has sexual abuse as its central topic Before I leave you, what is the biggest issue you have about this topic? Do you think enough is being done in today’s society to help victims of sexual abuse? Drop me a line and let me know your thoughts. To learn more about my books and special offers, please sign up for my newsletter.

Novel excerpt:

“Angel, Keep your eyes open. The informant said we’d know him when we see him.”

“Copy that, Civic.”

Darkness filled the room and smoke seeped from the vents.  Someone was trying to make visibility near impossible. Nehemiah switched to his night vision goggles. He was perched just inside of the furnace room in the back of the hotel’s ballroom. He counted 22 hostages and four shooters.  The smoke was making it difficult for Nehemiah to keep his eyes on the target.

“Angel, come in.”

“Go, Civic.”

“We have a friendly to your 9 o’clock.”

Nehemiah heard her voice before all hell broke loose and shots rang out.

Nehemiah sat straight up in bed, drenched in a full sweat. Like every other night, the terrors woke him up at the same moment in the dream. He relived that tragic event, night after night.  Why him? Why her? He always questioned himself. Nothing could change the past, but the dreams continued to come.

Like clockwork, he went into the kitchen of his one-bedroom apartment in Portsmouth, VA and grabbed a beer from the refrigerator. He sat in front of his television, but never turned it on. Nehemiah wanted to close his eyes, but every time he did, he saw her face, her eyes, and her blood.

Draining the contents of the bottle, he went back into his bedroom and sat on the edge of the bed. Face to palms, he sat there for a few minutes, feeling weary.

“Come back to bed. It’s cold under these sheets,” a soft feminine voice said.

Nehemiah needed to stop this philandering he was doing. His actions went against every principle and every value he was raised with.

“I’ll be right there,” he responded.

What was her name? He couldn’t remember her name or where he met her. Yeah, it was time to change his lifestyle.