African American

Books with characters and/or themes which are African American

  • African American,  Bucket List,  Erotic

    Bucket list of Deja Alvarez from A Stroke at Midnight @laylawriteslove #RLFblog #Contemporary

    Bucket list of Deja Alvarez from A Stroke at Midnight @laylawriteslove #RLFblog #ContemporaryLockdown creates love in Lyndell William’s new BDSM romance A Stroke at Midnight. Tied down by guilt and separated by quarantine, Mateo and Deja decide to free themselves with a New Year’s Eve night of passion. But will it destroy their family and friendship?

    Let’s meet Deja Alvarez from A Stroke at Midnight. Welcome to Romance Lives Forever. I’m Kayelle Allen, author and owner of this blog. Happy to have you here!

    A Stroke at Midnight by Lyndell Williams

    Genre BDSM romance

    Book heat level (based on movie ratings):

    He will have her before the year is out!

    Mateo spent too many years craving the taste and touch of Deja’s body. He restrained from taking his brother’s widow to bed. Now the sinner in him is winning the battle. He is through imagining all the naughty things he can do with her. Time to put all his kinky plans into action.

    He assembles his toys, determined to stroke Deja by the time the clock strikes twelve on New Year’s Eve.

    Deja knew it was wrong to lust after her dead husband’s brother. She tells herself that Mateo only wants to help raise her son, but she can’t keep ignoring the way he looks at her and how it makes her tingle with desire. She can’t resist the call of his hot body, and she does not want to.

    A Stroke at Midnight is a BDSM holiday short with an alpha male into kink. **NO abuse, NO cliffhanger, guaranteed HEA!**

    When someone dies, we say they “kicked the bucket.” Therefore, a list of things that a person wants to accomplish, places to go, situations to experience, and so on have become known as a “Bucket List.”

    Age: 43

    Gender: Female

    Birthplace: Buffalo, New York

    Profession: Grants Management Specialist

    Ethnicity: African American

    Please provide a physical description of yourself.

    I am a tall woman. At about 5’8″, I usually tower over those around me. I love wearing my naturally coily black hair, so it frames my oval face and brushes the top of my shoulder. It takes a lot of work to keep them springy, but Mateo likes it that way. So, I make sure my coils are in all their glory when he’s around. Did I just write that? Yeah, I did.

    I’m not supposed to be so into my husbands’ older brother, but Javier has been gone a long time. His death tore all of us up. Mateo and I clung to each other, and now, I’m feeling … things. Where was I?

    Oh, yeah. I have dark brown skin, which I keep moisturized with my own combination of cocoa and shea butter I mix myself. Winters in Buffalo can be brutal on my skin, and a girl doesn’t want to run around looking ashy.

    Please tell us a little about yourself.

    Let’s see. I am in my early forties and the mother of a great teenage son, even though he has been a real pain in the butt lately. When I am not hacking away at my laptop for work, I use the rest of my time and energy trying to keep Benito in line. He has been a handful since Javier died. I love him so much, though. So, I let my son live.

    I work from home, which makes me a major homebody. That’s all right because the pandemic has everyone locked down at home most of the time anyway. My life hasn’t changed much. I still work and socialize over Wi-Fi, laughing, crying and arguing with friends and family through face time and direct messages.

    Who is the significant other in your life?

    As weird as it is for me to think, my brother-in-law, Mateo is an “other” and incredibly significant. He moved to Buffalo to help me with Benito. Over the past few years, he became the father figure in my son’s life and slipped into co-parenting him with me. I trust him with so much, more than anyone else in my life.

    If you haven’t made a bucket list before, perhaps now would be a good time. Who knows? It might inspire another book. While you’re at it, how about telling us about some of your other favorite things? Here are the questions.

    What is your birth order?

    I am an only child.

    Tell us about your favorite toy as a child.

    When I was a kid, I had one of those Speak and Spell toys. I begged my parents for weeks for one. It was my gateway to writing, and I have been a keyboard geek ever since.

    Describe your favorite food and how it’s prepared.

    My favorite food is anything someone else cooks for me. The way it is prepared is by me sitting my plump bottom on the sofa, watching TV.

    Tell us about your best friend.

    I am not the best friend type of person. I love me some me, though. So, I guess I am my own best friend.

    What are two places you would like to visit before you die, and why?

    Hmm … Well, there is one place I would like to visit, but I know I never can, unless I convert. I always wanted to go to the city of Mecca. My cousin, Brandon is Muslim. He showed me pictures of when he went on a pilgrimage there. It was so beautiful, but only Muslims are allowed in the city.

    I would also like to go to Peru. My Zumba instructor, Maritza is from there.

    Where is a place you would never like to return to, and why?

    I could live without going to France again. Javier took me to Paris for our honeymoon. I do not understand all the hype about that city.

    Who is someone you would like to meet, and why?

    I want to meet Michelle Obama’s stylist. For real, the woman never looks bad. I want to get tips and tricks from the person who makes the former first lady stomp around awesome, all day, every day.

    Who is someone you would like to avoid, and why?

    I try my best to avoid Benito’s girlfriend, Amanda’s parents. Amanda is sweet enough, but I can’t stand her parents. I had arranged for us to meet at a restaurant for dinner. Her father had the nerve to wear one of those red hats. It was obvious to me that he wanted to send a message, and I got it loud and clear. So, I steer clear of them.

    If you could time travel to any date, what would it be, and what would you do there?

    I am happy in my own time. I am not interested in going back and fiddling around with the past. The future is full of unknowns, which is scary as hell. I do not want to go there either, only to find out the people I love are all dead or something.

    Meet Lyndell Williams

    What was your biggest challenge in writing this book?

    A Stroke at Midnight is my first venture into the BDMS romance subgenre. I want to explore and incorporate a range of sexual proclivities and fetishes for my characters and bring them to readers.

    I was nervous about drafting love scenes with BDSM elements. Things can go wrong quickly, turning a scene meant to be sensual and titillating into something gross. It takes finesse.

    Why did you choose this character for the interview today?

    One of the challenges about short stories is that readers don’t get a lot of detail about the characters. Authors must give enough to make characters interesting and drive the plot, and nothing more, which means leaving out a lot of background. I wanted readers to get to know more about Deja. I had to keep so much of her awesomeness out of the book.

    Are any sequels planned for this book?

    No. A Stroke at Midnight is a standalone book. Readers have asked for a follow-up. You never know.

    What genre(s) would you like to write that you haven’t tried yet?

    None. I am a romance writer. I would like to write in romance subgenres. I have a few paranormal romances, and I want to write a sci-fi romance so badly. I am simply scared of all the world-building. I may hunker down and do it one day, but I have to find the time before I can write any time travel.

    Why should readers who haven’t picked up one of your books before give this one a try?

    Many readers find my books to be divergent from a lot of stories in the romance genre. I craft diverse characters in stories that challenge the standard type of love stories that center on finite races and backgrounds.

    Where to buy A Stroke at Midnight

    Amazon https://amz.run/4ATY

    Lyndell Williams Social Media

    A bestselling author and award-winning writer, Lyndell Williams (Layla Abdullah-Poulos) holds a B.A. in Historical Studies and Literature, M.A. in Liberal Studies, and an AC in Women and Gender Studies. She is an adjunct instructor as well as an anti-racism and gender equity advocate. She is the senior New York trainer for the Muslim Anti-Racism collaborative.
    Williams is a cultural critic with a background in literary criticism specializing in romance. She has been published in peer-review journals and presented at national conferences about Muslim and interracial romance fiction as well as racism, sexism and the Black Muslim experience.
    Website https://laylawriteslove.com/
    Facebook https://www.facebook.com/laylawriteslove/
    Twitter https://twitter.com/laylawriteslove
    Instagram https://www.instagram.com/laylawriteslove/
    YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWpN2YTkr9cGO9Z7-AB8xNw
    Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/laylawriteslove
    Amazon http://amazon.com/author/laylawriteslove
    Podcast https://soundcloud.com/laylawriteslove
    Get to know Lyndell Williams better by signing up for their email newsletter.

    http://bit.ly/lwlnewsletter

     

  • African American

    Read the #interracialromance Building on Broken Dreams by Lyndell Williams @laylawriteslove #RLFblog #bwwmromance

    Read the #interracialromance Building on Broken Dreams by Lyndell Williams @laylawriteslove #RLFblog #bwwmromanceHe’s everything she wants, but can she trust another man? Interracial romance Building on Broken Dreams by Lyndell Williams tests the boundaries of trust and desire.

    Lyndell, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. I’m Kayelle Allen, author and owner of this blog. Happy to have you here! Please tell us about Building on Broken Dreams.

    Building on Broken Dreams by Lyndell Williams

    Genre Interracial Romance

    Book heat level (based on movie ratings):

    If Maryam Avery stays in New York for one more day, she will die.

    Trapped in an abusive relationship with the manipulative and cruel Raad, she can feel her life closing in around her. After he chases her from her home and family, Maryam flees to Philadelphia, searching desperately for a new beginning, something to help rebuild her spiritually and physically.

    When she meets the mysterious Adam, things are thrown off-kilter. A successful businessperson with his own past that he is fleeing from, he is everything that Maryam wants. But can she trust another man?

    Doubt gives way to desire. They find themselves in a whirlwind romance, and for once, it seems like everything will work out.

    Until Raad turns up.

    Where to buy Building on Broken Dreams

    Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08JY5MLT8

    Lyndell Williams Social Media

    A bestselling author and award-winning writer, Lyndell Williams (Layla Abdullah-Poulos) holds a B.A. in Historical Studies and Literature, M.A. in Liberal Studies, and an AC in Women and Gender Studies. She is an adjunct instructor as well as an anti-racism and gender equity advocate. She is the senior New York trainer for the Muslim Anti-Racism collaborative.
    Williams is a cultural critic with a background in literary criticism specializing in romance. She has been published in peer-review journals and presented at national conferences about Muslim and interracial romance fiction as well as racism, sexism and the Black Muslim experience.
    Website https://laylawriteslove.com/
    Facebook https://www.facebook.com/laylawriteslove/
    Twitter https://twitter.com/laylawriteslove
    Instagram https://www.instagram.com/laylawriteslove/
    YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWpN2YTkr9cGO9Z7-AB8xNw
    Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/laylawriteslove
    Amazon http://amazon.com/author/laylawriteslove
    Podcast https://soundcloud.com/laylawriteslove
    Get to know Lyndell Williams better by signing up for their email newsletter.

    http://bit.ly/lwlnewsletter

     

  • African American,  Book Release,  Interracial

    Queen of the Castle by Lyndell Williams @laylawriteslove #RLFblog #NewRelease #interracialromance

    Queen of the Castle by Lyndell Williams @laylawriteslove #RLFblog #NewRelease #interracialromanceLyndell Williams, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. I’m Kayelle Allen, author and owner of this blog. Happy to have you here! Please tell us about Queen of the Castle.

    Queen of the Castle by Lyndell Williams

    Genre Interracial Romance

    Book heat level (based on movie ratings): R

    From award-winning, bestselling author, Lyndell Williams, a story of bridled desire unleashed.

    Tarika is happy living single. She loves her home—her castle—and is not looking for some man to try and take over everything she has built. When best friend, Hafsah throws Aqil her way, Tarika makes it clear that she is not interested in the shy man, who barely speaks to her. When she needs his help after an accident, she allows Aqil and his daughter into her life, making it difficult to resist his sexy gray eyes and sultry smile. The more time she spends with him, the harder it is to keep her distance.

    Aqil planned to stay focused on rebuilding his life with his daughter after a messy divorce until he saw Tarika. He tries to maintain a respectful amount of space, but her confidence and beauty draw him in. He knows he has everything Tarika needs and gets closer to her, bringing them into a passionate abandon that can break down the walls of her inhibitions but may also shatter their lives.

    Why did you write this book?

    I like to write romances that highlight the beautiful imperfection of loving someone. People bring their personalities and experiences into relationships, which can affect how they come together.

    Readers met main characters Tarika and Aqil in the book, Open to Love and became excited about their story. They struggle with the feeling burgeoning between them. Tarika doesn’t want to give up the single life and her autonomy. Aqil is rebuilding his life after a bitter divorce, so he is not ready to go headfirst into new a relationship.

    What is your favorite genre to read?

    Romance has been my favorite genre since I was a teenager. I am excited to write romances with a more diverse spectrum of characters from an expanse of backgrounds and layered experiences.

    Who is your favorite character from fiction (not including your own)?

    I don’t have a favorite character.

    What are you working on at the moment?

    I am working my keyboard to get Building on Broken Dreams to readers. It is book three in the steamy, gripping Brothers in Law interracial romance series. The novel features Maryam and Adam. Maryam is surviving an abuse relationship when she meets Adam. She tries to start a new life with him, but the past threatens to destroy them both.

    What books will we see from you in coming months?

    Readers can be on the lookout for Building on Broken Dreams, The Trouble with that Sister (Open to Love Book Three) and a book in A Timeless Love Series.

    Where to buy Queen of the Castle

    Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B088P8WR33/

    Lyndell Williams Social Media

    A bestselling author and award-winning writer, Lyndell Williams (Layla Abdullah-Poulos) holds a B.A. in Historical Studies and Literature, M.A. in Liberal Studies, and an AC in Women and Gender Studies. She is an adjunct instructor as well as an anti-racism and gender equity advocate. She is the senior New York trainer for the Muslim Anti-Racism collaborative.
    Williams is a cultural critic with a background in literary criticism specializing in romance. She has been published in peer-review journals and presented at national conferences about Muslim and interracial romance fiction as well as racism, sexism and the Black Muslim experience.
    Website https://laylawriteslove.com/
    Facebook https://www.facebook.com/laylawriteslove/
    Twitter https://twitter.com/laylawriteslove
    Instagram https://www.instagram.com/laylawriteslove/
    YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWpN2YTkr9cGO9Z7-AB8xNw
    Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/laylawriteslove
    Amazon http://amazon.com/author/laylawriteslove
    Podcast https://soundcloud.com/laylawriteslove
    Get to know Lyndell Williams better by signing up for their email newsletter.

    http://bit.ly/lwlnewsletter

     

  • African American,  Contemporary,  Know the Heroine

    Know the Heroine from Love, Marriage, and Other Disasters by Shilpa Suraj @shilpaauthor #RLFblog #Romance #Contemporary

    Shilpa Suraj, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. I’m Kayelle Allen, author and owner of this blog. Happy to have you here! We’re excited to find out more about your heroine, but first, tell us about Love, Marriage, and Other Disasters.

    Love, Marriage, and Other Disasters by Shilpa Suraj

    Genre Romance

    Book heat level (based on movie ratings): 7/10

    She believes in love, family and…squiggles!

    Alisha Rana is not your typical single desi girl. For one, she is on the wrong side of 30. For another, she is divorced. And last but definitely not least, she is still, gasp, a virgin!

    Alisha doesn’t want much. But what she does want is that elusive thing all women search for – A man who gets her…but a man who gets her hot! She calls it “feeling the squiggle.”

    Enter Dr. Vivaan Kapoor, cute, hot, squiggle-worthy. The younger brother of her cousin’s prospective groom, he’s got the squiggle factor in spades. The only catch? He’s never been married and is years younger than Alisha. Basically, completely off-limits.

    And then there is Arjun. Widowed, older than her by the right number of years and a genuinely nice guy. He’s Vivaan’s cousin and a so-called perfect match for Alisha. The problem is, Alisha’s squiggle-o-meter refuses to budge for him.

    What will Alisha choose? A lifetime together with the ‘right’ man or a chance at happiness with the ‘wrong’ one?

    Know the Heroine from Love, Marriage, and Other Disasters

    Here are some fun questions to help us know your heroine.

    It’s late, she’s bored. What does she do?

    She’d watch a movie in her pyjamas while demolishing a bowl of ice cream.

    What kind of food would she impulse buy if hungry?

    Ice cream. Always, ice cream.

    Describe the kind of clothes she prefers to wear.

    Jeans with ethnic kurtas, simple dresses and comfortable shorts and pyjamas at home.

    Does she know how to fix things?

    No. She’s not the fix things type. She’d prefer to call in an expert to do it.

    She tried to do something and it went badly. Tell us about it.

    Alisha tries to be the dutiful daughter and meet the man her parents have picked out for her. Unfortunately, this does not go well as she finds herself strongly attracted to his cousin. It’s an attraction that is as intense as it is inappropriate, and Alisha finds herself torn between familial expectations and her own desires.

    How does she act around children she doesn’t know?

    Alisha isn’t instinctively maternal. She’s extremely family oriented and would make a wonderful mother to her own children but she isn’t the sort to cuddle or play with every child she happens to meet.

    What is she like first thing in the morning?

    She is not a morning person and is extremely grumpy until her humongous mug of tea kickstarts her day.

    Can she use chopsticks?

    She has never attempted it so far but would be game to try.

    Does she drink coffee? If so, how does she take it? If not, what does she drink instead?

    Yes. Coffee with milk and enough sugar to make your teeth hurt. Although, the first beverage every morning is tea. Coffee is for the rest of the day.

    What apps would she have on her phone?

    Candy Crush, WhatsApp, Kindle

    Android or iPhone?

    Android

    Earrings or unpierced ears?

    Earrings

    Tattoos or unadorned skin?

    Unadorned skin

    Personal vehicle or public transport?

    Personal vehicle on most days but sometimes uses the company cab when she isn’t in the mood to drive herself.

    Recycle or toss?

    Recycle

    Thanks for helping us get to know your heroine!

    Where to buy Love, Marriage, and Other Disasters

    Amazon https://amzn.to/2IYNG04

    Shilpa Suraj Social Media

    Shilpa Suraj wears many hats – corporate drone, homemaker, mother to a fabulous toddler and author.
    An avid reader with an overactive imagination, Shilpa has weaved stories in her head since she was a child. Her previous stints at Google, in an ad agency and as an entrepreneur provide colour to her present-day stories, both fiction and non-fiction.
    Website http://shilpasuraj.com/
    Twitter https://twitter.com/shilpaauthor
    Facebook https://www.facebook.com/shilpasuraj
    Instagram https://www.instagram.com/shilpa.suraj/
    Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8436864.Shilpa_Suraj
    Get to know Shilpa Suraj better by signing up for an email newsletter http://eepurl.com/dt-Br9

     

  • African American,  Contemporary,  Is It True

    Play Is It True with Lyndell Williams author of Sweet Love, Bitter Fruit @laylawriteslove #RLFblog #contemporaryromance

    Play Is It True with Lyndell Williams author of Sweet Love, Bitter Fruit @laylawriteslove #RLFblog #contemporaryromanceWelcome to Romance Lives Forever. I’m Kayelle Allen, author and owner of this blog. Let’s play Is It True with today’s guest, Lyndell Williams, author of Sweet Love, Bitter Fruit, a contemporary romance. This is a game with yes and no questions. Writers can elaborate on answers as much as they choose.

    Sweet Love, Bitter Fruit by Lyndell Williams

    Genre contemporary romance

    Book heat level (based on movie ratings): R

    From award-winning, bestselling author Lyndell Williams.

    Steamy is the best word to describe the Kents. After work, lawyer Marcus wants nothing more than to hold wife, Toni–his “Sweetness”–into his arms. He knows exactly how to make every inch of her hot body shiver under his touch. He is willing to do everything in his power to make her happy, except one.

    Leaving her downtown practice, psychologist Toni heads uptown to curl up with Marcus, her sexy, younger husband. Their fiery passion is usually fully ablaze until she makes a demand that threatens to snuff it out.

    Is it true:

    this is your first book?

    No. Sweet Love, Bitter Fruit is my second book

    this book is part of a series?

    Yes, Sweet Love, Bitter Fruit is book two in the exciting Brothers in Law romance series. It features Marcus and Toni Kent, two characters that readers fell in love with in book one. They have a steamy marriage jeopardized by infertility and a hot intern looking to get Marcus in her bed.

    you lost sleep while writing this book?

    Yes. Loads and loads of sleep lost, especially while I wrote Toni’s perspective. I wanted to give her a voice to which readers can connect. She makes a pretty selfish decision, and I wanted to make it understandable.

    you did research for this book?

    Yes. I often have to research while writing. I include characters from diverse backgrounds and with a variety of life issues that make it important for me to acquire information about different cultures and issues. In Sweet Love, Bitter Fruit, I had to gather a lot of research about infertility and in vitro. It was work, but it was worth it.

    some characters in this book are not human? (pets for example)

    No … well … yeah, let’s leave this as a no.

    this book has more than one genre?

    Yes. While Sweet Love, Bitter Fruit is primarily a romance, it does contain some gripping suspense. On top of everything else the Kent family is going, they have to worry about a stalker roaming around and threatening to hurt one of them.

    you speak more than one language?

    Yes. I can speak classical Arabic.

    you grew up where you live now?

    No. My family were suburban nomads. We never stayed any place long.

    you love to read?

    Yes. My entire family does. Our home is loaded with books of all kinds.

    you are never late?

    No. I am always late. I have a lot of demands in my life. Often things collide, and I have to do some hustling. A lot of people who know me will tell me an earlier time so I won’t be late. Give me a 20-minute cushion, and I will most likely be punctual.

    you love pizza?

    Yes. Who doesn’t?

    you love sushi?

    Yes. I like cooked sushi. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that not all sushi is raw. It’s great because I don’t eat bait.

    you have a pet?

    No. I had a pet chicken–long story involving a begging kid at a small gardening center–but someone stole it. I was very busted up about Mad Dog. She would perch and cackle outside my kitchen door to be fed and let me know she laid eggs. *sniff*

    Where to buy Sweet Love, Bitter Fruit

    Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Sweet-Love-Bitter-Fruit-Brothers-ebook/dp/B07WZ9LT97

    Lyndell Williams Social Media

    A bestselling author and award-winning writer, Lyndell Williams (Layla Abdullah-Poulos) holds a B.A. in Historical Studies and Literature, M.A. in Liberal Studies, and an AC in Women and Gender Studies. She is an adjunct instructor as well as an anti-racism and gender equity advocate. She is the senior New York trainer for the Muslim Anti-Racism collaborative.
    Williams is a cultural critic with a background in literary criticism specializing in romance. She has been published in peer-review journals and presented at national conferences about Muslim and interracial romance fiction as well as racism, sexism and the Black Muslim experience.
    Website https://laylawriteslove.com/
    Facebook https://www.facebook.com/laylawriteslove/
    Twitter https://twitter.com/laylawriteslove
    Instagram https://www.instagram.com/laylawriteslove/
    YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWpN2YTkr9cGO9Z7-AB8xNw
    Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/laylawriteslove
    Amazon http://amazon.com/author/laylawriteslove
    Podcast https://soundcloud.com/laylawriteslove
    Get to know Lyndell Williams better by signing up for their email newsletter.

    http://bit.ly/lwlnewsletter

     

  • African American,  Know the Heroine

    Know the Heroine: Hafsah Brooks from Open to Love by Lyndell Williams @laylawriteslove #RLFblog #Interracial Romance

    Know the Heroine: Hafsah Brooks from Open to Love by Lyndell Williams @laylawriteslove #RLFblog #Interracial RomanceLyndell Williams, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. I’m Kayelle Allen, author and owner of this blog. Happy to have you here! We’re excited to find out more about your heroine, but first, tell us about Open to Love.

    Open to Love by Lyndell Williams

    Genre Interracial Romance

    Book heat level (based on movie ratings): R

    The last thing Hafsah wants is to get wrapped up in another marriage, let alone with a younger man. Despite the desire he reawakens in her, she is not going to fall into another trap. Faheem is undisturbed by the age difference and undeterred by her doubts. He feels the passion surging between then and is determined to get her to open to love.

    Know the Heroine from Open to Love

    Here are some fun questions to help us know your heroine.

    It’s late, she’s bored. What does she do?

    Talking to her girlfriends Tariqa and Rahma chases away any boredom from Hafsah. They met in Islamic school, and have been besties ever since. If they aren’t teasing each other, they share their hopes and dreams.

    What kind of food would she impulse buy if hungry?

    Hafsah’s mother nagged her about her insatiable sweet tooth since she was little. She can’t resist and must have sugar when life gets hectic or taxing. She knows it’s not the healthiest thing to do, but when things become stressful, a cookie or cupcake hits the spot and keeps her from flying off the handle.

    When her marriage was falling apart, Hafsah’s clothes got tighter from months of slamming down snack cakes. She popped one after the other in her mouth as she looked for a job. When she couldn’t fit her favorite skirt, she knew it was time to get out of the house and walk off some pounds while she could still fit through the door.

    Describe the kind of clothes she prefers to wear.

    Hafsah is a Muslim woman who covers her head, so she has a ton of hijabs of different colors and patterns. Not one to leave the house shabby, she has a closet and drawer packed with hip modest fashion. She is tall and has to get ankle-length a-line or box pleated skirts custom made to drape over her long legs, which she finishes off with long-sleeve blouses. After strapping on a pair of MK shoes and slinging an LV handbag over her shoulder, she sashays her way into the world.

    She reserves more revealing clothes like tight jeans with camisoles or shorts and tank tops to strut around the house, cleaning, cooking or just hanging out. She finds it funny when people ask her if she wears a hijab at home. Some have even asked if she showers in it!

    Does she know how to fix things?

    Hafsah does have the ability to get somethings up and running. If it can be repaired with tape, glue, a hammer or screwdriver, then she is your gal. Growing up, she watched and learned from her mother how to unclog drains, spackle holes in the wall and get any most of the small appliances in the house beeping, whirring and humming again.

    She tried to do something and it went badly. Tell us about it.

    As corny as it seemed to many of her friends, Hafsah always wanted to be a wife and mother. Sure, she made sure to get a college degree to be marketable and take care of herself, but settling in to take care of hearth and home was important for her.

    Unlike her best friend, Tariqa, who had sworn off men, Hafsah maintained an open mind when courted by the Muslim brothers in her community. Unfortunately, nothing worked out. Years went by, and no one swept her off her feet, until Mahmoud. He was smart, sexy and smooth enough for her to accept being his second wife.

    Polygny was not an alien thing in her community. She had plenty of friends who were cowives. Mahmoud had more than enough money to keep her and his first wife comfortable, and since she had fallen for him hard, she decided that she could accept plural marriage. Big mistake.

    Hafsah was not prepared for the change in the way some women in the community treated her for “settling” to be wife number two. Mahmoud’s family was no help. They denied her existence, straining their usually steamy and happy relationship.

    How does she act around children she doesn’t know?

    Hafsah loves kids, not babies, kids. Babies scare her. She is always afraid that if she holds one, she’ll do something wrong and hurt it. They are so small and frail.

    When she was around seven, one of the sisters in the community visited with her newborn. She asked and the mother let her hold the tiny bundle. All she wanted to do was see the tiny feet hidden inside. She unraveled the blanket, and the baby’s arms and legs flailed out, startling her. She jumped up, dropping baby and blanket. Fortunately, mother caught the little one.

    Ever since that day, Hafsah has lots of fun with kids, and coo at babies from a safe distance.

    What is she like first thing in the morning?

    Hafsah rises every morning before dawn for prayer. It’s not always easy. Winter days on Long Island, NY can be cold and prickly, making her want to stay between her toasty blankets. She finds solace in making a spiritual connection with her creator, so she fights the urge to be comfy.

    Can she use chopsticks?

    Hafsah’s friend Simon had taught her to use them when they were teenagers. He lived near her aunt’s house in Queens. When she visited, she would go to his house to grub down on his mom’s cooking. She loved it, but hasn’t used them since he left for law school.

    Does she drink coffee? If so, how does she take it? If not, what does she drink instead?

    Coffee is fine for Hafsah, but she prefers to carry around and sip water most days. When she does drink coffee, she avoids high-priced coffee chains with more milk and sugar than actual coffee. She will grab a cup at one of the small mom-and-pop cafes peppered along Montauk Highway, have a seat and sip while sliding her thumb across her cell phone.

    What apps would she have on her phone?

    Hafsah’s phone has the mandatory social media apps—Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. Pinterest is one of her favorites. She likes to look at cooking and decorating ideas.

    Android or iPhone?

    Hafsah had an iPhone, but every time she turned around, it was out of memory. She switched to Androids and never looked back.

    Earrings or unpierced ears?

    Hafsah’s mother pierced her ears when she was a baby. She loves wearing gold bangles, draping her hijab so they swing from her ears.

    Tattoos or unadorned skin?

    Most Muslims in Hafsah’s community frown on tattoos. She has seen a few of her more rebellious friends with them. She went with one of them to the parlor. After seeing her friend wincing under the needle, she was not inclined to ever get one.

    Personal vehicle or public transport?

    It is almost impossible to get anywhere on Long Island without a car. Hafsah bought her first one when she was seventeen. She worked summers and saved her money for three years. It was old and ran on a prayer, but it was hers. Mahmoud gave her a new luxury car as a wedding gift, but nothing will purge the love for her hooptie.

    Recycle or toss?

    Recycle.

    Thanks for helping us get to know your heroine!

    Where to buy Open to Love

    Amazon https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B082TXYTF5/

    Lyndell Williams Social Media

    A bestselling author and award-winning writer, Lyndell Williams (Layla Abdullah-Poulos) holds a B.A. in Historical Studies and Literature, M.A. in Liberal Studies, and an AC in Women and Gender Studies. She is an adjunct instructor as well as an anti-racism and gender equity advocate. She is the senior New York trainer for the Muslim Anti-Racism collaborative.
    Williams is a cultural critic with a background in literary criticism specializing in romance. She has been published in peer-review journals and presented at national conferences about Muslim and interracial romance fiction as well as racism, sexism and the Black Muslim experience.
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