Simon & Schuster’s Literary Duo Tours 16 U.S. Cities to Promote Empowering Novel
Posted on January 31, 2009
Filed Under Press Releases
Best-Selling Authors, Virginia DeBerry and Donna Grant, Commence ’09 Book Tour of “What Doesn’t Kill You” on January 31st
New York, NY (BlackNews.com) – In celebration of the release of WHAT DOESN’T KILL YOU, Best-Selling Literary Duo, Virginia DeBerry and Donna Grant, will visit 16 cities from January 31 through April 21 promoting their timely tale about losing your job, financial meltdown and dealing with despair. DeBerry and Grant will visit such cities as Chicago, New York, Atlanta, Nashville, Birmingham, Little Rock, Arkansas and Bowling Green, Kentucky. To view the entire list of tour cities, visit their website at www.deberryandgrant.com.
In their sixth novel, DeBerry and Grant’s funny take on a serious subject is a great antidote for all who are currently dealing with today’s economic roller coaster. As we begin 2009, it is impossible to avoid the news of home foreclosures, lay-offs, even the wealthy losing their life savings. These are all experiences DeBerry and Grant drew from when creating the protagonist in WHAT DOESN’T KILL YOU, Thomasina “Tee” Hodges, a forty-something, together sista who loses it all in the blink of an eye. Publishers Weekly called WHAT DOESN’T KILL YOU, “the anti-pity party; snappy, fun and inspiring.”
“Tee’s trip from denial, to anger to acceptance and ultimately to reinvestment in her life is one we know intimately,” state DeBerry and Grant. “Both directly and indirectly, we lived through what Tee experiences and it wasn’t pretty. We learned that having a sense of humor and faith is what keeps you going.”
Beginning February 1, DeBerry and Grant can also be seen as a part of the 2009 Black History Month campaign launched by The Kroger Company in over 1500 Kroger and King Scoopers grocery stores across the country and on their website at www.kroger.com. In addition, this year, the literary duo is lending their name to Sweet Unity Coffee, called by The New York Times, “the Cabernet of Coffees.” Founded by Dave Robinson, son of the baseball great, Jackie Robinson, DeBerry and Grant are helping to support African farmers build and sustain a strong economic environment for themselves and their families.
“Our collaboration with Sweet Unity Coffee just makes perfect sense,” explains DeBerry and Grant. “Reading our books with a great cup of java or tea and knowing that you are helping others at the same time is a win-win for us and our readers.”
DeBerry and Grant want to continue hearing from persons who have “been broke” by submitting your story to “Your Best Broke Story” on their website, www.deberryandgrant.com. Also, many of the bookstores on their tour are still running “Your Best Broke Story” contest. (For participating bookstores, visit the “Tour” section on www.deberryandgrant.com.) Either funny or serious, DeBerry and Grant want to know how you survived your personal economic crisis. Recent winners of the contest are Stephanie Carter of Michigan who took home the first place prize and Carolyn Cooke of Georgia, who came in second place. To read their “best broke” stories, visit the twomindsfull.blogspot.com blog and myspace.com/twomindsfull
WHAT DOESN’T KILL YOU {Touchstone / Simon & Schuster Hardcover} / Price $24.95 / ISBN: 1-4165-6420-9} is a poignant story of today as well as an inspiration for women to reassess their financial status and personal priorities. WHAT DOESN’T KILL YOU is available at booksellers nationwide and from online outlets. The audio book version of the novel, read by the authors, is also available. For author interviews, to set up author appearances, or to review a copy of WHAT DOESN’T KILL YOU, contact Tyrha Lindsey of L.A.I. Communications a 908-672-6024 or e-mail at Tyrha.Lindsey@laicommunications.com.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
VIRGINIA DEBERRY and DONNA GRANT
VIRGINIA DEBERRY was formerly the Vice-President of BB/LW, an agency for plus size and petite models as well as a spokeswoman for Hanes hosiery. She currently lives in New Jersey. DONNA GRANT, a Brooklyn native, currently lives in the borough with her husband. Before becoming a novelist, she spent more than a decade as a plus-sized model. DeBerry and Grant have co-authored six novels including–Tryin’ to Sleep in the Bed You Made (Merit Award/Fiction, Black Caucus of the American Library Association), Far From the Tree (New York Times Bestseller), Better Than I Know Myself (Open Book Award, Essence Bestseller, Best African American Fiction 2004 Borders and Waldenbooks) and Gotta Keep on Tryin’–turning a 25-year friendship into the most successful and enduring writing collaboration in fiction.
NOVELS BY DEBERRY AND GRANT
What Doesn’t Kill You (2009)
Gotta Keep On Tryin’ (2008)
Better Than I Know Myself (2004)
Far From the Tree (2000)
Tryin’ To Sleep in the Bed You Made (1997)
Exposures (1990)
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