by Pope, M. T.
Well, you made it through book three. Take a breath, sit back and relax. Thank the Lord God that you didn’t have to experience anything in these three books and if you did, you survived. There was so much going on in these books that it made my head spin and probably yours as well. There were some scenes that were over the top and just downright nasty. But they served a purpose not to just entertain, but to enlighten and educate at the same time. I dared myself to do certain things and I did it. For most, the response from readers was shocking and sometimes appalled, but the point was made. I personally thank you, the reader and friend, for picking up these three books and giving it a chance. Simply because I took a chance. Fail or win. Some say my faith or Christianity was questionable because I wrote it the way I did. The books did not define me and I am proud of my salvation and didn’t need to defend something that was freely given in spite of me. I am not saying that it was right. I’m just stating the facts. At many times during the writing process I wanted to stop and walk away. Thank God I had friends and loyal readers like yourself that pushed me to keep it moving and finish what I started. I can’t name them all so I’ll just say it.... Thank you, everyone! Everyone with encouraging words, criticism and simply ... love. It was appreciated and noted in my heart.
Both Sides of the Fence, the series was an experience for me. An unplanned one too. When I sit back and think about all of it, I am so grateful that these three books happened. It pushed me to finish what I started. And helped me to set goals and get it done. I can’t tell you how many people have confessed to being molested to me, men and women, and experiment on that other side of the fence and I was able to tell them that they can get help and where to find it. It also saddens me to realize that so many people’s story won’t get told because of shame or grief. I myself, never being molested, really could never put it into words how to deal with the act or violation therein. I commend people that do get help and do confess these deeds. I pray for the victims and the ones that were the predators as well. They need just as much help as the one they victimized, but that gets overlooked by severity of the crime. Chances are the molester was molested and the cycle can be continued if not dealt with appropriately. I’m not speaking as an advocate for either, but as a call to give help and compassion to both parties. It’s just right.
When I think of the Black family in my book and the black family in America, I think that we can do better. Most of our problems stem from lack of communication and listening to that communication. We keep secrets and we even take some to the grave, supposedly, but unbeknownst to those who did so, they left those loose ends for the living to tie up and/or deal with after they are gone. Drugs, violence, are discussed on a regular, but molestation and homosexuality in men and women go untalked about. There may be someone in your family that has been molested or tampered with but fear of judgment or shame causes them to keep it all in, which in turn comes out in adverse ways: promiscuity, drugs, homosexuality, and violence are some the ways people that may have been molested act out, but are not limited to just those attributes alone. It varies greatly.
Take a real good look at your family. Are you talking about your problems or are you just pushing them under a rug? Pretty soon that rug is going to develop lumps and then hills, and then mountains. Please don’t wait until it’s too late to discuss it or we are burying a loved one because of a secret that we let take them out. Your children are waiting for you to talk to them and it is time for you to start talking to your children or any family member that you see in need of help. The time is now for the black family to get it together and stop letting the enemy in us and in the world take what God has promised us:Life and life more abundantly. So let’s start talking so we can truly start living.
Peace and Blessing, M.T. Pope
PLEASE.... PASS THE WORD, NOT THE BOOK
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Both Sides of the Fence 3: Loose Ends Copyright © 2011 M.T. Pope
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without prior consent of the Publisher, except brief quotes used in reviews.
ISBN: 978-1-5998-3229-6
First Trade Paperback Printing October 2011
This is a work of fiction. Any references or similarities to actual events, real people, living, or dead, or to real locales are intended to give the novel a sense of reality. Any similarity in other names, characters, places, and incidents is entirely coincidental.
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