by Pat Simmons
To the many bloggers who have given me space to talk about my Jamieson men; the radio hosts who invited me on their shows; and many readers who sent me emails and posted reviews, I do not take your kindness and the opportunities lightly. May God bless you for blessing me.
To the military facilities across the country that have welcomed me to their facilities—thank you. I salute our active/retiree military service men and women who have become fans. Thank you for your support and service.
Shout out to my Guilty fan club captains, thanks for keeping me, my mind, and fingers lifted up in prayer.
Special thanks to Ian Crawford at the Jemison Mansion in Alabama who allowed my Jamiesons to host their first fictional family reunion.
To the staff at Lift Every Voice Books/Moody, God has really blessed me through you.
Happy Birthday to my agent Amanda Luedeke with the MacGregor Literary Agency. Thanks for representing me!
Shout out to my travel agent and GPS guided chauffeur, my husband, Kerry, for his support with my schemes during the past twenty-nine years; my son and daughter, Jared and Simi.
To the descendants of Minerva Jordan Wade; Marshall Cole and Laura Brown; Joseph and Nellie Palmer Wafford Brown; Thomas Carter and Love Ann Shepard; Ned and Priscilla Brownlee; John Wilkinson and Artie Jamison/Charlotte Jamison, and others who were tracked down on the 1800s censuses and other documents; and my in-laws: Simmons, Sinkfield, Croft, Sturdivant, Strickland, Downers … and the list goes on.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Pat Simmons considers herself a self-proclaimed genealogy sleuth. She is passionate about researching her ancestors, then casting them in starring roles in her novels. She has been a genealogy enthusiast since her great-grandmother died at the young age of ninety-seven years. Pat enjoys weaving African-American history and local history into contemporary stories.
She describes her Christian walk as an amazing, unforgettable, life-altering experience. She is a baptized believer, who is always willing to share her testimony about God’s goodness. She believes God is the true Author who advances her stories.
Pat has a B.S. in mass communications from Emerson College in Boston, MA. She has worked in various media positions in radio, television, and print for more than twenty years. Currently, she oversees the media publicity for the annual RT Booklovers Conventions. She has been a guest on several media outlets, including radio, television, newspapers, and blog radio.
She is the award-winning author of Talk to Me, ranked #14 of Top Books in 2008 that Changed Lives by Black Pearls Magazine; she also received the Katherine D. Jones Award for Grace and Humility from the Romance Slam Jam committee in 2008. Pat is best known for her Guilty series: Guilty of Love, Not Guilty of Love, and Still Guilty, which was voted the Best Inspirational Romance for 2010. Crowning Glory, was voted the Best Inspirational Romance for 2011 by the RSJ committee.
The Guilty series continued with the Jamieson legacy. Guilty by Association (2012) and The Guilt Trip (2012). Completing this recent trilogy is Free from Guilt (2012). Expect more from the Jamiesons in 2013.
Pat Simmons has converted her sofa-strapped, sports-fanatical husband into an amateur travel agent, untrained bodyguard, and GPS-guided chauffeur. They have a son and daughter.
HERE IS MY PATERNAL GRANDMOTHER JESSIE BROWN WADE COLE ATKINS’S FAMILY TREE:
Jessie was a twin to Louis Wade. They were the third generation of twins.
Jessie’s mother was Minerva Brown (my great-grandmother). She was born in Arkansas in 1891 and died in 1988 in St. Louis.
Jessie’s father was Odell Wade (my great-grandfather). He was born in Arkansas in 1888 and died in 1972 in St. Louis.
Minerva had twin brothers: Ellis (who lived to be 100 years old) and Louis. Minerva’s mother was Nellie Palmer (my great-great grandmother was a twin to Solomon). Both were born in Arkansas in 1874. Nellie’s mother was Minerva Palmer born 1848 in Arkansas. Yes, I also have three generations of Minervas in my family.
Minerva’s father was Joseph Brown. I am still researching his side. With a last name of Brown, it’s not easy.
Odell’s mother was Callie Young Lowe (my great-great grandmother and of the Choctaw tribe). She was born in Arkansas.
Odell’s father was Winston Wade (my great-great grandfather) was born in Tennessee in 1856. His date of death is unknown.
Winston’s mother was Manurva (my great-great-great grandfather). She was born in North Carolina in 1822 or 1828.
Winston’s father is unknown, but his father was born in Virginia.
Manurva’s father was possibly Jacob Jordan (if so, my fourth great grandfather). He was born in 1801.
Whew! That’s all, folks.
THE JAMIESON LEGACY SERIES
The Jamieson Family Legacy series follows the lives of the two Jamieson brothers in Boston—Kidd and Ace—and their cousin Cameron from St. Louis. Kidd, the older brother, struggles with anger and resentment toward his father who abandoned their family (Guilty by Association). Ace, on the other hand, is a “chip off the old block.” When it comes to women, he’s just like his father (Guilt Trip). Cameron, their highly educated cousin, thinks the key to saving his family is getting them to recognize and embrace their royal lineage (Free from Guilt). These three men will be challenged to accept that the past and present are both in God’s hand. Without Him, they can’t move toward their future blessings.
lifteveryvoicebooks.com
THE LAST WOMAN STANDING
After ten years of marriage, Ace and Lynette Bowers ended their marriage. Four years later, it seems as though their love never ended. Sheila Rushmore is Ace’s current girlfriend and a woman who is used to getting what she wants—except Ace’s commitment to marriage. When Sheila realizes Lynette may be the cause, she launches a plan to play the hand of God, instead of allowing God to bring the love they all desire.
978-0-8024-9863-2
STEPPIN’ INTO THE GOOD LIFE
Sheila Rushmore thought she’d be the last woman standing when it was time to fight for her man. Instead Ace, her boyfriend of two years, chose to reunite with his ex-wife, leaving Sheila emotionally devastated. Now, a year later, Sheila moves forward determined to be a better woman—a woman of faith. But now that she’s decided to live for God, things will get easier. Right? At least that’s what Sheila thinks …
978-0-8024-6291-6
LIVING IN THE PINK
Sister Pinky, Camille, Corrine and Chandra used to “live in the pink” but now they see the pink life for what it is—holding on to the scarlet stain of sin instead of striving to become pure. In this playful and exciting book of short stories, we learn how to pursue the Greatest of Lovers instead of lesser lovers whose promises don’t last.
LIFT EVERY VOICE BOOKS
Lift every voice and sing
Till earth and heaven ring,
Ring with the harmonies of Liberty;
Let our rejoicing rise
High as the listening skies,
Let it resound loud as the rolling sea.
Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us,
Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us,
Facing the rising sun of our new day begun
Let us march on till victory is won.
The “Black National Anthem,” written by James Weldon Johnson in 1900, captures the essence of Lift Every Voice Books. Lift Every Voice Books is an imprint of Moody Publishers that celebrates a rich culture and great heritage of faith, based on the foundation of eternal truth—God’s Word. We endeavor to restore the fabric of the African-American soul and reclaim the indomitable spirit that kept our forefathers true to God in spite of insurmountable odds.
We are Lift Every Voice Books—Christ-centered books and resources for restoring the African-American soul.
For more information on other books and products
written and produced from a biblical perspective, go to
www.lifteveryvoicebooks.com or write to:
Lift Every Voice Books
820 N. LaSalle Boulevard
Chicago, IL 60610
www.lifteveryvoicebooks.com
