Tiffany Warren's In The Midst of It All

About the Book

All her life, Zenovia has struggled with the burden of caring for her schizophrenic mother, Audrey, alone. Until one day, God seems to offer support in the form of two members of a church called the Brethren of the Sacrifice, who knock at the women's door preaching an unconventional version of the Gospel. Despite having questions, Zenovia agrees to join the church along with her mother. Soon afterward, Audrey stops taking her medication when fellow churchgoers deem her illness a demonic possession. Unable to watch her mother's mental deterioration, Zenovia flees town, only to receive a fateful phone call several years later telling her of her mother's suicide. Heartbroken, Zenovia must now make a soul-altering choice: accept "God's will," or return home to confront the demons she's worked so hard to leave behind....

My Review: 5 of 5 Stars

Tiffany Warren’s expertly drawn characters climb into your heart and take hold of your spirit.

We meet Zenovia Batiste, a fifteen year old whose life has been burdened with the load of caring for her schizophrenic mother, and whose spirit has been pillaged by a church that has distorted the essential doctrines of Christianity. Readers follow Zenovia from high school, to college and into her late twenties as she finds and loses love and faith over and over again in her quest for a little happiness and a lot of peace.

Warren does not handle the problem of false teaching with kid's gloves in this novel, or the complex issues around mental illness. Zenovia’s life is no cakewalk. She’s forced to deal with a lot of bad stuff, thus her very cynical outlook on life and the church. The beauty of the book is that through various subplots the reader watches the underworld of a cult-nous religion unfold in front of them. The story is filled with page after page of the poison that infects the minds of those who earnestly want to serve in the Christian church, but are enslaved by a gospel twisted by men. There was also a healthy dose of romance, which had me on the edge of my seat. I found myself dying to know will they, or won't they; I really didn't know which way it would go. Great writing.

In the Midst of It All is a timely novel, a worthwhile journey and an amorous read. Warren touches the reader’s emotions on all levels and had me thinking about the characters way past the ending. It will easily be one of my favorites for 2010.

More about Tiffany at her website www.tiffanylwarren.com

Step To This: A So Real Novel by Nikki Carter

Introducing author, Nikki Carter a new addition to the African-American Christian Young Adult Fiction. She has been a book-lover since she was in elementary school. Her favorite stories are fun, fresh, and full of drama. When she's not writing, Nikki enjoys reading, shopping, and hanging out by the pool. Nikki lives and loves in Dallas, Texas.

Here's a little bit about Step to This...

Fifteen-year-old Gia Stokes knows exactly what she needs to make her life fantabulous:

*Get her mother Gwendolyn to let her relax her hair
*Find a boy to ask her out
*Get on the Hi-Steppers dance squad

Gia doesn't have the hair or the clothes, but she's got the moves and the attitude to make her sophomore year at Longfellow High unforgettable. But not everyone agrees, so Gia decides it's time for a makeover. With her stylish new look, she scores a date with hottie football player, Romeo, snags a spot on the Hi-Steppers dance squad, and makes a ton of new friends. Gia's on top of the world?until things go horribly wrong. Now Gia feels like all she has left is her mom and her faith. That's not going to stop Gia, she's just got to convince the Hi-Steppers and everyone else at school, to follow her lead and step to her beat.

"Step to This is hot, it's new, it's now...with characters that leap from the pages, it's absolutely a must-read." --Monica McKayhan, Essence bestselling author of Indigo Summer

"Filled with smart and witty characters, Step to This is a fun, fast-paced read teens will love." --Ni-Ni Simone, author of A Girl Like Me

"Nikki Carter steps up and delivers a home run with her debut novel, Step to This. It's a real winner." --Chandra Sparks Taylor, author of Spin It Like That and The Pledge

"Nikki Carter is a fresh, new voice in teen fiction! Step to This has it all--drama, humor, and a lesson that everyone can learn from. Full of fun-loving, unforgettable characters that readers will love, Nikki has written a page-turner that will leave the reader wanting more!" --ReShonda Tate Billingsley, author of The Good Girlz series

"Gia Stokes might be a Hi-Stepper, but this teen role model has both feet on the ground as she meets life's challenges with style and grace. Kudos to Nikki Carter for a great start in this fun and relevant teen series!" --Melody Carlson, author of The Carter House Girls, Diary of a Teenage Girl, TrueColors and The Secret Life of Samantha McGregor series

"Step to This is a wonderful, witty tale that is full of laugh-out-loud moments and great lessons." --Victoria Christopher Murray, National bestselling author of The Divine Divas series

"Fun, honest, and so for real ... I loved Gia and cheered for her as she struggled to find where she fits with friends, family, and faith. Debut author Nikki Carter is now on my must-read list!" --Shelley Adina, author of the All About Us series

"Step to This has alluring characters, wonderful scenes, and a fascinating premise. Nikki Carter has a real talent for writing stories that deal with real issues, but are gripping to read by teens and adults alike." --Jacquelin Thomas, author of The Divine Series

STEP TO THIS is the first of a four-book series. Books 2 & 3 IT IS WHAT IT IS & IT'S ALL GOOD will both be out in 2009. The fourth title COOL LIKE THAT will be released in early 2010. Here's the link to the excerpt...

I want readers to know that the books are fun, fly, and parents don't have to be afraid of their children enjoying them. I'm very excited about the series, and I would love to talk to teens and preteens about the issues in the book. I can be reached for speaking engagements at tiffany@tiffanylwarren.com or on Facebook or www.myspace.com/authornikkicarter

Interview with Author Tiffany L. Warren

Today I welcome author, Tiffany L. Warren. Tiffany has a very exciting new book, The Bishop's Daughter that has created quite a buzz of anticipation for its release this month.

Tiffany, introduce yourself to my readers.
Hi readers :) I'm Tiffany Warren. I write Christian Fiction for women and Inspirational Fiction for young adults. If we've already met via some of my other books (What a Sista Should Do or Farther Than I Meant to Go, Longer Than I Meant to Stay) it's good talking to you! If we're just now meeting, I'm pleased to meet you!

Tell us about your latest project, The Bishop’s Daughter. The Bishop's Daughter is about a reporter/womanizer named Darrin Bainbridge who plans to write an expose on a fictional Atlanta mega-church pastor. His plans fall apart when he meets the bishop's sassy daughter, Emoni.

What do you want readers to take away from this story? Mostly that salvation is a process. Not everyone has the same journey or walk with God. Sometimes there are setbacks. Sometimes people backslide. As a matter of fact, I don't know one Christian who hasn't had that moment of weakness.

Please share anything else you want us to know about The Bishop’s Daughter.
I want y'all to know that this book is a work of fiction!!! If Bishop Prentiss, in any way, resembles your pastor it was not done purposely :)

You had elements of humor in your previous novels, does that come natural to you or did you build it into the plot. Anyone who knows me, knows how silly I am. Even my darkest subject matter is peppered with humor. It definitely comes naturally.

Tiffany, you are the mastermind behind the Faith and Fiction Retreat, which I enjoyed so very much last summer. Tell me how that began and your vision for this years retreat. Mastermind!!!! LOL. Okay, Rhonda :) It all started with the "Faith and Fiction Fellowship Tour". A few other authors (LaTonya Mason, Yolonda Tonette Sanders, Leslie Sherrod, Mata Elliott, & Bonnie Hopkins) and myself toured about five cities talking about our books. The response was great, but we were going broke traveling :) I thought it would be a great idea to bring the readers to us in a retreat like location, and spend the whole weekend discussing books.

For 2009, the theme is "Power of the Pen" and it will be held in Orlando, FL July 16-19. We've got some great authors coming out this year! Our featured authors are ReShonda Tate Billingsley, Tia McCollors, Angela Benson and me! We've got some GREAT author panelists as well including the hilarious Essence Bestselling Pat G'Orge Walker. This year we're doing teen sessions as well as book club building sessions. It's going to be a blast. For more info visit http://www.faithandfictionretreat.com/

I asked Tiffany some personal questions and shared the following answers:

Favorite scripture: Phillipians 4:13 - "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."

Favorite dessert: Chocolate Cake with Chocolate frosting.

(Tiffany is a girl after my own heart.)

If you were a crayon in coloring box, which one would you be? Aquamarine.

If you could spend one hour with someone living or deceased, who would it be and why? I would say Jesus, but an hour wouldn't be enough! So, I'll say my favorite author Octavia E. Butler. She passed away a couple years back.

If you had to go to a solitary place and could only take one novel, that you didn’t write, what would it be and why? The Xenogenesis volume by Octavia E. Butler. I could read her stories over and over again and still be mesmerized.

What’s next for Tiffany Warren? My next adult novel is entitled "In the Midst of it All" and it's about a young woman with a prophetic gifting, and her escape from a cult. My debut young adult novel, "Step to This" under my pen name Nikki Carter will be released at the end of February. I'm also doing a stage play adaptation of my first novel "What a Sista Should Do" in the fall of 2009.

How can my readers find you on the Internet? http://www.tiffanylwarren.com/, www.myspace.com/christianauthor, www.myspace.com/authornikkicarter, http://profile.to/nikkicarter (Facebook), www.twitter.com/texasauthor

The Bishop's Daughter can be purchased at Amazon.com, Barnes and Nobles, Books A Million, Borders and where ever books are sold. To read an excerpt click here.

Thanks for stopping by!