Today, we are chatting with Donna Hill about her latest release, What Mother Never Told Me, the long-awaited sequel to Rhythms. Be sure to check out the entire schedule for other chats from our E-Book Reading Challenge.
BOOK DESCRIPTION
Parris McKay is confronted with a truth she never believed was possible. The revelation turns her life upside down as she begins a quest to answer a two-generation secret that her grandmother took to her grave. In her pursuit of the truth, she meets two incredible women who are battling with their own secret pasts. As the truth begins to unfold, these dynamic women come to realize that there truly is only six-degrees of separation.
A story of healing, hope, love and forgiveness.
What Mother Never Told Me is a book for every daughter, every mother, every family.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Donna Hill began her career in 1987 writing short stories for the confession magazines. Since that time she has morethan fifty published titles to her credit since her first novel was released in 1990, and is considered one of the early pioneers of the African American romance genre. Three of her novels have been adapted for television. She has been featured in Essence, the New York Daily News, USA Today, Today’s Black Woman, and Black Enterprise among many others. She has appeared on numerous radio and television stations across the country and her work has appeared on several bestseller lists, including Essence, Emerge and The Dallas Morning News among others. She has received numerous awards for her body of work—which cross several genres– including The Career Achievement Award, the first recipient of The Trailblazer Award, The Zora Neale Hurston Literary Award, The Gold Pen Award among others, as well as commendations for her community service, during her tenure as Coordinator for Kianga House—a transitional residence for homeless teen mothers and their children.
Visit Donna’s site and fan club at: http://dhfanclub.ning.com and http://donnahill.com.
Welcome, welcome Donna! It’s great to have you with us today. Please take a few minutes to tell us a bit more about you, your career as a writer and why you decided to write What Mother Never Told Me.
I’m a bit under the weather, but will be in and out throughout the day to make sure things are going smoothly.
Everyone else…jump on in!
-Tee
Good morning, Tee,
I went to bed at 2:30 a.m., but got up. I’ve finally figured out how to get in here. Let me know when I should be ready.
Thanks!
Maxine
Hey there, Maxine. I just emailed you!
Thanks for stopping by…
Good morning everyone! Thanks Tee and Rawsistaz for inviting me today. I hope some of you (all of you) have read What Mother Never Told Me. I love to hear your thoughts. Especially your thoughts on the relationships between the women in the novel and their mothers.
Let’s chat
.-= Donna Hill´s last blog ..Through The Fire =-.
Donna, I’m always bringing up the rear because if I read too far in advance, I’ll forget and it won’t be fresh for the chat, so I’m finishing up and will probably join the afternoon/evening folks for the detailed ending part of the questions.
I don’t think I read Rhythms, but I love books which focus on the dynamics between mothers and daughters.
So, I’m enjoying the read…
Okay Tee, you gotta get with the program. I can’t imagine that you didn’t read Rhythms. That was my first hardcover fiction novel. Hmmm. tsk, tsk… LOL
.-= Donna Hill´s last blog ..Through The Fire =-.
Welcome Donna,
I have been a Donna Hill fan, for a long time…love your work. But I ABSOLUTELY LOVED EVERY WORD of What Mother Never Told Me. I read it to review and bought copies for my sister, niece and mentee…I love Parris McKay and her friends and family, shoot, I think I will read it again…
angelia
Wow. thank you Angelia. that is all that a writer wants is to be able to touch a reader, especially to a point where they want to share their reading experience with others!
.-= Donna Hill´s last blog ..Through The Fire =-.
What Mother Never Told Me is the long overdue conclusion to Rhythms (which I wrote in 2001). There were so many readers who wanted to know more, who wanted to find out if Parris ever found her mother and if so what would that meeting be like.
Obviously it took me ten years to write the book (or at least get to the point where I had the time to really write it the way I wanted). In putting it together, I knew that I wanted it to be more than just Parris and her mother Emma and that it would truly be a story about the six degrees of separation. Those were some of the themes that I worked with in putting it together.
.-= Donna Hill´s last blog ..Through The Fire =-.
Hi Donna…thank you for joining us today!
I read the book and enjoyed it very much. It’s an emotional story. I thought their relationships were tough. It was almost easy for me to figure out why Emma gave Parris away, but I was stumped why Celeste and Leslie’s mothers treated them the way they did.
Sharon, did it all make sense to you by the end? ie Celeste and Leslie’s mothers??
.-= Donna Hill´s last blog ..Through The Fire =-.
Yes it did! And the relationship between Parris and Celeste even threw me further for a loop.
What are your thoughts about Emma and her relationship with Michael?
.-= Donna Hill´s last blog ..Through The Fire =-.
OOOOOO…I love it when an author comes to the chat asking questions…..LOL!!!
I felt that Emma lost the most. Not only she lost the chance of loving her daughter but she lost her identity. I knew once he found out the truth about Parris he wouldn’t be able to forgive her.
The Emma/Michael relationship was so complex and mired down in deception…I could literally feel his pain when he discovered her lies…there is so much of our history wrapped up in that. Emma was so blinded by her desire to have the ‘perfect’ life she couldnt see anything, not unlike many…
angelia
Hello Donna,
Welcome! Welcome. I loved Rhythms. I read it in hardback. I am so glad you’ve brought the sequel out.. I’ve got to get the sequel. I’d love to interview you. Please hit me off the loop if you’re available.
Thanks!
Maxine
Maxine, do you have my email addy??
.-= Donna Hill´s last blog ..Through The Fire =-.
I love both books. I felt so sad for everyone. It was very emotional to me. I know how it feels when your mother cannot be a mother to you. I cried for all the women, it was just so sad.
I hope there is a third book in this series. I want to know what happens with Parris and her mother.
Actually, I would like to know what happens with all of them. Does Corrine ever accept Emma & Parris? Does Parris get to meet Michael? Does Celeste continue to see Sam because she likes him or to use him to keep getting back at her mother?
Those are pretty good “what if questions” I will certainly think about it.
.-= Donna Hill´s last blog ..Through The Fire =-.
I want to know about them too.
corinne’s nose is still out of joint! but she will get over it. lol celeste makes it work with same and leslie will eventually find her father and get the counseling that she needs. at least that’s what i have in my head. lol
.-= donna´s last blog ..Through The Fire =-.
I also want to see what happens with her father and the whole family.
OL @ Sharon, yes. and we don’t want to give that part away for those who have not read it. That was an element that I’d imagined long before I started writing the book.
.-= Donna Hill´s last blog ..Through The Fire =-.
LOL @ Sharon, yes. and we don’t want to give that part away for those who have not read it. That was an element that I’d imagined long before I started writing the book.
.-= Donna Hill´s last blog ..Through The Fire =-.
hello to those who just popped in. thanks for joining me today. More??? You want more? It took me ten years to get this book out! LOL.
My hope is that they all found some kind of closure. but you never know.
What would you all like to see happen??
Yes, yes, yes. We want more so much backstory and future story to answer our questions. I hope we don’t have to wait 10 years. LOL.
Shai, did you read Rhythms? If not, it may help to fill in some of the back story of the characters.
.-= Donna Hill´s last blog ..Through The Fire =-.
I have read Rhythms. I wanted to know what David did all those years after Emma was born.
Donna, I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy. I’ll be seeing you tomorrow at Romance Slam Jam. I’ve always enjoyed your books, but I especially loved Getting Hers and Wicked Ways. Keep ‘em coming, girlfriend!!!
Hey lady! Good to “see you” LOL. Hope all is well in your world.
.-= Donna Hill´s last blog ..Through The Fire =-.
to me Emma and Michael’s story is the most powerful of all. I say this because their relationship was about blind love. Emma needed to be loved so desperately that she was willing to do anything to have it. She was starving for it.
As for Michael, although he may not forgive her, I know that he still loves her to the bottom of his soul. that is why his hurt is so deep.
.-= Donna Hill´s last blog ..Through The Fire =-.
She lied about her race and family. I wonder how he will take it. And I wonder how his family will take it.
I’d love to hear what everyone thinks of this major movement in publishing to go digital. Does having books in e-book format make you buy more or less? Do you have a kindle, a nook??
.-= Donna Hill´s last blog ..Through The Fire =-.
Having books in e-format will not change my spending habits in books. I prefer having a book in my hand and I have a book with me at all times. I don’t have an E-reader but I downloaded Kindle on my Blackberry and I don’t like it. I don’t like reading books on a computer. Sure I could print it out but I might as well buy the book. Maybe in the future I’ll consider buying an E-reader when my home is completely taken over with books…..LOL
Of course there is nothing like the feel of a book in your hands! But I think we all need to be prepared for the inevitable which is books in electronic form. I have a kindle. I also have a sony reader. I have the apps on my Iphone. I like the convenience. What I don’t like is not being able to flip back and forth to a particular spot without losing my place. haven’t figured out the book mark thing yet.
What I appreciate is the immediacy of getting a book that I want. Time will tell.
.-= Donna Hill´s last blog ..Through The Fire =-.
I have been eyeing the Nook. I think this one will suit me just fine. The Ipad looks interesting too although I haven’t done much research on it and I know it’s more than an ereader. But you’re right…ebooks are inevitable.
Sharon, I love the feel of a book, especially a hardcover book. I carry more than one book at time. My tote is loaded with stuff, cause as a poet, I always carry a notebook and pen. Then theirs my MP3 player and so on. The load is too much on my shoulder now. So being able to hold a Kindle would be cool for me and esp. on a crowded bus(won’t need as much arm room, LOL).
OMGoodness Shai you do carry a lot. I’m slowly coming around to getting an ereader…it’s just amking sure I pick the right for me for the cost.
LOL. I want the newest Kindle. I will probably get it for Christmas. Hope the price goes down. First I need to get a netbook and another CPU.
I have a Kindle, however, I will never, ever stop purchasing actual books, never ever…
angelia
Donna…great question, especially since this chat is part of our E-Book Reading Challenge. LOL. I have a Sony Reader (two actually…as I damaged the 1st generation one and had to get another). I love it! It has simplified my process of reviewing manuscripts and review books. I also hope to get the Nook or Alex Reader later this month.
E-Books haven’t really changed my thoughts as far as books are concerned. I will always be a lover of actual books, but space is what changed my thoughts. I simply got overwhelmed with books in my house, in my car, in my purse, and in my suitcase when traveling. I went to Disneyworld one year with a crate of manuscripts in the trunk. It was crazy! So, these electronic devices minimize the load for me and help minimize the overwhelmed feeling I get sometimes.
Tee, the space issue has finally caught up with me. In the last ten years, it seems my books have mated. LOL. I just cannot keep them all. I have about 3 medium sized boxes of books for giveaway. I am a book and shoe lover, both were taking over my place. LOL.
I’m just a gadget person!! LOL. I would love a Nook just to have one. I love my Kindle. It definitely cuts down on space. But now that I am back in school I have to have the physical books. So I’m back to square one. Haha. I still love the feel of a book in my hand.
.-= Donna Hill´s last blog ..Through The Fire =-.
Hello Donna,
I’ve been a long time fan, but the last books I read of yours were Wicked Ways and the very entertaining Getting Hers. I confess I read books less and less and prefer audio books. well..I’m addicted to audio books.. can’t stand to move my vehicle without on in the player or either in the ipod/mp3. I have the kindle and rarely touch it for pleasure.. but will read somethings business related on it. My point, black writers, especially veteran writers like yourself with proven sustainability in this industry, and a loyal fan base should have audio books. Your works are certainly worthy, especially with your impressive catalog of best sellers. I look forward to listening to your titles in that format and check audible and other audio book sellers frequently for additions of black writers. Rarely do they have an audio book option for us. I’m always awed when I don’t find an author of your caliber without an audio book option. I suppose we’re going to have to produce our own. But, if I’ve overlooked an audio version of your works, please let me know. I’v'e read many of your older titles and still love your works.
Actually so many people have asked for my books in audio. My agent is working on that. I’ve also considered reading them myself. It takes a great deal of time. But with so many people who commute in their cars it is certainly an opportunity for us that is being overlooked. I would suggest writing letters to the publishers of some of your favorite authors and request that the books be available in audio. It took them forever to even think that black folk read, not we have to get them to believe that we listen too!! Make your voice heard. It is the only way that they will know.
.-= donna´s last blog ..Through The Fire =-.
I’ll purchase both ebooks and traditional books. I may bite the bullet one day and buy a e reader. I’ve downloaded the Kindle to my laptop and it works for me at the moment. However, I do prefer holding the actual book in my hands.
It is a hard transition moving from traditional books to e-books, but we have to get ready. the train is in the station and it will take off with or without us.
.-= donna´s last blog ..Through The Fire =-.
I would also be interested what David all those years after he left Cora.
that is a good question . I have never really explored the missing years with David.
.-= Donna Hill´s last blog ..Through The Fire =-.
I thought that the instant I read him leaving then coming back. He never dated or married, no children. Then he comes back to raise Parris. Interesting.
in the novel (Rhythms) I sort of elude to the notion that he watched Cora a Emma from afar. Sad and pining for them.
.-= Donna Hill´s last blog ..Through The Fire =-.
I know, which peeked my interest. I was thinking as he was looking at them from afar, what was happening on his side of town, so to speak.
Hello Donna,
I am a big fan of your writings. I have not had a chance to read the book for today’s discussion but from what I am reading it is a must have and I will be reading it soon. But I wanted to let you know that you are one of my favorite authors and I look forward to reading more titles from you.
Thank You for joining the chat.
Regina
Dallas, TX
Hey Regina,
thanks so much. glad I have been able to entertain you all of these years! LOL. I hope that you will enjoy WMNTM when you get a chance to read it. Do let me know what you think,
.-= donna´s last blog ..Through The Fire =-.
For those who have e-readers just about all of my books are now available in e-book form.
On another note… i just got my author copies of Through the Fire yesterday! Wooo Hooo. Although it is a reprint it is part of the series that I love the most featuring Quinten Parker!!
.-= Donna Hill´s last blog ..Through The Fire =-.
Donna, I feel in love with your writing when you started in the 90′s writing for Arabesque. I was a romantic fanatic. Are you a poet too? I love your prose in WMNTM?
for those who read WMNTM… what could I have done differently?
.-= Donna Hill´s last blog ..Through The Fire =-.
Personally, I don’t think there’s anything you could have done differently. Characterization, plot, and subplots all were on point.
well maybe to have answered those questions from my pervious comment….LOL
I have spoken to you about this before. The time setting and her age did not go together. It felt like it was in 2000-something and she was in her 20′s. Yet, she would have been decades older if she was in 2000+ year. Am I the only who noticed or felt that?
Yes, Shai you did mention that before. I pretty much thought that the age and time was on target, but I could be wrong. Parris is in her 30s.
.-= donna´s last blog ..Through The Fire =-.
Donna, I started out reading your romance novels and have been a fan of yours for years. I like the fact you write different types of books. Will the ladies from the Getting Hers series be back in another book?
.-= Shelia Goss´s last blog ..Red Carpet Tour Gets a Little Deep =-.
Not sure about bring the GH ladies back. They had their second spin in Wicked Ways. They were definitely a hot mess. I liked being able to write about characters who weren’t “so good.” LOL
.-= donna´s last blog ..Through The Fire =-.
well I am heading home. Will check back in with the after work crew a bit later. In the meantime, thanks to those who dropped in earlier. You gave me much to think about and I truly appreciate you!
.-= Donna Hill´s last blog ..Through The Fire =-.
Well folks, I do believe my time is up. Thank you to everyone who stopped by to chat today and of course for your wonderful support for all these years. Can’t do it without you all. Thanks Tee for the chat opportunity.
Happy reading everyone
Donna
.-= donna´s last blog ..Through The Fire =-.
Thank you all SO MUCH for chatting with Donna yesterday and sharing your thoughts on WHAT MOTHER NEVER TOLD ME and participating in our E-Book Reading Challenge.
I hate I didn’t get to finish up and join in yesterday, but I will definitely be ready when we chat again with Donna on April 23rd during her blog tour. She’ll stop by and share a bit more with us about herself and the book. Hope to see you all then!
-Tee
I know I’m sooo sooo late, but I read through the comments and some people did ask what I wanted to know. Decided to leave a note just to show my support.
Lawd, I love Donna Hill for so long. She’s been an inspiration for me and I wish her continued success and all the favored blessings that Heaven will bestow upon her!
Kisses and hugs from Motown, gurl!
.-= Sylvia´s last blog ..LABW: Parent TipHow To Create Great Easter Baskets on a Budget for the kids! =-.