What is your definition of a Holy Roller? Join us today as we chat with ReShonda Tate Billingsley about her new release, Holy Rollers! **This is not a book discussion, so no need to worry about not having read the book.**
Get your copy of Holy Rollers!!
ABOUT THE BOOK
Holy Rollers tells the story of three life-long friends—Coco, Audra and Nita—and their quest to 
find true love. The three women have endured their share of heartache: Coco is abused by her boyfriend Sonny; Audra is a single mother who only seems to meet unreliable men; and Nita can’t get over a married man who wants to keep her as his mistress.
Deciding to take fate into their own hands, the three women attend a conference for ministers, hoping to meet men who are God-fearing and wholesome. The results are varied, but the experience with the church changes the lives of these three women in this hilarious and heartbreaking story.
BOOK EXCERPT
“Those preacher men ain’t ready for me.” Nita wiggled her hips in the full-length mirror. She wasn’t trying to be vain, but she looked good. Real good. The mini-skirt hugged her size ten frame in all the right places. She’d taken Audra’s advice and covered up her 38 Triple D’s, but she still wore a form-fitting white ruffled jacket. As always, her honey brown curls cascaded down her back.
“If you say so,” Coco responded. “But what’s with the white suite? I know you’re not going for a virginal look.”
Nita placed her hands on her hips. “And if I were?”
Coco and Audra exchanged looks, then burst into laughter. They were in Audra’s bedroom, where they’d all gotten dressed for their night of ‘holy rolling’ as Audra had dubbed it.
“I have the red shoes to give a hint of bad girl,” Nita said, sticking out her leg to reveal the high-heeled strappy pumps.
Both Audra and Coco shook their heads. Nita waved them off and leaned into the mirror to check her reflection one more time. After licking her thumb and running it over her eyebrow to smooth it down, she turned to face her friends. “Laugh all you want. I’m going for a pure look if you must know. And when I have all these preachers falling all over me, you’ll wish you hadn’t worn that old demon red,” she said, pointing at Audra, “and that library-navy blue,” she added, pointing at Coco.
“What’s wrong with what I’m wearing?” Coco said, glancing down at the navy knee length dress with a white lace collar.
“You look like a school marm,” Nita deadpanned. “We’re supposed to be going to catch, remember?”
“I thought this was a look ministers would like – you know, kind of First Ladyish,” Coco said, motioning toward her outfit.
“Girl, I know I haven’t been to church in a long time, but I don’t think that’s what First Ladies dress like. Maybe the First Ladies’ grandma,” Nita said.
“Yeah, Coco,” Audra chimed in. “It is kind of old and homely looking.”
“Whatever,” Coco said. “I think I look cute.”
“If you say so.” Nita walked over to her purse, which sat on Audra’s nightstand, pulled out a Bible and tore the plastic off. “Let’s go. We’ve got some men to snag,” she said, slipping the Bible under her arm.
“Shameful. Just a shame fo’ God,” Miss Bea said when they walked into the living room. She was sitting on the sofa watching “Wheel of Fortune.” Andrew was asleep next to her.
“What’s a shame, Miss Bea?” Coco asked. While Miss Bea gave them all a hard time, each of them loved the cantankerous old woman. Nita would never admit it, though. The two of them were always going at it and Audra swore it was because they were exactly alike.
“Y’all actually going through with it? You actually goin’ hoing rolling.”
“Holy rolling,” Audra corrected.
“I said it right,” Miss Bea tsked. “Blatantly going after a man of God.” She eyed Nita’s five-inch heels. “And you’re even wearing hooker shoes.”
“Operative word, man,” Nita replied. She held out her foot and wiggled it. “And I’ll have you know, these are Christian Louboutin.”
“Christian Lou-booty who?”
“Christian Louboutin,” Nita snapped. “Designer, seven hundred and eighty dollars.”
Miss Bea shook her head in disgust. “That just don’t make sense. That’s my rent for two months.” She eyed the heels again. “And ain’t nothing Christian ‘bout them hooker shoes.”
“They were a gift,” Nita said. “I didn’t pay for them.”
“Oh, you paid for them all right,” Miss Bea replied, shaking her head. “You paid one way or another.”
“Okay, on that note,” we’re going to go,” Audra said.
Of course, Nita couldn’t let the issue drop. “Don’t start judging us,” she said.
“I’m not judging. I leave that to God. But I’m tellin’ you, this ain’t the way to find a man. Hawaiian Luau,” she said, solving the “Wheel of Fortune” puzzle.
“Well, I guess you would know how to find a man, seeing as how you’ve been married four times,” Nita chuckled.
Miss Bea didn’t see anything funny. “If I’ve been burned enough, it seems like you’d listen to me when I tell you to stay out the fire,” she said, not taking her eyes off of the TV.
“Maybe I like it hot,” Nita said. She always enjoyed getting under Miss Bea’s skin.
“Then you’ll fit in just fine in hell,” Miss Bea said before turning the volume up even more.
Want more? Order your copy today at www.Amazon.com, or wherever books are sold!
View the blog tour schedule at http://bit.ly/HolyRollersBlogTour.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
ReShonda Tate Billingsley is a national bestselling author of 19 books, all published by Simon and Schuster/Pocket Books. In 2000, after numerous rejections from publishers, ReShonda stepped out on faith, established her own publishing company, and self published her debut novel, My Brother’s Keeper. 
The book caught the attention of one of the country’s top literary agents, who secured a deal for ReShonda with megahouse publisher, Simon & Schuster/Pocket Books.
The rest, as they say, is history.
ReShonda went on to sign one deal after another with Simon & Schuster and to date, is considered one of the country’s top inspirational authors. Her sophomore novel, Let the Church Say Amen, is being made into a movie of which she is Executive Producer and actress Regina King is the director. ReShonda’s literary career is such a success that in 2007, she was able to leave her job as a reporter with Fox 26 News in Houston to write full time.
ReShonda has appeared on the Essence Bestseller’s list more than 20 times, as well as The Washington Post, Dallas Morning News and Ebony Magazine Bestseller’s lists. Her books include The Devil is a Lie, Can I Get a Witness, The Pastor’s Wife, Let the Church Say Amen, Everybody Say Amen, I Know I’ve Been Changed and My Brother’s Keeper. Her inspirational teen novels include Nothing But Drama, Blessings in Disguise,With Friends Like These, Getting Even, Fairweather Friends, Friends ‘Til the End, and Caught up in the Drama. She has one non-fiction title, Help! I’ve Turned into my Mother. ReShonda has won numerous awards for her journalism, fiction and poetry writing skills. She is a five-time winner of the National Association of Black Journalists Spirit in the Words competition, one of Rolling Out Magazine’s Top 25 Women in Houston and H-Texas Magazine’s Top Professional.
ReShonda’s upcoming projects include Holy Rollers (July 2010), Say Amen, Again (July, 2011), the teen novel Drama Queens (Fall 2010), and two travel suspense novels. The Houston native also serves as a freelance editorial and marketing consultant. She has ghostwritten four fiction projects and five non-fiction projects. She is married with three small children and does not hide her addiction to Reality TV and Facebook.
She welcomes readers to her website at www.reshondatatebillingsley.com.
**A Tywebbin Blog Tour
I am looking forward to this read as I’ve enjoyed all of ReShonda’s titles I’ve read thus far. Anyone read it yet?
-Tee
Great Exceprt, my copy is enroute…I am not good at defining folk, so not sure how to say what a holy-roller would be, let me think…hmmmmm~
angelia
.-= angelia´s last blog ..WHOLENESS =-.
i loved it!
.-= Dee Stewart´s last blog ..Don’t Blame the Devil Reviewed =-.
Okay, so what do YOU think a Holy Roller is?
I know when I hear it, it mostly has negative connotation: someone who is constantly (as in above and beyond) talking about how saved they are, reciting verses, and seemingly trying to convince others and/or judging others based upon what they think it means to be Christian. And of course, they’ve left out their issues and how hard it may be to get by day to day without messing up occasionally.
Oh< I see holy roller is synonomus with churchy, judgemental busybody…okay…actually, I recall people calling Pentecostal folk holy rollers back in the day, without any of the negative conotations, they just went to church all the time…
angelia
.-= angelia´s last blog ..WHOLENESS =-.
What Angelia said
I would someone who is “extra churchy” always got something negative to say or condemns everything that isn’t black/white in the bible. I’ve also heard the term “religious spirit”….
I have never heard religious spirit but when some says you are being ‘religious’ it is not a good look at all…okay starting to get it…:}
angelia
.-= angelia´s last blog ..WHOLENESS =-.
I haven’t heard that one either, but have heard “all sanctified.”
Hey, everyone..sorry, I’m tardy for the party. My son would decide to get sick on the first day of my tour…but I’ve got him all taken care of and so I wanted to drop in. First of all, Tee, thanks for hosting me.
I really enjoyed writing this book, which by the way, stemmed from actual women on the prowl for some preachers.
To me, the term Holy Rollers always had a negative connotation too. But as someone on my FB page pointed out, its an actual term for people who “roll” when they get the holy spirit.
Always glad to have you with us, ReShonda. And, trust me I know about the kids stuff.
I’m working frantically now as my last hour of quiet time is winding down.
This definitely sounds like a book we’re going to have to have you back to discuss during one of our Black Book Chats. Let me know if you’re interested and we can get it scheduled.
I also meant to ask…but do they “stop” when the music stops? LOL. I’m just sayin’… This has always bothered me.
Hmm…my definition exactly what the others have said with a bit extra. The do what I say do and not what I do when I think no one can see me. Carry around a bible, quoting scriptures, yet not knowing the meaning of Christianity. Against abortion, but thinks its okay to kill the doctors who perform it. Judging and finding everyone lacking forgetting the mote in your eye.
But……since I know the title is for fun….I find it cute. No ranting here. By the way, hello ReShonda
Dyanne
You always do such a good job of putting it out here. This is what I was thinking and rambling on about. Ahahha…you said it so much better.
I like the title too, and the cover, and that ReShonda wrote it. And…that it’s sitting right here tempting me to read just one chapter.
.-= Tee C. Royal´s last blog ..Holy Rollers Blog Tour w-ReShonda Tate Billingsley =-.
Hi, ReShonda. I’m very much looking forward to reading Holy Rollers. I’ve read a lot of your other books and I know this one will not disappoint!
I agree with some of the other comments re the term holy roller in terms of it being a negative term. I think of the individual who can’t hold one conversation without letting you know how “religious” they are…
Hi ReShonda-
I’ve got my copy of Holy Rollers and am ready to get my read on….
I remember when I first heard this term. It was from a young girl who LOVE to praise God. She said she was taunted by the other girls in the church for praising boldly. They called her a Holy Roller.
“Holy roller” – that’s a tag I’ll proudly accept. It’s all about a spiritual connection with the Creator. I like the premise of this book and look forward to reading it. There is a lot of room for growth in these characters.
For me, personally, I started using the term to classify all those people who were crucifying me because of what I write. The ones that told me I was going to “rot in hell” because my CHARACTER wasn’t delivered from his homosexuality.
In the context of the book, its a play on words….these chicks are ‘rolling’ after men of the cloth!
Reshonda, I have to get a copy of the book. It sounds fantastic.
Dyanne
I think the term Holy Rollers is directed towards the pentecost/holiness/sanctified/Church of God in Christ/assemblies of God sect. When the people become emotional from hearing the Word or become emotionally charged from the music, their bodies begin to jerk aggressively, they’ll jump up and down, run around the church, scream and holler, talk in a babbling language, fall out on the floor, and roll around as if they were having a seizure or convulsion. RTB’s title is a metaphor of women desiring to roll with holy men.