“I want you to laugh a lot. I believe that
laughing is like a sweet-smelling aroma for the soul and the heart. I used to
laugh all the time. Back when life was good and innocent, and I was good and
innocent.
Don’t prove my dream a lie.
Don’t be a caged butterfly.
Become something and someone that is even
better than what I could see.
I don’t know what your new parents will
call you, but in my heart, I whispered Thomas Gray Livingston III in your ears,
if you be a boy. Mama thinks that you are and like I said before, she ain’t
never wrong.
If I could give you one piece of advice,
I’d tell you this—love the skin you’re in.”
From The Caged Butterfly by Marian L. Thomas
Award-Winning Author and Speaker, Marian L. Thomas, has
penned five engaging novels to date. Her books have been seen on national
television stations such as the Oprah Winfrey Network, Ovation, and the A&E
Network. She has been featured in print magazines, newspapers and a guest on
local, national and online radio stations. For her book, I Believe In
Butterflies, Marian ranked among the top 100 Most Popular Authors in
Literary Fiction on Amazon. She spent most of her teen years in Oak
Park, Illinois, but now resides
in a suburb of Atlanta with her
husband. She enjoys a good bag of popcorn, a plate full of pasta, and a grape
pop.
Book Description:
Who Would Think That One
Act of Love Could Affect Four Generations?
On December 29, 1930, Mildred "Millie"
Mayfield gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, Addie. Millie teaches Addie three
things that she feels matters most in life; inner beauty, reading books and
giving your “special something’ only to the man you marry. Addie lives up to
the first two. On one autumn night in 1949, Addie falls for the irresistible
red curls and vibrant green eyes of a young man from the other side of the
railroad tracks. Neither knowing that the consequences of their love would have
lasting effects. Known as one of the greatest white jazz pianists in New
York, Timmy Taylor never had a reason to question his
identity – until truth and betrayal strike. Will Timmy be able to push past the
pain? Beautiful and talented, Nina Taylor inherited her father's gift, but not
his looks. Certain that's how he made it big, she dives deep into an obsession
that could be deadly. Will Nina learn to love the skin she’s in before it’s too
late? Spanning from 1920 to 1996, this captivating tale of secrets, betrayal,
and forgiveness will pull at the strings of your heart, and keep you turning
pages while you pray for a happy ending.
Interview:
Welcome, Marian! So excited about your new book, The Caged
Butterfly. Can you tell everyone why you wrote it?
Marian: When an idea for a book comes to mind, it’s
hard to dismiss it. The Caged Butterfly, was no different. I wanted to write a
book that was rich in ‘real-life’ dialogue and captured the essence of
what we,
as women, go through. Love, heartache, loss and even a little betrayal from
those we love most if we’re truly honest with ourselves.
Also, I love books that show
how the decisions we make, affect the generations that come after us. There’s
real truth in that journey.
The prologue made me cry (an
excerpt is above). Can you tell us a little about your main characters?
Marian: First, let me say that
I love these characters. The reader’s introduced to each of them through the
first-person narrative.
Addie Mayfield is a young
southern woman who falls in love with a young man from the other side of the
railroad tracks.
Mildred ‘Millie’ Mayfield is
Addie’s mother. She’s a strong-minded, morally-driven woman with three main
beliefs in life: inner-beauty is the core of a woman, reading books is vital,
and young women should only give their something ‘special’ to the man they will
marry.
Timmy Taylor is fighting the bitterness of the
past through the keys of his piano.
Nina Taylor is a young woman
who must learn what it means to love the skin you’re in before her decisions in
life take her down a path that could be life-threatening.
If someone found themselves being a caged
butterfly, what kind of advice or wisdom can you give them?
Marian: There’s freedom in believing in yourself and strength in loving someone
with all your heart. Don’t be afraid of either of them. Without love and
belief, where would we be?
What was it like growing up as
a child and what did you want to become when you grew up?
Marian: When I was a
youngster, as they say, I wanted to be a journalist. Although, this revelation
didn’t hit me until I was wrapping up high school. Before that, I was into
drawing with charcoal, tie-dying and working with clay.
My mother sent me to various
art classes, and I even represented my high school at a State Art competition,
during my freshmen year.
What do you attribute your
fine art of storytelling? Does it come naturally?
Marian: For me, the recipe for
storytelling comes from a few cups of life experience, a heaping spoon of
learning from other storytellers, and a dash of natural ability.
When you're not writing, what
do you do for fun?
Marian: My husband and I enjoy
the beach. I also enjoy sappy or funny movies, and I get a real kick out of
watching a good Sci-Fi movie on a Friday night with a giant bowl of popcorn.
Is there anything you'd like
to tell your fans?
Marian: Let’s stay connected.
Feel free to follow me on Twitter, like me on Facebook, and by all means,
please hit the ‘follow’ button if you’re a member of Bookbub.
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