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Making It On My Own - Marlene
Making It On My Own
Marlene
ISBN: 0976933500
New World Publishing
Reviewed By Tara Hopkins
Official Apex Reviews Rating:
Shay Johnson is used to living a modest life. Only five years old when both her parents are killed by a drunk driver, she moves in with her grandmother, who takes care of her until dying when Shay is seventeen. Soon thereafter, Shay enrolls in college, securing an off-campus apartment of her own during her sophomore year. Things appear to be going well for her - and then she meets Chico, smooth-talking aspiring entrepreneur who quickly sweeps her off her feet, promising her a life of bliss beyond her wildest dreams.
Shay soon discovers, though, that Prince Charming is often still just a frog in disguise. She eventually finds herself mother to Chico's child while pregnant with another - but not before she learns the truth about Chico's past, a truth he's been hiding from her from Day One: he's still married, and he has a daughter from a previous relationship. Their own relationship eventually implodes under the weight of his lies and continued deception, and Shay soon finds herself the sole bread-winner for her children after Chico unexpectedly leaves without a trace.
What follows is a heart-breaking tale of loss and adversity, as Shay endures the wholly agonizing experience of homelessness. Driven by her desire to provide for her children, she suffers hunger, humiliation, depression, and even threats to her own life, all the while maneuvering throughout the legal aid system, shifting from shelter to shelter, simply trying to secure a better life. Were it not for the steady companionship of the doting Huey, she may never make it back on her own two feet.
Making It On My Own tugs at the heart in so many ways that it's impossible to give it ample praise. The most admirable quality of Marlene's storytelling is the masterful way that she gives a human face to the vague world of homelessness. As Shay meets and learns the stories of other women in predicaments similar to hers, the reader vicariously learns to rid him/herself of any preconceived notions of homeless people, specifically the concept that they're lazy, shiftless, or choose to be so afflicted in life. Whether driven into indigence by health problems, unemployment, or even deceptive husbands, Marlene's narrative quickly reminds the reader that his/her own personal situation can also change without warning, and that being thankful for the security of our own lives should be the top priority of our every waking moment.
Moreover, Making It On My Own also serves as a reminder to be most appreciative for the true friendships that we're blessed to have over the course of our lives. Were it not for the disloyalty shown to her by her own friends, Shay would never have had to endure the difficulties that she faced; likewise, were it not for the true friendship of Huey, she may never have recovered. Friendship can be either a blessing or a curse, and Marlene skillfully displays that, if we're blessed enough to avoid the latter, we should honor the former with due respect.
Making It On My Own is a wonderful read, hard to put down and impossible to forget. Marlene is a welcome voice to the chorus of the literary world, and her talent begs an encore.
Official Apex Reviews Interview: Marlene (Making It On My Own)
Apex Reviews: Marlene, thanks for joining us for this interview. We truly appreciate having this opportunity to learn more about Making It On My Own
What gave you the idea for this incredible story?
Marlene: Making It On My Own came about after I released my second book, Babies Daddies and readers kept wanting to know which of my three characters best represented me. I would always joke that if I was to write a story about my experiences it would be a crazy book to say the least, and that's how Making It On My Own came to be.
AR: In the same vein, how did you come up with the touching personal stories of all the different homeless women that Shay meets along the way?
M: I must admit that most of them are from my imagination but there were a few of them that I pulled from my own personal experience.
AR: As hard a choice as it is to make, why does Shay decide to keep her second child, despite the fact that she has no job or roof over her head - and another child already?
M: Shay was angry and hurt about how the relationship ended and it definitely occurred to her to not go through with the second pregnancy, but the more she thought about everything and the situation she was already in with her first son she knew that as much as she dislike the fact of having another child by a man that left her the way Chico did, she knew in the end that that baby inside of her was a part of her and she couldn't bring herself to get rid of it.
AR: Is Chico really a bad guy, or does he just get in over his head and find it hard to take full responsibility for his actions?
M: I think he is a little bit of both. I mention briefly that he didn't grow up in the best of environment as a child himself and for that reason he didn't have the notion of what a good parent should be, being that he never had a positive role model growing up. But by the same token he was a bit of a bad guy because there are many individuals that don't grow up in the best of parental environment and still learn to put their kids first and in a way it makes them want their kids to grow up in a better environment than they did. Also Chico had another child by a previous relationship that he had also abandoned and he should have learned from that first time around that parenting was just not his thing.
AR: On the other hand, what makes Huey such a kind, selfless person?
M: Any man that is willing to step in and give of himself so freely to another man's child is a hero in my book, so to speak. Shay Johnson was at the lowest point in her life, both mentally and physically. Huey saw her at her lowest low and still saw someone worth loving. When he found out about her being pregnant and homeless, he didn't turn his back or run away screaming.
AR: When Charlene kicks Shay out at her boyfriend's behest, why does she act like it's such a difficult choice to make?
M: I think that for her it really was a difficult choice to make. The two ladies had been friends since grade school and promised to be there for each other no matter what. Charlene was so in love with Shawn that she couldn't see straight and for that reason she ended up making a decision that had ramification she wasn't prepared to deal with.
AR: In other words, if she truly cares about Shay's welfare, why does she still go through with the decision?
M: There are some women who truly does not feel complete if they do not have a man in their life. Basically Charlene was willing to stand by her man no matter what.
AR: Where does Shay get the strength to endure all the difficulties of her life?
M: From her kids. The love for a child can make you go that extra mile when all you really want to do is give up because everything is so hard. Before Shay met Chico, she wasn't exactly living the glamorous life, but she was keeping her head above water and the only mouth she had to worry about feeding was her own. From the moment TJ came into her life, she vowed that she would always care for her child no matter what. As Shay said in the very beginning, "…if it weren't for my kids, I would be the woman on the ledge getting ready to end it all, saying my farewells and plummeting to the concrete sidewalk below."
AR: What kinds of reactions have you gotten to the book?
M: Surprisingly positive reaction to be quite honest. As I was writing this book, I kept worrying that it wouldn't be well received because it wasn't the typical story about a girl getting the money or being so drop dead gorgeous that every man was trying to get into her pants. Shay was just the average girl, trying to make it day to day. I think most people really enjoy the in-depth look of Shay's daily struggles of being homeless and going through the shelter system.
AR: Please share more with our readers about your company, New World Publishing.
M: New World Publishing is a company start in December, 2006 by myself and my partner King Jewel. We were both self-published authors at the time and decided to join force and help each other out. It has been going very well with him releasing his debut title Thirteen and a Half and me with my two books Babies Daddies and Making It On My Own.
AR: What's next on the horizon for you?
M: At this time I am currently working on my fourth book Island Breeze, which I hope to have out in early 2008.
AR: Any final thoughts you'd like to share with our readers?
M: I just want to thank each and everyone that took the time to read my books. I only hope that they enjoyed reading them as much as I enjoying writing them. I look forward to all comments whether positive or negative, because I feel the positive make me know I am doing a good job and the negative allows me to make improves as I continue along in the literary field. So please feel free to visit me at www.marlenericketts.com or www.myspace.com/jamgirl3 and let me know what you think.
AR: Thanks again, Marlene, and best of continued success to you in all your endeavors!
Marlene
ISBN: 0976933500
New World Publishing
Reviewed By Tara Hopkins
Official Apex Reviews Rating:
Shay Johnson is used to living a modest life. Only five years old when both her parents are killed by a drunk driver, she moves in with her grandmother, who takes care of her until dying when Shay is seventeen. Soon thereafter, Shay enrolls in college, securing an off-campus apartment of her own during her sophomore year. Things appear to be going well for her - and then she meets Chico, smooth-talking aspiring entrepreneur who quickly sweeps her off her feet, promising her a life of bliss beyond her wildest dreams.
Shay soon discovers, though, that Prince Charming is often still just a frog in disguise. She eventually finds herself mother to Chico's child while pregnant with another - but not before she learns the truth about Chico's past, a truth he's been hiding from her from Day One: he's still married, and he has a daughter from a previous relationship. Their own relationship eventually implodes under the weight of his lies and continued deception, and Shay soon finds herself the sole bread-winner for her children after Chico unexpectedly leaves without a trace.
What follows is a heart-breaking tale of loss and adversity, as Shay endures the wholly agonizing experience of homelessness. Driven by her desire to provide for her children, she suffers hunger, humiliation, depression, and even threats to her own life, all the while maneuvering throughout the legal aid system, shifting from shelter to shelter, simply trying to secure a better life. Were it not for the steady companionship of the doting Huey, she may never make it back on her own two feet.
Making It On My Own tugs at the heart in so many ways that it's impossible to give it ample praise. The most admirable quality of Marlene's storytelling is the masterful way that she gives a human face to the vague world of homelessness. As Shay meets and learns the stories of other women in predicaments similar to hers, the reader vicariously learns to rid him/herself of any preconceived notions of homeless people, specifically the concept that they're lazy, shiftless, or choose to be so afflicted in life. Whether driven into indigence by health problems, unemployment, or even deceptive husbands, Marlene's narrative quickly reminds the reader that his/her own personal situation can also change without warning, and that being thankful for the security of our own lives should be the top priority of our every waking moment.
Moreover, Making It On My Own also serves as a reminder to be most appreciative for the true friendships that we're blessed to have over the course of our lives. Were it not for the disloyalty shown to her by her own friends, Shay would never have had to endure the difficulties that she faced; likewise, were it not for the true friendship of Huey, she may never have recovered. Friendship can be either a blessing or a curse, and Marlene skillfully displays that, if we're blessed enough to avoid the latter, we should honor the former with due respect.
Making It On My Own is a wonderful read, hard to put down and impossible to forget. Marlene is a welcome voice to the chorus of the literary world, and her talent begs an encore.
Official Apex Reviews Interview: Marlene (Making It On My Own)
Apex Reviews: Marlene, thanks for joining us for this interview. We truly appreciate having this opportunity to learn more about Making It On My Own
What gave you the idea for this incredible story?
Marlene: Making It On My Own came about after I released my second book, Babies Daddies and readers kept wanting to know which of my three characters best represented me. I would always joke that if I was to write a story about my experiences it would be a crazy book to say the least, and that's how Making It On My Own came to be.
AR: In the same vein, how did you come up with the touching personal stories of all the different homeless women that Shay meets along the way?
M: I must admit that most of them are from my imagination but there were a few of them that I pulled from my own personal experience.
AR: As hard a choice as it is to make, why does Shay decide to keep her second child, despite the fact that she has no job or roof over her head - and another child already?
M: Shay was angry and hurt about how the relationship ended and it definitely occurred to her to not go through with the second pregnancy, but the more she thought about everything and the situation she was already in with her first son she knew that as much as she dislike the fact of having another child by a man that left her the way Chico did, she knew in the end that that baby inside of her was a part of her and she couldn't bring herself to get rid of it.
AR: Is Chico really a bad guy, or does he just get in over his head and find it hard to take full responsibility for his actions?
M: I think he is a little bit of both. I mention briefly that he didn't grow up in the best of environment as a child himself and for that reason he didn't have the notion of what a good parent should be, being that he never had a positive role model growing up. But by the same token he was a bit of a bad guy because there are many individuals that don't grow up in the best of parental environment and still learn to put their kids first and in a way it makes them want their kids to grow up in a better environment than they did. Also Chico had another child by a previous relationship that he had also abandoned and he should have learned from that first time around that parenting was just not his thing.
AR: On the other hand, what makes Huey such a kind, selfless person?
M: Any man that is willing to step in and give of himself so freely to another man's child is a hero in my book, so to speak. Shay Johnson was at the lowest point in her life, both mentally and physically. Huey saw her at her lowest low and still saw someone worth loving. When he found out about her being pregnant and homeless, he didn't turn his back or run away screaming.
AR: When Charlene kicks Shay out at her boyfriend's behest, why does she act like it's such a difficult choice to make?
M: I think that for her it really was a difficult choice to make. The two ladies had been friends since grade school and promised to be there for each other no matter what. Charlene was so in love with Shawn that she couldn't see straight and for that reason she ended up making a decision that had ramification she wasn't prepared to deal with.
AR: In other words, if she truly cares about Shay's welfare, why does she still go through with the decision?
M: There are some women who truly does not feel complete if they do not have a man in their life. Basically Charlene was willing to stand by her man no matter what.
AR: Where does Shay get the strength to endure all the difficulties of her life?
M: From her kids. The love for a child can make you go that extra mile when all you really want to do is give up because everything is so hard. Before Shay met Chico, she wasn't exactly living the glamorous life, but she was keeping her head above water and the only mouth she had to worry about feeding was her own. From the moment TJ came into her life, she vowed that she would always care for her child no matter what. As Shay said in the very beginning, "…if it weren't for my kids, I would be the woman on the ledge getting ready to end it all, saying my farewells and plummeting to the concrete sidewalk below."
AR: What kinds of reactions have you gotten to the book?
M: Surprisingly positive reaction to be quite honest. As I was writing this book, I kept worrying that it wouldn't be well received because it wasn't the typical story about a girl getting the money or being so drop dead gorgeous that every man was trying to get into her pants. Shay was just the average girl, trying to make it day to day. I think most people really enjoy the in-depth look of Shay's daily struggles of being homeless and going through the shelter system.
AR: Please share more with our readers about your company, New World Publishing.
M: New World Publishing is a company start in December, 2006 by myself and my partner King Jewel. We were both self-published authors at the time and decided to join force and help each other out. It has been going very well with him releasing his debut title Thirteen and a Half and me with my two books Babies Daddies and Making It On My Own.
AR: What's next on the horizon for you?
M: At this time I am currently working on my fourth book Island Breeze, which I hope to have out in early 2008.
AR: Any final thoughts you'd like to share with our readers?
M: I just want to thank each and everyone that took the time to read my books. I only hope that they enjoyed reading them as much as I enjoying writing them. I look forward to all comments whether positive or negative, because I feel the positive make me know I am doing a good job and the negative allows me to make improves as I continue along in the literary field. So please feel free to visit me at www.marlenericketts.com or www.myspace.com/jamgirl3 and let me know what you think.
AR: Thanks again, Marlene, and best of continued success to you in all your endeavors!