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Shine Annie - Betty Oglesby Payne
Shine Annie
Betty Oglesby Payne
ISBN: 9781603060042
NewSouth Books
Reviewed By Linda Waterson
Official Apex Reviews Rating:
This terse reminder from Carl, her older brother, perfectly encapsulates the promise of young Annie Ruth Watson’s life – a promise that everyone is aware of, from her parents to her teachers to her cousins to everyone in her neck of the woods in Tobacco County, Georgia. The daughter of Big Sid Watson – the biggest, blackest farmer in town – Annie is afforded numerous privileges and opportunities that others can only dream of, and, when it comes to her future, the sky is limit.
However, while everyone else ponders her becoming a doctor, lawyer, or some other highly respected professional, she only aspires to be one thing: Mrs. Raymond Baldwin. Completely head over heels in love with her high school sweetheart, Annie can’t wait for the day to finally come when the two of them will finally wed, consummate their relationship, and live the rest of their lives in marital bliss. The only problem: Raymond can’t wait either – but, instead of patiently allowing Annie’s plans for them to come to fruition – he soon strays lustfully into the arms of another.
Raymond’s actions – and their disastrous consequences – quickly tear Annie’s world apart, and, in her bemused state of emotional grief, she makes a snap decision that forever alters the course of her life. Suddenly, she goes from rising academic scholar to struggling young wife and mother, and – despite it all – she still carries a flame for Raymond. Forced to come face-to-face with the ramifications of her actions, Annie must learn to grow up in a hurry amid the fast-changing landscape of an ambiguous new world.
The debut novel by Betty Oglesby Payne, Shine Annie takes its rightful place among the esteemed ranks of instant literary classics. In masterful fashion, Payne pulls back the layers of African American culture and society, providing the reader with invaluable history lessons not typically taught in textbooks. Much like Zora Neale Hurston and Alice Childress before her, Payne exposes the love, pain, beauty, and ugliness of the burdensome lives often thrust upon us – expertly displaying just how none exist without the others, and that all contribute to our evolution into the flawed – yet powerful – beings that we all are.
The greatest strength of Shine Annie, though, lies in its compelling underlying message that the lives we often aspire to are not the ones we eventually lead – and the diverted paths we ultimately take, while initially appearing to weaken us, are actually pre-designed to make us stronger than we ever would have been had we traveled in any other direction.
An outstanding offering from a powerful new literary voice. Highly recommended.
Official Apex Reviews Interview: Betty Oglesby Payne (Shine Annie)
Apex Reviews: Thanks for joining us for this interview, Betty. We're looking very much forward to learning more about your book.
You touch on a range of different issues in the book, including everything from love to racism to domestic violence. How were you able to bring together such diverse elements and create such a holistically sound, inspiring tale?
Betty Oglesby Payne: I was a good listener as a child, and I grew up hearing many stories about love, racism, domestic violence, etc. While writing Shine Annie, I utilized some of those stories, as well as my own experiences. Shine Annie is about life and life involves many issues.
AR: Is Annie based on anyone that you know or have known?
BOP: Annie is not based on any one person. She is a composite of people I have met, known, and imagined.
AR: Given their history, is Raymond truly in love with Gabrielle (the white woman that he cheats on Annie with) or are there interracial dynamics at play in their situation?
BOP: Raymond is truly in love with Gabrielle. His father's attitude has helped to create his preference for a white girl; however, his feelings for Gabrielle are genuine.
AR: In the book, you do a commendable job of highlighting the various intra-racial tensions within the African American community, particularly those centered on skin color. Do you think such tensions continue to linger to this day?
BOP: One would think that in the year 2009, intra-racial tensions would not exist; unfortunately, there are still some traces of it, particularly regarding concerning skin color.
AR: Some of your characters also comment insightfully on the issue of "Tommin'" (when Black people commit blatant, deliberate acts of ingratiation for white people). What are your particular feelings on this issue as well?
BOP: I think the civil rights movement and our respect for our African heritage has dissipated "Tommin’”. This was a serious issue, though, at that time.
AR: Our reviewer lauded your book as an instant literary classic (congratulations!). What kinds of reactions have you gotten from other readers?
BOP: Other readers have told me that Shine Annie did a great job in helping them understand black history and culture.
AR: What is the main message that you'd like readers to take away from the book?
BOP: The message that I want my readers to take away is that a strong family can help its members survive many difficult issues.
AR: Please share more with our readers about your publishing company, NewSouth Books.
BOP: NewSouth Books, Inc., is an Alabama-based company co-owned by partners Randall Williams and Suzanne La Rosa. They publish regional books of national interest, and their headquarters is located in Montgomery.
AR: What are your future writing/publishing plans?
BOP: I am working on a second novel, and I also have completed a collection of short stories.
AR: Where can our readers learn more about you and your writing efforts?
BOP: I can be contacted directly at shineannie01@yahoo.com.
AR: Any final thoughts you'd like to share?
BOP: I would like to encourage your listeners to purchase and read Shine Annie and send me their comments.
AR: Thanks again, Betty, and best of continued success to you in all your endeavors!
Betty Oglesby Payne
ISBN: 9781603060042
NewSouth Books
Reviewed By Linda Waterson
Official Apex Reviews Rating:
“The day is coming for our lights to shine…young lady, you’ve got the potential to shine. Don’t limit yourself…”
This terse reminder from Carl, her older brother, perfectly encapsulates the promise of young Annie Ruth Watson’s life – a promise that everyone is aware of, from her parents to her teachers to her cousins to everyone in her neck of the woods in Tobacco County, Georgia. The daughter of Big Sid Watson – the biggest, blackest farmer in town – Annie is afforded numerous privileges and opportunities that others can only dream of, and, when it comes to her future, the sky is limit.
However, while everyone else ponders her becoming a doctor, lawyer, or some other highly respected professional, she only aspires to be one thing: Mrs. Raymond Baldwin. Completely head over heels in love with her high school sweetheart, Annie can’t wait for the day to finally come when the two of them will finally wed, consummate their relationship, and live the rest of their lives in marital bliss. The only problem: Raymond can’t wait either – but, instead of patiently allowing Annie’s plans for them to come to fruition – he soon strays lustfully into the arms of another.
Raymond’s actions – and their disastrous consequences – quickly tear Annie’s world apart, and, in her bemused state of emotional grief, she makes a snap decision that forever alters the course of her life. Suddenly, she goes from rising academic scholar to struggling young wife and mother, and – despite it all – she still carries a flame for Raymond. Forced to come face-to-face with the ramifications of her actions, Annie must learn to grow up in a hurry amid the fast-changing landscape of an ambiguous new world.
The debut novel by Betty Oglesby Payne, Shine Annie takes its rightful place among the esteemed ranks of instant literary classics. In masterful fashion, Payne pulls back the layers of African American culture and society, providing the reader with invaluable history lessons not typically taught in textbooks. Much like Zora Neale Hurston and Alice Childress before her, Payne exposes the love, pain, beauty, and ugliness of the burdensome lives often thrust upon us – expertly displaying just how none exist without the others, and that all contribute to our evolution into the flawed – yet powerful – beings that we all are.
The greatest strength of Shine Annie, though, lies in its compelling underlying message that the lives we often aspire to are not the ones we eventually lead – and the diverted paths we ultimately take, while initially appearing to weaken us, are actually pre-designed to make us stronger than we ever would have been had we traveled in any other direction.
An outstanding offering from a powerful new literary voice. Highly recommended.
Official Apex Reviews Interview: Betty Oglesby Payne (Shine Annie)
Apex Reviews: Thanks for joining us for this interview, Betty. We're looking very much forward to learning more about your book.
You touch on a range of different issues in the book, including everything from love to racism to domestic violence. How were you able to bring together such diverse elements and create such a holistically sound, inspiring tale?
Betty Oglesby Payne: I was a good listener as a child, and I grew up hearing many stories about love, racism, domestic violence, etc. While writing Shine Annie, I utilized some of those stories, as well as my own experiences. Shine Annie is about life and life involves many issues.
AR: Is Annie based on anyone that you know or have known?
BOP: Annie is not based on any one person. She is a composite of people I have met, known, and imagined.
AR: Given their history, is Raymond truly in love with Gabrielle (the white woman that he cheats on Annie with) or are there interracial dynamics at play in their situation?
BOP: Raymond is truly in love with Gabrielle. His father's attitude has helped to create his preference for a white girl; however, his feelings for Gabrielle are genuine.
AR: In the book, you do a commendable job of highlighting the various intra-racial tensions within the African American community, particularly those centered on skin color. Do you think such tensions continue to linger to this day?
BOP: One would think that in the year 2009, intra-racial tensions would not exist; unfortunately, there are still some traces of it, particularly regarding concerning skin color.
AR: Some of your characters also comment insightfully on the issue of "Tommin'" (when Black people commit blatant, deliberate acts of ingratiation for white people). What are your particular feelings on this issue as well?
BOP: I think the civil rights movement and our respect for our African heritage has dissipated "Tommin’”. This was a serious issue, though, at that time.
AR: Our reviewer lauded your book as an instant literary classic (congratulations!). What kinds of reactions have you gotten from other readers?
BOP: Other readers have told me that Shine Annie did a great job in helping them understand black history and culture.
AR: What is the main message that you'd like readers to take away from the book?
BOP: The message that I want my readers to take away is that a strong family can help its members survive many difficult issues.
AR: Please share more with our readers about your publishing company, NewSouth Books.
BOP: NewSouth Books, Inc., is an Alabama-based company co-owned by partners Randall Williams and Suzanne La Rosa. They publish regional books of national interest, and their headquarters is located in Montgomery.
AR: What are your future writing/publishing plans?
BOP: I am working on a second novel, and I also have completed a collection of short stories.
AR: Where can our readers learn more about you and your writing efforts?
BOP: I can be contacted directly at shineannie01@yahoo.com.
AR: Any final thoughts you'd like to share?
BOP: I would like to encourage your listeners to purchase and read Shine Annie and send me their comments.
AR: Thanks again, Betty, and best of continued success to you in all your endeavors!