A Novel Approach: Donation to Women’s Shelter A Brighter Future Launches Its Own Book Club

PRLog (Press Release) - Aug 11, 2008 -
LOS ANGELES—“It makes me happy to see the ladies so excited,” said Cynthia Arreola, director of social services for the Hollywood Wilshire YMCA’s shelter for women and children called A Brighter Future. Usually, one would think of living in a shelter as a dismal experience. However, A Brighter Future now offers a new twist on the experience: it now has its own book club.
  This story of healing and restoration began earlier this year in April when playwright-turned-novelist Alretha Thomas hired the small Los Angeles marketing company Robert Lucy Creative to launch and promote her debut novel Daughter Denied. “I wrote a fictional story about Tina Rivers, a young girl caught up in the whirlwind life of her co-dependent mother and the poor life choices she makes that wreak havoc on her family,” said Thomas. “We are a fly on the wall in young Tina’s life for 10 years.” Thomas admits the ride is bumpy but the ending is most satisfying. “Life has its bumps,” adds Thomas.
  “I read Daughter Denied immediately and knew it was a great piece of 21st century fiction,” said Lovelace Lee III, president of Robert Lucy Creative. “My challenge was to differentiate the title from others in the market and deliver it to readers that would fully appreciate Alretha’s contribution,” he said. “Alretha amazes me,” Lee said. “This lady is all about creating great literature, sharing it with the world—and then inviting others to do the same.” Thomas believes that everyone should be encouraged to tell the story they have, too.  Lee feels this is what makes her a genuine role model.
  In June, Thomas traveled to her native San Francisco to visit two schools she attended as a child. “I grew up in the Alice Griffith Housing Project also called Double Rock. I visited my former schools Bret Harte Elementary and Portola Junior High (now Martin Luther King Academic Middle School) to show those children that where you live has nothing to do with what you achieve in life. I’m living proof that greatness comes from Double Rock,” said Thomas. She inspired hundreds of children that day and was asked by Gilbert Cho the principal of Martin Luther King Academic Middle School to return in the fall for the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the new City of San Francisco Library being built at the school’s site. “Writing a novel was my choice,” said Thomas. “Encouraging the next generation of great writers is a duty to which I am totally committed.”
  Thomas returned from San Francisco and held her first “Let’s Write a Novel Workshop” for sixth and seventh graders at Orville Wright Middle School in Los Angeles. The students she touched even sent her letters of appreciation. It could be growing up in the San Francisco’s Double Rock and Compton, California that inspired Thomas to attend and graduate from the prestigious University of Southern California. She holds a degree in journalism. “I wrote Daughter Denied because I felt a story of hope—in spite of circumstances might entertain, inspire and uplift other women,” Thomas said. Her wish for her debut novel has already come to fruition.
  In June, Robert Lucy Creative was hired by gospel singer Anna Moore. When Lee sat down with his new client for the first time she was raving about a novel a friend had given her—it was Daughter Denied. “Have you heard about this novel?” Moore asked. Lee smiled proudly and said,” I have. The author Alretha Thomas is also a client.” Lee said he asked Moore to read the novel and let him know what she thought. “Anna’s a very sensitive, sweet, soul and Daughter Denied can be a hard and bumpy ride,” Lee said. Two weeks later Moore was singing the praises of Thomas’ novel, too.
  Lee remembered an incident in which he gave an ex-convict a Bible with the man’s name embossed on the cover. “That little book drew men from all over the room when I removed it from the box,” he said. “The power of a book is mesmerizing.” At his next meeting with Moore, Lee proposed that she sponsor the creation of a book club using Daughter Denied. “I was explaining the benefits to Anna of this approach and she stopped me in mid-sentence,” Lee said. “I’m blessed to be a blessing,” Moore said. And the ball was off and rolling. Moore purchased 12 copies of the novel and two weeks later Lee delivered them to Arreola. “The ladies were ecstatic to have their own book club,” said Arreola. “However, we needed 12 more books. I wanted every woman in the shelter to have her own copy.” Lee went to his network of about 280 contacts via email and within seven minutes—a former co-worker who asked to remain anonymous donated 12 additional books. The last copies books were delivered August 4. In 30 years, Lee has done hundreds of campaigns. Nothing has brought a bigger smile to his face than this one. “We actually got to make a difference in the lives of these women,” he said.
  “Some of the ladies are reading Daughter Denied for the second time,” said Arreola. “It’s a powerful book to which they can relate and appreciate.” Arreola told Lee that the ladies can’t wait to meet author Alretha Thomas and discuss Daughter Denied with her at length. “They have tons of questions for Alretha. Lovelace has created a wonderful new component to our shelter with the creation of the A Brighter Future Book Club,” said Arreola. “My task now is finding books that are as appropriate for them and as dynamic as Daughter Denied.”