By the time Patti's hit fell off the charts, my mother and father had separated. I was raised by my maternal grandparents in a working class neighborhood on the south side.

My grandmother, Bernice Barnett, was as settled in her ways as sugar in the bottom of a glass of ice tea. A Louisiana lady, she had southern values that she passed on to me and my older sister Donna.

I always wanted to be a writer. I was writing poetry at age seven-- it wasn't great poetry but praise from my family, my public school teachers, and church members made me believe that I could do anything if I tried.

If there are any children in your life, praise them and push them to follow their dream-- it will make all the difference in the world.

I attended an all black public high school before winning several academic scholarships to attend Yale. From the windy city by the lake to the swish ivy leagues of the east. Think I had some adjusting to do? Yeah. But I loved it.

In my junior year, I told my elderly cousin that I was going to summer school. She asked where and I told her Oxford. She said, "It's hot in Mississippi."

I laughed so hard that it took a couple of minutes before I could say, "No cuz-- Oxford, England."

I got my masters of science degree form the Columbia School of Journalism in New York. Afterwards I realized, like Diva Di in "The Wiz", that there's no place like home.

I returned to Chicago and began working in news radio for CBS. I switched to television news and worked as a writer/producer for a decade before beginning a full time writing career.

Prayer and hard work pay off.

My first novel, FALLING LEAVES OF IVY, was published by Longmeadow Press in 1992.

My second novel, HE SAY, SHE SAY, was published in January 1997 by Doubleday.

My third novel, BEBE'S BY GOLLY WOW! Was published in July 1998 also by Doubleday.

All three books made the Blackboard BestSeller's List. FALLING LEAVES OF IVY and HE SAY, SHE SAY are both published abroad in German.

My fourth novel is...THIS JUST IN, published by Doubleday in April 2000.

Also, I'm doing a little double dipping in addition to double clicking. I'm launching a mystery series under the pen name, Ardella Garland. Ardella is my great grandmother's name. I was feeling the spirit y'all. The debut novel is called DETAILS AT TEN, published by Simon and Schuster, September 2000.

So, clear a shelf off in your bookcase. That shelf belongs to me-- I'm planning to create a fabulous body of work. Please keep me in your prayers. Thank you for all your support and God Bless.