MEDIA INFORMATION
One BET Plaza w 1235 W Street N.E. w Washington, DC 20018 w 202/608-2200

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
CONTACTS:  Kicheko Driggins 202/608-2160
                       kicheko.driggins@bet.net

A REVEALED SECRET THREATENS TO DESTROY A FAMILY' FOUNDATION!
Acclaimed Author Nea Anna Simone delivers an intriguing tale of a woman's struggle to embrace her family's past while trying to determine her own future!

WASHINGTON, DC ( Fall  2004)  BET BOOKS, publisher of the main stream imprint Sepia, releases  Reborn, the uplifting sequel to the critically acclaimed award winning novel, Reaching Back by Nea Anna Simone in October 2004. 

Five years have passed since Mignon Samuels first discovered the priceless family journal that chronicles the lives of the strong women who came before her. Now Mignon Samuels has decided to chronicle her own journey, adding her own history to that of the four previous generations. 

Mignon's journey takes her back to several periods in her family's history, including the early days of her grandparents' marriage and the troubles they faced, which in some way are similar to her own. Her mother, Uncle Eddie, and aunts Odele and Sofia each have all had their own obstacles to overcome; womanizing, drug addiction, and even murder!  They have always sought the 
healing power of God, but it will take years, perhaps decades, for those who survive to really see the light. 

As she delves deeper into her family's murky past, Mignon unearths a secret that turns the world as she knows it, upside-down.  With her sense of self shaken, she must face a difficult loss. Yet, like her proud ancestors, she knows the value of experiencing rebirth, and of finding the strength and faith to change her life, and her family's future. Will Mignon be able to harness the 
insight and strength from her ancestors' courage to keep moving forward despite all the odds against her. 

For years Mignon wondered why her mother Ana had never revealed her paternity. In retrospect, she was thankful, she had weathered enough storms without the additional burden of being marked by a scarlet letter. As far as Mignon was concerned everyone made mistakes, as a parent she believed that like her mother she would inevitably make a mistake that may be perceived as unforgivable. So Mignon forgave so that one day she would be forgiven. Anyway, the fact that she knew her father was a Frenchman of noble birth was of little or no importance to her in the scheme of things. If her biological father, Pierre, had not chosen to permanently exit their lives when he did, then Richard Warner, her stepfather and the man that Mignon thought of and called her father, her dad, would not have entered their lives. 

Author Simone explains her reasons for writing the spellbinding sequel, "I wrote Reborn as the sequel to Reaching Back because I felt there was still a story that had not been told."  Reaching Back was the first step...confrontation.  Reborn is the next step....self realization. Reborn
speaks of second chances to right the wrongs we've created by the choices we've made. 
Following the success of Reaching Back, chosen as an "Original Voice" by Borders, selected as Readers Choice for Best in Fiction and now on the American Libraries Association bestsellers list, Simone continues the historical, emotional and spiritual journey of  protagonist,  Mignon Samuels in Reborn.  "Nea Anna Simone has once again delivered, declares Sepia Editor Glenda Howard."  This novel tells the story about a family of resilient women who triumph over the tragedies and obstacles before them with startling clarity. Reborn has been submitted for nomination of the Hurston-Wright Legacy Award

Nea Anna Simone is available for book signings and promotional events -- for 
further information contact Kicheko Driggins at 202/608-2160.