For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. (Romans 8:18/KJV)
GOD’S PURPOSE PUSHER
Some two decades ago, God infused within Pamela Mshana, PhD an awe-inspiring vision to produce a pair of books that figures to impact lives for years to come.
The California-based, international award-winning author is the mastermind behind girls in search of cover, a two-part book series were published in June 2022 and 2023, respectively.
As part of Making Headline News’ advance coverage of Sarah Jakes Roberts’ inaugural Woman Evolve Conference September 14-16 from Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, Dr. Dr. Mshana spoke at length about the rash of notable developments that subsequently inspired her to compose two life-altering books, both of which are centered largely on observing the need for sexually abused people to obtain inner healing, especially around the psychological aspect of how such abuse effects people, she said.
“(It was in) 2008 when I wrote the first draft,” Dr. Mshana told MHN during a recent interview. “Then I put it down for many years. I thought those reasons were because of the demands of my job and working on my PhD, but I realized that the real reason I put it down for so long was because the topic was difficult for me to explore because of my own abuse.”
BUY DR. MSHANA’S BOOKS: https://girlsinsearchofcover.com/
Despite the occasional hurdles through which she had to clear, Dr. Mshana’s long-awaited milestone of emerging as a well-respected published author would ultimately come to fruition.
Generally, girls in search of cover—part 1 thoroughly examines the lives of three generations of black women scarred by rape and racism, according to a detailed synopsis of Dr. Mshana’s initial written work via Amazon.com.
“The young heroine, Carmia Evans-Pullen, is a troubled young African-American girl whose drug-addicted mother relocates Carmia and her brother to Bovina, Mississippi, a deeply religious backwater where they all move in with Carmia’s grandmother, Ma Evans,” said an Amazon spokesperson for Dr. Mshana’s 292-page first book. “Carmia grows up an outsider in Bovina, except for gaining the attention of her first crush, Joseph. Mother Johns — Joseph’s grandmother — a conniving church leader with a dark hatred for Ma Evans, convinces their community that Ma Evans’ entire bloodline, including Carmia, is cursed.
“As a young girl wrestling with sexual trauma and church hurt, will Carmia’s hope to regain her sense of purity be reached? Will the voices of her ancestors — a spiritual cloud of witnesses — give her strength enough to escape the inherited dysfunction of her mother and grandmother? girls in search of cover—part 1 explores these questions and sets the stage for riveting challenges that Carmia must continue to overcome in the second book.”
And there’s girls in search of cover—part 2, Dr. Mshana’s 280-page masterpiece she suitably describes as the second segment of a series of novels about three generations of black women scarred by rape and racism.
By all accounts, family secrets and unresolved trauma subsequently give way to them enduring a life of further exploitation, according to a detailed synopsis of this book via Amazon.
For what it’s worth, the main character, Carmia, finds herself battling Mother Johns, a conniving church leader with a dark hatred for the teen’s entire family.
Mother Johns, meanwhile, “uses the sins of Carmia’s matriarchs as well as the teen’s own misfortunes to convince their deeply religious backwater community in Bovina, Mississippi that these women’s bloodline is cursed,” according to an Amazon spokesperson for Dr. Mshana’s second book. “This novel dramatizes the anguish faced by the main character to rise above the brutal legacy of her matriarchs and the cruel intentions of Mother Johns. As a young teenager faced with a life of violence, church hurt and sexual trauma, will her hope of a better life be enough for her to overcome these challenges? Will the voices of her ancestors — spiritual cloud of witnesses — give her strength enough to escape the life of loneliness and abuse her matriarchs suffered? girls in search of cover—part 2 answers these questions and so much more.”
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Since the ceremonious release of her book series, Dr. Mshana has become the beneficiary of a slew of rave reviews.
“People have felt moved to do something to help those who have been sexually exploited, especially young people,” Dr. Mshana said. “Readers have also commented that they couldn’t put the book down, and that they appreciate the humor that gives balance to the serious topic. I’ve heard that they enjoy being in the world of these characters — the small-town setting in Bovina, Mississippi is so interesting.
“They love the dramatic and comical dynamics of the church mother’s board. Males have told me that this book could be called, ‘girls and boys in search of cover,’ because of the way the themes and situations touch on important topics for men.”
Other books, Dr. Mshana said, are forthcoming, although a timetable for their releases has yet to be determined.
“I am outlining two ideas currently,” she said, “but they’re both in the very early stages. One is a story about my father dying when I was six months old and my journey to find the African side of my family. It’s a story that will honor my African culture and hopefully points readers to embrace his or her own culture in more meaningful ways.”
To her credit, Dr. Mshana — will be a speaker during the Christian Book Lover’s Retreat in North Carolina in October — relishes the notion that her highly-anticipated book series align with the divine purpose for which God has created her.
“God’s gifted me as a writer and has blessed me from my youth to win international awards as a playwright,” said Dr. Mshana, who was recently named a finalist in the International Book Awards in the area of African American Fiction. “My purpose is to help others through education, entertainment, and ministry. This book gives expression to all three.”
Interestingly enough, Dr. Mshana, during her 2009 residency educator tenure at the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for girls in South Africa, was responsible for having written and directed an original play for girls called, Thando of South Africa.
MORE DR. MSHANA: https://pamelamshana.com
MORE ON PAMLEA MSHANA, PhD
Besides being an accomplished author, Dr. Mshana is a rising podcast host, educator, and inspirational speaker who is a 2019 recipient for the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award.
A native of Pomona, California, Dr. Mshana was suitably endorsed by Marquis Who’s Who as a leader in the education industry.
Widely regarded as a multi-talented visionary who is a fixture for customarily using creativity and servant leadership to uplift others, Dr. Mshana’s kingdom-based influence is such that she’s grasped a “special call to help hurting women heal from the inside out.”
Having acquired a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Dramatic Writing at New York University’s TISCH school of the Arts, Dr. Mshana holds a Master of Fine Arts Degree in Education from Azusa (Calif.) Pacific University in California and a PhD in Urban Leadership from Claremont (Calif.) Graduate University in Claremont, California.
To her credit, Dr. Mshana has been recognized as an award-winning playwright by The Dramatists Guild in New York.
And just recently, she was awarded the Silver Medal by the 2023 Global Book Awards in the Contemporary Fiction category and, to her credit, was a finalist in the same category.
“Both books were recognized and this is the first award for Part 2,” Dr. Mshana told MHN.
For more information about California Author Pamela Mshana, PhD, to inquire about her books, schedule her for a public appearance, book signing, or speaking engagement, or connect with her via Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorPamelaMshana; https://www.facebook.com/groups/614689433255091; https://www.facebook.com/pamela.mshana.37; Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pamela.mshana.37/; TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@pmmsh137?_t=8VGysd1DCqR&_r=1; Twitter: https://twitter.com/PamelaMshana; LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/pamela-mshana-phd-33b65a7b. Send email to [email protected].
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Andre Johnson is the award-winning Founder and Publisher for Making Headline News. A 2000 graduate of the University of Memphis School of Journalism and a former staff reporter of sports for the Memphis Commercial Appeal newspaper, Johnson covers the NBA Southwest Division from Dallas, Texas. To reach Johnson, send email to [email protected] or to [email protected]. Also, follow him on Twitter @AJ_Journalist or Instagram at @makingheadlinenews.