Winner of the 2018 Best Book Awards Fiction: African-American
Who Would Think That One Act of Love Could Affect Four Generations?
THE CAGED BUTTERFLY explores the depth of family secrets, personal triumphs, and deeply rooted sorrows-- while asking the question, What does it mean to love the skin you're in?
Addie Mayfield. On one autumn night in 1949, Addie falls for the irresistible red curls and vibrant green eyes of a young man from the other side of the railroad tracks. Neither knowing that the consequences of their love would have lasting effects.
Timmy Taylor. Known as one of the greatest white jazz pianists in New York, Timmy never had a reason to question his identity - until truth and betrayal strike. Will Timmy be able to push past the pain?
Nina Taylor. Beautiful and talented, Nina Taylor inherited her father's talent, but not his white skin. Certain that's how he made it big, she dives deep into a deadly obsession. Will Nina learn to love the skin she's in before it's too late?
Get immersed in a heart-pounding story of building hope, finding love, and embracing your true identity, that spans across four generations and three states--Georgia, Chicago, and New York.
New Book Poised to Spark Fresh Debate On The Rising Trend Of Skin Bleaching
The Caged Butterfly by Marian L. Thomas
A new fiction book written by Award Winning Author, Marian L. Thomas, will no doubt spark fresh debate on the alarming trend of young women who have engaged in skin bleaching when it launches on October 23rd. The book, The Caged Butterfly, is a fictional story that follows three characters as they navigate life’s often rocky terrain in search of hope, courage, and forgiveness. One of the main characters, Nina Taylor—is convinced that having white skin is the only way to make it successfully in the entertainment industry and thus begins bleaching her skin to hide her black heritage.
“At the heart of Nina’s story, lies a very dangerous obsession that has become an authentic reality for young women today, ” Thomas stated.
A New York essay called “Mourning for Whiteness” written by Nobel Prize-Winning author Toni Morrison, addresses the assumption that being white is better.
The Caged Butterfly is the third contemporary fiction book that Thomas has written that broaches on the issue of race. The other being- I Believe In Butterflies. She said: “The Caged Butterfly provides an imitate look at a young woman who must go through the caterpillars of life to learn that one must love the skin they’re in. It’s a tough lesson for Nina, but the end is beautiful.”
“The Caged Butterfly by author Marian L. Thomas is the heartrending story of the Mayfield/Taylor family spanning four generations ranging from the 1930s-1990s. While the character-driven plot touches on relevant social issues…ultimately it is a story of love and forgiveness… Every so often, I have the pleasure of getting lost in a book that I know will stay with me. The author’s writing style pulls in the reader and seamlessly weaves the plot between generations and different geographical cultures. Rich in dialogue and featuring a memorable cast of well-developed characters…I’m pleased to give this well-written book 4 out of 4 stars. The intricate plot will appeal to an eclectic audience. Readers who enjoy books about family relationships and related social issues will appreciate it. Fans of The Help will likely enjoy this book, too.”
~ Celilia_L, Book Reviewer, Onlinebookclub.org on The Caged Butterfly
The Caged Butterfly will be available in paperback, hardcover, and digital formats when it releases in October. The author will conduct book signings for the novel at Barnes & Noble bookstores, the week of its scheduled release. For further details, visit http://www.marianlthomas.com
Reviews for The Caged Butterfly by Marian L. Thomas
On December 29, 1930, Mildred “Millie” Mayfield gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, Addie. Millie teaches Addie three things that she feels matters most in life; inner beauty, reading books and giving your “special something’ only to the man you marry. Addie lives up to the first two.
On one autumn night in 1949, Addie falls for the irresistible red curls and vibrant green eyes of a young man from the other side of the railroad tracks. Neither knowing that the consequences of their love would have lasting effects.Known as one of the greatest white jazz pianists in New York, Timmy Taylor never had a reason to question his identity – until truth and betrayal strike. Will Timmy be able to push past the pain?
Beautiful and talented, Nina Taylor inherited her father’s gift, but not his looks. Certain that’s how he made it big, she dives deep into a deadly obsession. Will Nina learn to love the skin she’s in before it’s too late?
Spanning from 1920 to 1996, this captivating tale of secrets, betrayal, and forgiveness will pull at the strings of your heart, and keep you turning pages while you pray for a happy ending.
BookBub is a hot place for authors to meet new readers! Marian L. Thomas is listed there so let’s all show her our support by following her titles on BookBub today: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/marian-l-thomas
Official Review: The Caged Butterfly by Marian L. Thomas
Post by Cecilia L. » 4 out of 4 stars
"If you don't believe in inner beauty, then you ain't nothing but a caged butterfly." Addie Mayfield
The Caged Butterfly by author Marian L. Thomas is the heartrending story of the Mayfield/Taylor family spanning four generations ranging from the 1930s-1990s. While the character-driven plot touches on relevant social issues such as child abuse, racism, skin bleaching, and suicide, ultimately it is a story of love and forgiveness.
The book begins with Addie Mayfield's loving letter to her unborn child which plays a central theme throughout the plot. As the story unfolds, the reader is introduced to Addie's mother, son, and granddaughter: Millie, Timmy, and Nina. Alternating between the cities of Georgia, Chicago, and New York, and told through first-person narratives by each character, the plot follows the family's history, relationships, triumphs, and sorrows. The book emphasizes self-acceptance, forgiveness, and redemption regardless of life's hardships.
Every so often, I have the pleasure of getting lost in a book that I know will stay with me. The author's writing style pulls in the reader and seamlessly weaves the plot between generations and different geographical cultures. Rich in dialogue and featuring a memorable cast of well-developed characters, The Caged Butterfly will not be soon forgotten. Reminiscent of The Help, though there are many bittersweet moments in the story, there are also instances of joy and humor.
What I enjoyed most about this book were the realistic dialogues between characters. Whether it was Millie and Jean dishing about the neighborhood residents over biscuits and gravy, or Boney Bass Bryan imparting street-sense smarts to Tim, the conversations were thoroughly engaging. Tossed in the mix were gems of wisdom such as, "Rich folks got too many issues trying to stay rich," and "If you got to lay down in wrinkled sheets, just remember who did the wrinkling."
It's evident the book was professionally edited, as I noted only one error. I'm pleased to give this well-written book 4 out of 4 stars. The intricate plot will appeal to an eclectic audience. Readers who enjoy books about family relationships and related social issues will appreciate it. Fans of The Help will likely enjoy this book, too.
MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW
“Powerfully evocative and winding in its story of uncertain connections and alienation, The Caged Butterfly will delight women’s fiction readers who seek strong multicultural stories of enlightenment, and family connections honed through generations of interaction and self-examination.”
~D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review on The Caged Butterfly
Award-Winning Author and Speaker, Marian L. Thomas, has penned six contemporary fiction novels to date. Her books have been seen on national television stations such as the Oprah Winfrey Network, Ovation, and the A&E Network. She has been featured in print magazines, newspapers and a guest on local, national and online radio stations. For her book, I Believe In Butterflies, Marian ranked among the top 100 Most Popular Authors in Literary Fiction on Amazon. She spent most of her teen years in Oak Park, Illinois, but now resides in a suburb of Atlanta with her husband.
BPM: Describe what you do outside of writing to expand your business or brand.
Marian: Once the pen is put down, it’s important to look for avenues that support my writing. Speaking engagements and workshops are just a few avenues that I have found help achieve this goal.
BPM: What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your body of work/books?
Marian: When I wrote Blue Butterfly, the research that I did on the struggles of black women who are determined to break down the color barriers that exist in the ballet industry—was surprising. Not that I didn’t know that those barriers existed, but reading about them, up close and personal through the eyes of the ballerinas that continue to break down those barriers—left me speechless and filled with respect. Their journeys were amazing.
BPM: How did you choose the genre you write in? Have you considered writing in another genre?
Marian: I enjoy writing stories that resonant with women, so selecting Women’s Fiction as a genre, was a natural fit. I wouldn’t mind writing in the Crime Fiction genre with a strong female detective, of course, as the main protagonist.
BPM: Tell us about your most recent work. Available on Nook and Kindle?
Marian: The Caged Butterfly (October 2018) is my most recent work. It’s a story of building hope, finding love, and embracing your identity. It also won the 2018 Best Book Awards Fiction: African-American.
BPM: Introduce us to the people in the book! Give us some insight into your main characters or the speakers.
Marian: First, let me say that I love these characters. The reader’s introduced to each of them through the first-person narrative.
Addie Mayfield is a young southern woman who falls in love with a young man from the other side of the railroad tracks.
Mildred ‘Millie’ Mayfield is Addie’s mother. She’s a strong-minded, morally-driven woman with three main beliefs in life: inner-beauty is the core of a woman, reading books is vital, and young women should only give their something ‘special’ to the man they will marry.
Timmy Taylor is fighting the bitterness of the past through the keys of his piano.
Nina Taylor is a young woman who must learn what it means to love the skin you’re in before her decisions in life take her down a path that could be life-threatening.
BPM: What’s so unique about their story-line or voice in the story? What makes each one so special?
Marian: The best way for me to answer your question is to quote Cecila_L, a book reviewer for the Onlinebookclub.com and had this to say: “What I enjoyed most about this book (The Caged Butterfly) were the realistic dialogues between characters. Whether it was Millie and Jean dishing about the neighborhood residents over biscuits and gravy, or Boney Bass Bryan imparting street-sense smarts to Tim, the conversations were thoroughly engaging. Tossed in the mix were gems of wisdom such as, “Rich folks got too many issues trying to stay rich,” and “If you got to lay down in wrinkled sheets, just remember who did the wrinkling.”
BPM: Share one specific point in your book that resonated with your present situation or journey.
Marian: Each of the characters has regrets and made mistakes. I’d say, in a sense, I’m not different. On my journey to becoming an author, I have regrets, and of course, I’ve made mistakes along the way.
BPM: Are there certain characters you would like to go back to or is there a theme or idea you’d love to work with?
Marian: My first book Color Me Jazzmyne, told the story of a woman who went from highly abused to highly acclaimed. I’d like to revisit her story but through the lens of a camera.
BPM: Is there one subject you would never write about as an author?
Marian: I would never write a book in the paranormal (werewolves, zombies, witches) genre.
BPM: We have to step out of our comfort zone periodically to act on our passions. Have you ever stepped out on faith and combated your worst fears?
Marian: Putting a book out there is like putting a piece of yourself out there, page by page. The Caged Butterfly is just over 300 pages, and there’s a piece of me on every page.
BPM: What does the phrase ‘Fail Forward’ mean to you?
Marian: It means turning your failures into motivators. You understand that you’re going to make mistakes, but it’s those mistakes or what some deem as ‘failures’ that keep you determined to succeed.
BPM: What is your preferred method to have readers get in touch with or follow you?
Marian: The best way for readers to get in touch is via my website (www.marianlthomas.com). Of course, social media is another great way to follow me and connect (Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr, Twitter, and BookBub).
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