Author Spotlight: Seasoned With Grace by Nigeria Lockley

Any one that follows me knows that Nigeria and I are #soulsisters. Our connection has nothing whatsoever to do with her name…lol. We simply get each other, have much in common, our thoughts somehow seem to align and we encourage one another. Get this though…we have never met. That will change soon but before then I want to introduce you to her second novel, Seasoned With Grace. Her first novel Born At Dawn won the 2015 Wheatly award for fiction…now you see who I roll with? Let me move over and let you read about her latest book…Seasoned With Grace. After reading please, please one click.

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Are you ready for a dose of Grace? She’s a beauty and the beast, which one will prevail in her life?

About the book:

Sentenced to probation, thirty-year-old, supermodel Grace King must put her plans of transitioning into acting to extend the longevity of her career on hold. Desperate to keep a close eye on Grace and his job Grace’s ambitious lawyer, Ethan Summerville has her complete community service in the last place Grace wants to be. His church.

Instead of God, Grace finds a “chocolate drop” of a man—Brother Horace Green. However, Horace isn’t looking for a supermodel. He wants his woman saved and sanctified, but Grace has never met a man who has been able to resist her. Will Horace compromise his faith for a taste of fortune, fame, and Grace?

While Grace focuses on the pursuit of passion Ethan finds one director willing to take a risk and cast Grace in his debut film, but this role fits Grace all too well. Will this film revive Grace’s relationship with God and her career or bring her closer to destruction?

Excerpt (Exclusive):

“A lot of people are saying you’re washed up and you’re a liability. But you,” Junell pointed at Grace, “and I,” she said, placing her hand on her chest, “both know that is not true. What does Ethan have to say about this situation?”

“Let’s not talk about Ethan right now, please.”

Junell took a forkful of her salad then dabbed the corners of her mouth with her napkin “Did Ethan drop you as a client? I know a great lawyer. He’s not going to manage you or act as your agent; he will only represent your interest in legal matters, but he’s good. Do you want his card?” She fished for his card in her magenta calfskin, boxy, Celine bag. “How could he do this to you now in the midst of all this?”

Grace stretched across the table and grabbed Junell’s arm before she could extract the card. “It’s fine. Ethan did not drop me, but he’s been acting funny towards me lately.”

“Funny how?” Junell threw back the last pinge of alcohol left in her glass and signaled for the waiter.

“He’s been kind of distant.” Grace shook her hand from side to side. “I think it’s because of this girl he’s dating,” she said, curling her lips in disgust at the thought of Candace and her cardigans.

“Dating?” Junell gasped, choking on her words. “Ethan’s dating. It’s not you and it’s a female?”

“Yes.”

“I had him pegged for either a closeted homosexual or madly in love with you.”

“We were both wrong,” Grace said as flatly as possible trying not to reveal her bruised ego and crushed heart.

A waiter interrupted their chitchat to bring them full glasses of mimosas. “Ladies,” he said, bowing before them after placing the long stem glasses on the table before each woman. He locked eyes with Grace and smiled at her, licking his lips. She reciprocated with a flirtatious smile of her own. His blue eyed gaze seemed impenetrable making it hard for her to determine the extent to which she could use him or to what extent did he plan on using her.

“You are absolutely divine,” the waiter whispered to Grace.

Junell responded to his compliment, preventing Grace from spouting one of her famous seductress phrases. “While the compliment is appreciated she’s saving herself for marriage, young man. Thank you.” Junell waved her hand at the waiter like she was swatting at a mosquito.

“Junie!”

“Don’t ‘Junie’ me. You cannot sit up here and expect Ethan to save himself for you and you’re over here giving away free samples of the merchandise. I’m praying for you, child.”

Sucking her teeth, Grace replied, “Not you too. You know Ethan started praying during my sentencing. That’s how he met ole girl.”

“Ole girl?” Junell raised one eyebrow, “You don’t have to say it like that.”

“I’m sorry, but I didn’t grow up in the Hamptons speaking proper English.” Grace twisted her lips and leaned back in her chair. Junell’s middle class upbringing often served as a source for contention between the two and now was as good of a time as any for Grace to deflect the issue from off her.

“You’re overreacting. They haven’t even been dating that long.” She laughed and flipped her hair again. “You just got sentenced on Monday. Today is only Friday, and please send the papers to my lawyer so you can sue me for growing up in a house with two parents so that I can testify to how ghetto Wydanche really is. All that glitters ain’t gold. I’m sorry you had to learn that on the streets, but we all learn it somehow. Now what you need to do is get yourself together before Ethan gets serious with ‘ole girl’,” she said, using air quotations.

“I don’t care what he does.”

“Liar. If you didn’t care we wouldn’t be discussing this.” Junell folded her arms and leaned back in her chair like she’d just closed another case on her detective show.

“I’m not discussing it, you are. I’m drinking.” Grace threw the mimosa down her throat as speedily as possible.

“Seriously, Grace, you need to do what you have to get right. Maybe you should go to church with Ethan.”

“Why is everyone trying to do a Holy Ghost intervention on me?”

“This life you’re living isn’t working, and I know you think no one in the world loves Grace King, but I do and I don’t want to see you in the streets, in rehab somewhere, or on some God awful reality show.” Junell and Grace both shuddered. “It’s getting late, Grace.”

Glancing at the face of her cell phone, Grace said, “Junie, it’s only one o’clock.”

Junell reached across the table and put her hand over Grace’s. “No, I mean you’re getting too old to be living your life so recklessly, especially in this industry.”

“Chile, please.” Grace sat up straight and crossed her legs. “I’m only twenty-six.”

“How many times have you been twenty-six?” Junell and Grace both broke out in laughter in response to that question.

The other patrons stared at them. They weren’t the typical business men on lunch that Billy’s catered to which made the restaurant the perfect place for a model and actress to to step out of character and be themselves without any fear of being caught on camera or accosted by some crazy fans.

Grace clutched her chest to catch her breath and tried to count how many times she’d turned twenty-six since her actual twenty-sixth birthday. Four times. Have I become one of those washed up stars that are still clinging to their youth without a hope or a prayer of ever regaining that notoriety?

Trailer

Order Seasoned With Grace

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Time Out with Nigeria Lockley:

Writing Seasoned with Grace helped me gain a new found appreciation for my friends who have supported me throughout the years. The Bible describes a friend as one who loves at all times. Much like Grace King the Lord blessed me to find friends who loved me when I was right and wrong, so much so that they told me when I was wrong. Then they helped me rise from some of the low places I landed in. If you have a friend in your life that has supported you take a moment to tell them you appreciate every seed that they have sown into your life.

About Nigeria

Nigeria Lockley possesses two master’s degrees, one in English secondary education, which she utilizes as an educator with the New York City Department of Education, and a second in creative writing. Born at Dawn is Nigeria’s first published novel. Nigeria serves as the vice president of Bridges Family Services, a not-for-profit organization that assists student parents interested in pursuing a degree in higher education. She is also the deaconess and clerk for her spiritual home, King of Kings and Lord of Lords Church of God. Nigeria is a New York native who resides in Harlem with her husband and two daughters. Join her at http://www.nigerialockely.com