VBTC Tour: Ungolden Silence by Lydia E. Brew & Giveaway

Taking part of her virtual book tour with the Virtual Book Tour Cafe', I'm pleased to introduce you to Lydia E. Brew, author of Ungolden Silence. Welcome to BK Walker Books Lydia!

BK: Please tell us a little about yourself...

LEB: I was born and raised in Houston, Texas. I have cerebral palsy. When I was growing up I could not play like the other kids, so I daydreamed. I love to watch television and as a teenager I watched the soaps. I love the drama and eventually my daydreams became mini soaps.

BK: Please tell us a little about your book...

LEB: Well, I verbalized my daydreams and my parents told me to stop talking and start writing and that is what I did. Ungolden Silence is a story of two people – Beatrice and Elaine,/ who is disabled,ssss Washington D.C. to lay the groundwork for an awareness campaign for the disable. Beatrice was raped, and she and Elaine work through the experience, which traumatized them both.

BK: What inspired you to pen this particular novel?

LEB: I began to realize that the name of a rape victim is kept private. That bothers me because the rape is a crime. Rape is not consensual sex! It is not private; it is a crime and everybody needs to know that. Another fact is: that may not be known is that a person who rapes will do it repeatedly.

BK: When did you first consider yourself a writer?

LEB: After I wrote the life story of my doctor, I realized that I had to market the book, and that is not easy. However, I did not stop daydreaming and before I knew it, I was writing again.

BK: How do you keep your story flowing?

LEB: Sometimes when I am composing I do not have to think about it. The problem is that my mind is faster than my hands due to my physical disability. I cannot speak well enough to use the software where you speak to the computer.

BK: Do you ever run into writer's block, and if so, what do you do to get past it?

LEB: NO

BK: What is your writing process like? Do you have any quirks, or must-haves to write?

LEB: I like to have something to drink. That is about all.

BK: Where do you hope your books/writing will be in the future?

LEB: I am not sure. I wished that it were a little easier to market books.

BK: What do you hope readers will take away from your books?

LEB: When it comes to Ungolden Silence I want the readers to see that domestic crime needs to be dealt with just like any other crime. This a quote from the novel “Rape is a crime, and not to report it is a crime.”

BK: What is one piece of advice you received that you carry with you in your writing?

LEB: Keep writing.

BK: What is one piece of advice you would give to new and aspiring writers?

LEB: Write about what you are passionate about. Do some research even if it is fiction. While grammar is very important, for the first couple of drafts get the story down and then work on the grammar. Have two or three people look at your work. Listen to their suggestions.

BK: Are you currently working on any new projects? What can we expect from you in the future?

LEB: I am working on a family saga, and it will be a century long soap opera.

BK: Where can readers find you?

LEB: You can find the book at www.ungoldensilence.com, www.amazom.com, and I am on www.facebook.com

Thank you so much for taking time to chat with me today. It's been a pleasure having you and I wish you much success in the future.

Ungolden Silence will explore the world of rape and expose the myths through articles that are based on facts. The main question that needs to be answered is why one human being would rape another human being. These reasons are explored in a compelling story that will make the reader ask questions. Beatrice James wanted to take her co-worker Elaine on her first professional trip, she had to convince her employers and Elaine’s parents that she wanted to take Elaine on the trip. Elaine was in charge of the campaign.

Thomas Paige is a well-respected community leader, however, there is whole other side of side of him. The man can be charming when he needs to be and that is why he can get away with sexually harassing and raping women. He began to harassed Beatrice did not want Elaine to have to deal with it. Beatrice did not want to deal with the fact that she was being sexually harassed.
When any crime takes place, the families of the victims as well as the criminal are involved. Ungolden Silence will illustrate that the criminal is a real person, and rarely does he commit crimes just for the fun of it.
It is important to know that rape is a part of violence. Through the characters of Ungolden Silence it is hoped that society will begin to find a way to eliminate the acceptance of violence, which includes the act of rape.
It is through Beatrice, Elaine, and their colleagues that Ungolden Silence begins to explore the world of rape. Each of the main characters discovers what he has believed about rape and violence is not entirely true. A good example of this is when the firm’s secretary is told what happened on the trip. She discovered that some things that she was told when she was young was a myth.
Through all of the characters, Ungolden Silence offers an alternative to the everyday acceptance of violence. When it comes to rape, it tells us that the rapists are human beings and there is a way to curb the crime.
What does the author wants the reader to take away is that the story is about a woman was rape while she and her business partner was away on a business trip. Her business partner is disabled but that is an important part of the story. However, it is not the main story.

Excerpt:

Let me set this up. Beatrice and Elaine are out of town on business. Beatrice and Elaine are at the home of their client, Mrs. Stevens and a community leader, Mr. Paige comes in. Mrs. Stevens take Elaine to see something.

As the four talked for an hour or so, Mr. Thomas Page did not take his eyes off Beatrice. He ignored Elaine completely. He would often sit by Beatrice and after a few minutes; she would move. Elaine could see that Mr. Paige liked Beatrice, but she didn’t return the feeling and was uncomfortable and a bit irritated with his attention. When Mrs. Stevens offered to show Elaine the baby grand piano in her music room, Mr. Paige and Beatrice were left alone. Beatrice decided she needed to get a few things straight.

“Look, you seem to be a nice guy, but I’m not interested.

You’re making me very uncomfortable,” Beatrice added. Mr. Paige did not seem to hear her.

“Alone at last, Miss James,” he said in a soft gentle voice as he stroked her face.

The second that Beatrice felt his fingers on her face, her anger turned to fear. She did not want to let Mr. Paige know that he frightened her.

“I did not give you permission to touch me! Listen, I’m not interested in you, in any way. Please, just leave me alone!” Beatrice said angrily. The pleasantness was gone and her teeth were clenched. However, before she finishes her statement Mr. Paige had his hands on her buttocks. In that instance Beatrice remembers when she was sixteen. It was a hot summer day: she was lying on the sofa half asleep. She awakens to her uncle kissing and caressing her face. He did not stop there he unzipped his pants and began to slide his hand and was pulling down her panties when Judy came into the room. Beatrice’s mind came to the present.

“Oh now, I think that we can have a good time this week,” he said in the same manner as before.

“I said no! Now get your hands off me!” Beatrice snatched her body away from his reach knocking his shades off. The man’s breath had a faint odor of alcohol. His eyes were glassy red. However, Beatrice did not take notice because she was so shocked from the memory of what her uncle did to her and the fact that this man was making a move on her was overwhelming. Mr. Paige returned to his seat and put his shades back on his face only because he heard Mrs. Stevens and Elaine returning.

When Elaine walked in and sat down, she picked up on some strange vibes from Beatrice. There was a strange look in her colleague’s eyes. This troubled Elaine because she knew something was upsetting Beatrice.

This man had just made unwanted sexual advances to Beatrice and she tells Elaine and Mrs. Stevens that she had a headache?

Lydia is also giving away 2 ebooks per week, for a chance to win leave a comment with your email address, you can also follow her tour HERE for even more chances.