Let's Get Started...

Let’s get the party started with an excerpt from Chapter One. This is an excerpt party after all…


Hello?”
“Eric?”
“What’s up, Shelly?”
“Not much. I’m returning your phone call. I saw your number in my cell.”
“Really? Who did it say had called? Kelly? Erica? No. I guess you couldn’t be even that obvious, huh?”
“It said, ‘Eric.’ ‘One missed call from: Eric.’ That’s what it said, Easy.”
“So I’m back to being ‘Easy’ again? How nice for me.”
“Eric, please.”
“Don’t beg me, Shelly. I’m not the one who would ever make you beg.”
“Okay, then. Please don’t start. Just tell me what was on your mind when you called.”
“What? You in a rush to get off the phone? Hubby must be home.”
“No. I’m in no rush. I just want to know what’s up.”
“Yeah. So do I. I called to ask when you were coming to see me again.”
“Eric, really. Don’t start.”
“Baby, I miss you. I miss us.”
“Easy—”
“And don’t give me that ‘you know I can’t’ stuff, Shelly. We can pick up right where we left off the last time you were here. I know you miss me.”
“Eric—”
“Don’t come with the excuses, Shelly. I know that’s what you’re getting ready to do. I hear it in your voice. Just tell me ‘yes,’ baby, please.”
“You know I can’t do that. Not now.”

When the Smoke Clears

When he walked in the house, I had no idea what to expect. He was cold, quiet, contemplative. But, hell, that's Marcus. There's been more than one time when he's come home in one of his moods. Still, today was different and I knew it had everything in the world to do with me.

"I’m sorry," doesn't cut it anymore. "This was never the plan," can't possibly express my true emotions. It's all I have, though. Empty words, vague explanations, tears, sorrow; they’re all I'm left with. So, what should I do? Run to him and throw myself at his feet, beg for the Most High Court of Marcus to spare me, have mercy on me? I wish I could. I wish he could hear that, hear me. But you know Marcus. You know his temper. And what I've done... there's no forgiveness for.

When the smoke clears... there's nothing left but the truth

Blue Planet Publishing and Avah LaReaux present...

Smoke and Mirrors

Coming Fall 2011

The Counselor's Journal - Spring Break Debut

The Counselor's Journal debuts this weekend. Only Avey World Insiders have access. Don't be left out. Join the Avey World mailing list at www.avahlareaux.com to get this literary exclusive.

Already on the mailing list and have received your copy? Leave your comments here. I love to hear from you.

Hugs & kisses...

February Salute to Artists

This February, I will be saluting African-American literary artists on my FaceBook page. Come by and read interesting facts about some of your favorite literary personalities. Hopefully, you'll see some names that will spark your interest. It's all for you in Avey World FaceBook. See you soon!

Avah's FaceBook Page

Well I'll Be Huck Finn

For the last two days, I've been involved in discussions concerning the "Huck Finn situation." I won't recount the matter here, as I'm sure most people have heard enough of it in the news. The long and short of it surrounds the use, and changing thereof, of the N-word in the classic Mark Twain novel. Here's my take...

I have loved words and literature for as long as I can remember. My parents owned a huge wooden bookcase that was filled with everything from Sir Author Conan Doyle to Encyclopedia Britannica. Needless to say, Mark Twain was among the plethora of authors collected, as was Edgar Allen Poe. And right beside my hard-back copy of Tom Sawyer sat my copy of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Did I read it? Yes. Was I offended? No. To date, I am still not offended.

As an author, I have a great appreciation for what my forefather writers did for the literary field. Whether it be William Shakespeare and his tale of Othello the Moor (look that term up for editing) or Mark Twain's use of the same word in Huck Finn, how can we as a culture even consider editing such works? In order to appreciate literature in its purest form, we must take time to understand and teach the premise on which the classics were written. We must embrace the prevailing thought processes and beliefs of the time period in question, in order to properly understand the picture being painted.

The job of an artist is to paint a compelling masterpiece in such a way that anyone who dares to enjoy the piece is touched by some aspect of the work. The duty is the same for an author. Through our pens, we paint scenes and characters and timelines of history that engage readers and ignite emotion in them toward the work. It was Mark Twain's job as an author to develop Huck Finn's character in such a way that even his language evoked feeling in those who read it. Had he not done is job well, we would not be having this conversation.

I do not believe the word used be changed, edited, or "fixed." To undo the language is to undo a piece of history and deny the power of evolution of a race of people and a nation. If that work be changed, then so should all works, wholesale, that may be disparaging in anyway. Changing this one work, means forever rethread history, undermining the present, and neglecting the future. The little fox will indeed spoil the vine and the art of writing will be forever redefined.

12 Days of Marcus

What could be better than one day of Marcus? Twelve Days of Marcus, naturally. I've got just the 12 for you...

Join my extended Avey World family on FaceBook as we celebrate the season with the main character of the Lost & Found saga series. Marcus Clayton makes a holiday appearance just in time for a special Avey World offer and in anticipation of the release of book four. Visit me and join the discussion in FaceBook. Search Avah LaReaux and get in on the fun.

Come Visit Me...

I'll be sharing some details about the main character of my Lost & Found series with The Food Temptress this Thursday, October 14. Get to know Marcus Clayton like never before. Join me at www.thefoodtemptress.blogspot.com. See you there!

In Marcus' Eyes

I wouldn't consider myself a player or a playboy. Although, my brother-in-law, Keith, calls me that like it's my name. I simply say I love women.

My grandfather taught me a lot of things and one of those was appreciation for the opposite sex.Even the Bible teaches that a man should love a woman with his entire being. I would like to think I'm doing my part.

I know what you're thinking. I'm going too far. Don't put God in this, right? Now we're talking about something Ma'dear taught me. She always said that no matter where I went or what I did, I should take God with me. If I was going to the club, I better have him with me if I expected to make it out. Well, I was never much for the club or most of what went on inside those walls. But I understood what she meant. So whatever I did, I made sure not to forget that no matter what, God was watching.

A contradiction? Not really. How is that any different than people who smoke, over eat, under eat, whatever? It's not. God is watching all of us. Justified? Not in my own actions, no. Look, I've got faults, for sure. I'm human. But you love me because I'm real with my shit. It is what it is.


Marcus Clayton
From the Interview with a Bastard blog series

The A-Spot Welcomes...Caramel Vixen

The Vixen's Bio:

Caramel Vixen is a native of North Carolina, where she resides with her family. She also juggles being a full-time student and computer lab tutor on her campus. For more information on the BBW Erotica Princess, visit www.caramelvixen84.webs.com and www.officeaffairs.webs.com.








Retail price: $13.95
ISBN-13: 978-0-9818094-6-5
Purchase Sites: Office Affairs site, Xpress Yourself Publishing, Amazon







Office Affairs Synopsis:

Plus size beauty, Allysia, has accomplished a lot, yet she feels a void. Will she open her heart and accept love or will she only open her legs? Davis is a single, hard working father. He lost his wife to cancer. Davis doesn't date. The one woman he wants won't give him the time of day. If Allysia would only open her heart to Davis, he would fill that void in her life.

"Office Affairs is a funny, erotic novel about love and the discovery of self worth!"


Discovering the Novel:

A-Spot: Who is the main character in the story and what is s/he like?

Caramel Vixen: The main character in Office Affairs is Allysia Donaldson, and she is a firecracker. She’s funny and sassy, with mad sex appeal. She's proud of being a BBW (big beautiful woman) and is not afraid to show it. Allysia is the fashionista that all women envy.

A-Spot: Who is your favorite character and why?

Caramel Vixen: One of my favorite characters in the story is actually LaDonna Jenkins. She is so funny and innocent.

A-Spot: What was the best part about writing this book?

Caramel Vixen: The best part about writing this book was that it was the first thing I had ever written other than poetry and I’ll never have a debut release again.

A-Spot: If you could add yourself as a character in the book, who would you be and how would you affect the story?

Caramel Vixen: Wow, I loved this question. No one has ever asked me this before. It really made me think. I would want to be a banker in the building that Allysia owns, that houses Ample Delights. My name would be Trisha Gardner and I would have my sights on Davis, the object of Allysia’s secret affections. Allysia acted like she didn’t have time for him. Trisha would have gladly taken him off her hands.

A-Spot: If you could carry one character from Office Affairs over to another novel, who would it be and why?

Caramel Vixen: It would be Allysia and her fashion company, Ample Delights. The majority of all of my female characters are plus size women and that’s who Allysia's company caters to, exclusively.

Watch the Trailer:

Office Affairs Trailer

Win the Book:

Win a copy of this hot story by answering the question below. Leave your answer here for Caramel Vixen.

Q: What is the title of the song playing on the homepage of the Office Affairs website? Who is the artist? Visit www.officeaffairs.webs.com for the answer.

A: ??? {accepting answers until 9 p.m. Eastern}

You Want This Book...

ISBN: 978-09824298-6-0
Retail: $14.95*
Genre: Fiction - Saga, Family
Retail Site: Avah on Amazon

{title also available online at Barnes & Noble}

* Wholesale, bulk, and large group rates available

Chapter Two Excerpt

{A toast as we read...}

Camille Clayton usually left the house at eight o’clock every morning. She was predictable that way. She didn’t have to be at work until nine, but Mrs. Clayton liked to be early to most everywhere she went. Her husband, Robert, knew that about her.

During the school year, Marcus usually arrived at his grandparents’ house around seven-thirty every morning. The only exception was when he spent the night with his father’s parents, which was most of the time. And like his grandmother, whom he called “Ma’dear,” Marcus was predictable. Robert knew that, too.

Ma’dear and Robert, or Poppa C as Marcus called him, lived next door to their son and his wife, which provided an excellent convenience with regards to childcare. It had been that way since Marcus was born. Though he was not the oldest grandchild, he was the only boy, and was Poppa C’s favorite. It was a given that Marcus would be wherever his grandfather was and that fact was never challenged or questioned. It just was.

For the most part, Marcus practically lived next door because Launa and Jewel both worked long hours most days. This left their only son alone. In a big house. By himself. Even with Marcus having been trained to check in with his grandparents before and after school and even with him playing football at the Bradhurst Club, adult supervision was still needed for a youth as creative as Marcus had become. So, when Jewel and Launa said “check in,” they meant, “Take your butt to your grandparents’ house and stay there until we come get you.” And that’s just what Marcus did.

During the summer months, the routine was virtually the same. Ma’dear would leave at eight o’clock and Marcus would show up a short while prior, and always just in time to eat breakfast before he was out the door and up the street to visit his friends. His ritual.

At eight-thirty, Poppa C’s Barber Shop would open for business with the flicker of fluorescent lights and the sound of jazz music as the side entrance would open and the screen door was unlocked. At eight-forty-five, a tall, slender, honey brown-skinned woman would walk through the side entrance, close the door, lock it, and slide out of her A-line dress. By nine o’clock, there was no mistaking the lady’s yells for anything other than pleasure. At a little after ten o’clock, the lady would be redressed and headed toward the side door to go about her day. That was also usually when Marcus would appear in the doorway, scowling.

“What, Dino?”

Marcus generally refused to answer.

“If you came to clean the shop, wait until later this evening.”

“I didn’t come to clean the shop. You just opened up.”

“Then why you standing there giving me the evil eye?”

“’Cause I hope you catch something.”

“I’ma catch yo’ little ass and beat it.”

“I’ll tell Ma’dear you doing the oochie coochie with Miss Anna.”

“And I’ll kill you.”

“You better watch yourself, Granddad. I’m your biggest ally.” Turning to head back up the hill, Marcus would add, “Or your biggest enemy.”

That was their relationship. Marcus and Robert Clayton. The ten-year-old and his grandfather. Unfortunately, that was the way they interacted for years after the first time Marcus walked in on his grandfather, having sex with someone other than his grandmother.

Advance Reviews

Reviews are very important in this industry. There have been debates about that fact, but I don't see anyone not wanting others to read their books. When the time came for the galley reviews for Bastards, I was fortunate enough to have two of the industry's best review the novel. Below are the initial reviews for book three, Bastards, as shared by two highly respected names in the literary field, Ni'Cola Mitchell and Recha Peay.




Avah LaReaux has mastered the art of story-telling. In her tale, Bastards, Ms. LaReaux has spun a story filled with laughter, tears, and most of all entertainment. She is very clever with turning a word that usually possesses a negative stigma into a powerful literary work. This authoress will make you look at yourself in the mirror and ask, “Am I a bastard?” Kudos, Avey!

~ Ni'cola Mitchell, Best-Selling Author of Over and Over Again and The Appetizer.


Bastards is Avah LaReaux at her best. Through the voice of Marcus, she skillfully re-defines a traditional term. Bastards is a fast-paced page-turner that kept me on edge from beginning to end.

~ Recha G. Peay, Award Winning Author of Table for Three, Illusion of Love, Intimate Betrayal, and Mystery of A Woman.

Release Party Friday

It's release party Friday and we're partying in this Spot. Come chat, read excerpts, and meet the characters of my newest release, Bastards. Book three of the Lost & Found series is a doozy. I'll see you Friday!


Watch the trailer now

The Vixen of Vixens

Office Affairs
Caramel Vixen

Join us right here this Saturday, February 27, as Caramel Vixen lights up The Spot with her revealing interview for her latest release, Office Affairs. Meet Caramel Vixen, get to know the Office Affairs characters, and get a surprise of your own. We'll be waiting for you right here, all weekend.

Day 12: Channeling

It's day twelve and I'm still at it. Haven't blogged in two days, since I'm only doing week day blogs, and I thought I better get you caught. I'm laying chapters like stones for the temple. Working it out for my readers. I'm thinking about you. Channeling what you want. I want to give my people what they want...

Day 10: Assembly

I'm almost there. A few more chapters and I will have woven the pieces together the way Wisdom has instructed. I've always loved puzzles. I wonder if our love of certain games and our disposition toward certain activities as youths have anything to do with our paths of destiny. As a child, I love puzzles and I LOVED to write. I still love both of those things and oddly enough, they seem to go hand-in-hand at times. Well, a few more days and delivery will be made. I hope my readers like my puzzle.

Day 9: Layering

I believe we all have an anointing for the things we do, the talents we have. I also believe that enhancing your skills for things that come "natural" to you is a great asset. It may not be something everything can or wants to do, but I find value in studying my craft. I agree that natural gifts and talents are wonderful and come with a certain set of unique particulars that can't be obtained through studying. I also believe that the time I spend developing my natural gifts, through practice and study, helps me thicken and improve plots, characters, scenes, etc. The more layers of knowledge I add to me innate abilities, the more layers I can give my readers in the stories I choose to write. For me, it's like dressing for a winter day. The more layers, the warmer the body.

Day 8: Organization

Lots of thoughts and ideas. Now I can see how to lay them straight, how to connect the pieces. It's just amazing to me how this has come together. I am in awe of how this information has been given to me to share. This has to be divine. There is no way I would have known each piece would fit like this. I began this journey in 2002 and while I am still walking this path, I can see that I've come so far. I am more the grateful. And I am more than excited about what lies ahead.

Day 7: Returning

Yesterday was mostly about silence for me. I worked a short day, though not on purpose, but very needed. Today, I've got projects that are very near the final stages - one I plan to complete today.

I still have a few rewrites, a few places to improve with Book Three, but I'm getting there. Today's Literary World is filled with so many people who either want to tear authors down or mimic what we're doing because "it's not that hard." In the midst of all of those voices that bombard us when a new project is on the horizon, we must push through and give our best. My husband says it best, "I'm my own competition. No one can beat me, but me." You know I can't let that happen.

Day 5: Relaxation

I'm back from New Orleans and if I've never had characters speaking to me, I do now. Lots of history and symbolism in that city. Lots of information that gives me background on the Broussards and the Claytons. Even so, I need to decompress and chill. Information overload is the enemy of creativity. I've got a baby to present. Creativity is a must in giving birth.