Priscilla - Simms-Maddox, M J

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Résumé :
It's time to share stories that haven't been told yet and to introduce new heroines as well. Political enthusiasts will find this thriller convincing. It reveals what happens behind the scenes in the Ohio Senate during the early 1980s, reflecting many of the same dynamics seen in legislative chambers elsewhere, even today. PRISCILLA Engaging in the Game of Politics introduces Priscilla J. PJ Austin, a bright, carefree, and ambitious young woman who, as a legislative aide, takes us inside the Ohio Senate where she witnesses senators, staff, influential lobbyists, and visitors firsthand, sharing the secrets she uncovers. Only an insider can provide such vivid examples that reveal all the scheming, the importance of leadership and seniority, the challenges faced by minority parties, the influence of sponsorship in legislation, the role of powerful lobbyists, committee activities, voting, and more. How does she manage to do all that? Back in the day, no one paid much attention to a Black woman working in a legislative body, especially one so young, whom everyone took for granted. In fact, Priscilla was often mistaken for a low-level staff member, like a page-someone who runs errands, makes copies, and delivers coffee. Additionally, in the early 1980s, people like Priscilla were considered invisible, meaning that even though she is a real person, no one notices her, similar to the invisible man in Ralph Ellison's novel. However, Priscilla was on a mission that had little to do with her role in the Ohio Senate, which was simply a means to an end. Earlier, for reasons not yet known, her father asked her to move closer to home in Prendergast, New York. To fulfill this favor for her beloved father, she reaches out to an Ohio state senator she interned with during her graduate studies at The Ohio State University, with whom she also had an affair. The senator offers her a position as his legislative aide, which she accepts. She then leaves her faculty position at Florida A&M University and begins working in the Ohio Senate. And the story takes off from there. The opening scene features Priscilla as a young college professor teaching political science majors who are nearly as old as her at twenty-five. Throughout the story, she reflects on her early life when, as a teenager, she often got into trouble. Clearly, her love for her upbringing in the Snowbelt of western New York is undeniable, as she proudly highlights Christmastime with her family, the contributions of Catherine Harris (a pioneer conductor of the Underground Railroad), the scenic snow-covered landscapes, the birthplace of television legend Lucille Ball, and, most notably, the world-famous Chautauqua Institute. However, not all her life has been perfect. Since she started working in the Ohio Senate, everyone has wondered why she chose to be there, especially after leaving a higher-paying and more prestigious job as a college professor. Priscilla keeps this to herself - not even sharing it with her boss, Ohio state Senator Daniel P. Callahan, until late in the story. Readers also get a firsthand look at Black middle-class family life, which is similar to that of any other middle-class family. Readers might especially appreciate learning about how and why a Black Methodist minister raises his daughter as if she were a son. Additionally, we eventually find out the reason why the good reverend asked his daughter to move closer to home in the first place. Toward the end, as she is no longer invisible, Priscilla surprises us by doing something that, as one reviewer notes, weathering it like a veteran from New York tabloid wars... But readers must keep turning pages to find out what happens, which itself is intriguing. No matter your political stance, this story rings true....

Biographie:
Indie author M. J. Simms-Maddox, Ph.D., is the creator of 'The Priscilla Series,' a distinctive novel series that chronicles the coming-of-age journey and adventures of a modern-day, self-assured Black American heroine of diverse ancestry. Storylines in the series center on politics, and the fictional Priscilla shares many traits with the author.The South Carolina native grew up in the Snowbelt of western New York, where she loved the cold weather and snow. She earned her Ph.D. in political science from The Ohio State University, served as a legislative aide in the Ohio Senate, ran a PR firm, and taught in her field before retiring. She has also published A Handbook for Emerging and Seasoned Authors: An Insider's Step-by-Step Approach to Becoming a Successful Indie Author.The author enjoys public speaking, reading, traveling, watching culinary, travel, and mystery shows, doing yard work, and, of course, writing....

Sommaire:
Political thriller fans will find this drama compelling. It follows a self-assured Black American protagonist as she navigates Ohio's male-dominated Senate during the early 1980s. A blend of insider knowledge, historical context, and a multidimensional heroine enriches the narrative. Contemporary literature, political thriller, women's, and autobiographical fiction, all in one place. Priscilla is the legislative aide to Ohio state Senator Daniel P. Callahan. She takes us behind the scenes in the Ohio Senate to reveal how the system operates. She has already witnessed much of this firsthand and now shares the secrets she uncovered, offering insights only an insider could provide. How does she manage to do all that? In the early 1980s, no one paid much attention to a Black female staffer in a legislative body, especially one so young. Priscilla was often mistaken for a low-level staff member, like a page-someone who runs errands, makes copies, and delivers coffee. In fact, people like Priscilla were considered invisible. Even though she is a real person, no one notices her, much like the invisible man in Ralph Ellison's novel. However, the more engaged Priscilla is in the game, the more visible she becomes. Priscilla is on a mission that has little to do with her role in the Ohio Senate, which is simply a means to an end. The opening scene features Priscilla as a junior college professor teaching political science majors who are nearly her age, twenty-five, with some even older. In the scenes that follow, including her father's mysterious request, her arrival at the Ohio Senate, and the chapters on her rite of passage, a defection in the ranks, and the Delgato offer, no one can predict what will happen, not even at the end. Throughout, Priscilla reflects on her early life, especially her aggressive and defiant phase. Yet her love for her upbringing in western New York's Snowbelt is undeniable, as she proudly highlights the region's scenic, snow-covered landscapes, the Christmas season, the contributions of Catherine Harris (a pioneer conductor of the Underground Railroad), the birthplace of television legend Lucille Ball, and the world-famous Chautauqua Institute. However, not all of her life has been easy. Black middle-class family life is similar to that of any other family. But readers might especially appreciate learning how and why a Black Methodist minister raises his daughter as if she were a son. Adult readers of all ages will find this story easy to read, immersive, thought-provoking, and insightful, especially in its exploration of ambition, faith, identity, power, resilience, and real-world systems....