Anonymous reviewer
"Delightful. Brew tea or grab something stronger, sit down and enjoy." --Rita Mae Brown, New York Times bestselling author of acclaimed novels including the Sneaky Pie Brown mystery series."


Harriet Klausner, Midwest Book Review
"A brilliant compilation of southern women's stories in the tradition of Anne Rivers Siddons."


Liz Carpenter, acclaimed author and former press secretary for Lady Bird Johnson
"Storytelling is back with all its southern habits and charms, thanks to six women who are making it easier to get it in print. The stories are so good you'll be hungry for more."


Phyllis George, Miss America, TV Personality & Businesswoman
"Sweet Tea and Jesus Shoes is a joyful and endearing collection of nostalgic stories which are sure to win the hearts of readers everywhere."


Ann B. Ross, author of Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind
"Miss Julia would feel right at home on the front porches and in the living rooms and kitchens where these delightful stories originated. SWEET TEA AND JESUS SHOES stir her memories, as well as my own."


Barbara Dooley, author, radio talk show host, and wife of University of Georgia Athletic Director, Vince Dooley
"This book is rich in storytelling and makes me long for those southern days as a child listening to the stories of the past."


Lisa Knighton, editor, Georgia Women Speak
"Sweet Tea and Jesus Shoes is a feast for any reader."


Joyce Dixon, Southern Scribe Reviews
"Sweet Tea and Jesus Shoes is the debut book from BelleBooks, a small publishing house that caters to Southern fare. The anthology is a collection of family stories that depict the love of family, tradition, and humor which can appear eccentric in other regions, but south of the Mason-Dixon, it's just family. ...knee-slapping humor, two-hanky emotion, and pro-wrestling action into a rich tapestry that defines what it is to be born Southern. ...Sweet Tea and Jesus Shoes joins the works of Fannie Flagg, Lewis Grizzard, and Florence King in capturing the Southern experience. Pull up a rocker and pour another sweet tea."


Pat Rouse, Romantic Times Columnist
"These fine veteran writers not only treat their fans to wonderful stories but also dish up their favorite recipes like Sweet Tea and Mama's Pecan Pie for readers to savor!Don't miss this simply yummy anthology!"


Book Description
Six award winning authors have created a poignant, humorous collection of nostalgic tales. Here life's lessons are handed down--liberally sprinkled with hilarity--from eccentric relatives, outrageous pets and unrepentant neighbors, and served up with a generous dollop of that most valued of all Southern commodities: good old fashioned storytelling. From Mississippi to Georgia, from Florida to Tennessee, these daughters of the South will take you on a lush tour of the times and the places they know best, each voice as refreshing and inviting as a glass of cold sweet tea on a hot afternoon.


From the Publisher
Among the collection's authors are multi-published, award-winning writers Deborah Smith, Donna Ball, and Sandra Chastain. All three are natives of Georgia with pioneer family backgrounds. Smith's 1997 nationally best-selling novel, A PLACE TO CALL HOME, (Bantam Books) received glowing reviews and was called "a page turner" by Publishers Weekly. Smith made news this year with a two-book, $1.2 million deal to write southern-based novels for Little, Brown. Donna Ball is the highly-lauded author of more than 80 novels in both genre and general-list fiction. Her novel, THE PASSION (writing as Donna Boyd, Avon Books,) was acclaimed last year as a "brilliantly erotic tale" by Midwest Book Review and "magical" by Publishers Weekly. Sandra Chastain is the popular author of over 40 novels in contemporary and historical women's fiction. Rendevous Reviews calls her stories "good for the heart." Her current title, THE RUNAWAY BRIDE (Bantam Books,) is a featured selection of the Doubleday Book Club.

SYNOPSIS

Six award winning authors have created a poignant, humorous collection of nostalgic tales. Here life's lessons are handed down-liberally sprinkled with hilarity-from eccentric relatives, outrageous pets and unrepentant neighbors, and served up with a generous dollop of that most valued of all Southern commodities: good old fashioned storytelling. From Mississippi to Georgia, from Florida to Tennessee, these daughters of the South will take you on a lush tour of the times and the places they know best, each voice as refreshing and inviting as a glass of cold sweet tea on a hot afternoon.

Among the collection's authors are multi-published, award-winning writers Deborah Smith, Donna Ball, and Sandra Chastain. All three are natives of Georgia with pioneer family backgrounds. Smith's 1997 nationally best-selling novel, A PLACE TO CALL HOME, (Bantam Books) received glowing reviews and was called "a page turner" by Publishers Weekly. Smith made news this year with a two-book, $1.2 million deal to write southern-based novels for Little, Brown. Donna Ball is the highly-lauded author of more than 80 novels in both genre and general-list fiction. Her novel, THE PASSION (writing as Donna Boyd, Avon Books,) was acclaimed last year as a "brilliantly erotic tale" by Midwest Book Review and "magical" by Publishers Weekly. Sandra Chastain is the popular author of over 40 novels in contemporary and historical women's fiction. Rendevous Reviews calls her stories "good for the heart." Her current title, THE RUNAWAY BRIDE (Bantam Books,) is a featured selection of the Doubleday Book Club.

About the Authors:

Deborah Smith graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in journalism and worked in the relatively tame worlds of newspapers and technical journals, but her heart kept calling her to tell wild stories. Since that isn't a good inclination to have when one is employed to tell the truth, She finally followed her instincts and began writing novels.
Now, almost thirty books later, she can honestly say that Grandma's extravagant stories have merged with her own, and when she sits down to write she forgets where Grandma's tales end and her own tales begin.

Donna Ball has written over fifty books for such publishers as Doubleday, St. Martin's Press, Warner, Dutton/Signet, Zebra, Pinnacle, Harlequin/Silhouette and Avon Books. is known for her work in women's fiction and suspense, as well as supernatural fantasy, woman-in-jeopardy and western adventure. Her books have been translated into well over a dozen languages and have appeared in virtually every country in the world.

Sandra Chastain, a native Georgian, is the author of thirty-nine books and two novellas with four more books under contract. Her last two books were Doubleday Book Club featured selections. She has been nominated as Georgia Author of the year, and one of her books has been chosen as one of the five Favorite Books of the Year by the 8000 members of Romance Writers of America.

Nancy Knight is an award-winning artist and author of twelve novels and two produced plays.
She has taught writing classes at ART Station, a community arts center near Atlanta for more than ten years. She has served on the national board of directors for Romance Writers of America and as president of her local chapter. She is a past President of Atlanta Writers Club and former director of Southeastern Writers Association. She is a member of Romance Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, Horror Writers Association, Dark River Writers, The Atlanta Writers Club, and The ART Station Playwrights Project.

Virginia Ellis is also a professional photographer who has traveled extensively throughout the U.S. and the world. With her camera she learned how to tell a visual story. Now, writing as as both Virginia and Lyn Ellis, she is translating the visual into words, creating memorable characters, vivid settings and compelling stories.

Best selling author Debra Dixon has now "semi-retired" from a successful career as a small business consultant but continues to serve on the Board of Directors for three corporations, including an international trading company. She is currently at work on her tenth book and is the recipient of a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award. Her novels have been awarded the coveted suspense "Kiss Of Death" Grand Award, Georgia Romance Writers' "Maggie," A Little Romance Magazine's ROMY, Colorado's Award of Excellence. Additionally, her published books have been consistently recognized as finalists for the Colorado Award of Excellence, the Virginia Holt Medallion, and the National Readers' Choice Award for romance fiction. Gryphon Books For Writers published Debra's first writing "how-to" book, now in its third printing, based on her popular GMC:Goal, Motivation, and Conflict workshop.

FROM THE CRITICS

Midwest Book Review - Harriet Klausner

A brilliant compilation of southern women's stories in the tradition of Anne Rivers Siddons.

Romantic Times - Pat Rouse

These fine veteran writers not only treat their fans to wonderful stories but also dish up their favorite recipes like Sweet Tea and Mama's Pecan Pie for readers to savor! Don't miss this simply yummy anthology!

Southern Scribe Review - Joyce Dison

Sweet Tea and Jesus Shoes is the debut book from BelleBooks, a small publishing house that caters to Southern fare. The anthology is a collection of family stories that depict the love of family, tradition, and humor which can appear eccentric in other regions, but south of the Mason-Dixon, it's just family. ...knee-slapping humor, two-hanky emotion, and pro-wrestling action into a rich tapestry that defines what it is to be born Southern. ...Sweet Tea and Jesus Shoes joins the works of Fannie Flagg, Lewis Grizzard, and Florence King in capturing the Southern experience. Pull up a rocker and pour another sweet tea.

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING

Rita Mae Brown, New York Times bestselling author of acclaimed novels including the Sneaky Pie Brown mystery series
Delightful. Brew tea or grab something stronger, sit down and enjoy. — Rita Mae Brown

Liz Carpenter, acclaimed author and former press secretary for Lady Bird Johnson
Storytelling is back with all its southern habits and charms, thanks to six women who are making it easier to get it in print. The stories are so good you'll be hungry for more. — Liz Carpenter

Phyllis George, Miss America, TV Personality & Businesswoman
Sweet Tea and Jesus Shoes is a joyful and endearing collection of nostalgic stories which are sure to win the hearts of readers everywhere. — Phyllis George

Barbara Dooley, author, radio talk show host, and wife of University of Georgia Athletic Director, Vince Dooley
This book is rich in storytelling and makes me long for those southern days as a child listening to the stories of the past. — Barbara Dooley

Ann B. Ross, author of Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind
Miss Julia would feel right at home on the front porches and in the living rooms and kitchens where these delightful stories originated. SWEET TEA AND JESUS SHOES stir her memories, as well as my own. — Ann B. Ross