Book Signing

Unbelievable. In case you missed my first book signing on Saturday, December 15, 2007 at the Auburn Ave. Research Library for African American History, allow me to share with you the fact that there are simply no other ways to describe it. The afternoon was unbelievable on many levels. For starters, the weather in Atlanta the week prior to the signing averaged over 75 degrees, with beautiful sunshine. The day before was even gorgeous. But as noontime Saturday approached, the clouds aligned in a pitch-black configuration, while the temperature dropped to about 40 degrees. By 1:00 p.m., a downpour of cold rain engulfed much of Atlanta, sending early holiday shoppers and the bulk of Atlanta travelers into a nightmarish tailspin of accidents and traveling woe.

Incredible. Just when the news of possibly the worst drought in Georgia’s history flashed over our TV screens. Just as the tri-state governors of Georgia, Alabama, and Florida rolled up their sleeves and squared off to battle over water resources like the popular and upcoming middleweight fight. Suddenly, there it was, rain—and plenty of it. Incredible. Once or twice it stopped raining, only to rain some more. I left my home about an hour and a half early for the fifteen-mile journey, only to be delayed two hours by several accidents. A spiritual layman might think the devil was busy with me alone I thought, right? After all, this was my first book signing and I’d only waited practically forever for this day. Why me Lord?

In retrospect, why not me? No doubt, Georgia needed that rain, and it was a blessing to all of us who take for granted that fundamental element of H2O, including me. I arrived 20 minutes late, embarrassed by my own tardiness no matter how justified, only to find five faithful friends waiting patiently for me. Over 300 people had looked me in the eyes and told me they wouldn’t miss it “for the world” for two weeks prior, and that was okay. They never claimed they wouldn’t miss it for the world with that kind of rain, and I understand totally. I felt your spirit, and I was glad so many of you stayed safely at home given the havoc I’d witnessed everywhere. But back to those five. They smiled patiently, lovingly as I set up the books, easels, and music. My emotions, having now run the course of feeling initially betrayed by the rain, were now at ease as I felt blessed in spite of it—and seeing those five. See, in no time fast those five turned to ten. The ten then became twenty, and the twenty turned to over forty people who showed up in torrential rain for my first book signing. I’d prayed for God to give me the words and offer to you the experience that would make it worthwhile, and most of you told me I did, and it was well worth it. I’ve now gone from feeling blessed to truly humbled. You shared with me the world of my story, ‘Voices of Redemption,’ and we had fun along the way. The devil wasn’t busy Saturday at all, God was. For those of you who missed it, you missed a treat. Stay tuned to my website, as I’ll soon be announcing my second book signing in metro Atlanta shortly. May we all put our blessings in perspective as we welcome the New Year of 2008. After all, a little rain can remind us how brightly the sun really shines.

God Bless You All,

Byron Rivers, Author
Voices of Redemption

About Author, Byron Rivers

Byron Rivers was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, thoroughly enjoying singing the sounds of the Motown era. Always an avid reader of books, particularly fiction, he began to devour classics from Richard Baldwin to Donald Goines in his youth. As a sophomore he joined the journalism staff at Detroit’s Northwestern High School, where he enjoyed covering school events and writing short stories for the school paper. Taking a job as a page at the Detroit public Library following his junior year of high school left him alone with the classics when not locating them for patrons. Though still inspired by the written word, he made a decision to study business Administration at Western Michigan University. It was 1975, and though the black literary explosion had not occurred yet, he longed to be a part of it. While at Western he joined the W.M.U. Gospel Choir and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. Those experiences were rich in spiritual and social fulfillment, and his love of singing in the Choir would become the passion that would keep him returning the rest of his life.

Upon graduation in 1980, Byron met the late Dr. Frederick Sampson and joined Tabernacle Baptist Church in Detroit. Dr. Sampson would have a profound impact upon him as a teacher, pastor and mentor. He moved to Atlanta, Georgia in 1985, and guided by God, Byron changed careers and become an entrepreneur and educator. He is currently employed as a high school teacher for Fulton County Schools, where he is a teacher and motivator of our next generation. Byron joined the Mt. Moriah Men’s Choir called Manpower in the early 90’s, and while singing there for over seven years the idea of writing Voices of Redemption was fermented. Also during the 1990’s, Byron began to study creative writing as an art form. He is currently a member of a distinguished EBC Men’s Choir in Metro-Atlanta.

Motivation

The motivation to write Voices of Redemption, Byron Rivers debut novel, came naturally. While singing, he often pondered not only the worthiness of himself, but the inner motivations of any man who sings in the choir. Impressive were his observations and interactions with men of diverse spiritual maturity. Many have fallen down in life in various ways. Many more are completely imbued with the spirit. But even more impressive were those who candidly admitted falling, gotten back up and sough the bonding, healing and redemption that only strong men of the Lord can. Believing iron truly sharpens iron, the prayers, choir rehearsals, and bible studies of these men around the globe are a real testament to it. Their songs on Sunday morning are stirring, but they bear only a scant reflection of the powerful phenomena transpiring within their souls. Thus, a story needed to be told, and in an attempt to capture it properly, it needed to be told from a man’s perspective.

www.PathLightStories.com

Voices Of Redemption

Byron Rivers debut novel "Voices of Redemption" is a Christian fiction Dramedy about a group of largely spiritual, but vocally challenge Afro-American men, who prepare for a culminating Men’s Day Celebration at their church. Their piece is disrupted while desperately trying to appease newly arrived Music Minister Robert’s – who is accustomed to high quality Gospel singing. They quickly tire from voice lessons and auditioning for their roles, and invite new men with promising voices to join and uplift their dull choir called ‘Manpower.’ Manpower soon becomes the rave of the church, until the true identities of these men become known, throwing the church into a tailspin.

At it’s heart, Voices of Redemption chronicles the spiritual journey of Kyle Medley, a college football All-American destine for NFL fame, at least until he paralyzes Reggie Pittman. Guilt and shame now force him to lay his helmet aside and join the church his ancestor’s presided over, becoming President of Manpower, the worst sounding Men’s Choir this side of the Mississippi. Seven years later, Kyle hears the voice of God, is rejuvenated with the love of newly arrived Barbara Kincaid, and is fortified by the collective strength of Manpower.

Convinced his calling to Pastor the church arrived, he sheds his guilt and forges ahead. His only responsibility for ordination is to keep himself and the Men of Manpower on a sound spiritual track until Men’s Day Celebration, when his ordination speech is imminent. Due to their popularity, it appears an easy task, until a hilarious turn of events suddenly reduce Kyle, and Manpower’s presence, to embarrassing fodder for the church community. He must now redeem himself and his men, and prove to all that he is indeed anointed, or risk further shame.

To order the book please visit PayPal:

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Path Light Stories c/o Byron Rivers
P.O. Box 2455

Stone Mountain, Georgia 30086

Welcome to My blog

I wish to welcome you to my website, and thank you for your motivation to learn more about this fascinating story, “Voices of Redemption.” My debut novel was inspired by a combination of unique experiences. Although I love writing fiction, it is no secret that fiction mirrors real life, only in a more compelling form. Thus my search was always on to tell a unique story in a compelling and humorous fashion, full of characters we might be lucky enough to meet in just a few lifetimes.
The first two stories I chose were unique, but each was made into top selling movies before the demands of my life brought my fingers to the keyboard. For years I worked as a teacher in metro-Atlanta by day and a FED Ex courier by night. Somebody wrote and produced “The Substitute” while I was still agonizing over how to turn my experience as a substitute teacher in the 90’s into a compelling story. It was now back to what many call the drawing board, or what a writer calls a lookout for that special story.
Just before 911, I was riding in a Fed Ex plane, as many employees often did, when I looked at the piles of dangerous goods in the rear of the plane, and wondered what if the plane exploded and sent me to a place which I could not return from. Three months later, an awesome rendering of vision was done—far better than anything I could have dreamed of—and expertly captured this environment in the movie “Castaway.” Yet it was an accident at Fed Ex that actually proved to be a real blessing in disguise, because it not only allowed me to pursue one job (mostly) which was teaching. It taught me to trust my vision. My evenings, now free, took me back to church, and Men’s Choir rehearsal. Frankly speaking, I often wondered what right I had to be there initially. Don’t misunderstand, I love the Lord. I also carry a nice voice and love to sing. But for years I believed that to come anywhere near that pulpit—even if just to sing—required the most optimum level of salvation. Why did I think that? Because I fear the Lord. Why did I join the choir anyway? The best of men still fall down sometimes, and those men couldn’t be that much better than me—or could they?

So here I was one night, not looking for anything in particular, when some of the brothers spoke about their past lives as sinners. I was moved, witnessing remorseful but strong men of God who loved the Lord more than anything I can imagine. One evening we seriously dialogued about what kind of life a choir member should live if he is to be bold enough to sing about it. Only on occasion did I witness a few who were so plastic that their main concern was what angle the camera may catch their good side on a Sunday morning. And talk about singing from the heart! I’m from Motown, and I know soul. These Brothers are deep! But as interesting, funny, vocally challenged or gifted they and their voices were, I knew I had to pay homage and reverence to these men if I was going to tell a compelling story properly. I also knew it needed more real life ingredients to add to this brotherhood if it was going to be interesting. The answer? Add the love between a man and a woman, jealous rivalries, real life family issues, a bunch of humor, plus writing from the heart. How did I do it? Read the book and see.
My first book signing will be Saturday, December 15, 2007 from 3:30-6:00 p.m. at the Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History. It is located at 101 Auburn Avenue , Atlanta , Ga. 30303 (at the corner of Courtland). We will meet in the Auditorium and enjoy some Apple Cider too. God Bless You as you enjoy a great holiday story!

My First Book Signing

My first book signing will be Saturday, December 15, 2007 from 3:30-6:00 p.m. at the Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History. It is located at 101 Auburn Avenue , Atlanta , Ga. 30303 (at the corner of Courtland). We will meet in the Auditorium and enjoy some Apple Cider too. God Bless You as you enjoy a great holiday story!

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