THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, July 26, 1995 TAG: 9507260034
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY CHARLISE LYLES, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 120 lines
Driven by passion ``too powerful to deny, young and devastatingly attractive'' attorney Robinson Mayview III yearns to possess Toinette Blue. Will the fortress she has built around her heart crumble to the ground when she falls into his arms?
To find out, tune into the pages of African-American romance novels written by Felicia Mason, a Peninsula newspaper-woman-turned-romance-writer.
``For The Love Of You,'' Mason's first book, was published last year by Pinnacle Romance. In its 280 steamy pages, Kendra Edwards and Malcolm Hightower, another hard-charging attorney, find passion.
An excerpt will be published in the August edition of ``Today's Black Woman.''
In her latest, ``Body and Soul,'' Mason spins the tale of Toinette Blue, an older woman attracted to younger Robinson Mayview.
The novels are part of Pinnacle Romance's new Arabesque line, featuring contemporary and historical multicultural romances. Popular love literature accounts for about 49 percent of all mass market paperback sales, and about one-third of those readers are people of color. The Arabesque line aims to please them even more.
Launched in July 1994, Arabeques' juicy selections include: ``Beguiled'' by Eboni Snoe, ``Whispers of Love'' by Shirley Hailstock, ``Happily Ever After'' by Rochelle Alers and lots more.
In February, Pinnacle published Mildred Riley's ``Journey's End,'' the story of an African-American cowboy in the 1870s Wild Wild West. In May came another Western romance, ``Sunshine and Shadows'' by Roberta Gayle, and ``Clara's Promise'' by Hailstock. It's the love story of a woman who travels from Virginia to Montana in 1899.
Of course, no matter the color, love is love. But sights, sounds and sentiments familiar to black life make the Arabesque contemporary line unique: the turn of a phrase (``Lord have mercy, that brother is fine.''), Hampton University as an alma mater or the mention of Ebony magazine.
It could be something as simple as the cadence of a church sermon, said Mason. Or ``In For The Love Of You,'' the heroine's twin daughters play with teddy bears named Ashanti and Askia, after an African tribe and a warrior king.
And fans love Mason for it.
From Georgia one reader wrote: ``I did not think that there were books written about black romance. . . . Until a lady at work brought in `For The Love Of You.' After that, I was hooked.
``About two weeks ago, I was in the bookstore, and I saw `Body and Soul.' And girl, it was gooood!''
And from Maryland: ``Finally, romance that women of color can identify with and enjoy.''
Also, African Americans can intimately identify with the social scenarios in Mason's books. In ``For The Love Of You,'' single working mother Kendra Edwards is a graduate of and volunteer for a job-training program for welfare recipients.
``When `For The Love Of You' was first published I got so much mail asking `Is this program real?' said Mason. Her readers wanted to refer real people.
Through the heroine, Mason also addresses class issues that typically face African Americans and working class women.
The torrid, but wholesome love stories also counter the stereotypically violent, hostile or matriarchal portrayal of black male/female relationships in the mass media.
By day, Mason is a congenial, bead-wearing columnist and editor for staff development at the Daily Press in Newport News. Her columns earned her a 1994 Virginia Press Association award.
Journalism and romance writing have one thing in common, said the seasoned reporter: ``The goal is to write a good story that anybody would enjoy.'' At book signings throughout Virginia, Washington, D.C. and Maryland, black and white readers have praised Mason.
After attending a Virginia Romance Writers conference in Williamsburg two years ago, Mason jumpstarted her career as love scribe.
``I was one of those `One of these days I'm going to write a book. . . . ' But after that, I didn't want to make any more excuses about I don't have time. I decided I was going to do it and get to the end,'' said Mason, who is vice president of Chesapeake Romance Writers, a regional association.
``People who want to write have to realize that it's a business. You have to sit down and do it. You have to be disciplined.'' ``For The Love Of You'' took four months.
By night, in her ``junky'' Yorktown townhouse populated with 35 plants, Mason ventures into the world of black professionals, relationships, high-powered careers, desire, some lust and much passion.
Her own romance with romances began at age 16. In Aliquippa, then a small Pennsylvania steel town, she stole away after school to read a historical romance that a schoolmate had suggested. To Mason's delight, the book was a delicious history lesson. What history she can't recall.
But to this day, she remembers that first riveting line of ``Shanna'' by Kathleen Woodiwiss: `` `Night gripped the city with cold, misty darkness.' ''
As she recited those eight words over a recent lunch at Darryl's Restaurant & Bar across from Coliseum Mall in Hampton, Mason's shiny eyes narrowed with anticipation. It was as if the whole story was about to unfold before her once again.
Mason herself is made of the drama of good romance. She can't just tell you how one co-worker responded to her book. She must rise from her seat at the table - forgetting about curious onlookers - and show you.
``This woman stomps up to my desk. `Felicia, I'm so depressed. I didn't like your book,' '' Mason says, capturing the women's screechy voice. Why? Because `` `I ain't got no Malcolm Hightower.' ''
Mason can put on a show on a stage and on the page. When she reads at malls, bookstores, universities, she becomes her characters in an uncanny way, bringing them to life: Pastor Leonard from ``For The Love Of You'' delivering a feisty Sunday morning sermon; and finally, Malcolm Hightower professing his love for Kendra.
``When I'm writing, I am every character,'' she said. ``I am the preacher, the heroine, the hero.'' MEMO: BOOK EXCERPT
``What happened or didn't happen next would be her decision. She
appreciated and respected his control, his willingness to wait. If she
said no right now, it would be okay. But no was the farthest thing from
Kendra's mind. She wanted him. She wanted him like she'd never wanted
anything else. Kendra knew that Malcolm would be a gentle and caring
lover - that's what she needed, because it had been so very long since
she had been loved. She made her decision. It was time.''
From ``For the Love of You'' by Felicia Mason
by CNB