The Black College Sabbatical: Fall Quarter [Paperback]

Tracie E. Christian (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 31, 2007

BLACK COLLEGES: Underrated, Underestimated & Unappreciated until NOW! The Black College Sabbatical - FALL QUARTER is a new school, coming of age story chronicling the experiences of four young ladies of different cultural, economic and social backgrounds, each beginning her first year at Heritage State University.

Kyla Mansfield, is attending Heritage in line with her family's long-standing tradition. While somewhat bourgeois, Kyla's Integrity and warmth will show all that this prim and proper, young woman is more than just the younger sister of the most popular girl on campus.

Ananda Harris, is academically gifted with natural athletic abilities. Growing up with an overbearing father, this over achiever is no stranger to hard work. Her Perseverance is put to the test as she works to live up to her father's high expectations, while embracing the freedoms of college.

Tina Hutchins, a Home Girl full of attitude and quick wit; attends Heritage on a full Journalism scholarship. A loner by nature, her Courage is challenged as she works to smoothly blend her fly girl style with her non-African American descent and new surroundings.

Cierra Folsom, is a chocolate angel in disguise that grew up dirt poor, with an addict mother and a huge sence of Loyalty. Grandma's guidance and love finds Cierra trail blazing through Heritage on a partial Dance scholarship with the HSU Marching Band family...Cierra's first.

I am the Guardian Angel sent here on a quest to protect. I have Courage, Integrity, Loyalty and Perseverance for survival. I also brought bits of Betrayal, Drama, Secretes and Sex just to keep things interesting. Now, all I need is a traveling companion. Someone to help figure out which of our ladies needs me most! Why not YOU? Together, let's bask in the truth's light reading The Black College Sabbatical ­ FALL QUARTER.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Tracie E. Christian is the Founder and President of KTE Foundation for Literary Discovery Incorporated - a 501 c 3 non-profit organization dedicated to the concept of Revitalizing Excitement Around Literacy for youth throughout the metropolitan Detroit area through innovative, entertaining, as well as, creative programming and special events celebrating exposure to the Literary and Communication Arts. She attended Central State and Wayne State Universities respectively. A wife and mother, Tracie resides in her home town of Detroit, Michigan with her family.

Product Details

• Paperback: 350 pages
• Publisher: Trafford Publishing (December 31, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 142512836X
• ISBN-13: 978-1425128364
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,045,743 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Since her 2000 debut into the writer's arena, Tracie E. Christian has made several ambitious literary strides and shows no signs of slowing down any time soon. In July, Ms. Christian in collaboration with Literary Partner and Educator, Author /Acting Coach, Ms. Adra Young, kicked off the LIVE LADIES of LITERATURE BOOK TOUR where the ladies host signings, readings and selling of their fiction and non-fiction titles, The Black College Sabbatical (Christian) and The Everyday Living of Children and Teens Monologues (Young). Aside from the release of the second installment to her book series, Winter Quarter in March 2009, Christian also launched the "Say It Loud...I'm Black College Proud" seminar series for junior and senior high school aged youth to become informed, entertained and engaged in exploring the numerous educational opportunities made available through historically black colleges and universities.

In October, Christian and Young will go on the road to Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio to launch the "GUIDE to the BOOK in YOU Independent Publishing Workshop Series for aspiring writers. The workshop is intended to provide aspiring writers with a comprehensive checklist to begin the self publishing process. This dynamic workshop covers various aspects of the publishing process from Copyright laws and procedures to the differences between traditional and vanity presses. Within the online poetry community Christian released her debut volume of poetry, "URBAN VERSES: Poetry To Make You Say Hmmm" on www.publicbookshelf.com. In September 2001, Poetry.com published two of her poems, "Partners" and "Live The Dash" in a highly acclaimed and internationally distributed three-album collection, "The Sound of Poetry" and a hardbound poetic anthology, "Under the Quicksilver Moon". Also in 2001, Poetry.com selected Tracie*s poem, Live The Dash as a semi-finalist in their International Open Poetry Contest. In 2002, Tracie was nominated for Poet of the Year. She was also nominated for induction as an International Poet of Merit, as well as an honored member of the National Society of Poets.

Tracie became the Founder and CEO of KTE Foundation for Literary Discovery Incorporated, a 501 c 3 non-profit organization dedicated to the concept of Revitalizing Excitement Around Literacy (REAL) for youth throughout the metropolitan Detroit area through innovative and creative workshops/special events celebrating exposure to the Literary and Communication Arts. It names what she hopes will become her own literary and communication arts entertainment conglomerate. "I learned through this process that I am much like Debbie Allen says, "When I do dream, I dream big and in color! That's how my picture remains clear! I want this company to cater to every age, gender, creed and color of people...specifically my own." Says Christian of her future literary endeavors.

KTE Foundation produced several literary events in 2004-2005 including, "The Silence the Violence" Youth Poetry Showcase, an afternoon showcase spotlighting four female finalists between the ages of 10 and 17 who wrote beautiful poems pertaining to the theme. The "Project Express Yourself" Youth Poetry Writing Workshop was a free, six-week workshop series for youth 9-17 and A "Cupcake and Cocoa Social" Library Card Drive in 2005. Tracie's first self-publishing effort resulted in the release of the first full-length novel of her fictional series, The Black College Sabbatical - Fall Quarter in December 2007 and the follow-up installment, Winter Quarter, released in March 2009. All Ms. Christian's titles are available on amazon.com and target.com.

Tracie is a proud product of the Detroit Public School system graduating in 1990 from Pershing High School. Central State University in Wilberforce, OH (GO MARAUDERS!) and Wayne State University in Detroit, MI were her destinations of higher education. Currently, Tracie lives with her family in Detroit, MI. For Booking Information on seminars, workshops or for book related events/signings and readings please send a Letter of Interest to: [e-mail] and be sure to visit Ms. Christian on the web at www.tracieechristian.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Reading Experience!!!!, April 10, 2011

By 

Karen Duffie "Karen Lynne" (Detroit, MI USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Black College Sabbatical: Fall Quarter (Paperback)

This book was such a delightful reading experience for me as well as a welcomed escape from what I typically encounter within my day and work life. For me I can say it was an entertaining read with real life/believable situations! Therefore, in my opinion, this material was well written and thought out. I highly recommend this book by Tracie Christian. I felt as if I was apart of the Heritage University experience along with the characters and "got to know" their families and unique backgrounds! I really appreciated the short chapters which made it easy for me to read and move through the book. And, at the end, inserting the "conversation questions" was a nice surprise and addition for book clubs or as an individual reflection of the contents of the book! Great Job Tracie!!! TWO BIG THUMBS UP! Karen Lynne Duffie

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A intellectual and entertaining read all wrapped up into one!, March 31, 2009

By 

Ardannyl "Live Ladies of Literature" (Detroit, Michigan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Black College Sabbatical: Fall Quarter (Paperback)

Discussing a college experience is one thing however,writing about the African American college experience is another! Author Tracie Christian takes us into the world of four young ladies from totally various backgrounds linked together through fate. As if freshman year on a black college campus is not overwhelming and challenging enough, Kyla, Ananda, Tina, and Cierra all face tribulations that easily amount up to that old saying,"what dose not kill you will definitely make you stronger." From the deception of lovers to sibling rivalry and deceit,in this juicy read ladies and gentlemen,you get it all! Through her initial literary contribution to the world, Ms. Christian does an terrific job at allowing individuals unaware of the black college experience some eye opening insight and the opportunity for those who attended an historical black institution the opportunity to reminiscence. I hated that the Fall Quarter had to come to an end however,I'm just dieing to read Winter Quarter the 2nd Edition. Hats off to you Ms.Tracie.

Adra Young
Author of: The Everyday Living of Children & Teens Monologues series

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The Urban Book Source, October 15, 2008

By 

The Urban Book Source "www.urbanbooksource.com" (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Black College Sabbatical: Fall Quarter (Paperback)

Reviewed by Starr Baldwin
UrbanBookSource.com

In The Black College Sabbatical: Fall Quarter, author Tracie E. Christian tells the story of college life at a Historically Black University (HBU) called Heritage State University in New Jersey. The reader is taken on a journey with four young women who meet at freshman orientation by chance and become close friends; each of whom has their own set of issues that are covered randomly throughout the book

The characters are very defined and manage to linger in your mind in such a way that you are often left wondering what will actually happen to them, will things change with them or will they stay the same. You will discover what it is truly like for Tina being a White student trying to succeed in a Black environment; you will hope CeeCee learns to overcome her various problems; you will sympathize with Kyla as she struggles with two important relationships in her life; and you will ache for Ananda, as she struggles with being an overachiever who is not reaching what she feels is her full potential.

You will see more and more of each character with every chapter you read, and by the ending cliffhanger, you will feel compelled to purchase the next installment, because you will want to know what happens to these four friends.

A guardian angel, who is assigned to one of the girls, walks the reader through the book, summarizing events past in early chapters and prepares the reader for the possibility of things to come. At the end of Fall Quarter, I was still unsure as to which young woman the angel was assigned to, because she spoke about and understood each character intimately and completely.

The supporting male characters in the book contribute heavily to the storyline. Even the briefly mentioned characters, such as the parents of some of the main characters, are memorable, and leave you with a lasting impression.

Having attended a HBU myself, I truly enjoyed this glimpse into the magical collegiate world that can only exist at an HBU it brought back a lot of memories when I was a freshman.

What did you like best about this book?
The author gave great insight into what it would be like to attend and what to expect from a prestigious HBU. It gives you a taste of advice on how you could cope with your first real encounter of being away from home, meeting friends that will become your life long friends, and lastly how cool it is to go away to college.

What did you dislike about this book?
I didn't like the angel in the book. I am not sure of the purpose of the angel, because it was more like the angel was there to remind you of what was taking place and never let on to who the angel was there to help out. I didn't like the way the book just ended with a cliffhanger when it really only started to get good around page 150.

How can the author approve this book?
I am a firm believer that the book cover is what grabs the reader's attention first. The cover needs major improvement, it doesn't relate to the title of the book at all. Improve the cover and the editing, take the angel because it's not needed and elaborate more on what is really going on with the characters before you close out with a cliffhanger and never really get to the bottom of things.