Dear Reader: Please enjoy this brief summary of Chasing the 400 and a sneak peek look at the first chapter. Brief Summary: The oldest of 10 plumber's children, sassy and sexy Vera Marshall wants to leave her working class Main Line neighborhood and secure a place in 'the 400"-1950's Philadelphia's black bourgeoisie. When hired as a department store model, Vera thinks she's on her way. Bobby Marshall dreams of college and a life different than his father's. But will Ned Daniels, the snobby son of their town's only Negro doctor, ruin their plans? Join the Marshalls and a cast of characters as they chase 'the 400" all over Philadelphia and the Main Line, hoping that the game is worth the chase. Introduction to the sneak peek first chapter: I want to give you a sneak peak into my novel, Chasing the 400, so I've included here the first chapter. Hopefully, this look into the world of Vera and Bobby Marshall will interest you in reading the entire book. Because. If you've ever wanted to change your life so that the abundance of your reality matched the size of your dreams, then this is the book for you. If you've ever wanted to rise above your circumstances and live your dreams big-especially if people tell you that you can't-then this is the book for you. And, if you want characters that you can cheer for, laugh with, sympathize with, grow with, and even loathe, then this is the book for you This is a work of fiction that is squarely placed in the very real towns of Philadelphia and Ardmore in Pennsylvania. The characters are fictional, too, but bits and pieces of the Marshalls are lovingly drawn from my own family. I didn't grow up in the period that I write about, but I heard all sorts of stories from the members of my family who did. Chasing the 400 doesn't recreate their reality; it pays homage to it. I hope you find that homage well deserved. Enjoy my book, and let me know what you thought of it. I would love to hear from you. Please email me at sheilahvance@TheElevatorGroup.com or write me at PO Box 207, Paoli, PA 19301. Love, Peace, and God Bless, Sheilah Vance Now, Chapter 1:
Sheilah Vance, is the author of several bestselling and award-winning books. They are Creativity for Christians: How to Tell Your Story and Stories of Overcoming from the Members of One Special Church (Sept. 2010), and the novels Chasing the 400 and Land Mines, and its companion journal, Journaling through Land Mines. Chasing the 400 has been a Top 20 bestseller at Black Expressions Book Club, and Land Mines is a January 2012 Featured Selection for Women's Fiction.
Vance lives in suburban Philadelphia's Main Line area. Pennsylvania. She is also the President and CEO of The Elevator Group, an independent publishing company based in Paoli. Land Mines was named in May 2009 as a finalist in the 2009 Next Generation Indie Book Awards in the categories of 1) Multicultural Fiction, and 2) Best Cover Design Fiction. Chasing the 400, her first novel, was the first selection of the African American Museum of Philadelphia Book Club. Land Mines also was named a finalist in the categories of Fiction: Chick Lit/Women's Lit, and Fiction: African American in the National Best Books 2009 Awards. Journaling Through the Land Mines was named a finalist in the category of Self Help: Journals and Quotes in the National Best Books 2009 Awards.
Vance has a B.A. in Communications from Howard University, where she majored in journalism, and a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center. She maintains a private law practice in Philadelphia, PA. She also works as President and General Counsel of the Institute for Educational Equity and Opportunity in Washington, DC, a nonprofit that focuses on public school finance research, education and training issues. Vance teaches Education Law at Villanova University Law School, where she previously was Assistant Dean for Academic Support and a legal writing professor. Vance had a successful career as a journalist and editor before graduating from law school.
She was born in Bryn Mawr, PA and has lived in the Main Line and Philadelphia area for most of her life. Vance created The Elevator Group in 2004 to manage her creative pursuits. One New Year's Eve, she decided to take control of her future, step out on faith, and publish her first novel, Chasing the 400. She has grown The Elevator Group to a true independent publishing company publishing other authors.
Vance received the 2006 Woman of Distinction Award from the Barristers Association of Philadelphia, a National Bar Association Chapter, for outstanding contributions to the legal profession, legal education and community service.
Vance has been interviewed in numerous media outlets about Chasing the 400, and has given many talks about topics mentioned in the novel, such as the Black Bourgeoisie, African American social organizations, The Talented Tenth, and the history of the African American community in the Main Line area of Philadelphia.
Vance has been interviewed in numerous media outlets about her novel, Land Mines, and about issues related to separation, divorce, dating again and rebuilding you life. As a motivational and informational speaker, her most popular presentations on these issues include: Top 10 Land Mines of Divorce, 10 Things Every Married Woman Should Know, Divorce from the Client's Perspective, How to Chase Your Dreams and Make them Come True, and Reinventing Yourself. Many of these interviews and informational articles are listed on The Elevator Group website.
