Long Walk Up: Childhood Journey from Tragedy to Triumph [Paperback]

Denise Turney (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 30, 2007

"However long the night, the dawn will break." -- African Proverb Long Walk Up is the gripping tale of Mulukan, a young orphan girl who, despite the odds against her, continues her journey from poverty and despair en route to her remarkable and triumphant destiny. Long Walk Up also tells the story of the African community Mulukan and her family are rooted in, a community facing extension beneath heavy blows of drought and malaria. A choice young Mulukan makes could cost the community tremendous upset. Not one for tending to others feelings until they halt her own progress, Mulukan sets out on a path that leads her into history records.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Long Walk Up breathes life into the resiliency of the African spirit. Through Turney, Mulukan easily leaves the pages and enters our hearts. You too will be encouraged to take the Long Walk Up. --Yaba A. Blay, Temple University Department of African American Studies

--Yaba A. Blay, Temple University Department of African American Studies

Mulakan, child of Africa, orphaned without mother, father, and left without siblings, triumphs over the rocky terrain of her solo journey. Long Walk Up is a poignant story of survival. --Dr. Maxine Thompson, Butterfly Press

--Dr. Maxine Thompson, Butterfly Press

Starting with her first book, Portia, and continuing with her latest effort, Long Walk Up, Denise Turney's literary expressiveness and dedication to the written word is evident. Long Walk Up is sure to be a bestseller. --Ron Kavanaugh, Mosaicbooks.com

About the Author

Denise Turney is a professional novelist and journalist who has more than thirty years of writing experience to her credit. Denise is the author of the books: Portia, Love Has Many Faces, Spiral, Long Walk Up, Rosetta's Great Hope and Love Pour Over Me.

Denise is the editor of the internationally online periodical, The Book LoverÂ’s Haven. She is also the host of the radio program "Off The Shelf" which airs on Blog Talk Radio.

Active in the community, Denise is a founding member of Bucks County Pennsylvania’s first African American owned and operated drug and alcohol prevention program – No Longer Bound. Denise is a two-time Navy Achievement Medal winner.

An engaging and insightful artist, Denise has appeared on radio and television shows around the country. Her works have appeared in various national and international periodicals among which include: Parade, Obsidian II, Essence, The Pittsburgh Quarterly, The Bucks County Courier Times, The Trenton Times, Sisters In Style, TodayÂ’s Black Woman and The Trenton State College Literary Review.

Ever vigilant and open to helping to strengthen the community and her colleagues, Denise has spoken at the prestigious Spelman College, facilitated the Women of Color: Financial Independence Conference at the Philadelphia Community College, The Aspiring Writer’s Conference in Philadelphia, and served as a panelist for Take Our Daughters To Work Day at Merrill Lynch in Princeton, New Jersey. Denise travels the country speaking and connecting with readers at large national events that host 40,000 – 1 million attendees.

As a journalist and editor, Denise has interviewed a number of distinguished artists, including Roland Martin, Omar Tyree, Francis Ray, Grammy-award nominee and nationally renowned Native American poet, essayist and speaker, Awiakta, presidential speech writer, Michael Johns, journalist - Diane Writer, Dan Poynter, Troy Johnson, and bestselling author Tracy Thompson.

Denise attended South-Young High School where she graduated with honors. She received her higher academic training at the University of Tennessee where she majored in Psychology. She is a mother and resides in Philadelphia.

Product Details

• Paperback: 90 pages
• Publisher: Chistell Pub (April 30, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0966353935
• ISBN-13: 978-0966353938
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.6 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,865,732 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Denise Turney is the author of Portia, Love Has Many Faces, Spiral, Long Walk Up, Rosetta's Great Hope and Love Pour Over Me. She is also a two-time Navy Achievement Medal winner.

Her works have appeared in various national and international periodicals among which include: Parade, Obsidian II, Essence, The Pittsburgh Quarterly, The Bucks County Courier Times, The Trenton Times, Sisters In Style, TodayÂ’s Black Woman and The Trenton State College Literary Review.

Denise Turney has spoken at the prestigious Spelman College, facilitated the Women of Color: Financial Independence Conference at the Philadelphia Community College, The Aspiring Writer’s Conference in Philadelphia, and served as a panelist for Take Our Daughters To Work Day at Merrill Lynch in Princeton, New Jersey. Denise travels the country speaking and connecting with readers at large national events that host 40,000 – 1 million attendees.

As a journalist and editor, Denise has interviewed a number of distinguished artists and leaders, including Roland Martin, Omar Tyree, Francis Ray, Grammy-award nominee and nationally renowned Native American poet, essayist and speaker, Awiakta, presidential speech writer, Michael Johns, journalist - Diane Writer, Dan Poynter, Troy Johnson, and bestselling author Tracy Thompson.

PERSONAL NOTE FROM DENISE: Dear Reader, your support is invaluable! Pick up a copy of one my books (Love Has Many Faces, Spiral, Long Walk Up, Rosetta's Great Hope, Love Pour Over Me) right here at Amazon.com.

I'd love for you to evolve with me, reader and writer!


With Appreciation and Happy Reading!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Walking in the right direction!, August 17, 2010

By 

Alvin C. Romer "The Jackal" (Miami, FL USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Long Walk Up: Childhood Journey from Tragedy to Triumph (Paperback)

Denise Turney has a story to tell and does it in a poignant way. Her story, LONG WALK UP is a young girl's childhood journey from tragedy to triumph...albeit, about an orphan girl on her journey toward legitimacy from meager beginnings to that of the first Black president of an African nation! Though simplistic and short, it's long on linguistic latitude with a remarkable sense of place, as well as profound knowledge of the ways and customs of the people that are adjuncts to the setting of the story. Reading the story it was hard to put down, and after embracing Mulukan and her ordeals traversing the countryside searching for identity you knew that destiny would draw her to her calling -- due diligence is like this when you're persistant and your election and calling is made surest by being in the right place at the right time!

The book starts out moderately slow with emphasis on life among the village(s) throughout her nomadic life. Ironically, the travels only served to strengthen her resolve in allowing survival tactics to give insight to what it means to take advantage of time and place. She does this remarkedly at every turn, especially during her young adult years as a writer honing the necessary skills to become a distaff leader, which in my opinion was the turning point of the story. I loved this book, but like others I'm sure, they will want more of Mulukan. This book is a winner, albeit short. An upside would have been intrigue to the storyline enhancing continuity and longevity. Read it despite the need for more, but get to know the author and her previous works. Denise is a mother and a founding member of Bucks County Pennsylvania's first African American owned and operated drug and alcohol intervention program - No Longer Bound. She is a former volunteer in Big Brothers/Big Sisters. She is an entrepreneur, a businesswoman and a civic and community volunteer. Her memberships include: The National Women's Executive Association, Black Women Entrepreneurs, The Philadelphia Writer's Organization, The International Black Writer's Organization, and The International Women's Writing Guild.

4.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Book, June 20, 2007

By 

Tika (New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Long Walk Up: Childhood Journey from Tragedy to Triumph (Paperback)

I read this book. It was inspirational and uplifting. I would recommend it to everyone. The detailed description of Africa, African culture and its struggles was educational.

4.0 out of 5 stars Long Wlak Up, June 19, 2007

By 

N. Titus "Nicole" (New York, New York) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Long Walk Up: Childhood Journey from Tragedy to Triumph (Paperback)

In Long Walk Up, Denise Turney displays a remarkable sense of place, as well as a great depth of knowledge of the ways and customs of her setting. As we trace the poignant journey of Mulukan from abject poverty to head of state, we are drawn into the story through unique metaphors and a narration that captures the daily life of the poor in a small African village. Children are said to cling to the back of their parents as if hiding from death. Mulukan's life was filled with so much pain that she forgot to cry. When no one shooed her away from where she slept at the feet of other children, she called the place home. The resiliency of the young girl, and her intelligence reflect the author's own brilliance and powers of leadership. Long Walk Up is a must to stimulate people everywhere, especially disadvantaged children, to follow their star and to maintain their reslove to accomplish their goals in life. I highly recommend the book.