When Twilight Comes [Hardcover]

Forster Gwynne (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Making the switch from contemporary romance (Secret Desire) to mainstream African-American fiction, Forster reverses King Lear by giving the good youngest daughter the keys to the kingdom. Widowed matriarch Marge Hairston is the power behind the Woodmore Times, "North Carolina's most influential African-American newspaper." But when Marge becomes seriously ill, she must name a successor. Neither Drogan nor Cassie, her self-centered older children, wants the responsibility, so it falls to quiet Sharon to give up her own dreams in order to try to fill her mother's big shoes. No sooner does this happen than Drogan and Cassie become resentful of Sharon's new exalted position; and even though Marge isn't dead yet, they begin talking wills to make sure their pie pieces remain intact. Forster weaves a facile morality tale pitting the shallow against the virtuous: Drogan and Cassie cheat on their spouses, threatening their relationships; meanwhile, Sharon not only soars in her new career, she also embarks on a solid romance with a worthy man. Will Drogan and Cassie realize the many errors of their ways before it's too late? Unusually coy euphemisms for body parts render some of the sex scenes involuntarily humorous ("she took his rock-hard velvetlike steel and led him to her impatient portal") and the ratio of telling to showing is high throughout ("Sharon increased the pressure of her fingers as if to impress upon her mother the importance of her words"). Ultimately, it's all more treacly than edifying: if everyone doesn't quite live happily ever after by the end, their prospects look pretty good.

Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Forester offers a story about a family and the relationships between siblings when faced with a crisis. When Marge Hairston, the family matriarch and owner of North Carolina's most influential African American newspaper, the Woodmere Times, falls ill, her family falls apart. Marge insists that one of her children run the newspaper, so then her three children are faced with choosing between operating the family business and building careers of their own. Their once close relationship is challenged by the choices they make to fulfill their mother's wishes. The eldest, Drogan, is a handsome young man who uses his good looks and charm to woo others. Cassandra is the self-absorbed middle child. The youngest, Sharon, is mild mannered and selfless. The one who agrees to take over the newspaper not only gives up a promising career but also has to contend with sibling rivalry and mistrust. Readers will empathize with the struggles and rejoice in the epiphany that each character experiences. Lillian Lewis
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Kensington (February 2, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1575669196
• ISBN-13: 978-1575669199
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.7 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #436,123 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

ABOUT GWYNNE FORSTER
Gwynne Forster is national best-selling and award-winning author of seven novels of general fiction, thirty-one romance novels, and eight mainstream and romance novellas. All of her mainstream novels and several of her romance novels have been featured in Black Expressions Magazine. When Twilight Comes, her first mainstream novel, was featured on the magazine's cover, and it also remained on the Essence Magazine list of best sellers for several months. Her latest mainstream novels, A Different Kind Of Blues and Getting Some of Her Own were published in October 2007 snf 2008, respectively to excelledt reviews. Publiher's Weekly called A Different Kind of Blues "An ode to life...wise and wonderful..."

Among her many awards and forms of recognition, Gwynne is most proud of her election in 2006 to the Affaire de Coeur Magazine Hall Of Fame and of the Life Time Ahcievement Award conferred by Romantic Times Magazine in 2007. The following novels were nominated by Affaire de Coeur Magazine for 'Best romance novel of the year with African-American Hero and heroine: Ecstasy, Obsession, Naked Soul, Fools Rush In, Swept Away, Secret Desire, Scarlet Woman. Winners of the award were: Beyond Desire,Ecstasy, Naked Soul, Fools Rush In, and Swept Away. Readers of Affaire de Coeur Magazine named Gwynne one of Top Ten Favorite Authors for the years 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2006, and one of five outstanding achievers (1998). Rendezvous Magazine voted Secret Desire "Rose Bud of the month" for November 2003. The 2001 Gold Pin Award from Black Writers Reunion and Conference went to Beyond Desire.

Double Day Book Club and Literary Guild selected Beyond Desire and used the book to start the Black Expressions Book Club. Romance In Color internet site gave its 1999 Award of Excellence to Against The Wind and voted Gwynne Author of the Year. The site voted Flying High runner-up to best romance of the year 2003 and gave it Honorable mention. Romance Slam Jam 2000 nominated Gwynne for the Vivian Stephens Lifetime Achievement Award. Romance Slam Jam 2001 gave Gwynne an Emma Award for her novella, "Learning to Love" in the anthology, Going To The Chapel. Romance Slam Jam 2003 nominated Blues From Down Deep for an Emma Award as best mainstream novel. Gwynne lectures extensively on fiction writing, and on making the first sale.

A native North Carolinian who grew up in Washington, D. C. , Gwynne holds bachelors and masters degrees in sociology, a master's degree in economics/demography and has additional graduate credits in journalism. As a demographer, she is widely published. She is formerly chief of (non-medical) research in fertility and family planning in the Population Division of the United Nations in New York and served for four years as chairperson of the International Programme Committee of the International Planned Parenthood Federation (London, England). These positions took her on official business to sixty-three developed and developing countries.

Gwynne sings on her church choir, loves to entertain, and is a museum hopper, gourmet cook and avid gardener. She enjoys classical music, opera, jazz and blues with her husband with whom she lives in New York City. She is represented by the Steel-Perkins Literary Agency, 26 Island Lane, Canandaigua, NY 14424. Reach Gwynne at P.O. Box 45, New York, N.Y. 10044; E-mail [e-mail]; Web page - http://www.gwynneforster.com -. Blog: http://gwynneforster.blogspot.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sibling rivlary taken too far., May 20, 2002

By 

Loretta "MsLo" (Virginia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: When Twilight Comes (Hardcover)

Twilight, in summary is
"... the light between sunset and full night or between full night and sunrise..."

Gwynne Forster's When Twilight Comes embraces both
ideas. The 'sunset and full night' comes for family matriarch
Marge Hariston, the owner of the Woodmore Times, NC's most
influential African American newspaper.

When Marge learns she will have to quit working permanently
she meets with her three children Cassandra, Drogan and
Sharon to discuss the fate of her newspaper. Either one of
her children will take over the newspaper or she will sell it
outright.

Cassie the oldest is vain and haughty and has no desire to do
something as pseudo feminine as publish a weekly newspaper.
She has issues and is afraid if she sits still too long someone
will see behind her facade. Drogan is a nice guy, but has relied
too long on his good looks and charm to win his battles. He does
not want the responsibility of running a newspaper. Plus Drogan
is already struggling with his troubled marriage. Sharon is
level headed, dependable and "all work and no play" when it
comes to pursuing her goals. Just when her dreams of becoming an
Assistant Dean at Woodmore State and other challeneges in her
personal life are finally coming together, she realizes that
she's the one who will have to keep the newspaper in the family.
Marge decides that whoever steps to the plate will own the
Woodmore Times, so she draws up legal documents and sells the
company to Sharon for $100.00. And that is when the relationship
between the three siblings spiral downward. Sharon is the 'full
night and sunrise' part of the definition, because when she
reluctlantly steps into her mother's shoes, it changes how she
sees her life and how others see her.

Twilight... is the fall and rise of a family unit, and as they
struggle with their individual issues, the reader is given a
candid look at each of the siblings in all of their glory. Ms.
Forster did and excellent job developing both primary and
secondary characters. Though she has won awards for her Romance
writings, this is her freshman attempt at writing mainstream.
If you enjoy smooth, crisp, captivating writing, I urge you to
pick up a copy of When Twilight Comes and share the Hairston
family's drama. A wonderful read.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars More, More, More...., April 9, 2002

By 

"misslove" - See all my reviews

This review is from: When Twilight Comes (Hardcover)

Set in tranquil Woodmore, North Carolina, When Twighlight Comes is about the affluent Hairston family who owns The Woodmore Times newspaper. Refreshing and resplendent this full story about familial crisis and family bonds is unique, powerful, and colorful. Issues of insecurity, jealousy, inferiority, and competition skate through the pages.

The Matriarch of the family, Marge Harriston, lives and breaths the newspaper, "one of her genuine sources of pleasure". You can imagine her heartbreak when her doctor informs her that she is ill. Marge toils, but decides that one of her children must take on the responsibility of running the family owned newspaper; otherwise, she will sell it. Marge's ultimatum and final decision sparks ruffles of instability in a couple of her children.

Cassie, the uppity oldest daughter oscillates between aplomb and self-anathema. Grappling with problems in her marriage, and aspirations in her career, Cassie is unprepared and thrown by her mother's proclamation.

Drogan, the middle child, and only son is dapper, charming, and loquacious. His marriage to his tepid wife Iomogene is fragile. He was depending on an inheritance via the newspaper for retirement. Marge's decision thwarts his plans, affecting his and Iomogene's carefree and flambouyant lifestyle.

Sharon, the youngest daughter, is at the prime of her career. Years of research and an extra teaching load leave her eagerly waiting to hear if she made Dean of the School of Social Work at the local University. Her mother's news frightens and worries her, leaving Sharon dealing with the deterioration of one of the most important relationships in her life. With all that she definitely doesn't need a new man in her life...or does she?

The characters are vibrant and defined, telling you the story. Their multi-dimensional presence gives the story depth and animation. Gwynne's cadence is quip and to the point. She doesn't waste paper giving us rambling details and tiresome descriptions; instead, she paints pictures using her words as a camera. The witty dialogue and engaging story keeps you turning pages, while melodic words provide a vivid setting. Grab the book and see if one decision can tear a family apart or bring them closer together.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Touching & Engaging, May 22, 2002

By 

Yasmin Coleman (PENNSYLVANIA, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: When Twilight Comes (Hardcover)

When Twilight Comes is Gwynne Forster's debut into the contemporary/mainstream fiction arena. Forster takes us into the world of Marge Hairston, newspaper owner extraordinaire and the mother of three adult children. Marge Hairston has always had to be the strong and independent matriarch of the Hairston family. For years her life has revolved around her position as the owner of the Woodmore Times (North Carolina's most influential African American newspaper) and the three children she raised alone after her husband's death. So when Marge finds herself feeling a little more tired than usual she finally succumbs to her better judgment and goes to visit her family doctor. She is shocked to learn that she is terminally ill and only has a brief time to get her affairs in order. The first order of business is which one of her three adult children will take over the family business.

Meet Drogan, Marge's oldest child and only son, who's handsome but oftentimes manipulative while he constantly thinks only about his well-being. The second child is Cassie, Marge's oldest daughter, who appears to suffer from 'me-ism.' Sharon, Marge's youngest child, seems to be the most levelheaded and rational sibling. Sharon is the peacemaker of the family. She sees the best in everything and everybody almost to a fault. It is Sharon, who gives up her professional career in order to take over the day-to-day running of the Woodmore Times and to lead the newspaper into the next millennium. True to expectations, eyes roll, fingers snap, necks turn, 'tudes mal-adjust and sparks fly as the baby of the family steps forward to handle HER business. Not only are the siblings at odds with each other, but they're also at odds with their mother, their spouses and their world. Will their cherished close relationships survive? Will time heal all wounds? Will they be able to forgive, forget and reconcile?

When Twilight Comes by Gwynne Forster is a commendable departure into the mainstream fiction arena. Forster writes an engaging and touching story although at times I felt that the story got ahead of itself. Additionally, in the first few chapters I kept wondering what the big rush was. Why did decisions need to be made in a split second? I kept thinking will a day or two or even a week be too much to ask for when you have to make a major decision that will impact the rest of your life? These points aside, When Twilight Comes is still a book that I would recommend to others. Fans of Forster will especially enjoy her mainstream debut novel. Forster has piqued my interest with When Twilight Comes and I plan to test the waters again by reading her next romance novel titled "Once In a Lifetime" which is due out in July 2002.

Yasmin
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