It’s been a while since a From the Heart newsletter has been issued. But I’ve been plenty busy. My last full-length novel was published two years ago. I hope you enjoyed Forbidden Heart (BET Books, Arabesque, 2000). I have spent the time since the publication of that book writing short stories and traveling. Several of my short stories have been published in magazines including Sun and Today’s Black Woman.

This year I have two releases. I hope you’ll join me in celebration of my hardcover debut! Testimony is being published in June 2002 by Dafina Books ($24, ISBN 0-7582-0059-5). Testimony is about a gospel choir on the road to redemption and achieving their dreams of success... if only they’d stop sabotaging themselves. This book is one of my favorites. I hope you’ll enjoy it just as much.

For fans of the Heart family, be sure to check out my romantic novella “Heart’s Desire” in the Island Bliss anthology (St. Martin’s Press, $6.50. ISBN 0-312-97893-6). It’s in stores now.

Lucia Heart Allen arrives in the Bahamas seeking peace after a messy divorce. She absolutely does not want to get involved, especially with a widowed father of three small children. But the man makes Lucia’s heart sing and her body soar. Maybe it’s island magic -- or maybe Lucia’s finally met her prince.

Island Bliss features three additional stories by terrific ladies. In addition to Lucia’s story, the anthology includes novellas by Rochelle Alers, Carmen Green and Marcia King-Gamble.