The Xlibris Blog proudly shines the spotlight on Xlibris author Jennifer C. McKelvey for winning in the African American Studies category at the 2012 USA Best Book Awards. She also bagged the best E-Book: Self-Help/Spirituality entry at the 2012 USA International Book Awards where her work was a finalist in four other categories, including African American Studies, E-Book: Autobiography/Biography/Memoirs, Women’s Issues, and Best New E-Book: Non-Fiction.
With this literary achievement, Jennifer has dispelled the unwarranted stigma against many self-published authors criticized for their so-called mediocre books. She has proven that, indeed, she is woman of substance.
An Optimistic, Coming-of-Age Tale
Becoming a Woman of Substance is the humorous, triumphant tale of an unaware, naïve country girl from a small, wooden house in the poor, rural South, blossoming into a tough, wise, confident woman surviving and thriving in the big city. It’s a true story that began in 1970, with my at-home birth, via a midwife, to a mother with a fourth-grade education and a father who held me for a few times and never came back and how I avoided a tragic ending. I instead portrayed a mother who, despite loving me, never showed a lot of emotion except humor; a will of my own to succeed; and a somewhat supportive, yet broken, family.
While the dynamics of that support has certainly changed (to nonexistent), I am still grateful for my beginnings. With this as my background and backbone, I was able to graduate from high school with honors, serve successfully in the U.S. Army, obtain my master’s degree while in service, have my own company expanding my dream to own real estate, and obtain a high-level career within the federal government with very powerful agencies. I would have never imagined having all these achievements from someone who left home for college without knowing how to drive or cross the street by herself.
I like to think of my book and my story as a sort of Oprah without the millions and a lighter-hearted version of the movie, “The Help.” Similar to the movie, no one in my family knew I was writing the book. Hopefully, the strength and clarity of my story will reach its purpose and goals.
More about the Xlibris Author
Born and raised in the small town of Attapulgus, Georgia, US, Jennifer earned her degree in BBA in Marketing at the Georgia Southern University. She served in the US Army for four years, during which she also gained her master’s degree in Public Administration. She has worked as a federal civilian employee in the past decade. Now based in Maryland, she has dedicated herself in mentoring and acting as a foster mom to homeless youths.
You too can prove your worth as a self-publishing star by honing your writing, editing, and book marketing skills! Start by visiting the Xlibris Writer’s Workshop. Plus, read more about our authors featured at the Xlibris Indie Author Roundup.