Inside The Last Visitor

About The Last Visitor

The author invites readers to take a humorous and dramatic mile walk in the shoes of her not-so-typical fictional characters in a small American town where everything is not as it seems. Luther Rawlings, a mild-mannered barber from a small town, takes a bus ride that could cost him his life. While Luther fights for his life, Hawk Williams, a black man from Luther’s hometown, takes us through five decades of Luther’s life. Readers see the reflection of their own biases, imperfections, and weaknesses through the eyes of Luther, born in the 1930’s, who considers himself a fairly good person, though not perfect. After all, he’s white, a Christian, and a baseball fan.

Book Excerpts:

Reverend Hayes’ oldest daughter, Charlene, always sang lead in church. She was blurting out “This Little Light of Mine,” while we were all wishing she would shine hers somewhere else. Reverend Hayes was tapping his foot to keep time, and his wife Constance was at the organ nodding like it was the most beautiful thing they’d ever heard.
***
Luther said my nostrils were flaring and he could see smoke coming out of them. He knew I carried about that big snake knife, and he was sure there was gonna be trouble. Bert and Sam, those old chickens, started easing toward the door.
***
“My Lord! The way that girl ruined that song Nearer My God To Thee, it’s a wonder God will let her within ten miles of him.” Luther couldn’t help but laugh. “Now, Manda, she wasn’t that bad.” But Amanda was on a roll. “Oh, and that Reverend Hayes. I’ve never in my life seen a man with nothing to say take so long saying it!”
***
Two days later, they found Danny dead just outside Florence. His tiny yellow body had been mutilated, almost beyond recognition. . . He looked like he’d been tied up and dragged several miles.
***
Mama saw Reverend Hayes’ piercing stare. Lucille sat back up, like she was interested in Reverend Hayes’ sermon. Mabel stared at her, jaws wide open. “Lue?”
“Hmmm?”
“Lucille! What? What he say?”
“Oh yeah . . . so he says ‘Well, Sista Williams, the Lawd works in
mysterious ways. He’s working on Sista Simmons’ soul, and God’ll reach her one day. All we can do is pray for poor Sista Simmons.’”

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