Bride of Destiny

By Sovella Brown Thompson

BRIDE OF DESTINY, a mystery based on real events. Our protagonist, Debra Martin is asked to return to her family home for her grandfather's funeral after being away for twenty years. However, a funeral is not all she returns to. The chanting in the night did not bother her until she realized that a voodoo ceremony was going on in the house,

• Language: English
• Publisher: ReadersMagnet LLC
• Release date: Apr 30, 2019
• ISBN: 9781949981544

Book preview

Bride of Destiny

Copyright © 2019 by Sovella Brown Thompson

Published in the United States of America

ISBN Paperback: 978-1-949981-53-7

ISBN eBook: 978-1-949981-54-4

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any way by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording or otherwise without the prior permission of the author except as provided by USA copyright law.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

The opinions expressed by the author are not necessarily those of ReadersMagnet, LLC.

ReadersMagnet, LLC

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Book design copyright © xxx by ReadersMagnet, LLC. All rights reserved.

Cover design by Ericka Walker

Interior design by Cyril Manuel Bastasa

Contents

Synopsis

Bio

Marketing

Synopsis

What is it about nice, civilized people that makes them want to read stories in which the most unthinkable horrors occur? Maybe it’s the feeling that if we read them, we won’t have to live them. Or maybe we just have that irresistible curiosity to know what it feels like to be put in that frightening situation.

Whatever the reason, the fact is people love mysteries and horror stories.

BRIDE OF DESTINY, is a mystery story based on real events.

The main character, DEBRA MARTIN, is summoned back to her families’ home of New Orleans, La. Though she was born there and lived there for six years, she can’t remember any of her family members except her grandfather. It is for his funeral that she has been beckoned.

Nineteen years ago her mother, ANGELA LEDEAUX MARTIN, left New Orleans suddenly. Her mother never discussed why she left or why she didn’t return.

Upon arriving in New Orleans, Debra is picked up by her uncle, ROBERT LEDEAUX, a man she does not remember but instantly likes.

At the house, Debra meets the rest of her family. First she meets her very attractive cousin RICHARD ARCENEAUX. The gray eyes this man possessed seemed to look right into Debra’s soul. Debra also meets her grandmother, MARY LEDEAUX and Richard’s mother, JUDITH ARCENEAUX. The first night in the house Debra discovers a voodoo doll in her bed. Later that night chanting from somewhere in the house, wakes her up.

After the funeral, at the reading of her grandfather’s will, Debra learns many things about her past. First, that her grandfather knew where she and her mother lived and second that because he loved them, he has left his entire fortune to her. Still there were things about the family that puzzled Debra, like, why didn’t any of the family attend her mother’s funeral, why did her mother leave her home so abruptly so many years ago, and why did her grandfather leave a fortune to a granddaughter he hardly knew? This is also when she meets the man she falls in love with, EDWARD BROUSSARD. Edward, her grandfather’s lawyer, tells Debra that her grandfather loved her very much.

Soon after, Debra’s father starts to appear to her in dreams and visions. He tells her of a trunk containing information that will give her all the answers to her questions. But he is not alone. With his are apparitions wearing black masks. They appear to want her soul, want her to join them in death. She becomes frightened.

After the trunk mysteriously appears in her room, Debra learns that she is to become high priestess of a cult, that she is to marry the high priest and all of this is to happen on her twenty-fifth birthday, which is only a couple of days away.

When her uncle dies a suspicious death, Debra faints from seeing the voodoo instruments used to kill him. When she wakes up, Edward is by her side. He tells her of the distributing dreams she had during the night. She chanted about death and spoke to her dead father. Debra is shocked.

The only person that can save her from this fate is the man she loves, Edward. But, to her dismay, the cult has also taken command of him. So, Debra must persevere. She decides that she must save herself.

Debra visits the library in hopes of getting information on the internet and books on voodoo and on her ancestors. The librarian, knowing that she didn’t find what she was looking for, refers her to an old palmist, MADAME SEMONE. Edward escorts her to the palmist. At first sight the woman becomes afraid of Debra, telling her to go to her demon lover. Later, after she calms down, she speaks with Debra. The palmist tells Debra that her destiny is to become the high priestess. When Edward asks her how she can stop this from happening, she tells Debra of only one way she can save herself. She must stand toe to toe against the high priest.

On the night of her cousin Richard takes her out on a date. They enjoy themselves although Debra has a headache. When they return to the house, Edward gives Debra what she thinks are aspirin. Later she finds out they are knock-out drops. After that she is dressed for a ceremony, one to make her the high priestess. But remembering what the palmist told her to do, Debra puts a curse on the congregation. She then calls her dead uncle from his grave to prove that she has the voodoo powers. He grabs Richard by the throat and forces him to confess his murder. Edward, watching the drama, calls the police. Richard is taken into custody. Later, Richard proposes marriage to Debra. She accepts.

Bio

Sovella Thompson loves writing. She particularly enjoys writing mysteries. She has contributed poems to anthologies such as Heritage and Love Of Life. She has also contributed a short story to Sci-Fant Magazine, a monthly magazine that published fiction stories.

Sovella Thompson is a graduate of Gambling State University with a Master’s Degree in Education. She devoted 36 years to the system acclaiming Special Education Supervisor to her credentials. Sovella is certified as a Teacher Leader and Student Teacher Supervisor. She is also an Education State Monitor for Louisiana. She is a member of the Alpha Kappa Sorority, Iota Rho Omega Chapter.

Mrs. Thompson was born in Opelousas, Louisiana and now lives in Homer, La. with her husband of 42 years, Edward Thompson. They have two sons, Edward and Mario.

Marketing

Bride of Destiny is an intriguing read. It mixes love with mystery. It opens up the questions of Is there such a thing as voodoo? Can it take control of your life? It further makes the reader wonder, Does this woman have the power to overcome those who want to make her join the cult? Will she marry the man she loves? The book reaches out to several strong large markets;

1. African American Readers:

The primary market for the book is the African American market. The female protagonist is African American and so is the man she falls in love with.

Publishers are constantly seeking new ways to broaden their audience. One way is doing this to attract brand new readers. Several publishers are reaching out to niche markets, in many cases, to the growing numbers of African American readers.

In the last ten years more publishing houses have published books directed at the African American woman market, than ever before. It has been found that two out of the three black women read black mystery romances.

Today’s romance novels have, in many cases, changed their look including changing content and using more realistic characters such as African American woman and men.

2. Romance/Mystery Readers:

The basic romance components have not changed—a man, a woman and their ultimate bliss. Add to that combination mystery and you have a page-turner. Voodoo and love go together well or so some people believe. In some circles it is strongly believed that voodoo is used to draw love. Is it true?

Romantics or romance readers make up sixty percent of the reading sector, according to research. According to Publishers Weekly, romance sales are approximately 885 million dollars. The number of romance books that can be seen in bookstores prove this fact to be true. Any type of romance can be found. Romance readers range in age from 18 to 82. The average romance reader is 39 years old. That age group encompasses my book. Forty-five percent of these romance readers work outside the home.

3. Romance Book Distributors:

Independent distributors who stock books in grocery stores, drug stores, airports, account for 56.1% of romance sales. Major bookstore chains (i.e. Walden Books, Barnes & Noble) hold 15.7% of the romance market, followed closely by wholesalers, such as Ingram, Baker and Taylor, and The BookSource with 13.9%.

4. Fiction Publishers:

Romance novels account for 85% of all mass market fiction titles published. Publishers weekly sales figure show that 6 of 18 fiction titles selling 1.5 million books were romance novels.

One

A gasp escaped Debra’s lips.

As she stood before the man who looked deep into her eyes, a shiver ran through, body and soul. She wondered exactly what he could have wanted. He had popped out in front of her from out of nowhere.

His trans-like, black eyes never blinked. His ebony face was set with a mocking smile that actually scared her. But his looks were not what held Debra’s attention. That was not what made her skin crawl. It was the thing that slowly slivered on his shoulders and arms. The snake was huge or so it appeared to her.

Would you like to pet my friend, my princess? He is very tame, the man said, still keeping a keen eye on Debra.

No, she answered, trying to make her way past him. Stepping to the left, she was blocked by the man. Moving to the right, again he stepped in front of her. Please let me pass! she asked, in a voice so shaky that she almost didn’t discern it.

As you wish. All you had to do was ask, my princess, the man said, as he lowered his eyes to the ground and backed away.

Getting her chance, she ran up to the steps to her apartment building. She tried her best not to think about what had just

happened.

Placing her hand on the doorknob, she put the key into the lock. But before she could turn the key, the door opened.

Hi, Debra, her roommate Ron said. The man looked at her almost in amazement. Wow, did I frighten you? You look like you’ve seen a ghost, he said, stepping aside as Debra frantically brushed past him.

No. I’m fine. It’s just that this city freaks just like every other city in this world, she said, throwing her purse unto the sofa.

Don’t tell me you’re just realizing that now!

Well, as the song says, they really do come out at night, she said, trying to catch her breath and joke the situation off.

Debra thought of the man with the snake. She closed her eyes and rubbed her lids trying her best to get the picture out of her

mind.

What happened? Ron asked, taker her by the shoulders. He was afraid for her. He knew Chicago could be a tough city when it wanted to be. Many times he had escorted her to the mall or the movies, just for protection. Obviously, something had happened tonight—when she was alone. He could see the fear on her face when she entered the room.

Debra heard the concern in Ron’s voice. He had been a good friend for two years. Sharing the apartment was his idea and a good one. She needed someone. After her mother died, she was very lonely. She and Ron never had a relationship. He never forced her to do any thing she didn’t want to do.

Nothing happened. I’m fine. She walked toward the bathroom to wash her face. Debra was sure that the man with the snake meant no harm. She was also sure that Ron would have said the same thing. She was also sure that Ron would have said the same thing. It was just the way he looked at her, like he could see into her very soul. Finishing her face, she reached for her hairbrush. Strange, it wasn’t where