A Gathering Place

<p><strong>A luminous story of faith and resilience in post-Katrina New Orleans-where one woman rebuilds hope one act of grace at a time.</strong></p><p></p><p><em>An entertaining and poignant addition to the post-Katrina canon of New Orleans stories. A Gathering Place takes us inside a loving family complete with inter-generational drama joyful and tragic memories and delicious Lebanese food. The author takes on some complex racial and socio-economic dynamics wrapping them into a lively and sometimes madcap plot with tenderness music and poetry.</em></p><p>-<strong><em>Elisa M. Speranza author of</em> The Italian Prisoner</strong></p><p></p><p>When 81-year-old Blue Hamieh-a devout Lebanese Catholic-hears the Virgin Mary's voice to create a gathering place in New Orleans she walks away from everything-her Mississippi home her family's pleas and all common sense.</p><p> </p><p> It's 2009. Katrina's wreckage still scars the Gulf Coast as well as the city of New Orleans. Blue spends her life savings on a collapsing building in one of the Big Easy's most desolate neighborhoods determined to turn it into a café that will unite three fractured communities. But crime poverty and underlying racial tensions close in fast. Thieves lurk in the shadows. Deep-rooted distrust threatens to divide rather than unite. And her own family-convinced she's lost her mind-plots to take her back home by force.</p><p> </p><p> As her memory begins to slip Blue is running out of time. To finish what she believes is a divine mission she'll have to defy everyone who doubts her-and face down a city that may never be ready for her dream.</p><p> </p><p> Vicki Salloum's gripping novel is a powerful story of faith resilience and the courage to rebuild when the world says it's too late. This is a story for all whose lives have been touched by natural disasters and devastating personal loss-and for all women who face ridicule in their quest to do what they believe is right.</p><p></p><p><strong>Praise for <em>A Gathering Place</em></strong></p><p></p><p>Vicki Salloum's <em>A Gathering Place</em> is a sophisticated multicultural family saga following the life of Blue-an elderly lady full of tenacity and passion as she follows a voice she heard from the Mother of God to rebuild a community. Using the remnants of memories after Hurricane Katrina to construct a future of love and a sense of place where all are welcomed Blue is on a journey of faith and conviction. Filled with spirituality and holy dreams Salloum writes to provide hope for all in overcoming obstacles and struggles of every size giving a soul to these pages. All it takes is just one person. Blue.</p><p>-<strong>Shome Dasgupta</strong> author of <em>Cajun South Brown Folk</em> </p><p></p><p>Vicki Salloum celebrates her heritage and her beloved city of New Orleans in this engaging story of Aunt Blue a woman driven by faith and a mission: to revive a lost corner of post-Katrina New Orleans. With skillful prose vivid characters affectionate humor and a page-turning pace <em>A Gathering Place</em> shines a light on the cultural gumbo that is New Orleans.</p><p> -<strong>Carolyn Perry</strong> author of <em>For Better For Worse: Patient in the Maelstrom</em></p><p>  </p><p>Mississippi native and resident of New Orleans Vicki Salloum has magically woven her Lebanese Catholic family's colorful roots and traditions into a wonderful piece of literary fiction in her novel <em>A Gathering Place</em>. Filled with hope and redemption <em>A Gathering Place</em> will capture your heart.</p><p> -<strong>Susan Cushman</strong> author of <em>John and Mary Margaret</em> and <em>Tangles and Plaques</em>: <em>A Mother and Daughter Face Alzheimer's</em></p>