Annie Mae is a Blues singer returning home to the north-side of Chicago, for the first time in nearly 10 years to confront her violent roots. She’s a fighter and has overcome a great many battles in her life, a heroin addiction, a nearly fatal back-alley abortion, silently witnessing the physical abuse of her bed-ridden father, and a victim of a brutal assault. Now, there are two more battles, she has yet to face, gaining the acceptance of her mentally-ill mother and the secret battle of her life-altering disease.

“I’ll pick gravel in hell, before I stand up and let you mess over me,” shouts Selma Louise Jenkins as she chases after her 28 year old daughter Annie Mae, with a broom stick.



D.J. is a Chicago south-sider. Growing up, on Saturday mornings the sound of the Delta Blues was as familiar in her household as sausage in the skillet. D.J. is sometimes saddened by the fact that Blues music has been placed on today’s back burner. She feels her novel is a rediscovery of our musical heritage and the discovery of one’s self-worth and self love. Please visit her website:

www.myspace.com/IAMTHEBLUESforANNIEMAE