Miss Virginia and the Sweet Sisters: A Novel

by Donna Lawrence

For a mixed-race girl in 1967, acceptance amid life and death is hard-won.

Growing up with different-colored skin shouldn’t be difficult. So why is it that Lindsey always feels “other than”?

These are the sentiments of mixed-race thirteen-year-old Lindsey Hollis, growing up in 1967 in small-town Kentucky where intraracial racism proliferates and where a long-ago murder still haunts the town. Lindsey longs for acceptance, but because she looks white, she is plagued by bigotry from her small circle of black friends. Not long after Lindsey befriends two mysterious elderly ladies and their teacher friend, she learns that a psychopathic killer has returned to town. Now Lindsey and her friends are being stalked. With the specter of sinister premonitions and secrets that need to be kept, Lindsey must find a way to bridge the social and racial divides that separate them before the killer strikes again…. And time is running out.

In Miss Virginia and the Sweet Sisters, we are immersed in the world of Kentucky bluegrass horse country, coming-of-age wonders, and the mysteries of life experienced by a young girl on the cusp of young adulthood. The backdrop of murder and the seedy side of small-town life heightens the suspense interwoven with the racial tension of late 1960s Kentucky.

377 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2022

About the author

Donna Lawrence writes in the genre of women’s fiction set in historical periods, even touching on coming-of-age in small-town America. Miss Virginia and the Sweet Sisters is her debut novel. A collection of short stories and poetry is scheduled for release soon. Her poetry is published in a compilation and has been featured in newspapers. As of 2020 and 2021, two of her poems are featured on the 9/11 Memorial Website.

Her writing career started when she received her first diary at the age of eleven. Her love of all things literary and her creative pursuits grew from this early age to the present day. As an artist, she enjoys expressing herself on paper using pen and ink as a medium. Writing music lyrics is another favorite pastime. She likes a story that is well-told and intelligent with well-developed characters. She is a history and movie buff who enjoys a variety of genres, especially historical or romantic.

Born and raised in Kentucky, she was known affectionately as DaMarie. She has been a longtime resident of Colorado. Both states hold special meaning, and the many experiences she’s had are ones she draws on in my writing. She posts monthly on her personal blog, which provides an outlet when not working on her latest manuscript or enjoying the brilliant sunshine of Colorado’s blue skies.

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Reviews

[Olivia Gottshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s been a long time since I have read a book that I literally could not put down. The author did such an amazing job of telling this story, and from so many different viewpoints of extremely diverse characters that it’s almost unbelievable. Her ability to write a compelling story, and also share a message is beyond my comprehension. I can see how she had to reach deep within herself and bring forth so much emotion and self exploration to bring these characters to life. Having witnessed interracial discrimination in my neck of the woods from childhood, I can definitely say that she hit the nail on the head and really represented this topic in all of its authenticity. It made me laugh cry yell out loud and get totally sucked in and lost for hours. I love her work and I am definitely one of her biggest fans. I would encourage anyone who would like to read a book and maybe even learn some thing along the way to pick this up and dive right in.