Contact: Alisha Valeri, Athanatos Christian Ministries, 412-925-4372
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn., Aug. 8, 2012 /Christian Newswire/ -- Shirley Tucker, the award-winning South African author of "Diamonds in the Dust" will be on a book tour through the United States beginning August 15-27. She will read aloud from her book and share her experiences in South Africa with fans in Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Washington.
"Diamonds in the Dust" is a compelling, fictional Christian story of turmoil and redemption in South Africa. The main character, Ida Morgan, is forced to grapple with poverty and corruption even as she is weighed down by the death of her husband at the hands of area thugs.
Shirley will discuss the characters, plots, and main themes of her book which won the grand prize in the Christian Novel Contest held by Athanatos Christian Ministries in 2011. She will relate how her experiences in South Africa impacted her writing and inspired her to write the novel in the first place. Those wanting to hear in-depth stories about life in South Africa and listen to a first-hand account of the trials and tribulations there are unlikely to be disappointed. Although the book may be fiction, anyone reading it will be captivated by its authenticity and international appeal.
In some of Shirley's events, she will go further and share details about the micro-lending charity that she and her husband founded to combat the oppressive conditions they've witnessed. The Tuckers founded the Phakamani Foundation in 2008, and since then have lent out millions of dollars in small loans to needy South African entrepreneurs.
Starting off her book tour strong on August 15, Shirley will be at the Westin in the Galleria in Edina, MN from 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. There will be a free dessert banquet for all attendees. She will then be at the Rochester Public Library on August 16 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. On August 17th, she will be speaking at Athanatos Christian Ministry's Christian Writing Conference in Onalaska, WI. This conference is free and will also be broadcasted online, allowing people to attend from anywhere in the world.
For the rest of Shirley Tucker's itinerary and to learn more, visit her website.
