by Tina Knowles
First published 2025
Celestine sits under the pecan tree in 1950s Galveston as her mother tells stories of the women who came before them. The youngest of seven children, she loves her world of extended family and Motown sounds drifting from nearby porches. But as racial realities and the constraints of girlhood close in, Celestine begins dreaming of life beyond Texas. Her restless spirit and bold instincts pull her away from familiar shores toward an uncertain future. The journey ahead will test her through grief and loss, creative risks and romantic upheaval. She will raise children who become superstars while discovering her own extraordinary gifts. This multigenerational saga follows one woman's path from a spirited girl in Galveston to a mother who shapes some of the greatest artists of her time, carrying forward the wisdom that flows between mothers and daughters across generations.
Genres: literary-fiction, historical-fiction, family-drama, african-american-historical-fiction
Vibes: emotional, intimate, lyrical
Tropes: found-family, generational-saga
Setting: Galveston, Texas
Period: 1950s
432 pages · Hardcover · One World