Acknowledgments
Life is an awesome journey through the unknown, a priceless adventure of countless experiences. We are the pilots of our passion. We never control the outcome of our choices, but with each step we navigate the road ahead. What you do with your life is up to you and nobody else. Its impossible to be everything to everybody. Please dont die before you decide to live to the fullest. Release your sexual inhibitions. Dance naked in the rain. Love and make love to yourself; youll be happier.
Remember, no man acquires success independent of another. For my achievements Im thankful to the Creator, my publishers, editors, family, friends, and to each of you. I acknowledge and appreciate your emotional and financial support. You are a blessing to me and I pray somehow, even in a small way, that I, too, have or will positively influence you.
Darrin Gipson (Grand Lux Cafe) of Houston, Texas; Jay Fountain, Battalion Chief, Port Arthur Fire Station No. 1; Officer Mark Temple, Clemetric Thomas-Frazier, Ron Lockett, LaToya Fontenot, Mrs. Kathleen Fontenot, Rick Smith, and the Honorable Vanessa Gilmore, I thank you for welcoming me to your wonderful cities of Houston and Port Arthur. The information each of you provided is priceless.
The main reason I smile is because of my son, Jesse Bernard Byrd Jr. Honey, youre the best. Im proud to be your mom and I love you unconditionally. Another reason is my guardian angelsmy mother, Elester Noel; my father, Joseph Henry Morrison; my great aunt, Ella Beatrice Turner; and my great uncle, Willie Frinklealways lift me up when I need them. Wayne, Andrea, Derrick, and Regina Morrison, Margie Rickerson, and Debra Noel are my siblings. Thanks, guys, for always believing in me. A special thanks to Richard C. Montgomery and Barbara Cooper for your continued support and unconditional love.
I genuinely appreciate all my Facebook friends and fans, my Twitter followers, MySpace crew, and my McDonogh 35 Senior High alumni. Happy thirtieth reunion to my class of 1982!
Thanks to my editor and friend, Selena James, at Kensington Publishing Corporation. To Steven Zacharius, Adam Zacharius, Laurie Parkin, Karen Auerbach, Adeola Saul, Lesleigh Irish-Underwood, and everyone else at Kensington for growing my literary career.
In loving memory of Walter Zacharius. I miss you. It is my honor to be a part of your undying legacy to the world of literature. Your spirit will dwell within me forever.
Well, whats an author without brilliant agents? Im fortunate to have two of the best agents in the literary business, Andrew Stuart and Claudia Menza. You are appreciated.
I thank everyone that is making the Soulmates Dissipate seven-film project possibledirector/producer Leslie Small; Jeff Clanagan, CEO of Codeblack Entertainment; and producers, Dawn Mallory and Jesse Byrd Jr.
Wishing each of you peace and prosperity in abundance. Visit me online at www.MaryMorrison.com and sign up for my HoneyBuzz newsletter. Join my fan page on Facebook at Mary HoneyB Morrison, and follow me on Twitter @marybmorrison.
Discussion Questions
In the prologue, how many signs of domestic/relationship abuse can you identify?
In chapter one, Madison and Loretta have been friends since kindergarten. Based on their actions, do you believe theyve outgrown their friendship? Or are they like most girlfriends who confront, yet accept one another for who they are? Do you have a longtime friend that you feel you will love forever? Is there anything that this friend can do to break the bond?
In chapter two, is Loretta realistic for holding on to her desire to have Raynard in her life and for them to become a family with their daughter?
In chapter three, what do you feel is the real reason Roosevelt, aka Chicago, wants to marry Madison? Does he truly love Madison?
In chapter five, do you think Madison should be okay with Chicagos level of concern for Loretta? What would you do if you found out that your fianc befriended your best friend?
In chapter five, have you performed anal stimulation with your mouth on someone? Have you had it done to you? If so, did you or the other person have an orgasm as a result?
Do any of the characters have low self-esteem? If so, who? What are the signs?
What is your most memorable moment when you didnt feel confident?
Did Madison win the bet? Why or why not? Could you have made the same bet with a friend under similar circumstances?
Have you ever met a man you liked in the beginning, but you soon realized he was not mentally stable? Would you label Granville as abusive?
Outside of his determination to save his company, do you believe Johnny Tyler has Madisons best interest at hand? Whats the real reason he wants to send her away?
Is Loretta really a Christian? Would a Christian woman say one thing and do another? Why didnt Loretta use her gun? Would a Christian kill a person?
Who does Loretta love and why? Is it Raynard? Chaz? Or Chicago?
Breast Cancer Awareness
When I wrote the synopsis for If I Cant Have You, Madison didnt have breast cancer. You may or may not understand my characters choices to delay treatment, but those were hers to make.
In my world, when my sisters best friend was diagnosed and I listened to Andrea tell me how rapidly Marions health deteriorated, I was deeply saddened. Shortly after Marion passed, my sisters other best friend was diagnosed with stomach cancer.
Then my sister-in-law Angela told me her best friend was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of forty-eight. Myrenia shares her journey with us later in the book. Through Angela, Ive known Myrenia for over twenty years. We partied at the same clubs in our midtwenties and early thirties. Renie maintained a healthy diet, exercised regularly, and Ive never seen her over a size five.
Recently breast cancer hit closer to home. I shouldnt fear getting breast or any type of cancer, because my father would say, The things you fear the most will come upon you.
In March 2010, I had a mammogram. They noticed a lump and asked me to have a biopsy the same day. Thats when I started asking questions.
Worst-case scenario, Doctor, lets say it is cancer. When you perform a biopsy, will that cause the cancer to spread?
The doctor said, I dont know.
I declined the biopsy for two reasons. One, she wasnt sure. Two, I was not mentally prepared to have a biopsy done. I went in for a mammogram, not a biopsy.
I then asked, What are my other options? What noninvasive procedures can you do?
I was advised that I could have an ultrasound. If I hadnt asked, I wouldnt have known. The ultrasound results did not indicate the lump was cancerous. I followed up with an OB-GYN appointment. The doctor did not believe it was cancerous.
