Books with author Dana Watkins

From the row houses of Baltimore to the stoops of Brooklyn, with searing conviction and full compassion, D. Watkins, New York Times bestselling author of The Cook Up and The Beast Side lays bare the voices of the most vulnerable and allows their raw, intimate stories to uncover the systematic injustice threaded within our society. Honest and eye-opening, We Speak for Ourselves makes us listen, feel, and create a course toward change that starts right where we are.Watkins introduces you to Down Bottom, the storied community of East Baltimore that holds a mirror to America’s poor black neighborhoods—“hoods” that could just as easily be in Chicago, Detroit, Oakland, or Atlanta. As Watkins sees it, the perspective of people who live in economically disadvantaged black communities is largely absent from the commentary of many top intellectuals who speak and write about race. Unapologetic and sharp-witted, D. Watkins is here to tell the truth as he has seen it. We Speak for Ourselves offers an in-depth analysis of inner-city hurdles and honors the stories therein. We sit in underfunded schools, walk the blocks burdened with police corruption, stand within an audience of Make America Great Again hats, journey from trap house to university lecture, and rally in neglected streets. And we listen. Watkins shares the lessons he has learned while navigating through two very distinct worlds—the hood and the elite sanctums of prominent black thinkers and public figures—serving hope to fellow Americans who are too often ignored and calling on others to examine what it means to be a model activist in today’s world. We Speak for Ourselves is a must-read for all who are committed to social change.

From the row houses of Baltimore to the stoops of Brooklyn, with searing conviction and full compassion, D. Watkins, New York Times bestselling author of The Cook Up and The Beast Side lays bare the voices of the most vulnerable and allows their raw, intimate stories to uncover the systematic injustice threaded within our society. Honest and eye-opening, We Speak for Ourselves makes us listen, feel, and create a course toward change that starts right where we are.Watkins introduces you to Down Bottom, the storied community of East Baltimore that holds a mirror to America’s poor black neighborhoods—“hoods” that could just as easily be in Chicago, Detroit, Oakland, or Atlanta. As Watkins sees it, the perspective of people who live in economically disadvantaged black communities is largely absent from the commentary of many top intellectuals who speak and write about race. Unapologetic and sharp-witted, D. Watkins is here to tell the truth as he has seen it. We Speak for Ourselves offers an in-depth analysis of inner-city hurdles and honors the stories therein. We sit in underfunded schools, walk the blocks burdened with police corruption, stand within an audience of Make America Great Again hats, journey from trap house to university lecture, and rally in neglected streets. And we listen. Watkins shares the lessons he has learned while navigating through two very distinct worlds—the hood and the elite sanctums of prominent black thinkers and public figures—serving hope to fellow Americans who are too often ignored and calling on others to examine what it means to be a model activist in today’s world. We Speak for Ourselves is a must-read for all who are committed to social change.

Ramona and Esperanza want to start an organization to protect to the rights of all griffins, no matter their clan or status. They fly to the Griffin capital of Aquila to present their case to the Gobernador, but when Esperanza has to come to terms with her mysterious past, Ramon must face her vilest adversary. Will they come together to conquer their charges, or will they separate in utter defeat? All proceeds from the sale of this novelette go to benefit the children at the Batson Children's Hospital in Jackson, MS

Ramona and Esperanza want to start an organization to protect to the rights of all griffins, no matter their clan or status. They fly to the Griffin capital of Aquila to present their case to the Gobernador, but when Esperanza has to come to terms with her mysterious past, Ramon must face her vilest adversary. Will they come together to conquer their charges, or will they separate in utter defeat?All proceeds from the sale of this novelette go to benefit the children at the Batson Children's Hospital in Jackson, MS

War rumbles through the kingdoms of Kapnos and Sarda. Innera, a young citizen of Dider, discovers a wounded soldier in the snowy woods. He bears the Kapnosian king's shield and a strange message. When the soldier dies from his wounds, Innera determines to finish his mission. The news she carries will signal the end of the long war; but which side will be victorious? Throughout her dangerous journey, Innera must search her own heart for hope and courage. Prequel to Medallion.

In Medallion, a Christian fantasy fiction novel, Dawn L. Watkins presents a willful prince who must learn the hard way that being a leader means being first a servant. Prince Trave encounters many dangers—such as an earthquake, monstrous skreels, and treachery from those he thought were his friends—before he faces the biggest challenge of all. Once he learns the real duties of a king, he must prove he is indeed worthy to rule his country.

Pulling Together by Dawn L. Watkins tells young Matthew’s story as he watches his father’s steadfast trust in God when a storm brings ruin to their small farm. In this Christian fiction Matthew determines to do his best to help his family even though he cannot bear to think that Dolly, one of their faithful workhorses, might have to be sold. This historical fiction in chapter book format is well suited to the newly independent reader.

Jenny Wren, a Christian fiction book by Dawn Watkins, is the story of a foster child who has moved from one home to another all of her life. She has never belonged to anyone, and she hasn’t wanted to. But the Logans are different. Their quiet care and kindness gradually earn Jenny’s trust, and for the first time in her life, she realizes she has found a place where she wants to stay. But will she be able to?

Crusty the Crab exclaims, "I'm bored with this place/ And its limited range./ I think I'll live out/ On the land for a change." Restless and unhappy, he leaves his seaside home under Jaggedy Ledge to look for adventure. As he travels across Sea Meadow he meets good-natured Fleabus O'Tooley, Beetle Brightknee, and the lovely Flutterby. But he doesn't appreciate their kind patience, even when they help him to survive a scuffle with swarming bees. Finally he nears a dark hedge on the other side of the meadow and runs into trouble with Finefur the Sly. After a narrow escape engineered by his new friends, he realizes that happiness comes more from what you are than from where you live.