Sue Monk Kidd By Lindsay Walter MOD 10

Although Sue Monk Kidd started her career in her 40’s, her life long dream had been to write fiction, but most of her books are non-fiction. But now we see her life long spiritual journey reflected in each of her books, serving as an inspiration to all who care to take a look.

Home Sweet Home Sue Kidd was born in Albany, Georgia but was raised in Sylvester, Georgia. Her book “The Secret Life of Bees” is based off of some of the things she grew up in Georgia. During the 1960’s she was just an adolescent teen. Sue was born on August 12, 1948 When she was little, Sue wanted to be a writer but it was frowned upon in her society

Beginning her writing career. Sue was a nurse, but in her 40’s she enrolled in writing classes at a Liberal Arts college that her husband, Sandy, work’s at. She starting wanting to write fiction but started her career writing non-fiction inspirational pieces. In her forties she also started writing about her attention to the feminist spirit. Her book, “The Secret Life of Bees” was a book about coming of age in 1960’s Georgia. Her book, “The Mermaid Chair” uses a female protagonist to explore a spiritual theme.

Best-Sellers Her book, “The Secret Life of Bees” sold over 6 million copies*, spent 2 1/2 on the New York Times best seller list, and was published in 35 countries. Today it is taught and read in high schools and middle schools all around the country. “The Mermaid Chair” sold about 2 million copies*, reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller list. It has been translated in 24 languages. *These numbers don’t include the thousands of copies sold each day.

Book Inspirations Although she is white she often uses black characters. Most of her books are based in Georgia, her home- state. Most of her books are accounts of her exploring herself spiritually. In her book “The Dance of the Dissident Daughter” she explores feminist theology *, which had a groundbreaking effect on religious circles. *Feminist theology: “Feminist theology seeks to speak of God without writing sexism into the sky on a divine scale.”

Books The Mermaid Chair he Secret Life of Bees The Dance of the Dissident Daughter: A Women's Journey From Christian Tradition to the Sacred Feminine First light When the Heart Waits: A Spiritual Direction for the Life’s Sacred Questions Traveling With Pomegranates: A Mother- Daughter Story. God’s Joyful Surprise

Sue Monk Kidd’s Spiritual Journey Sue’s religious views changed when a co- worker gave her books about feminism. The author, Beatrice Brateau, had a big spiritual impact on Sue. Her first non-fiction book, “God’s Joyful Surprise”, was a lighter account of her discovery of a new spiritual path while her second account, “When the Hearts Waits”, was deeper and more serious account.

Real Life in Stories Sue belongs to a sisterhood of women called The Black Madonna's, which is the name of the honey made by the Boatwright sisters in “The Secret Life of Bees”. When she was little, bees used to sit on her wall just like they did in Lily’s room in “The Secret Life of Bees”. Sue used the racial injustices she saw growing up to help create “The Secret Life of Bees”.

Imagery Page 1 “At night I would lie in bed and watch the show, how the bees squeezed through the cracks of my bedroom wall and flew circles around the room, making that propeller sound, a high-pitched zzzzzzzz that hummed along my skin. I watched their wings shining like bits of chrome in the dark and felt the longing build in my chest. The way those bees flew, not even looking for a flower, just flying for the wind, split my heart down its seam.”

Verisimilitude Page 135 “Finally he unwound his arms and said, ‘Lily, I like you better then any girl I’e ever know, but you have to uderstand, there are people who would kill boys like me for even looking at girls like you.”

Although Sue Monk Kidd started her career in her 40’s, her life long dream had been to write fiction, but most of her books are non-fiction. But now we see her life long spiritual journey reflected in each of her books, serving as an inspiration to all who care to take a look. The End!