A book on a village in Ghana adjudged book of the month in New York

Accra, Feb 7, GNA - A book written by an American philanthropist to help bring development projects to the village of Mafi Sasekpe in the Volta Region has been adjudged the book of the month in New York. The book, "Saving Grace, when fate Steps In" written by Joann Denise Bellamy was nominated by readers world-wide and recognized by the Sugar and Spice Book Club of New York who announced the award last month.

As part of the award, Ms. Joann Bellamy was hosted to a dinner attended by other renowned authors in the USA and given the opportunity to talk about her book and why she decided to write a book aimed at raising funds to develop a village in Ghana. According to the Sugar and Spice Book Club at their website, "everyone writes for a reason but Joann Denise Bellamy's reason is spectacular.

"Saving Grace was written as a vehicle to getting clean, safe, water and other basic needs to the village of Mafi Sasekpe, in West Africa, enhancing the quality of life for all". In a phone interview from her New York base, Ms Ballamy told the "Hopefully there would be a major breakthrough for this book to sell more in order for me to do more.

"I am also encouraging Ghanaians to also buy the book," she said. According to Joann, her association with the Mafi Sasekpe areas started when she was introduced to the then Assembly-member of the Sasekpe electoral area, Mr. Vincent Azumah in the early part of 2000. "I have been particularly interested in the children and women and have been sending school supplies, clothes and other items periodically", she said. Ms Bellamy has already donated proceeds from sales of the book so far to the Mafi Sasekpe Develpoment Committee. In the book, "Saving Grace" which features some Ghanaian names, Grace is born and raised in Mobile, Alabama, in the early 1950s in a Christian family.

This loving, impressionable little girl grows up to be a famous fashion designer with the world at her feet. After experiencing the loss of those she loved dearly, Grace grows angry with God and thus sets out on a path of destruction. Life takes her in unimaginable directions full of secrets, guilt, and shame. How does one fight God? Grace truly gives it her best shot but learns a valuable lesson when faced with her own mortality, and her life takes a different turn when fate steps in. Saving Grace is about faith and family. It's about love and compassion. It's about the forgiveness of others and the ability to forgive oneself.