National Network for Equitable Library Service

Soul of the Desert was shortlisted in 2003 in the Crime Writer's Association's Dagger Debut competition. It's a story about an adopted child on the run, growing up fast and refusing to give in against impossible odds. In 1976, the best a black kid in Harlem can hope for is to work for the mob or pick up extra bucks as an informer. Rand’s choices are a quick bullet or a long, tortured punishment with death hanging off the end. The only oblivion is the drugs; Rand can either sell them, take them or both. It may be too late for Rand, but that won’t stop him from trying to save his baby brother, Bo. So when strangers appear on the streets of Harlem, Rand hatches a crazy plan to use them to save Bo from a similar fate. Rand must send Bo to a place that is so desolate and removed from Harlem that no one will dare follow him. Once there, all Bo has to do is find a way to stay alive.