Author of the Hit Stage Play "One Woman, Two Lives" Launches Second Novel

LOS ANGELES, CA, April 27, 2011 (Press-News.org) In 2008 and 2009 playwright Alretha Thomas experienced the fulfillment of two dreams -- the nation elected Barack Obama, the first African-American president, and her stage play "One Woman, Two Lives" starring Kellita Smith of "Bernie Mac Show" fame, and directed by three-time NAACP Best Director Image Award recipient Denise Dowse, was produced, respectively. Now in 2011, it's her hope her second novel, "Dancing Her Dreams Away," is well-received and leaves an indelible mark on the lives of its readers.

Thomas says her debut novel, "Daughter Denied," about a sensitive and precocious 7-year-old girl who grows up with an abusive stepfather and a mother trapped in a cycle of heroin addiction and co-dependency, is loosely inspired by her childhood. While writing "Dancing Her Dreams Away" she says she drew inspiration from the time in her life when she was pursuing an acting career, and like the protagonist in "Dancing Her Dreams Away," Thomas says she found the road to stardom thorny at best.

In "Dancing Her Dreams Away" 22-year-old Shelia King, a fun-loving grandma's girl, needs to keep her days open for auditions in the hope of landing a role that will catapult her to stardom. With the threat of eviction looming, she scrambles to find a night job and convinces the owner of a hostess club to hire her. Now she's a dance-partner-for-hire by night and struggling thespian by day. When her agent pitches a topless role, fearing her grandmother's disapproval, Shelia declines. But after setbacks and considerable thought, she agrees to meet the producer. Gregory Livingston III is rich, suave, ridiculously fine, and the panacea for Shelia's career woes. At first sight she shapes plans to win the role and his heart. She gets both and works hard to give an Oscar worthy performance. However, when the movie wraps, nothing can prepare her for the startling revelations about Greg's past and the aftermath of a dream gone awry.

Thomas says she hopes readers embrace the theme of "Dancing Her Dreams Away." When asked what that is she replied, "It's something that's taken a lifetime for me to personally embrace and that is, that every human being has intrinsic value and that value is not determined by the color of their skin or the amount of talent or money they have."

"Dancing Her Dreams Away" is now available on Amazon.com. The official launch party is June 11, 2011 at Stage 52, 5299 W. Washington Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90016, from 1-5pm.

Thomas grew up in San Francisco, California. She attended the University of Southern California earning a BA in Journalism. She currently resides in Southern, CA with her husband. She is available for literary events, interviews, online chats, book club meetings, luncheons, churches, speaking engagements, and conferences. For more information about "Dancing Her Dreams Away" please visit the official website at http://www.Dancingherdreamsaway.com or call 626-858-1907.