Battiste Publishes First Novel, Cycles of Unfinished Business

Savannah, GA—January 20, 2004—Bettye Anne Battiste, associate professor of education at Armstrong Atlantic State University, has authored her first book, Cycles of Unfinished Business. The book is a story about African-American, middle-class Savannah, as the author experienced it growing up during the '50s.

The novel tells of the lives of two rival families who have vacation homes on Hilton Head Island. The lives of the members crisscross in business and love affairs. They compete for building contracts from the city and plot other business and personal schemes.

"The characters in the book happen to be black, but they could be substituted for people of any race," said Battiste. She said that our relationships are driven more by our human nature and not by race. "So often it is not a racial thing, but just disagreements between people," said Battiste.

Battiste began writing her book about nine years ago during a Thanksgiving vacation. Now, she is on a schedule of writing daily and has begun working on a sequel. Cycles of Unfinished Business costs $15, plus $4.00 shipping and handling. Books may be purchased from Battiste in care of Asterion, Ltd., P.O. Box 13503, Savannah, GA, 31416.

Battiste, Ed.D, is a columnist for the Savannah Tribune and was the education director at Urban Affairs, a private non-profit agency in Houston, Texas. She served nine years on the Savannah-Chatham County School Board. A native Savannahian, she graduated from Sol C. Johnson High School, and is an alumna of Savannah State College (now University) and SUNY Brockport (New York), where she received her masters in urban education. She earned a doctorate in early childhood education from the University of Florida and did postdoctoral studies at the University of Georgia. A much sought after speaker and workshop leader, she is a member of the Savannah Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and has been on the faculty at Armstrong Atlantic State University for 23 years.

Battiste lives in Savannah, Georgia, attends St. Philip A.M.E. Church, plays golf and is a member of the Low Country/Savannah/Hilton Head Chapter of the Executive Women’s Golf Association.