Shirlita McFarland

"We were pleasantly surprised when the storyline in Sunday Morning Secrets did not fit the stereotype of many books written about African American church culture. In addition, without being overbearing, it promoted stimulating discussions about faith. In all, we found the characters realistic and the plot suspenseful. This behind-the-scenes look into a small religious community was a welcome addition to our monthly reading."

Brown Sugar Book Club

Raleigh, NC 

Pastor Jonathan Pierce, minister of King’s Chapel for ten years, is in turmoil – caught between the prominent church he is rebuilding and protecting his wife’s secret drug addiction. So far, no one knows his dilemma except Myron King, great-grandson of the church’s founding father, businessman, and drug dealer who is blackmailing the pastor into lending a hand in illegal interests.

Devoted church worker, Alma Curtis, is a busybody who gets wind of some seemingly unscrupulous dealings within the church and takes action. Soon, murder brings the FBI to the doorsteps of King's Chapel, and a relentless pursuit ensues.

Shirlita McFarland attended the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill and has worked in radio, television, and advertising. Always a voracious reader, when she finally decided to test her writing skills, the result was her debut novel, Sunday Morning Secrets.

She was the 2007 winner of the Intergeneration Foundation’s Annual Storytelling Award for her short story, The Sound of Memories. In March of 2008, she was a finalist in The Hook (Charlottesville, VA newspaper) Short Story Contest, judged by John Grisham, for her story, Relative Impact.

Currently working as a proofreader, Shirlita and her husband are the parents of two children and live in Raleigh, NC. Her second novel is nearly complete.

Raleigh, NC Contest Winner Debuts First Novel Today

Sunday Morning Secrets is a Must-Read Summer Novel

Sunday Morning Secrets is a riveting tale of intimate secrets and hidden agendas. Pastor Jonathan Pierce is caught between the prominent church he is rebuilding and protecting his wife’s abominable secret. The fact that two of his devoted parishioners are murdered because of his deceit doesn’t deter unforgiving church member, Alma Curtis, from harboring a shameful secret of her own, that if revealed, will destroy much more than her saintly reputation.

Sunday Morning Secrets can be ordered at Barnes & Noble, Amazon.com and other online bookstores beginning July 7, 2008.

$13.95

ISBN 978-1-891601-23-1