In the new “Nappily” novel from award-winning author Trisha Thomas, as Venus’ husband begins on a bright new movie career, she must pull out all the stops to save both him and their marriage from his all too-sexy co-star

Trisha R. Thomas is the author of Roadrunner, Would I Lie To You and the top selling Nappily Ever After, which was a finalist for the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work. With her debut novel optioned by Halle Berry and Universal Pictures for adaptation to film, she is currently at work on the Nappily series. She lives in Riverside, California.. Author Q&A 1.  What do you like to do in your free time? I wake up at 5am and write whatever heart pumping saga I couldn’t get out of my mind all night. By 7:30 I’m serving breakfast and getting my son off to school. After that, errands, go to the gym where I run a couple of miles and do Spinner class. I talk to my mother on the phone for a solid hour. Yes, I’ve timed it. I sling a couple of weeds, chase golfers digging up my lawn, and sip green tea at the coffee shop while I write some more. 2.  What kind of music do you like to listen to? Why? I listen . . .

Venus Johnston debuted with brazen personality and spirited humor in Nappily Ever After as she searched for the holy grail of marriage. Now she is back in Nappily Married, where marriage and motherhood are just the beginning. Venus Johnston is blessed.  Blessed with naturally wild spiral curls that would make Scary Spice jealous.  Blessed with beautiful 2-year-old daughter Maya and loving husband Jay, who also happens to be a former rap star with his own multi-million-dollar clothing company.  But after her long journey to love in Nappily Ever After, life as a stay-at-home wife and mother is no longer fulfilling.  Against her husband’s wishes, she applies for a PR job at a struggling city hospital, only to discover the main pediatric physician is her former fiance and her main competition for the job his wife, the woman he left her for.  As Venus begins to excel in her work and spends more time away from home, Jay grows jealous of her former lover.  Will Venus have to choose between the man of her dreams and her dream job? St. Martin’s Paperbacks . . .

Hoping to get away from emotional baggage in Los Angeles, Venus and Jake move to Atlanta. Yet the constant cloud of the past follows them: a difficult pregnancy and Jake being charged for the murder of his accountant. Though Jake never spent one night in jail, he fears the case will be reopened and he’ll once again have to fight for his freedom.

Airic and his famous televangelist wife, Trevelle Doval, make the evening news when Airic is accused of domestic battery and his life is suddenly turned upside down. But when Venus and Jake try to suspend Airic’s visitation rights with Mya, they discover that Airic isn’t willing to go down without a fight. Meanwhile, Jake’s best friend, Legend, turns up on his doorstep with trouble not far behind. The past is back with a vengeance, including blackmail, murder and enemies who are looking for payback. But everything takes a dangerous new turn when Venus goes missing. For Jake it’s now a race against time to save the woman he loves. St. Martin’s Press 288 pages $14.99 Trade Paperback St. Martin’s Griffin Pub Date: 9/15/09 ISBN: 0-312-55764-5 Buy this Book at Powells Buy this Book at Amazon Buy this Book at Borders Buy this Book at Barnes & Noble