Veronica by Veronica Holloman
GENRE
DRAMA CRIME FAMILY RELIGIOUS MEMOIR
Core Theme
OVERCOMING THE ODDS
TIME PERIOD
1960s & '70s
COMPARABLE TITLES
“PRECIOUS” IS ANOTHER FEATURE THAT DEALS WITH AN AFRICAN AMERICAN FEMALE PROTAGONIST BORN INTO A DIFFICULT LIFE.
CHARACTER LIST
• VERONICA HOLLOMAN: CHILD TO 30’S. LEAD. OUTSPOKEN AND CONFIDENT.
• GREAT AUNT ROSE – 30’S TO 60’S. VERONICA’S GREAT AUNT ON HER MOTHER’S SIDE THAT HELPED RAISE VERONICA. EULA MAE’S SISTER.
• GREAT GRANDMOTHER EULA MAE – 30’S TO 60’S. VERONICA’S GREAT GRANDMOTHER ON HER MOTHER’S SIDE THAT HELPED RAISE VERONICA.
• AUNT LANEY – 20’S TO 70’S. VERONICA’S AUNT ON HER MOTHER’S SIDE.
• MOTHER – TEEN TO 60’S. VERONICA’S MOM. EULA MAE’S GRANDDAUGHTER.
• MOLLY – CHILD TO 30’S. VERONICA’S CHILDHOOD FRIEND THAT UNINTENTIONALLY INTRODUCES VERONICA TO A LIFE OF PROSTITUTION.
Logline
A young African American girl grows up to be a successful young lady, despite the odds against her. She struggled through drug abuse, rape, and mental and physical abuse in a world of prostitution. This a story of survivorship, and a testimony to encourage others to never give up, its written to inspire, motivate, strengthen, and keep faith.
Target Audiences
Age: 18-34
Target Gender: Universal
Setting
New-york and Cleveland Ohio
Based on a True Story
Yes
Publishing Details
Status: Yes: with a Publisher
Publisher: Blackrose Writing
Year Published: 2018
Starting Description
Veronica is raised between to great grand parents between to different cities after her mom can't take care of her when she has a breakdown and ends up on drugs, later Veronica's life spirals out of control when one of the Grandparents takes a turn due to illness. Veronica is now on her own.
Ending Description
Veronica meets someone that cares for her shows her a better life. She comes into marriage and has children. She goes back to school moves in a great neighborhood, her mothers life comes together they are friends where her mother could not take care of her, now Veronica can help her mother.
Group Specific
Information not completed
Hard Copy Available
No
ISBN
Information not completed
Mature Audience Themes
Sexual Abuse, Substance Abuse
Plot - Other Elements
Happy Ending, Meaningful Message
Plot - Premise
Overcoming Monster/Villain
Main Character Details
Name: Veronica very strong willed and strong mineddetermined to be ok in life.
Age: 13
Gender: Female
Role: Emotional
Key Traits: Confident, Flexible, Skillful, Beautiful, Blunt, Outspoken, Sophisticated, Adventurous, Aggressive, Aspiring
Additional Character Details
The author has not yet written this
Additional Character Details
The author has not yet written this
Additional Character Details
The author has not yet written this
Genre
DRAMA, MATURE AUDIENCE
Brief
Veronica is born into a destitute life with a mother addicted to drugs in 1950’s Harlem. She’s raised by two great aunts that show her love and a good life, despite their financial issues. After enduring abuse at the hands of men, Veronica becomes an escort in order to get revenge on the men she despises and make money from it. When she gets pregnant, she gives up her unsavory lifestyle to give her children the loving childhood her family gave her as a child.
Overall Rating
FAIR
Narrative Elements
Authors Writing Style: FAIR
Characterization: FAIR
Commerciality: GOOD
Franchise Potential: FAIR
Pace: FAIR
Premise: FAIR
Structure: FAIR
Theme: GOOD
Accuracy of Book Profile
The genre needs adjustment. It’s not action or adventure. Name under Main Character Details includes description of the character. Her name is just Veronica. Age should be child through 50’s. Role should be Protagonist. The Target Gender is female leaning. Additional Character Details should include supporting female characters Rose, Laney, Mother, and Molly.
Draw of Story
It wasn’t until close to midway through that the story became more compelling. When Rose got sick and Veronica had to move in with her mother, it became more focused on the protagonist. Prior to that, the protagonist wasn’t the main focus in the narrative, so it was hard to be drawn into the story. While the events that occurred up until that point included her, she wasn’t the focus of the narrative.
Possible Drawbacks
It is tough to read and follow, because it’s written in stream of consciousness. It moves back and forth in time and regularly goes off on tangents. It reads as if it has been transcribed from the author telling her story aloud rather than written with a discernible structure. There is incorrect grammar, run on sentences and incomplete sentence, which makes the read difficult. It moves between third and first person as well as between past and present tense. There are a large number of characters, and they’re not all referenced by the same name each time, sometimes no name at all, so it’s hard to track who is who and what’s happening at times.
Use of Special Effects
THE STORY DOES NOT RELY ON SPECIAL EFFECTS
Primary Hook of Story
A faith based audience would be drawn to this narrative, as Veronica’s faith in God and family brings forward her will to change her life.
Fanbase Potential
This is not the type of narrative that would foster a large fan base.
Awards Potential
It’s possible the role of Veronica, if crafted effectively and cast well, could garner attention for acting in a dramatic role.
Envisioned Budget
MEDIUM BUDGET
Similar Films/TV Series
“PRECIOUS” IS ANOTHER FEATURE THAT DEALS WITH AN AFRICAN AMERICAN FEMALE PROTAGONIST BORN INTO A DIFFICULT LIFE.
What’s New About the Story
It’s based on a true story and offers the life story of a sex worker.
Lead Characters
Veronica’s unique upbringing in destitution and being raised between two different cities is interesting. Her recovery from being a sex worker is intriguing,
Uniqueness of Story
This is more of an average story. Clarity and development is needed around characters, and the narrative needs a clearer structure.
Possible Formats
Film - Streaming, Film - Indie
Analyst Recommendation
WORK IN PROGRESS
Justification
There is no discernible structure in the story. More clarity is needed around characters, which includes basics, such as names of characters. The part of the story that would be most suitable for adaptation to the screen, which is Veronica's descent into a life of prostitution and then cleaning up her life doesn't come in until the end. It's rushed through and can be elaborated on.
Tips for Improvement
There are details that aren't explored and references to events or people that aren't delved into. There are questions within the narrative that need to be addressed throughout, which creates holes in the story. To help with clarity in the story, a proofread can greatly improve the narrative.
Brief
Veronica is born into destitution to an absent drug addicted mother in 1950’s Harlem. Raised by the strong women in her family, Veronica hardly notices their poor financial situation since they always make sure she’s cared for. At nearly 18 years of age, Veronica becomes intrigued by prostitution and becomes an escort, determined to overcome the abuse she’s endured at the hands of men. After she gets shot and becomes pregnant, she cleans up her life so she can give her children the safe, loving childhood her family gave her.
What We Liked
- There is a clear protagonist in Veronica. A faith-based audience would be drawn to this story, as God is at the center of Veronica’s family life. She leans on God and attributes her recovering from her drug addiction to her faith. There’s a strong family theme in it, which is also appealing to a faith-based audience. In the end, there’s a happy ending with Veronica finding success outside of prostitution, finding love, and healing her relationship with her mom.
- There is a clear beginning, middle, and end when it comes to Veronica journeying into a life of prostitution. She hits a low point when she gets shot, and then leans on her family and God to create a new life for herself. With Family and God at the core of the story, a faith-based audience will find it appealing. There are anti-drug and anti-prostitution messages that also fit well in the faith-based genre. It has a diverse cast and strong female characters. The narrative also offers a premise that’s seen success of someone overcoming the odds in order to find success, love, and bring healing to family relationships.
- Key points: True story; Diverse Female Lead; Appeal with Faith Based Audience; Diverse Cast; Message about overcoming the odds.
Synopsis
Veronica is born in 1950’s Harlem to an absent mother addicted to drugs. Her family members, Rose, Eula and Laney, raise her between two cities, Cleveland and New York. Although they’re destitute, her family’s creativity due to the strong women that raise her make Veronica feel safe, loved, and always cared for. When Rose gets sick, Veronica moves in with her mother. She endures sexual and verbal abuse at the hands of various men.
Rose’s health improves, and Veronica moves back to New York with her family. Veronica reconnects with her childhood friend, Molly, and discovers Molly is a prostitute. Intrigued by Molly’s lifestyle and feeling the world owes her, Veronica pursues a career in prostitution. She hides her lifestyle from her family as she becomes addicted to drugs and dates unsavory men.
When Veronica gets shot in the leg, she moves back in with Rose and weans herself off of drugs and alcohol. However, she soon finds herself pregnant. Leaning on her faith in God and the loving support of her family, Veronica determines to clean up her life to give her child the loving childhood she had.