Veronica by Veronica Holloman

Veronica Holloman

Book Cover

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

    Point of View

    FIRST PERSON

    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.

    About The Author

    Veronica Holloman is an author that pens books for readers ages 13 and above. She was born in New York but is now based in Cleveland, Ohio. Holloman overcame abuse and being born into destitution in order to stand strong today with a Bachelor's degree and happily married with four beautiful children.