Nearly 25 years after Gloria Lewis left Memphis, she still looks forward to coming back and visiting old friends. Although she still keeps in touch with several of her former colleagues, Lewis enjoyed the Memphis scenery even more this past week with the release of her first novel "Rain on Red Clay."
Lewis worked with the continuing education department at The University of Memphis from 1973-1980. She was hired after graduating from the same department, because she was a non-traditional student and older than her classmates. Lewis had also raised five children and needed to take a break and return to the classroom.
"No matter how old you are, you can always go back to school," Lewis said.
After leaving The U of M in 1980, Lewis and her husband moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico. Lewis worked with the continuing education departments at several community colleges in New Mexico before devoting most of her time to traveling and writing.
Originally from Arkansas, Lewis brought her memories of home, along with a notebook, wherever she traveled.
"I'd be in the middle of Egypt, and I'm thinking about Arkansas," Lewis said.
After returning from various adventures with her husband, Lewis experienced a great tragedy with the death of her oldest son.
"In the middle of tragedy you need that altered state of consciousness, to get you through it," Lewis said.
It was at this moment that she became inspired to finish "Rain on Red Clay."
"My son's death put so much into perspective," Lewis said, "I dug out my notes, dusted them off and began rewriting."
Lewis, now 71, took about 10 years to finish "Rain on Red Clay." She describes the story, which is set in Arkansas, as a simple story about good people.
"Even though the story is set in 1917, the issues the characters deal with are still present today," Lewis said.
"Rain on Red Clay" tackles rough subject matter such as prejudice, sexism and alcoholism. Lewis dealt with these issues very carefully, seeing as she wanted to project the South in a positive light.
Lewis has gone on a mini-promotional tour, which began in Arkansas and made a pit-stop at Davis-Kidd Booksellers in Memphis last Monday, April 11th.
Lewis said she had to have a signing in Memphis for several reasons, the most predominant being the local scenery.
"I need my dogwood fix," Lewis said. "It's like a feast for your eyes coming back to Memphis."
Lewis hopes that "Rain on Red Clay" will become a feast for readers' eyes as well. She is already thinking of ideas for a sequel to this deeply rooted Southern tale.
"Rain on Red Clay" is now available in bookstores.
