                                 AUTHOR BIO
     
          DIVINITY IN A BOX is by Bonnie Below Alcorn and Leonard J.
     Tidwell II both from Evansville, Indiana.  Bonnie, an english
     teacher with the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation is
     married and has three children. She likes to describer herself as
     a "modern poet in waiting."  Leonard is a graduate of Ball State
     University and the winner of the prestigious Scholastic Achievement
     Award (84-85) from Indiana State University, Rossanna Enlowe
     English Scholarship (1982-1984).  They both describe themselves as
     students of writing, always attempting to improve through practice.
     
                          ABOUT DIVINITY IN A BOX
     
          "Our Work is important on several levels.  First," explains
     Bonnie, "it is an example of what can be accomplished when two
     people from very different backgrounds are willing to transcend
     their differences and work together.  Our Work also exemplifies
     what can be created when a teacher is willing to become a student
     and when a teacher allows a student to become her teacher.
         "Another reason our Work is important is that its characters
     are diverse; its theme, timeless; and its plot, entertaining.  We
     think it will have a universal appeal on various levels.
          "The reader will be entertained as well as culturally informed
     while discovering how one woman--with the aid of her own creative
     devices and one Raymond Manis, a bi-racial bartender--rises above
     the limitations of her narrow upbringing in her hometown of
     Farmersville, Indiana."
           When Bonnie was asked what makes Divinity In A Box unique she
     responded: "I think co-authored novels in themselves are a rarity,
     but ours is especially unique in that we--the authors--possess such
     opposing perspectives yet we are able to transcend our differences
     through our common love for writing and respect for one another.
          Primarily the intended audience for Divinity In A Box is young
     adults.  Teachers might enjoying reading the results of this joint
     teacher/student effort at fiction.  This would also make an
     excellent read for adults as well.
          When asked `What are the characteristics of your Work that
     make it promotable,' The authors both said: " We think, first and
     foremost, it is an interesting story, but realizing that is not a
     unique marketing strategy, we would say that the joint
     teacher/student approach is novel and also the diversity of the two
     authors involved might be an interesting promotion angle."  
          Likewise, the main characters in the novel are from very
     different backgrounds but come together through their adventurous
     spirits and love of writing. Other books that would compliment 
     Divinity In A Box might be those by Terry McMillian, Toni Morrison,
     Nathan McCall, and other black authors, as well as fiction by 
     authors with Southern influences.  Even readers of modern 
     romances would enjoy Divinity In A Box.
     
     
     
      
