Madam May

Book excerpt: Madam May, A Tale of Madams, Morphine, Moonshine, and Murder is based on true events in the life of the author's paternal grandmother. Set in Atlanta in the early 1900s, there were few options for a poor, rural, uneducated woman but Willie May Wheeler Collis Stamper Hogan Cobb was willing to do whatever it took to become an independent woman of means. A resourceful, strong, and appealing woman, May strives to overcome obstacles and achieve her goals. In spite of her foibles, you will cheer her on as she makes her way. If you enjoy Madam May, you will want to read After Madam May, What Came Next, a novella that tells about May's later journey in life. Dr. Chapman's novel, Dorothy May, takes the story even further as we learn about the tragic but engaging story of May's informally adopted daughter, Dorothy. Dr. Chapman discovered these astonishing secrets while doing genealogy research. She found that, indeed, truth can be stranger than fiction. She is an Atlanta native and describes herself as a bohemian southern belle. She is also the author of a memoir, This Teacher Talks, about her time teaching in public schools. You can learn more about Dr. Chapman as well as read her blog posts, poetry, and essays at www.georgiajanet.com.