Phenomenal Women of Color
Read. Understand. Be. Phenomenal.
PWOC's Featured Authors/Artists
Featured Artist for November 2008:
A.P. Ri'Chard, Author
Caged Innocence - November 4, 2008
“You can't have 'ups' in life without 'downs'. I'm as appreciative for the bad things that I've gone through as much as the blessings I've received.” Excerpt from address given by A. P. Ri'Chard to graduate students at Long Island University Sept. 27, 2008 The aforementioned statement by the multifaceted producer, author, screenplay writer, actor, and motivational speaker known as A.P. Ri'Chard characterize not only his experiences but also his optimistic disposition, resiliency, and limitless generosity. A. P. Ri’Chard, a Detroit native, left the Motor City for New York in 1997 with nothing more than the blessings of his family and friends. In doing so, he abandoned a well-established professional career as a computer engineer. His burning ambition to publish his manuscripts drove him to make that leap of faith - to migrate to the epicenter of the publishing world. As with each new opportunity comes both a challenge and responsibility. Striking out for uncharted territory Ri’Chard was introduced to a young man who stated that he was wrongfully imprisoned for the murder of a racist white male in his hometown. This story fueled Ri’Chard to pen a story inspired by this young man’s dilemma. Facing the challenge of creating a manuscript worthy of this heart-wrenching reality, “Caged Innocence” was borne. As Ri’Chard’s second published work, it is due for release on November 4, 2008, by Strebor books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster. For more on A.P. Ri'Chard and his book please visit: http://unitedspiritsllc.com What happens when justice takes a back seat to parental cruelty? CAGED INNOCENCE, INSPIRITED by true accounts, will show how a young teen determined to stop the abuse of his alcoholic father, ends up in prison because he refused to stand by and watch his mother endure countless beatings at the hands of a man sworn to protect and serve. Officer Perry Henderson Jr., the first African American Police Officer of their Southern Community, believes that he is being setup for a murder, so he points suspicion toward his son. Father and son had a turbulent past due to Larry’s constant interference in Perry’s alcoholic rages toward his wife. With the thought of the seventeen year-old one-day being able to carry out his threat of revenge, Perry tells the youth that the evidence gathered at the scene of a robbery and murder points to his guilt. He explains to his son that if the case were to go to trial young Larry would receive the death penalty, thus convincing him to plead guilty to a crime perpetrated against a racist white-man in their hometown. Purchase here: 
