I have been writing since 1997. These are my books.

Overviews and Excepts

Nonfiction and Fiction Books by Sandra L. Manigault

When he first saw Yvette in Nordstrom, sitting alone in his section, Samuel thought God had sent him an angel. She was about to leave when he reacted swiftly. Before he knew it, her foot was in his hands and his eyes, on her beautiful face. He was not about to let her go. If it cost him his job, he was going to meet this woman. With the utmost patience he managed to sell her two pairs of shoes and managed to convince her that she should help him celebrate his birthday. Not only did she arrive as the party was getting started, she brought along her twin sister.

Although twins were usually difficult for him to differentiate, that did not happen. The two women looked alike, even with their hair styled differently. But their energy was very different. There was a sweetness, almost an innocence about Yvette that her twin sister did not possess. He would have spent the entire night with Yvette had she not gone home when she did.

When they talked the next day, she was still very sweet. But her interest in his work surprised him. Although he could discern when a woman feigned interest in something to impress a man, her interest was genuine, as though she was hungry to learn more about the business. What appeared to be a sincere interest would give him the opportunity to spend more time with her.

Samuel’s father had taught him to be very discerning in two areas: How to recognize a sound business opportunity, and how to recognize a woman who was beautiful, inside and outside. Yvette was surely the latter.

Vanessa - a Love Story (Excerpt)

Vanessa waited for Miguel in the lobby of the Grand Hotel. Why did I agree to come here? Last night his poetry reading caught her attention and plunged her into an ongoing fantasy. He only invited me here out of politeness. She had asked to see his art and he felt obliged to accommodate her. That was it. No need to make a big deal of it. Miguel appeared to react to her energy last night, or more specifically to the energy that seemed to exist between them… Although her eyes were riveted on his face, he conversed casually, spiritedly, and emphatically with everybody, as he discussed art in politics and politics in poetry. He was the consummate artist, and she was now consumed with him. The ornate lobby bustled with people confirming their reservations and seeking information. Vanessa sat tensely in a red velvet winged back chair, physically comfortable but emotionally knotted. She felt beautiful and vulnerable. Her hair hung in gentle tendrils like little flowers draping her face. Her body was warmly wrapped in soft moss green wool, a one-piece body of a dress that screamed for attention. She reached into a black velour purse for her compact. She checked out well - skin smooth, eyes bright, lips reddened just like last night’s wine.

She could not face the elevators. She would seem too anxious. When the elevators chimed, she was not surprised that he caressed her shoulders hello. “Have you been waiting long?” Miguel’s eyes met her lips. “No, actually, I haven’t,” she smiled.

Vanessa - The Next Chapter (Excerpt)

Check-in was brief and quiet at this upscale boutique hotel that Vanessa said she'd never heard of before. It was traditional looking outside, but updated and modernized on the inside, with plush silver and grey upholstery and deep green carpeting, and a full bar and restaurant featuring Moroccan and French cuisine.

"Will you be needing the bathroom?" Vanessa asked once they were in their room.

"No. You go. I'm good," he replied. She entered taking a small pouch from her carry on with her. When she emerged 10 minutes later she had pulled back her hair to pile it on top of her head, leaving a handful of renegade curls to topple onto her face. Her eyes had been redone to create a "smoky look," and her lipstick had been refreshed to a puckered hot pink. She was breathing heavily through opened lips and the rise and fall of her breasts could not be more obvious. Vanessa was wearing only a short lime green and purple silk kimono open over a purple thong.

Wyatt did a double take before dropping his iPhone. He was perfectly still before finding his feet and his voice, before stripping off his belt and sweater, and closing the distance between them. "My God, Vanessa," he said before reaching behind her to mold her nearly naked body to his aching one. As she arched her back and as he kissed her it was clear that this was to be no ordinary encounter.

Fragments of a Woman’s Life - a Memoir

Everyone is told they should write a book. But few people tell you the right way to do it. I believe every woman should have a memoir. It should be about yourself, those you love, and what you want history to say about you. Your memoir also should be a snippet of your life, encapsulating only the essence and focusing on the positive as much as possible. Fragments of a Woman’s Life is my snippet, in beautiful language and detail. The following is an excerpt from Chapter 2 entitled “Setting.”

“Where I live exists a spot of land and water where I go to relax. I enjoy watching the water and its flow as the breezes dance upon the surface. The boats docked here are quiet, for their owners are all off to work in places far different from this one. The ducks slowly sail by in pairs and occasionally some birds disrupt the silence. Fortunately, today I hear no human voices in this place….

Flora’s Saga (Excerpt)

Flora awoke the next morning at six. She was wide awake and her brain was working overtime. She was falling in love. The feeling was heady and addictive, and Flora was leery of becoming overwhelmed by her emotions. It wouldn’t have been so bad except that Flora had been in love only once before, when she was a sophomore in college. She had fallen for a senior who left her only days after she had been intimate with him. Flora promised herself that it would not happen again until she knew a man cared about her too much to just walk away. Or, until she was positive he was “the one.”

Flora convinced herself that a woman needed to be vigilant and particular, and not share herself with someone who was unworthy. She resolved never to allow herself to become emotionally involved with a man who was married, unemployed, insincere, or had a baby mama somewhere. Although Flora had gone out with quite a few men, most never got to first base.

I have been writing since 1997. These are my books.

Sandra Lynn Legacies