Love, respect, and tolerance are the themes that intertwine the lives of two families and their relationships. Imafi, the author of Family Affairs, masterfully depicts how many family life circumstances contain common elements and with acceptance, forgiveness, and perseverance, love will endure, regardless of race, religion, gender, or skin color. This riveting family saga addresses love, understanding, and tolerance in the United States with highlights of the West African culture across a contemporary religious backdrop. In Family Affairs, Pastor Shackles is an established clergyman, beloved and respected by his church and community. He and his wife have three children and appear to be the typical family until it comes to light that Samoa, their daughter, is a lesbian who fell in love with Alice Riodiaz while in grade school. Alice is the daughter of the church's music director. Coming to grips with their families' beliefs regarding homosexuality within the context of their religious households is only one of several crossroads that these captivating characters must surmount. The families of Samoa and Alice are also confronted with rape, unplanned pregnancies, and suicide. Despite the fact that the Shackles and Riodiaz families are well educated, the happenings in their lives test their deeply rooted beliefs and challenge the stability of their relationships. The gripping components of romance, erotica, sexual liberation, tradition, and tolerance make Family Affairs a novel that will open your eyes and heart to the goodness that abounds in all circumstances. Imafi uniquely uncovers the positive and productive side of homosexual relationships in an effort to dismiss the negative and biased beliefs that often accompany same-sex relationships from a religious point of view. Human nature and mores within a religious setting and the African culture combine to make this a compelling and memorable storyline. As you live through the events of the lives of Samoa, Alice, and their families, you will gain greater insight and a deeper understanding of how far acceptance and love can go in mending and keeping love alive. Family Affairs will move you to love and understand the differences that exist within and outside of our families with an intention to expand respect and love for all mankind.
About the Author: Imafi was born in Nigeria, West Africa. He received a bachelor's in accounting from Norfolk State University in Virginia and a master's in business administration from the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. Imafi is in private practice as a certified public accountant in Hampton, Virginia. He runs his own publication, Africa and Beyond Magazine, in which he has published several non-fiction articles. Family Affairs is his first published novel written to bring to light the positive and productive side of homosexual relationships, while dispelling the common negative attitudes about them. His first novel was also written to encourage understanding, respect, and love in families and throughout mankind.