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ISBN: 097478320X
Format: Paperback
Pub. Date: 2/27/2004
Publisher(s): Sparkledoll Productions
"A pro-sorority book about sisterhood, struggle, and one woman's desire to be Greek." Sororitysister.net
Beta Gamma Psi had been a part of Eva Perkins life since birth. When she starts college at Edwin Carver Science & Technology University she takes strides to become a member of the sorority that both her mother and sister belong to.
After years of attending Beta events and pre-pledging at Carver; Eva eventually finds herself on line pledging Beta. Discord and infighting among the big sisters and within the pledge class leads to drama.
An unexpected event divides the big sisters and the pledges. When rumors of hazing threaten the chapter, the pledge sisters have to bond together to solidify their future within the organization. Eva discovers that a sorority is about hard work, dedication, and building lifelong friendships.
Be My Sorority Sister-Under Pressure is a story that has never been told. A candid look into the inner personal conflict one faces within the sorority process. Eva deals with identity crisis, pressure from her all Greek family, and the burden of academics and a romantic life.
Meet Tha Playa's
The Star of the Show
Eva Perkins--- If there were a song to describe Eva it would be the 90’s Brandy song "I Wanna Be Down." Eva wants to be a member of Beta Gamma Psi so bad she doesn’t even remember why. Oh yeah, her mom is a Beta, her sister is a Beta, her father and brother are Greek so if she doesn’t pledge she will be the only non-Greek at the family dinner table. Eva does everything in her power to become a member of Beta Gamma Psi. Be My Sorority Sister-Under Pressure is Eva’s story from her point of view.
Meet The Pledges
Ashley--Ashley is Eva’s first college roommate and the first person that Eva becomes friends with at college. Ashley is all about her boyfriend Jamal. When Eva discovers that Ashley’s mother is also a member of Beta Gamma Psi the girls secretly share their desire to join the prestigious sorority. When the pledging process begins the girls learn the secret as to why Ashley never talks about her mother. Ashley and Jamal suffer a devastating tragedy during the pledge process and the girls are left to wonder if Ashley will hang in there or put her Beta Gamma Psi dreams to the side.
Carmen--Carmen and Ashley are both Illinois natives who arrive at Carver University sharing a mutual dislike for one another. Carmen is an aspiring journalist who puts herself under pressure as the lone Hispanic woman trying to join an African-American sorority. Carmen’s selfishness and lack of loyalty proves to be a problem to the other pledges. The pledges can’t understand why the big sisters put up with Carmen’s blatant disrespect.
Arcadia and Seneca--Fraternal twin sisters from Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Pretty much guaranteed slots on line because of their near unbelievable high GPA’s and because of the obvious—they are popular and well connected. There was a rumor going around that the former models are Cassidy’s cousins, but the info was never confirmed.
Jannette--At first glance Jannette would be described as a non-descript—she’s not one that stands out in the crowd. When most all of the pledges and sisters sport Louis Vuitten purses and wear designer jeans, Jannette didn’t own any name brand clothing or handbags. The friendly short girl with the glasses and her hair pulled back in a pony-tail was didn’t have much respect among the pledges, but their attitude towards her changes drastically when they learn her mother is one of the most powerful politicians in the south.
Meet the Sisters of Beta Gamma Psi
Cassidy "Supermodel" Conway--Friend to everyone, very beautiful. The pledges confidant. Loves to gossip and to keep the peace. Distrusted by some of her sisters because of her fairness and desire to not take things too far.
Connie "Brooklyn" Franklin--Beta Gamma Psi before anything. Period. Brooklyn born and raised, transplanted to Ashland, Virginia to attend prestigious Carver U. Her family owns a chain of Foot Locker Stores so Connie has never had to worry about money. Connie is too old skool to be cool. The super senior is well beyond her glory days.
Shandel "Free Throw" Atkins--The prized possession of Beta Gamma Psi. Homecoming queen, basketball star, beautiful, an all around show piece. Makes Beta Gamma Psi look good at all times. Will learn the hard way about the consequences of being at the wrong place at the wrong time.
Tazmyn"Preachers Daughter" Green--Ghetto-fabulous , loud and not exactly within the mold of Beta Gamma Psi women. This down south preachers daughter caught a case of low self esteem after gaining weight after her pregnancy. This single mom is the wild card of Beta Gamma Psi. Unpredictable, her sisters tolerate her street attitude and less than impressive wardrobe and hair styles. Tazmyn’s daughter Robin is her heart and she will go there with you if she feels that you are a threat to her or her daughter.
Ursula "Black Witch" Evans--A beautiful Creole girl who claimed to have put the roots on several ex boyfriend, Ursula makes herself feel better by putting other people down. No one knows why she is so evil actin’ at times. She secretly envies her line sister Cassidy and would like nothing better than to be in charge of everything. When the pledges and sisters are involved in a serious incident, her quick thinking only leads to further problems for Eva.
Interview by Shemya Taylor
1. What inspired you to write Be My Sorority Sister Under Pressure?
Well, I had an idea to write a series of book that would interest teens and college age students after the surprise success of Sparkledoll-Always Into Something. Be My is actually part of a 3 book serious. The first book, Almost 18 focuses on one of the supporting characters in Be My named Ashley Weber. Book 2 also is an Ashley book and it is named She's Out There Bad. Be My Sorority Sister-Under Pressure was intended to be the third book in the series. The main character in Be My is named Eva Perkins. I had so much fun writing Be My and I just felt like it would be a popular book so I decided to release it first.
I have been writing for so very long I just have many manuscripts waiting to see the light of day. I started work on all of these titles in the 90's I guess, at least the preliminary ideas. I am always writing, I think I have written 3 or 4 books since 2001.
2. Some people may feel like you are capitalizing off the sacred tradition of sororities. How do you feel about that?
It's not like I invented the wheel. There was School Daze, MTV has a series named Sorority Life and there are other books about sororities and fraternities. As an African-American woman, in college Greeks were a topic of conversation, even as an adult the Greek system is a part of our culture.
3.Are you Greek?
Those who know me know the answer. If I said, yes, I am Greek people would think it was based on an experience I had. If I said that I am not Greek, people would say, well why the hell is she writing a book about something she doesn't know about. I would rather people to just read the book and not think about me. I am an author, a storyteller. I would like to think I tell good stories. I have a very active imagination, and I always have. I'm sure that someone will put me on blast somewhere....there is bound to be backlash no matter what you write.
4. Why did you put a woman with a paddle on the cover, especially since no one in the book is paddled? Do you think this is a negative image?
No. I think that paddles are a part of Greek paraphanalie and they are identified with being Greek. I can't take all of the credit for putting a paddle on the cover. I was talking to a good friend of mine brainstorming on how to design a book cover that would make people think "sorority" and she mentioned the paddle idea, I had been thinking it, but since she thought it too, I figured it was a cool idea.
5. The made up sorority in the books colors are purple and teal? That looks like purple and turquoise on the book cover, area you color blind? LOL
No, I'm not color blind. When the cover with the teal printed it looked greenish and I went to extreme measures in the book and within the cover to not have anything that would associate the fictional sorority with an actual African-American sorority so for the book I switched the teal to turquoise.
6. Do you and the character Eva have anything in common?
A few things, not much. Both of my parents are Greek but I would like to think they didn't put any pressure on me, but sometimes they inadvertently did. When both of your parents are Greek, you kind of feel obligated to carry on the tradition, you don't want to have a "the buck stops here" thing going on, but it happens sometimes. I have met people in my lifetime who felt pressure from their parents to go Greek. I always had my own bedroom growing up, like Eva. Eva didn't do the roommate thing well, me neither, and Eva likes tall guys, so I guess those are a few things we have in common.
I have never really written a character like Eva. People who are familiar with my writing know that I specialize in drama, debauchery, tragedy and angst, and Eva really doesn't have too many complaints, except wanting to become a member of Beta Gamma Psi. I so much like writing character who have to deal with difficult situations, drugs, gang banger boyfriends, death, illness, just mad crazy stuff, heck even characters who flip out and go crazy, or their friends flip out, Eva was kinda normal. But that's it---after this book, it's back to my old ways. But don't worry, Eva and the cast of Be My Sorority Sister-Under Pressure have their fare share of drama.
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