Come Sit with Me: Life In Poetry, Prose and Plays, the most recent project of Oklahoma-based Jewell Jordan Publishing, poignantly recounts the journey of 81-year-old Dr. Gladys DeVane in poems, short stories and theater—from the incredibly moving When This World Was Mine, telling the joys and sorrows and innocence of her young life on her grandparents’ farm with her sibling and cousins, to The Least of Them, an account of both the distressing news that her first-born was severely disabled and in need of institutionalization and the joy and triumph of his high school graduation, work-life, and living on his own. Through this literary masterpiece, we are privileged to travel with Gladys on her journey through a rich and extraordinary life. We glean how she has come to see the world—through her own eyes and those of historical figures—Fannie Lou Hamer and Rosa Parks, whom she brought to life first in theatrical one-woman show performances and now in print.

As Malcolm Abrams, editor and publisher of Bloom Magazine and Distinctively Bloomington, writes, “I was so moved by the poems in Gladys DeVane’s book, Come Sit with Me. They are so beautifully conceived! I will remember the words, the presentation, the feelings for the rest of my life. It was out of this world wonderful.”

Release Date & Virtual Performance
Come Sit with Me: Life In Poetry, Prose, and Plays, has a July 2021 release date. On July 17, 2021, the author will be featured in Monroe County History Center’s Black Authors Speak Book Fair, where she will perform a short excerpt from her book. Signed copies will be available. Throughout the summer and fall, the author will perform readings from her book at various venues via Zoom. The schedule will appear on her website, Resilienceproductions.org. 

Gladys DeVane is a retired associate clinical professor who taught in both the Indiana University Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences and the Kelley School of Business. As a storyteller and actress, she has performed in numerous mainstage productions, storytelling events, and stage-reading projects. Dr. DeVane is a member of the National Black Storytellers Association. Contact the author at devane2@hotmail.com.

For more information on Come Sit with Me, contact Annette Mims at  annettemims@jewelljordanpublishing.com. Also, visit Dr. DeVane’s website at Resilienceproductions.org