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Authors: Darren Coleman

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Reading Group Guide

We hope that you enjoyed Darren Coleman’s
Don’t Ever Wonder.
The following questions are intended to facilitate your group’s discussion of this engaging and provocative book.

 

Questions for Discussion

 

1. As the title suggests, many of the characters in
Don’t Ever Wonder
are consumed with questions about the alternate paths their lives could have taken had they made different decisions. What are the decisions for Nate, Brendan, and Cory that could have made a difference? Have they satisfied their curiosity by the end of the book, or are there still questions left unanswered?

 

2. Why in the world would Brendan make the decision to take Trina back? Will he be able to raise the child as his own? Is there any circumstance when cheating is forgivable, and, if so, how many times before enough is enough?

 

3. While proclaiming to be a Christian, Nate allows either his temper or his pride to take control of him, and he beats a man, cheats on Anita, and breaks his reverend’s finger. Was he justified in any of these actions? How genuine is his newfound spirituality? Will it last?

 

4. Throughout the novel, Cory and Brendan play women left and right, and it’s all good. But when Cory sleeps with Renée, Brendan can’t take it and ends the friendship. Was this a genuine betrayal on Cory’s part, or is Brendan overreacting? Is it ever okay to sleep with your best friend’s exes?

 

5. Why is it so important to Nate that he regain his belt? What does he risk to attain this goal? How would Nate have reacted if he had lost the championship fight? Is it ever worth risking it all to achieve what one believes to be his or her purpose?

 

6. Cory breaks his promises and abruptly walks out on Shelly, leaving her a single mother. He is upset with himself for these selfish actions, but he is able to move on. But when he betrays Brendan, it causes major turmoil in his life, and he is barely able to function from the guilt he carries. Does he have his emotional priorities straight? Is he wrong for having more loyalty to his best friend than to his baby’s mother? At what point do lovers become more important than best friends?

 

7. Renée leaves her fiancé when she finds out he has been sleeping with men on the down low. How much of a problem are black men on the down low and how much of an impact do they have on African American women?

First off I have to give thanks to the Almighty. We all should, right? I’ve been through a lot since my career as a writer has taken off, some great and some not so great things. Through it all I’ve learned that you have to take the bitter with the sweet and most of all you have to stay in prayer. To whom much is given, much is expected, and to fully understand that
is
to have some degree of peace.

The first person I want to thank is my mother, Doris Patrick. Oh, how we have had it out, but no matter what, I know you have my back and I have yours. Thanks for all you’ve done and continue to do for me. All the days you were tired or sick but still had the time to make sure Tanya and I were well fed, clothed, and educated and for keeping books in my hands. You didn’t care if it was a comic book or a
Sports Illustrated,
you just wanted me to read. It paid off.

Family first, so I also want to thank my aunts, Nancy, Esther, Florence…all like mothers to me, guiding and encouraging me as well. To my uncles, thanks for being there and taking up the slack of a father who wasn’t, Ed, Pee Wee, and Ren, I love you and thanks. To my extended family, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends…thank you so much for all the love and well wishes.

To be specific…this part is so scary because it’s too easy to forget a name even if you don’t forget a person.

Michael Morrison, Dawn Davis, Rockelle Henderson, Gilda Squire, Laura Blost, Stacey Barney, Donovan Baddley, Mary Keane, and the rest of the Harper/Amistad family: thanks a million for the confidence and support. Jimmy Vines, you’re a great agent, much success to you. Nina Graybill, my lawyer…thanks for everything.

Once again to the talented Anthony Carr, man, you never cease to amaze me with your art…thanks once again on a fabulous cover. Congrats to you and Renée on your beautiful baby girl. Les Green, thanks for the work on the website as always.

Thanks also to Lynn Hobson, Tressa Smallwood, Tamika Diaz at Culture Plus; Rico Douglass, Trina Holt, and the entire Karibu Books Team and all of the other store owners and vendors out there doing it for me. To Tamara Cooke, my accountant. Thanks also to Sheryl Hicks, Yolanda Marie J., Lynn Thomas, Deena Myles, and S.O.A.R, Kimberly Jones from
superstar.
Lori Carter at 4 Star’s Hair Salon in Suitland, Maryland…check her out. Special thanks to Tracye Stafford and IKON Entertainment. Tray, I truly appreciate all you do that you
don’t
have to. We will slice through the fakes and get the movie done. You are a gem. To Lisa Richardson and Angela Oates…you two still have the Write Touch. Thanks also to Leslie German.

My dawgs and homeys, thanks for all the support. It’s so good to get the love from your peers. In a world where a brother would sooner hate on you than give you your props, I keep running into positive brothers who lift me up and remind me what real men are supposed to do. First off, I want to thank my fellow mentors, Carl Green, Daren Browning, Daryle Brooks, Dennis, and all the brothers across the land who reach back to the youth by giving their time, energy, and money to help the lil’ dudes find their way before they get lost. Ron Brown, stay positive and thanks for having me come down to talk to the youths. I enjoyed that. To Mike Davis and all my crew from the Barbershop, Always. My barber Eric Carter…the party starter. Pierre Fletcher and Radical Art Clothing. Curtis Kittrell and Jessica Smith at Emagine Studios in Forestville. Dr. David Harmon, the best orthodontist in Maryland. To the people I run into: Dondre Owens, who always has a good word for me about my work, thank you.

Hey Shaka…never forget it’s a celebration, nigga. Miami, New Orleans, L.A., Rio de Janeiro, like the ol’ boy Rick James would say,
We just getting starting bitches…we’re just unwinding.

DeWright Johnson…hold on up top, K’wan, I’m waiting for you. Tyrone Wallace, Wahida Clark, Crystal Winslow, William Fredrick Cooper, it’s a pleasure knowing you all. Most of all to my man Zach Tate, Eyone Williams, Danette Majette, and the Nvision Publishing family, thanks so much for stepping up the game. To the very special Joy King.

Shout to my brother Jim and the entire Chaney family. Kenny Lattimore and the lovely Chanté Moore. My homey, Ted in Brooklyn at Assorted Flavors Entertainment. Nancy Flowers, you are the bomb, sistah. To my Vickie Stringer…I’ll always be your baby’s daddy. Shannon Holmes…I’ll roll with you always. Don’t trip off the snakes and snitches, their time is short like leprechauns.

Thanks to Community Books in New Orleans. To Victoria Christopher Murray, you are the realest and most genuine author out there. Much success to you. Patty Rice, as always, I’ll never forget. Natti at Afrikan World…much respect. Karen at A&B, you are my doll baby. Thanks to Eric and Gail for the support. Kevon Thomas, stay real, the future for you is bright. Thanks to everyone at Culture Plus for the support. To my man Massamba Amar, the king of Jamaica Ave…. much success, in cha Allah.

Enid, in Charlotte…you’ve been so helpful. I hope to return the favor one day. Twala McCain, thanks for the support, stay up. Theresa in Ft. Lauderdale, Shalisa in Dayton, Tenia in the ATL, Tecia from NY, Demi from all over, Bella in L.A., it’s all love. To Lea Williams, the most beautiful future attorney in Carolina…Georgetown. IJR, I wished the best for you but sometimes we can’t see the forest for the trees, though time will fix that. Keep your eyes and your mind open. Iyauta Moore, I can’t wait to read your acknowledgments, you got mad talent. Damien Lyles,
Crocodile Tears,
finally finished. Big cuz is going to walk you through to the promised land.

Thanks so much to Justine Love and Todd B on
Lovetalk and Slowjams
at WPGC. Thanks also to the WHUR morning crew. My peeps at WKYS…thanks for the shouts. And to Natalie Case at Magic 102.3. Thanks in advance to all the air across the land for having me. Michael Baisden for the shout and for blazing the path. V103 in Chicago and 92Q in Baltimore.

To Al in Dallas, if that’s even your name. You know who I’m talking about. Man, you are sick and the biggest clown I have ever met. But, God bless you anyway.

I never said thanks to Dr. Sydney Walker, my English professor at Bowie State University, for telling me that I was indeed, a writer. At that time I didn’t even have my own computer, but I just want you to know that sometimes we plant seeds and have no clue what will come forth from that effort. Keep blessing your students.

Lastly, I just want to say thanks to you, the readers, for the support. If you purchased a book, told someone about me…I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I’ve said it before, without you, there is no me. I hope that I am able to inspire someone to take a chance and follow a dream. It’s never easy, but usually worth it.

It’s been said that a dream deferred is a dream denied. Who wants to sit around wondering what could have been? Don’t Ever Wonder…

One,

DARREN COLEMAN graduated from Bowie State University, where he majored in elementary education and minored in communications. He is the founder of NVision Publishing and author of the
Essence
bestsellers
Do or Die
and
Before I Let Go
. Coleman has written a screenplay and currently has a filmin the preproduction stage. He lives in Prince George’s County, Maryland.

www.darrencoleman.net

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Advance
praise
for
Don’t Ever Wonder

“Darren Coleman is a super storyteller.
Don’t Ever Wonder
if this book is a page-turner; it is a sizzling-hot page-burner!”

—Marissa Monteilh, author of
Hot Boyz

“It’s hot!! Darren Coleman captures sensuality and eroticism through the written word. It takes you there and has you biting your bottom lip! Three cheers for the brother!”

—Justine Love, “The Sexpert,” host of
Lovetalk
and
Slowjams
(WPGC, Washington, D.C.’s number one radio station)

Praise for the
Essence
bestseller
Before I Let Go

“Darren Coleman keeps it real. He creates outstanding characters and drama that make you want to keep turning those pages. This is
Waiting to Exhale
of the 2000s.”

—Shannon Holmes, author of
B-More Careful
and
Bad Girlz

“Darren Coleman establishes himself as one of the premier male voices of our time.”

—Patty Rice, bestselling author of
Somethin’ Extra
and
Reinventing the Woman

also by Darren Coleman

Before I Let Go

Do or Die

Designed by Chris Welch

Cover illustration by Anthony Carr

Author photograph by Curtis Catrell

DON

T EVER WONDER
. Copyright © 2005 by Darren Coleman. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books;.

ePub edition July 2005 ISBN 9780061743436
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Coleman, Darren.
Don’t ever wonder: a novel / Darren Coleman.—1st ed.
p. cm.
ISBN 0-06-059486-1
9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

About the Publisher

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Canada

HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.

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New Zealand

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P.O. Box 1

Auckland, New Zealand

http://www.harpercollinsebooks.co.nz

United Kingdom

HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.

77-85 Fulham Palace Road

London, W6 8JB, UK

http://www.harpercollinsebooks.co.uk

United States

HarperCollins Publishers Inc.

10 East 53rd Street

New York, NY 10022

http://www.harpercollinsebooks.com

BOOK: Don’t Ever Wonder
11.03Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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