Burden of power
for local author

By Tom Waring
Times Staff Writer

Brenda L. Thomas, an author from Holmesburg, had fun writing her four novels.
The fiction books allowed the author to use her imagination and creativity to tell the story.
Her upcoming release was altogether different.
In Laying Down My Burdens — A Memoir, Thomas discusses her past addictions and her suffering as a victim of domestic abuse.
The 192-page book was not easy to write.
"It was very, very emotional," she said. "I had some rough nights."
Thomas, 49, broke into the literary field by self-publishing Threesome in 2001. It sold 30,000 copies.
The longtime Holmesburg resident — she grew up on Mill Street and now lives on Rhawn Street — also worked as personal assistant to NBA star Stephon Marbury. She was regarded as an expert on the culture of pro basketball, appearing on Dateline, Entertainment Tonight and CNN.
In recent years, Simon & Schuster published Fourplay, The Velvet Rope and Every Woman’s Got a Secret. Thomas also created two anthologies, Four Degrees of Heat and Kiss the Year Goodbye.
Nothing, though, prepared her for the challenge of Laying Down My Burdens.
"It was harder to write my memoir than anything I’ve written," she said.
The author grew up the youngest of five children of Thurmond and Mary Thomas. She had a normal, happy childhood, attending Joseph H. Brown School and Abraham Lincoln High School (Class of 1975).
The youngster liked to write poetry and read books.
Soon after graduating high school, though, her world changed. The book chronicles her life and struggles from 1976 through ’89.
Those are the years she spent with her boyfriend/husband, who is called "Russell" in the book. To many, Thomas was leading a happy life, working at IBM and having a steady partner.
In the book, Thomas writes that Russell was not always faithful to her and abused her physically and emotionally, sometimes forcing her to have sex. She would make up stories to others to account for the bruises.
One comfort for Thomas was a journal she kept. When Russell found it, though, he was angered by her writings and told her not to write again.
Among the injuries suffered by Thomas was a broken collarbone. Still, she stayed with her partner, leading some to ask why she didn’t leave him.
"It’s not always as easy as it seems," said Thomas, noting that she feared she’d be killed if she ended the relationship.
The relationship produced two children, 29-year-old Kelisha and 24-year-old Kelvin.
It was because of the kids that Thomas eventually became an independent woman. She’s been free of addiction for two decades.
Today, she works for an advertising agency in addition to writing books. While she is happy, she has not had a long-lasting relationship since ending her marriage.
Thomas has three granddaughters, and she wrote Laying Down My Burdens, in part, for them.
"They need to know what their grandmother went through," she said.
Thomas, who’ll turn 50 in November, is very close with her daughter, son and grandchildren.
Kelisha and Kelvin also have a decent relationship with their father, who lives in Philadelphia. He has remarried, has a child and, by all accounts, is living a good life.
So far, Kelisha has read the gripping eight-page prologue written by her mother.
Thomas will host a launch party for the self-published Laying Down My Burdens — the title is taken from an old Negro spiritual — on Wednesday, Sept. 26, at 30th Street Station. The event will serve as a fund-raiser for Women Against Abuse.
The book will officially be released on Oct. 2 to coincide with Domestic Violence Awareness Month. It’ll be available at bookstores and on Amazon.com.
Thomas, who is lining up speaking engagements, believes she can be a voice for abused women and a role model for girls. Take a look at any large group of girls, she said, and odds are that one or more will be abused, raped or killed by a partner during their life.
"Abuse happens in so many families," she said.
In addition, Thomas believes her book will appeal to a wide audience because of her direct writing style.
"I just go right at it," she said. "I don’t pull any punches. I tell it like it is."
The next book for Thomas will be titled The Mating Call. It’s about a woman who leaves New Orleans for Philadelphia after embezzling money from FEMA following Hurricane Katrina. ••
The book, Laying Down My Burdens — A Memoir, will be available at stores on Oct. 2. Pre-orders for paperbacks are being accepted for $10.20 at Amazon.com (www.amazon.com).
On Sept. 26, from 6 to 9 p.m., Brenda L. Thomas will host a launch party for the book at 30th Street Station’s South Corridor. Admission is free, and guests are asked to bring used cell phones for donations to domestic-abuse victims. A portion of the proceeds from a raffle and book sales will benefit Women Against Abuse.
For more information, visit the author’s Web site, www.phillywriter.com
Reporter Tom Waring can be reached at 215-354-3034 or twaring@phillynews.com