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We often find that legacy is framed as something visible. It is measured by wealth, property, reputation, and lineage. Meanwhile, Donna Stovall breaks this stereotype in her new novel, The Waiting Place Her beautifully penned story shows that the most consequential inheritance is something gained from the women of our lineage, and it often goes unnoticed unless we look within ourselves. Stovall talks about the art of survival and of showing in the face of adversities beyond our imagination.
Stovall’s novel moves across three women and three eras. The story opens up with the beginning of humanity, leading into the life of an enslaved woman, and the present day. Throughout the story, readers feel compelled to ask themselves: What does survival teach, and how does this knowledge influence generations?
The first woman, Lucy, exists before civilization was formed. As a new mother, she is taking care of the babe alone. She is on a mission to find her people while making sure the baby is protected against all dangers. Stovall writes Lucy without using modern language, as it didn’t exist in that time period. The narrative is raw to show that Lucy only responds to hunger, threat, and love with instinct.
The second woman’s story is set during the Middle Passage, but Stovall does not follow in the footsteps of other literary writers. She introduces this young woman who was stolen while performing a rite of passage that should have marked her entry into adulthood as brave and compassionate. Even though her capture and what follows are brutal, she stays strong and does her best to improve her situation.
The third woman, the “Woman of Now,” appears to occupy a completely different universe. She is financially successful, socially powerful, and professionally adept. She understands how to navigate systems, exploit them, and remain protected within them. She runs a high-end escort business that mainly focuses on control, negotiation, and image management.
Yet she is restless in ways that success cannot explain. Her discomfort stems from deep within her soul, and she cannot pinpoint why she is feeling it. As she explores her ancestral home, she uncovers the truth that she comes from a line of strong Black women.
Stovall’s concept of the “waiting place” is not about a single location. Instead, she describes it as a space between danger and safety, and it can be created anywhere. The novel shows how these women created this place so they could hold life together long enough so it is possible to take the next step toward safety and prosperity.
As an acrylic and leather artist, Stovall has always expressed her creativity unabashedly. This part of her personality is very evident in her writing as well. Instead of following a polished literary tone, she writes her characters like real-life people. As a result, some passages are brimming with emotions, while others are sharply observant and humorous.
What The Waiting Place ultimately offers is a view on how women inherit not just stories, but strategies to overcome the difficulties the world throws at them. It stresses that women, especially Black women, are born with the art of survival in their DNA.
The Waiting Place does not ask readers to admire the past and move on. It asks them to recognize it within themselves to understand that survival has always been an intergenerational act.
Donna Stovall’s novel The Waiting Place is now available on Amazon and other online platforms.
The post Donna Stovall Pens How Women Dispense The Art of Survival in Her New Novel “The Waiting Place” appeared first on The Hype Magazine.
