Literary Las Vegas

Las Vegas writer My Haley was working on her doctorate in communications when she first heard Alex Haley speak. She was so inspired that as soon as she graduated, she pursued the goal of working with him. After collaborating on and publishing “Roots: The Saga of an American Family,” the two were married in 1977. My was 24 and Alex was 56.

My Haley is scheduled to read from her debut novel “The Treason of Mary Louvestre” during an author night program from 6 to 7:30 p.m. April 4 at the Paseo Verde Library, 280 S. Green Valley Parkway. Copies will be available for purchase and signing following a question and answer session with the author.

Haley’s novel is based on the true story of Mary Louvestre, a seamstress slave from the Confederate town of Norfolk, Va., who steals plans for modifications to the CSS Virginia and travels 200 miles in the winter cold to deliver them to the Union secretary of the Navy. For more information, visit mypubliclibrary.org.

Excerpt from ‘The Treason of Mary Louvestre’

When Mary woke later that night, she could hardly breathe. She loosened the robe around her waist. A metallic taste was on her tongue. Her face burned and she knew no amount of cool water would stem the heat. Settle down, she told herself. Just settle down. She reached for her pincushion to set it aright on the table and inadvertently pricked her finger. Blood oozed out. No way could she tackle the muddle of consideration and concern that Tesh-Lucianne’s disclosure brought up right now. It was too much. Rather, she let her mind drift off to safer thoughts. She remembered the idea that had been brewing since she’d seen the plans for the CSS Virginia in Simeon’s office. Not knowing why, she wondered what was so important about them that they kept coming to mind. And especially, why now?

She tried not to think about the war.