Literary Las Vegas: Vee Allen

Las Vegas author Vee Allen grew up in Sipiro, Okla., one of 18 children born to a mother with fair skin and red hair of Irish and Native American descent. Allen was the only sister who was “chocolate and nappy haired” and looked like her father. She shares tales of her family’s joys and challenges in her memoir “Red Bird Bea: Lessons From Life.” Highlights include the family’s reaction to the murder of two of her sisters, building a successful salon, a market and a real estate business, surviving a flesh-eating disease and reconnecting with her first love after 50 years.

Excerpt:

My mother passed away 22 years ago. That is when I first started seeing the red bird on my front porch. I was rushing off to work or just too busy to pay attention to the bird until it became clear years later as to the purpose of the sightings. I know that my mother’s spirit is in my angel bird.

When I think of my mother’s deep faith and spiritual nature, that may explain why her spirit comes to us now in the form of a red bird, a cardinal. She always sends her protection, urges me to be safe, and warns of impending danger to my health or well-being.