Neighborly

"... She is practically a saint."

"Except that she's a murderer."

In 1871, the reclusive Rita Owens commits a horrific act that saves her town. Because of their gratitude, the townspeople are unwilling to hand down a sentence that would end her life. Still, she is expected to die for her crimes after being sentenced to 150 years in prison. No one could have foreseen what would happen after her release date.

For the geriatric and solitary Rita Owens, social functions are limited to church and occasionally help her neighbors out of tough situations. So, why would she murder an entire family? What happens when she outlives the multiple life sentences handed down to her as punishment?

As time passes, Rita Owens ages in her cell becoming a myth and a mystery. Generations of humanity come and go.

Her release date nears, and a team of social workers and prison staff work to prepare Rita Owens for the new world she will enter. Their goal is to ensure that she enjoys the remainder of her greatly extended days in peace and comfort. At 213 years old, how much more could she be expected to do? You'd be surprised.

Grab your copy today to immerse yourself in a story told from the unique perspectives of the people who knew Rita Owens, a woman resolved to do the neighborly thing.

This story is brought to you by CHNO Publishing, where our molecular makeup is melanin (C18H10N2O) and we wear it on our skin. CHNO Publishing LLC facilitates the creation, promotion, and readership of fiction stories written by Black authors through a variety of streamlined services.