Shelia Dansby Harvey | SheliaDansbyHarvey.com

Shelia Dansby Harvey is a writer by early morning, a lawyer by day and a Texas swing-out dancer at night. She is author of the popular Raven Holloway mystery series which includes Illegal Affairs, Bad Girls Finish First and Aww Sookie Sookie: Omar's Revenge. Shelia became a novelist by chance. “I began writing a short story, just for me, and it got longer and longer,” she says. The end result was a manuscript which Shelia literally threw into a closet where it stayed for two years. A colleague urged her to polish her novel and submit it for publication. After a dozen or so rejection slips, Shelia decided to self-publish her book, titled, Illegal Affairs. Kensington Books purchased the rights to Illegal Affairs and rereleased it in 2005. Next came Bad Girls Finish First, the sequel to Illegal Affairs. The final book in the trilogy is Aww Sookie Sookie: Omar's Revenge. Shelia describes the novels as an entertaining mixture of mystery and spicy romance.

Shelia has served as a visiting professor at Texas Southern University’s School of Law and an adjunct professor at Rice University’s Graduate School of Business. She is a board member with Inprint, Inc., a national leader among non-profit literary organizations. Shelia is a member of the National Bar Association, the Houston Lawyer’s Association and former board president and strong supporter of Houston’s Northeast YMCA branch. Shelia hosts Stimulating Conversations, a monthly public discourse that discusses thought provoking issues from health to hip-hop. She is also a frequent public speaker at literary and other events. Shelia’s deepest passion is helping young people achieve academic excellence. To that end, she recently established the Edna Merle Green Academic Scholarship, which annually helps one student pay for an extracurricular academic activity that he or she could otherwise not afford. Shelia and her husband, Henry published Black Tie, the first regional black lifestyles magazine to achieve statewide distribution in major retail outlets throughout Texas. Shelia has also had several opinion pieces published by the Houston Chronicle. Over the years, she has received countless honors, including Southwest Region Attorney of the year by her employer.

The Books

AWW SOOKIE SOOKIE

The sexy, mis-matched duo of Omar and Raven is back, and working together on a criminal case. Problem is, Omar’s still dead-set on revenge against Raven—and getting a little sookie, sookie on the side. This time, who comes out on top?

"A compelling, laugh out loud page-turner."
-- Lois E. Pettis

"A delightful and engrossing read."
-- People Who Love Good Books, Online Reviewer

"Aww Sookie Sookie is filled with scandalous characters and damsels in distress. A great read that will have you clamoring for more and trying to guess who-dun-it!"
--APOOO BookClub, Online Reviewer

BAD GIRLS FINISH FIRST

This juicy follow-up to Shelia Dansby Harvey's compelling novel, Illegal Affairs, brings back the ultimate bad girl herself: Raven Holloway. With law school behind her, the sexy, sinful seductress has graduated to bigger, and badder, things.

Raven Holloway has gone from heartbreaker and havoc wreaker to bona fide homewrecker. No sooner did she extract herself from a messy, not to mention "illegal" situation at school, than she managed to steal a Texas Senator from his devoted wife. But she's not finished yet. As wife number two, Raven has now convinced her new husband to run for governor --which will make her Texas's First Lady. Raven has always been about getting what Raven wants, no matter who she has to step on, sleep with, or double cross. In this case, her chain of fools includes an influential newspaper editor, a wealthy white socialite, a powerful reverend, and the senator's very own chief aide, a man with something to hide and a loose-lipped psychiatrist.

Soon enough, Raven is blazing a trail to political success strewn with seductions, betrayals, and bribes. By her standards, the future looks bright, except for the troubling matter of her past. Raven's greatest fear is that her involvement in the unfortunate fate of her fellow student will be discovered. And she's right to worry, because her dirty little secret is about to fall into the worst possible hands. When the tables are turned, will Raven land on her feet yet again, or is this bad girl's run of good luck about to come to a very messy end?

"I have enjoyed Ms. Harvey's work since day one, and this book kept me on my toes with key punches."
-- Book Talk Book Club, Online Reviewer

"If you are not familiar with Raven, then you should become acquainted with her. This book was even better than the first book. I can not wait to see what the final book of Raven has in store for us. This book was worth the wait."
-- S. Rudolph, Online Reviewer

"I liked the political angle (something different) and I really liked the way Grace, the senator's first wife, came out of her shell. All in all, a very satisfying read."
--ReaderWoman, Online Reviewer

ILLEGAL AFFAIRS

When a group of thirtysomething professionals begin their studies at the historically black Monroe Law School in Texas, affairs commence. Raven Hollaway is a beautiful, confident, and untrustworthy woman. She sets her sights on a Texas senator and employs ruthless tactics to entice him. Callie Stephens, daughter of a respected judge who kills himself, is carefree, smart, and a great legal researcher. She gains the trust and respect of her peers and professors. Keith Dawson left a family in Atlanta to pursue a new life after an affair destroyed his marriage. His past hurts and doubts force him to remain platonic with the woman he really desires. Omar Faxton is a former football player. His good looks and enormous ego cause him to choose pride over ethics and revenge over forgiveness. When he finally chooses to do what is right, he discovers his change of heart has come too late. In the end, these students are very different than when they arrived, and their law careers are in question. And the reader has enjoyed a compelling read.

"Illegal Affairs is a compelling and page turning novel that had this reader shaking her head wondering why. This is a very good mystery novel that leads to a follow up that I anxiously await"
-- The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

"It has it all--intrigue, betrayal,foul-play, sex and friendship."
-- Janet (Amazon.com Reviewer)

"I highly recommend this sexy, intelligent, suspenseful story.
--Charles Drayden (Amazon.com reviewer)