Galileo Simmons, alumna from Nashville, Tenn., and daughter of author Freeda Simmons-McMillan, held a book signing at the University Store Monday for her mother’s three-book series “Black & White in a Multi-Colored America.”
Simmons gathered the writings and art for her mother’s books after she was killed in a vehicle accident in 2010. Simmon said she knew she had to publish everything her mother had been working on so she contacted publishing companies and, after months of getting everything together, the books were ready to be sold.
“(Mom) said that she felt like God had led her to write this and so she spent half of her life writing and when she finished writing the last story, it was really crazy because she died,” Simmons said in the Nov. 8, 2012, edition of The News. “When I was about 14 years old, my mom said that God had also (told her) that I would publish a book in my lifetime – actually several books – and not worry about having to write them.”
Now, the books are being sold in bookstores and online and she can finally enjoy her mother’s art.
“The book signing went well,” she said. “It was great to see professors and students gather and show their support.”
Simmons plans on continuing to host her book signing through Barnes & Noble stores across the country, which, she said, she has been doing since the first book launched.
“In addition to those signings, I am now a public speaker,” she said. “I did not know that this book would open up various opportunities, but organizations are requesting me to give public speeches about my story, content within the book and on healthcare topics. I find it humbling to be asked to speak in front of hundreds of professionals, CEOs, organizations and various other individuals.”
On top of that, Simmons said she is continuing to follow in her mother’s footsteps by working as a registered nurse, just as her mother was.
Simmons has more upcoming events that are still pending, she said.
“One that I am very excited about is a training conference/speaking forum in Austin, Texas, for the Texas Foster Families Association,” she said. “Another is with an organization based out Sacramento, Calif.”
She said in addition to her book signings at Barnes & Noble locations, she will start doing signings at various LifeWay store locations in a few months.
Story by Anna Taylor, Staff writer.