Daisy: Between a Rock and a Hard Place
Presidential diarist and author Janis F. Kearney transforms civil rights legend Daisy Gatson Bates’ life
from black and white, to living color. The author, who interviewed Bates many times; recreates
her conversations and interviews to “fill in” places left un-filled, and colors incidents and experiences,
to bring Daisy Bates to life. Kearney plums the mysterious murder of Bates’ mother, and the orphan’s
childhood; the young woman’s prophetic decision to share a traveling salesman’s life; her non-
traditional role as co-publisher of an award winning newspaper; and her leadership role at a time, and
place where women rarely led.
Between a Rock and a Hard Place
is Daisy’s “look back” at her life, and…finally, a self-analysis of how, and possibly, why she became
the Daisy Gatson Bates for which she is known throughout the world. Author Janis F. Kearney
recounts the leader’s many friendships, relationships and associations that helps define who she was in
the eyes of the world – from Presidents Kennedy, Johnson and Clinton; First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt; the
Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr.; Roy Wilson, NAACP President; Thurgood Marshall and Wiley Branton,
NAACP attorneys, Maya Angelou and Jackie Robinson… and countless others.
The author met Daisy Bates in the summer of 1969, at the age of16. From that moment, the high school
student dreamed of working for the woman her father called one of Arkansas’ greatest leaders – black
or white. The book is based on the author’s personal interviews, oral histories, conversations and
in-depth research.
Praise
“Thank you to Janis F. Kearney for shedding a critical light on an often forgotten civil rights heroine.
Daisy Bates was a woman who refused to be defined by society’s rules on both race and place in
America. An often controversial figure, Bates lived life on her own terms, for which she paid dearly. She
was an American hero who loved her country for all its greatness; but courageously proclaimed it could
and should be better.” ~Sharon La Cruise, Producer
Author Janis F. Kearney
Janis F. Kearney is a publisher, author, and oral historian. She was one of 19 children born to Arkansas
Delta Sharecroppers T.J. and Ethel Kearney. She Graduated from the University of Arkansas at
Fayetteville with a B.A., in Journalism, and completed 30 hours in public administration, and
Journalism.
She was hired by Daisy Bates in 1987 as Managing Editor of the Arkansas State Press. In 1988, she
purchased the newspaper. She served as Personal Diarist to President Clinton from 1995 to 2001.
She was the country’s first personal diarist to a U.S. President, and during that time, she also
served as White House liaison to the U.S. National Archives.
In 2001, Janis moved with her husband Bob Nash to Chicago, where she began her writing life. In
2003, Janis, with her husband’s support, founded Writing our World Press/WOW! Books in 2003.
Her first book, Cotton Field of Dreams: A Memoir was published in 2004. Her other books include
Something to Write Home About: Memories of a Presidential Diarist; Conversations: William Jefferson
Clinton…from Hope to Harlem; and Once Upon a Time there was a Girl: a Murder at Mobile Bay, her first
fiction. WOW! Books has also published two other authors. Her next book, Daisy: Between a Rock and a
Hard Place, is scheduled for publication, December 2012. Her third memoir, Sundays with TJ: 100
years of Memories on Varner Road, and her second Once Upon a Time there was a Girl murder
mystery are both slated for publication in Spring, 2013.
Janis is an internationally-traveled public speaker, and can be contacted for speaking engagements, by
emailing: bookingagent@writingourworldpress.com.
Links:
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Stopping by to help lower Alexa hope you can do the same for me Oh! My Heartsie
Thanks Karren