Dancing on the Edge of the Roof: A Novel (the basis for the film Juanita)

"Dancing on the Edge of the Roof kept my heart and mind dancing through the pages. Sheila Williams, with her talent for detailed storytelling, expertly takes the reader on a poignant and humorous quest for self."--Lori Bryant-Woolridge, author of Read Between the Lies

At forty-one, Juanita Lewis is running away from home, courtesy of a one-way ticket to Montana, a place that seems about as far away from the violence and poverty of the Columbus, Ohio, projects as the moon. She wants adventure and excitement--if such things exist for a pre-menopausal African American woman with three grown, deadbeat children.

Juanita's new life in Paper Moon, Montana, begins at a local diner where a culinary face-off with chef and owner Jess Gardiner finds Juanita in front of Jess's stove serving up home cookin' that lures the townsfolk like a magic spell. And suddenly Juanita, who was just passin' through, now has a job by popular demand.

Out here in this wide-open space, Juanita's heart can no longer hide, especially when she sees herself through the eyes of the wonderful and eccentric people of this down-to-earth town. She's happy in Paper Moon; she's found a home, but can she stay? And then there's Jess. She has always dreamed of romance, but she never planned on falling in love.

Author: Sheila Williams
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Published: 10/29/2002
Pages: 242
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.49lbs
Size: 8.26h x 5.56w x 0.64d
ISBN: 9780345459305

Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 08/15/2002 pg. 1172
Romantic Times 11/01/2002 pg. 98 - Excellent
Booklist 10/15/2002 pg. 390

About the Author
Sheila Williams was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio. She attended Ohio Wesleyan University and is a graduate of the University of Louisville. She has published four books, including Dancing on the Edge of the Roof. She lives with her family in Newport, Kentucky.