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Mary Jane Black has released her debut work “She Rode a Harley” (She Writes Press, October 1, 2019). A tale of love and loss, “She Rode a Harley” depicts the true story of Mary’s escape from an abusive marriage when she falls in love with Dwayne, her soon-to-be second husband on a blind date. When Dwayne is diagnosed with cancer, Mary has to take on a new role as his caretaker, confronting the changes imminent in their relationship, and her life.
“With unsentimental language and unblinking courage, Mary Black recounts her big-life adventure—on Harleys, and off. If you’re looking for a great true-life love story, this one is it.” Joyce Maynard, author of The Best of Us
Motorcyclist’s memoir embodies love despite previous abuse
“She Rode a Harley” is a woman’s empowering tale of getting up on the seat of a Harley after experiencing decades of emotional mistreatment
AUSTIN, TX – Mary Jane Black’s debut memoir tells her inspiring story of finding love later in life, in the midst of abuse and pain. “She Rode a Harley” details the kick-ass adventures of a woman whose second husband, a biker since he was 13, taught her how to save herself by believing in her own strength, power, and individuality. Mary Jane writes courageously, as though her time spent riding Harleys has transferred to the page, with smooth, gliding transitions and powerful, engine-revving scenes.
In “She Rode a Harley,” a schoolteacher escapes an abusive marriage and finds a new love on a blind date. Mary Jane’s new man, Dwayne, is certain that riding a Harley will restore her confidence and, sure enough, Mary Jane ends up following the white lines with him through 15 years of marriage. Traveling together, they learn to be partners, both on and off the road, until Dwayne is diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Mary Jane writes of caregiving, and the joy and pain inherent in a love meant to last.
“With unsentimental language and unblinking courage, Mary Black recounts her big-life adventure—on Harleys, and off. If you’re looking for a great true-life love story, this one is it.”
-- Joyce Maynard, author of The Best of Us
“She Rode a Harley is a vibrant memoir about love, loss, and second chances… There’s warmth and immediacy in Black’s story” -- Foreword Clarion Reviews
“A compelling narrative” -- Kirkus Reviews
In an interview, MARY JANE BLACK can discuss:
How she escaped an abusive marriage, and her advice for other women who are suffering in their marriages
Remarrying and becoming a step-parent later in life
Becoming a caretaker after Dwayne’s cancer diagnosis, and her advice for other cancer caretakers
How she built a Harley Davidson motorcycle
Being a female motorcyclist and how her experience differs from male motorcyclists on the road
ABOUT
MARY JANE BLACK: studied English and journalism as an undergrad, and went on to pursue a master’s in English with a concentration on creative writing. Teaching writing and literature at the high school level for fourteen years, she nurtured her students’ voices as she hid her own. After long days of teaching, she would spend sleepless nights scribbling stories in tattered notebooks found in her classroom and writing short poems in the margins of her desk calendar. Her first memoir She Rode A Harley will be published by She Writes Press on October 1, 2019. Excerpts from it have been published in Shark Reef Journal and Oxford American Magazine. She now lives in Austin, where she is a literacy specialist for the State of Texas. Visit her at https://maryjaneblack.com/.“She Rode a Harley: A Memoir of Love and Motorcycles”
Mary Jane Black | October 1, 2019 | She Writes Press
