Book excerpt: When what you want the most could mean the death of you... Gabriel Loveman is a born genius who must choose between the opportunity of a lifetime, his responsibility to his family and his devotion to the woman he loves. One path will lead to a bright future and a broken heart. The other path will lead to love and a broken spirit. As he struggles over the tortuous decision, Gabriel finds himself in the throes of a threat against his life. In a world where being black can be a death sentence, finding a way to stay alive as he determines his fate will take much more than courage and determination. Gabriel will need a miracle. Taking place in an era when the remnants of slavery rule the day, Gabriel's Balloon reveals the depth of the agonizing dilemma of a boy wonder entering into manhood and yearning for a future beyond the drudgery of the Deep South. A coming of age that unfolds on a plantation plagued with the horrors of racism and family secrets that, if ever revealed, may make the difference between life and death, this novel is a reminder of the timeliness of love and hate. Gabriel's plight will break open the hearts of readers who will find themselves hoping that he decides to chase after his dreams, as page by page, they come to understand why he has the very best of reasons to let them go. Indeed, inside Gabriel's Balloon, hope floats but only when there is enough air. Hope Michelle Ayers currently lives in Atlanta, Georgia and Washington, D.C., where she works as an attorney and advisor for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security/FEMA. In addition to her first novel, Gabriel's Balloon, she has authored two collections of poetry, Love Defined and Acquaintances, along with a series of children's books entitled The Chelsea Tales. A graduate of Alabama State University (Bachelor of Arts) and the University of Alabama (Juris Doctorate), she is the CEO of Hope & Air, Inc., a lifelong supporter of the Boys and Girls Clubs of America and an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., ASU National Alumni Association and the Alabama State Bar Association.