Done Growed Up

When we last left the Mackey Family in the late 1950s, their lives were in turmoil. Divorce, alcoholism, racism, death, puberty – what WEREN’T they dealing with? Ethel, a black maid in a racist world – the true heart and soul of the Mackey Family, is the children’s only constant as she fights her own numerous demons. Twelve-year-old Sallee struggles to understand the world with little enlightenment from the adults around her. Ginny, newly divorced mother of four, finds that she doesn’t have the luxury of being the spoiled princess she once was. She is overwhelmed with responsibility, feelings of abandonment, and alcoholism. Joe, Ginny’s ex, and the children’s father, revels in new-found wealth and popularity with women, but agonizes over his children and the dangers within their broken family. These characters and more will draw you into heartwarming moments and terrible tragedies and, maybe, teach you a few things in the process!

Author Mary Morony was born and raised in Charlottesville, Virginia, mainly by her family’s beloved black maid. Her childhood was a time of segregated schools and many places that prohibited black people. Morony’s inspiration for the Apron Strings Trilogy was her strong relationship with her maid and caretaker, who taught her more about life and love than anyone has since. Morony also uses personal life tragedies and triumphs to produce novels with real experiences and true emotion. “I feel like the trauma in my life has been a gift,” Morony says. “I felt compelled to pass on what I have learned to overcome those traumatic experiences. The Mackey Family was replete with candidates for counseling in Apron Strings. In Done Growed Up, the characters find methods to deal with their addictions, obsessions and anger.”