November 3 2026
A Note from Hope Katz Gibbs, founder InkandescentPR and producer InkandescentRadio.com — Hello friends! I am so happy to introduce you to author and activist Tonya Poindexter, author of a new book that shines a light on the reality of divorce for black women.
As the author of Why Divorce: 5 Reasons to Leave, I offer dozens of case studies where divorced women and men share their experiences with the 5 reasons — Abuse, Addiction, Adultery, Abandonment, and Angst: WhyDivorce.us.
The 8 chapters of Tonya’s 186-page paperback are part memoir, part self-help, encouraging readers to Take Inventory of What’s Left and offering ideas on how to Get Your House in Order and how to protect the Peace You Are Trying to find. It concludes with encouragement: The Future is Yours.
I very much appreciate Tonya’s willingness to be brutally honest with herself and share her vulnerability with the readers. Her deep and vulnerable insights begin with the book’s introduction, The Marriage Ended. The Loss Didn’t. Here, she tells readers exactly what her experience of divorce felt like, with the goal of helping others realize they are not alone in the divorce process.
I had the opportunity to feature Tonya as a guest on my Fox5+ TV series: TheInkandescentShow.tv
And I had the privilege of interviewing Tonya at Elaine’s Literary Salon this fall, where we also featured a panel of four women who shared their experiences, including:
- Aramide Adedeji, author of “A Whole New World”
- Dr. Shirley P. Auguste
- Dr. Esther A. Bonsrah
- Lavonne Delattiboudere
I know you will relate to each woman, each story, and each unique approach to healing the deep pain of divorce.
Be sure to watch and listen to our interviews, and let us know if you have questions. Tonya and I look forward to collaborating more as we talk with more people about their experiences in
Meet the Author: Tonya Poindexter is an author, strategist, and executive leader with a career spanning strategic communications, organizational leadership, business development, public service, and community engagement. Her work has focused on helping organizations and people navigate change, identify opportunities, and move ideas forward. Her writing is informed by her professional, educational, and lived experience, bringing a practical and honest perspective to conversations that are often difficult to have.
Her book, , explores what happens after a marriage ends and the work of rebuilding finances, identity, relationships, confidence, peace, and the future. Written specifically with Black women in mind, The Aftermath combines candid reflection with practical guidance for women navigating what comes next. Learn more: writetouchpublishing.com
About
A practical, conversational guide for Black women navigating life after divorce, this book focuses on what happens after the marriage ends: the changes to finances, identity, family, friendships, confidence, stability, peace, and future plans that can continue long after the legal process is over.
Drawing from her own experience of rebuilding, Tonya Poindexter offers honest reflection, practical guidance, and simple exercises to help women find their footing again, rebuild self-trust, navigate changed relationships, protect their peace, and create a life that feels like their own.
This is not a memoir about the details of a marriage or divorce. It is a guide for Black women who are rebuilding and want to know they are not alone in what comes next.
Click here to buy The Aftermath.
About our host, Hope Katz Gibbs, journalist, author, podcast/video producer, and PR director at Elaine’s Literary Salon: A journalist since graduating from the University of Pennsylvania in 1986, Hope’s articles have appeared in dozens of publications including The Washington Post, The Miami Herald, Costco’s Connection, The National Press Club, Beach Life magazine, and more. She has won numerous journalism awards for her writing, including her book, PR Rules: The Playbook. Hope founded Inkandescent PR + Publishing Co. in 2008 and, over the decades since, has promoted the work of hundreds of authors, artists, educators, and entrepreneurs. She publishes three online magazines: InkandescentWomen.com • BeInkandescent.com Health & Wellness magazine • InkandescentKids.com. Her company builds websites and produces more than 30 podcasts each month on InkandescentRadio.com, which gets more than 1 million hits/month; the video versions of the shows are featured on Inkandescent.tv. Inkandescent® also publishes books: Find those titles on her PR website, Inkandescent.us.
About ElaineLiterarySalon.com: In 2024, Hope partnered with bestselling thriller novelist Jeffrey James Higgins, founder of the project and the regular host of the series. The podcast show ranks #1 on Spotify and Apple Podcasts for literary salon shows. Watch all of the videos in the series on YouTube at ElainesLiterarySalon.tv
Find Elaine’s Literary Salon events here: ElainesLiterarySalon.com/events
Elaine’s Literary Salon is located at Elaine’s Restaurant, 208 Queen Street, Alexandria VA
About Elaine’s Restaurant: A menu filled with delicious modern Mediterranean cuisine selections is sure to please everyone in your party. The dishes are inspired by exquisite food from Alexandria, Egypt — a blend of Middle Eastern and French, Greek, and Italian influences. Elaine’s is named for the owner’s grandmother and is based on a promise she made at the age of 12, growing up in Cairo. “I promised my grandma I would someday own a restaurant and name it after her,” shares Cynthia, who is also an author. She and her husband, bestselling thriller novelist Jeffrey James Higgins, are proud to share my family’s recipes with new friends and families in the Washington, DC metropolitan area.” Located in an 1880s building, it was the former home of the beloved bistro Bilbo Baggins for 38 years. The newly renovated restaurant is located in the heart of Old Town’s Historic District within sight of the Potomac River and Founders Park, just a few blocks from The Torpedo Factory Art Center, and Old Town Alexandria Waterfront. Make a reservation today: elaines-restaurant.com.
About our Elaine’s Literary Salon Host 
And meet the PR Director for Elaine’s Literary Salon, InkandescentPR.com’s founder, Hope Katz Gibbs. With her team of award-winning journalists, illustrators and video producers, they help writers up their PR and marketing game with professionally produced podcasts on 
