In the Deep South, football is a religion and even as a young girl, Christine dearly loved the game. Her passion to play, not just watch, was apparent. But even by the time she reached her teens, society's message that women are second-class citizens – and the South's particular interpretation of that -- had seeped in. She chafed at what the South told her she should be – the classic belle, demure, deferential, yielding to men -- versus what she knew or dreamed she was capable of being: fearless, inquisitive, strong, accepting life's every challenge with poise, determined to be a success. 'Black & Blue' is the book about what happens during her poignant, often hilarious, sometimes discouraging but ultimately successful and profound journey from her small-town beginnings to New York City, where she moves sight unseen with encouragement from her mother and aunt to attend Pratt Institute and pursue her artistic talents. It's a book about coming of age, and the vivid characters who touch Christine along the way, starting with her father, who never had a son and coddled her love for things Southern girls weren't "supposed" to do, and her grandmother, who knew firsthand how the South could suffocate nonconforming girls and encouraged Christine to be herself with some quietly rebellious (and subversively funny) shows of solidarity, like taking Christine to buy her first football. This book is also a backstage insight into a world few people know much about -- the wild west world of women's pro football, where shysters abounded in the early days of the game and the array of women who play tackle football come to the sport for their own reasons, same as Christine did. In some ways this book is A League of Their Own meets Semi-Tough. When the unexpected dream opportunity to finally play tackle football comes along, Christine purchases the New York franchise in a grass-roots women's pro league because the team is in danger of folding. The responsibility of owning a sports franchise, however, is overwhelming. Christine's longtime partner ultimately leaves her and Christine's family is critical of her devotion to the club. Even the team's players second-guess her decisions and motives at one point. She is painfully reminded of childhood and retreats inward, leaving her infighting team to fend for itself as she battles some dark questions until something more devastating happens. Sarah, a close friend and popular teammate, is killed in a car accident on Christmas Day. Christine, dogged now by memories of how Sarah had so much she still intended to do, begins a voyage to re-empower herself and regain her lost passion and belief. Along with her surprised players, Christine and the Sharks embark on a rollicking quest for the national title that is ostensibly about football. But it's a meditation, too, about how being different requires of all of them to examine themselves and choices they've made. "Black and Blue" will strike a chord with anyone who grew up before Title IX but its poignancy and appeal go beyond that. Andra Douglas covers it all. ―Billie Jean King Sports Icon and Social Justice Pioneer The gifted Ms. Douglas tells this inspiring story of overcoming obstacles with sweetness and hilarity, offset by just the right doses of nostalgia, forgiveness and clear-eyed introspection. ―Marianne Elliott, 2x Tony Award winning Director With unsparing humor, frankness and compassion, Andra Douglas' "Black and Blue" unforgettably captures a story of a Deep South-born girl whose unshakeable insistence on living the life she dreamed helps her transcend the circumscribed existence she was told girls "should" settle for. ―Johnette Howard, journalist and author of The Rivals Written with grit and poignancy, this book is an intricate saga showing the courage and consequences of those who challenge society's belief system. ―Deborah Miller, 3 time Emmy Award winning Director Andra Douglas' piercing candor and unexpected humor laces the game of football together with the game of life. Everyone―not just women―should read this book. ―David Eiland, 2 time World Series Champion Pitching Coach Any woman who ever thought that being female will prevent her from reaching her goals should read Black and Blue! Told with humor, emotion and honesty, Ms Douglas has written a wonderful, warm and sometimes heartbreaking tale about what it takes to make your dreams come true. ―Susan Pomerantz, ABC NEWS, 6 Time Emmy Award winning Director A native of central Florida and a graduate of Florida State University and Pratt Institute, Andra Douglas has been a National Champion athlete in rugby and women's tackle football, a Vice President/Creative Director at Time Warner, the founder of the Fins Up! Foundation for Female Athletes, a non-profit to benefit at-risk teens, (www.womensgridironfoundation.org), the owner of the New York Sharks Women's Pro Football team for 19 years (www.nysharksfootball.com) and a known artist. She lives with her parrot,