BP Cultural Foundation hosts local author

By Elinor Tinsley
On January 15, 2025, the Bolivar Peninsula Cultural Foundation, along with the Eagles 3719 and the generous use of their event room, were pleased to present a book signing of our own local author, Brenda Lewis. Brenda’s book was available at Amazon in mid-November and she quickly sold out of her first printing and got on Amazon’s bestseller list. Brenda and her husband Malcolm became members of our Bolivar community back in 2007 and we were honored to help promote someone who has contributed so much to students, family, friends and neighbors in all that she has done over her multiple careers and free time. As the Bolivar Peninsula Cultural Foundation has come to be known for, we hosted an event that included plenty of good appetizers and desserts, a door prize, a great venue and an opportunity to mingle with old friends and new.

Brenda’s book, titled “A Conversation Between My Body and Me”, in a nutshell, is about Brenda’s journey for healing her body “in her words”, a healing process each day that focuses on her mental, emotional, social, physical and spiritual well-being. After introductions and a little biography on Brenda given by Elinor Tinsley, Brenda told us a little about herself and why she felt called to write her book. Brenda shared several passages that were very meaningful and pivotal for her and then opened the floor for questions afterwards. After the presentation was concluded Brenda continued to sign books for audiences who had already purchased it and she had copies available for sale which she gladly signed. If you would like to purchase one of Brenda’s books, just go to Amazon and type in, A Conversation Between My Body and Me and it will come right up. At only $12.99 plus tax, this is a great price for inspiration that you might need if you feel that you have not been treating your body like the temple and divine creation that it is.

Brenda is a very humble woman and feels truly blessed by the village of people that have motivated and inspired her through this journey. Brenda would like to thank all of her family and friends, and in particular these folks mentioned here and we are happy to do this for her. Special thanks to her daughter, Taressa West, owner of Taressa’s Beauty Salon, for being by her side throughout the evening and for helping keep her beautiful with her fantastic hair stylings for photoshoots and for the book signing evening. Thanks to her husband Malcolm, for being by her side for the last 46 years and for “mostly” knowing when to speak and when to be silent throughout the months of writing. Brenda says she couldn’t do what she did and does, without her yoga class, her “Lazy Ladies” aerobics class, her Bolivar friends since 2007 and her Crystal Beach Baptist Church members. Brenda would also like to thank her videographers, VX Agency with Jocelyn Caviness-Brigman, Justice Vaughn and Jeanette Rideau, for capturing her evening on video and also the ever wonderful images captured by our own Linda Elissalde with a few thrown in by Elinor Tinsley.

BPCF would like to thank all of its members and the Eagles members who helped set up, clean up and brought desserts. We would also like to thank Jim Denys of the Eagles for the blurb and for posting pictures from the evening. Truly a labor of love by all involved for someone who is a valuable resident and contributor to so many local organizations. Congratulations Brenda, and best wishes on the continued success of your book.

Elinor

Elinor Tinsley been a permanent Crystal Beach resident since April of 2017, after building her home with her husband, Pat Tinsley in 2011. Elinor has spent many years in service to others from Girl Scout leader to youth group leader to volunteering in many organizations, with the Bay Vue Methodist Church and the Bolivar Peninsula Cultural Foundation being the two that she commits most of her time to.

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