Pleasing White Boys: A Story of Aspiration and Malice in Corporate America

(Paperback)

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In her debut novel, Pleasing White Boys, the lead character dismantles her inner Self and candidly reveals her vulnerabilities while providing a revelatory view into corporate America near the end of the 20th century. It is told from the unique perspective of Lia Granger, an African-American, senior-level corporate executive who was among the often-unheralded women who laid the foundation for females who continue to strive in corporate America today -- and whose stories remain largely untold. The central character's experiences in a large, multi-national conglomerate provide the backdrop for the aspirations, challenges, obstacles, and cultural barriers confronting African-American executives, particularly females, which must be overcome to perform successfully in an arena that is too often hostile. It is an uncompromising chronicle and examination of the seductions and pitfalls of the corporate culture -- its codes, machinations, unwritten rules, and copious perks.In Pleasing White Boys, Lia's story is two-pronged. It compellingly chronicles a year-long period of turmoil in her career that leads to the reexamination of her life's professional goals, and it delves into the deeply personal, tracing her background through a series of revealing, childhood vignettes that exposes the roots of how she responds to the professional and personal challenges which confront her during the relentlessly difficult year all of which ultimately results in the devastating loss of her essential Self and leads to a profound life transformation. It chronicles a seemingly self-possessed, experienced executive who confronts the consequences of her aspirations and achievements and the tormented condition of her soul. Lia's story is told through narrative and dialogue, and it is frequently punctuated with the lead character's internal voice.

Author Bio

Linda Saulsby has over twenty years of experience in domestic and global corporate operations. She held increasingly responsible assignments in corporate America, culminating with the position of Senior Vice President of Global Operations in a multi-national corporation. She holds a B.S. degree from the University of the State of New York-Excelsior College and a M.A. from Saint Mary's College of California. She is particularly proud of her completion of the Yale Summer Writing Program during an illuminating sabbatical from her corporate duties, where her love of writing was nurtured and encouraged and planted the seeds for this debut novel. Linda also served as a member of the faculty at Saint Mary's College of California for thirteen years. She crossed disciplines and taught Business Communication and Collegiate Seminar (the Great Books) courses, as well as international travel courses. Linda has served on the board of directors for a variety of nonprofit organizations in communities in which she has worked and resided and devoted many hours to community service efforts. In addition to her writing, she is currently the President of LES Consulting Group, which provides organizational development, business writing, and executive literacy to for-profit and non-profit organizations. She lives with her husband and family in the Phoenix, Arizona area.