Tonya Poindexter gets real with her new book, "The Aftermath"

The agenda for our brunch event:

• Noon: Meet, greet, and order food and drinks from
• 1 pm: Our 45-minute interview begins, followed by a 15-minute Q&A with the audience, to be produced on our popular
• 2 pm: Guests talk with the author, buy her book, and get it signed!

Meet the Author: Tonya Poindexter is an author, strategist, and communications professional whose work has centered on leadership, business, and helping people navigate change. She holds master’s-level training in strategic communications and has built a career spanning communications, organizational leadership, business development, and community engagement. She is also a Certified Professional Résumé Writer, Certified Career Coach, and Certified Grant Writer. Her writing is informed by both professional experience and lived experience, bringing a practical, honest perspective to conversations that are often difficult to have.

Her book, The Aftermath — What Nobody Tells Black Women About Life After Divorce, 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:

About her Book:

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

About our Elaine's Literary Salon Host, A retired supervisory special agent who writes thrillers, short stories, creative nonfiction, and essays, Jeff has wrestled a suicide bomber, fought the Taliban in combat, and chased terrorists across five continents. He received the Attorney General's Award for Exceptional Heroism and the DEA Award of Valor. Jeffrey has been interviewed by CNN, National Geographic, and The New York Times. Learn more:

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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.