An excellent learning tool that not only supports reading, but actively engages the vivid imagination of young readers...

The Great Depression. The South. Young Jacob's story unfolds during a difficult time, in the unforgiving south, a hard place for an African-American boy, Jacob Pete Manor, as he embarks upon his personal journey — his Rite of Passage.

Fourth and final child, born to a family of sharecroppers from the rural area of Fayetteville North Carolina, Jacob uncovers pertinent life truths that involve mother-son over-bonding, betrayal, abandonment, sexual explorations, misconceptions of “manhood,” and other crucial challenges and milestones which ultimately lead Jacob to becoming the man God destined him to be.

Jacob was a dreamer, with very high aspirations, whose ambitions exceeded the scope of what a climate of segregation, inadequate school systems, and a mind set of inferiority dictated for a young African-American male.

BOYS to MEN! The Journey — Rite of Passage —  of protagonist, Jacob Peter Manor.

His successes, failures, and life’s ultimate lessons helped him uncover the true meaning of "manhood." Jacob’s challenges and uniquely orchestrated stages of his life produced a far greater outcome than expected.

 

deeClare Publishing, LLC combined with it's sister company deeSignz Web & Graphics Studio offers a full range of design and author services:

• • Book Cover Design
  • Editing Services
  • Manuscript Typesetting
  • eBook Conversion
  • ISBN Registration
  • Printing (small to large runs)
  • Press Releases
  • Author Website Design
  • Author Marketing (bookmarks, business cards, posters, etc.)

and so much more...

 

Deneen G. Matthews, Editor-in-chief

As Editor-in-chief, Deneen is responsible for the quality and content of all deeClare publications and partnered ventures. She sets and maintains the standards of excellence and integrity associated with the firm and maintains customer relations with clients, contractees and vendors.

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Clarence V. Matthews, Co-founder

As Co-founder of deeClare Publishing, it was the vision of the trilogy penned by Clarence Matthews that gave birth to the partnership. Aside from being her dad, he supports the vision of deeClare to produce and circulate reputable publications that support God, family, and community — the village.

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Tina M. Folson, Editorial Assistant

Our Editorial Assistant, Tina Folson handles all administrative, marketing and media support as well as doubles as our client customer relations liason.

deeClare Publishing, LLC is the combined vision of father and daughter, Deneen and Clarence Matthews; hence the name deeClare. deeClare Publishing, LLC is a NEW BRAND of publishing. We are publishing done with the SUCCESS OF THE WRITER in mind. We encourage authors to use their written work as their product line and initial investment in their own entrepreneurial vision, while we provide the services needed to birth their literary vision.

If entrepreneurship is not for you, we will gladly publish your work under our label, while you retain rights and full ownership. We are currently developing design and publishing packages to meet every budget.

Our Mission

To publish literary works that reinforce the foundation and priorities of God, family and community. Through all creative avenues of written expression, we aim to touch individual lives that shape families, reclaim our communities, and impact nations.

Our Theme

At deeClare Publishing, LLC, we publish works that support our theme of "the village." Our village — comprised of individuals who make up families and collectively populate our communities. We believe that, “It still takes a village to raise a child,” and the reinsertion of the priorities of God, family and community are crucial in reclaiming our villages.

Our Brand

Our tag line is "write out loud!"

Speaking and writing... two unique forms of communication...

Have a story worth telling? We'd love to hear from you.

Call or email us for more information.

 

Jersey Journal: Our Pride and Joy

JC teen is Harvard bound for the summer

By Barbara Milton, Ph.D., LCSW
May 02, 2013, 6:00AM

Brittany Thomas, 16 year old sophomore at McNair Academic High School is headed to Harvard for college science courses this summer. She is taking steps towards becoming a biomedical engineer, inspired by a story in a magazine about an African American female who is a stem cell researcher. In that moment Brittany knew that with hard work and dedication...

 

One Monday when Jacob arrived at work, one of the young men who worked in his department said to him, “I need to talk to you when you have time.”

Jacob replied, “I still have a few minutes before start time, we can talk while I have my coffee.  Lets go down to the dressing room.”

Milton was a family man and a good employee.  He was only with them a short time……..

The two men took a seat at the table, “What’s on your mind?”  Jacob Asked.

Milton answered, “You know that I took my family to South Carolina for the summer.  I have to go and pick them up, but I don’t have any vacation time, so I have to do it on the week end.”

Jacob Said, “Okay, so what do you need from me?  Do you need money?”

Milton said, “No, I want you to go with me and help me drive.  My wife doesn’t drive and that’s a lot of driving for one person.”……..

Jacob thought about Milton’s proposition during the morning shift and decided that it would be good for him……….

They both got paid on Friday and cashed their check at the bank at lunchtime…….Gas and tolls were cheap.   The tank was already full of gas.  Milton’s fifty dollars were more than enough for the outbound and return trip.

Jacob took the first leg down the New Jersey Turnpike and into Maryland.  They stopped for coffee and a bathroom break at the Maryland House.  Milton took the wheel at this point.  He was a good driver and loved to drive.  He made good time while Jacob took a nap. Jacob was awaken by the sound of a State Trooper’s siren in Emporia, Virginia.  Milton quickly informed Jacob that his license was expired.  Jacob slipped Milton his wallet that contained his license.

The trooper came to the Driver’s side, “Let me see your license and registration.” 

Milton took out Jacob’s license and retrieved the registration from over the visor and handed them to the trooper.  The trooper looked at them and said, “I clocked you driving eighty-five miles per hour in a thirty-five mile zone.  In this state anything more than twenty miles over the speed limit is considered reckless driving.  Did you know that?”

Milton answered, “No, I did not.”

The trooper said, “Follow me to the station.”………

The trooper got a little bolder now and became insulting. “This boy was driving eighty-five miles an hour in a thirty-five mile zone.”

The justice of the peace repeated the charges of careless and reckless driving and asked, “How do you plead?”

Milton who was now Jacob had no choice but to plead guilty or they would have held him in jail for court on Monday morning.  The justice of the peace said, “The fine is one hundred dollars and twelve dollars court costs.  Are you prepared to pay the fines?”

Milton and Jacob were both stunned.  They figured maybe twenty-five or thirty dollars.  They had less than one hundred dollars between the two of them and still had to get to South Carolina and back to Jersey City.  Milton answered, “No, You Honor; I will have to call my uncle and have him wire me the money.”

The justice of the peace said to the trooper, “Lock him up and let him make the call.”

Milton asked, “Can I speak to my friend for a moment?”

The justice of the peace said, “Sure, go ahead.”

Milton returned Jacob’s wallet with his license and cash.  He also gave Jacob what money he had and said, “Here’s the phone number for my mother’s house in Florence where my wife and kids are staying.  Will you pick them up Sunday, return here and pick me up, while I wait for my uncle to wire the money?”

Jacob drove away and followed all of the rules of the road.  He knew that if he broke the law, there would be two Jacobs in jail and that one or both of them would do some time.  The state trooper followed him back to the main highway and out of the city limits.  Things happened so fast there was no time to be afraid.  When he was out of city limits, cold chills came over his entire body and he began to perspire.  He pulled over and rested his head on the steering wheel and thought about what happened.  God was with them and he said aloud, “Thank you, Lord.”………….

School Security Guard Writes Novel
Jersey Journal Newspaper
Wednesday, October 20, 2010

As children walked through the halls of School 14 over the past 14 years, few knew the story of Clarence Matthews, the 76-year-old Jersey City Board of Education security guard. Now that he has published a novel, that might change.

His first book, entitled "Jacob's Rite of Passage, Vol. 1: Young Jacob," focuses on the youngest of four children from a family of sharecroppers in Fayetteville, N.C. Jacob learns various life lessons, such as "mother-son over-bonding," the observation that a woman can't teach a boy how to be a man.

download article | view online 

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Page Turners: A Rich Mystery
Fayetteville Observer
by Meredith Jacobs

Clarence V. Matthews coming-of-age novel, "Jacob's Rite of Passage," is set in Fayetteville during the Great Depression. Peter Manor is the youngest child in a family of sharecroppers and has higher aspirations for his life during a time of social and educational segregation.

Matthews' describes his book as being about "pertinent life truths that involve mother-son overbonding betrayal, abandonment, sexual exploration and misconceptions about manhood."

Matthews lives in New Jersey and has more than 30 years of experience as a real estate agent. Sequels are planned for his book, which is $8.95 and be orderd from online booksellers or at his website, jacobsriteofpassage.com.

download article 

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Wealth of Words at Book Festival
Jersey Journal by Rafal Rogoza
September 25 2012

Readers flocked to Van Vorst Park in Jersey City on Saturday to peruse published works by local authors as part of "A Tale of Our City," the Jersey City Free Public Library's fifth annual book festival. The festival serves as a venue of authors of all genres and ages to showcase their works and to bring the texts to life with readings on stage.

Among them were Clarence B. Matthews, 78, of Wade Street, whose recently published "The Man Jacob" is his third book of fiction abut a young African-American boy who leaves behind his life in the South to begin a new life in Jersey City. 

Matthews said the book depicts how families who have nothing can pull together to cope with life's obstacles, adding: "Those families have a lot of love."

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New Jersey Author gives valuable lessons on family values & his personal journey from childhood to manhood in the trilogy entitled,  “Jacob’s Rite of Passage.”

Clarence Matthews, Author & Historian paints a vivid picture of African-American family life that dates from post slavery to the Great Depression.

Jersey City, New Jersey – the media gives a clear snap shot of the decline of functional families, hence communities – in the north & the south. Without the influence of a father in the home or a positive male figure – the question becomes ‘Who will train up the child?’ In  “Jacob’s Rite of Passage,” Clarence Matthews gives an account of a mama’s boy who journeys through life under the guidance of his older brother and discovers: betrayal, abandonment, sexual encounters, racism, and misconceptions of manhood.

A Rite of Passage is defined as a safe, guided transition ushering a child from early stages of adolescence to adulthood.

“Today’s parents are so focused on giving their children what they want, that they fail to give them what they need,” said Clarence Matthews. “What they need is love, direction and discipline.”

Young men need to know their history and be properly mentored in their roles as men and leaders, so they impact positively their immediate spheres of influence – home, church and community.

Clarence felt the urgency to pen the book due to the major disconnect that has taken place in families and communities. It is his hope to shed light on, raise awareness and bring accountability to the members of the village as a whole. His perception of the condition of the village (community) has fostered a campaign entitled, “GET RITE,” with three points of focus: (1) Do the RITE thing (2) Make the RITE move and (3) Convey the RITE message.

“Jacob’s Rite of Passage” volume one is priced at $8.95; volume two is priced at $12.95, and volume three is priced at $11.95. All three, the trilogy, are available for purchase online at www.jacobsriteofpassage.com and via deeClare Publishing, LLC at deeclarepublishing.com.