Dominion: A Novel

Reverend Sabre Winfrey, Jr. leads the Seven Seals Missionary Baptist Church and controls much of life in Dominion, Mississippi, owning the barbershop and radio station. He and his wife Priscilla have five sons, including their youngest, Emanuel—called Wonderboy for his singing voice, speed, and charm. However, the righteousness of Reverend Winfrey, his family, and the structures maintaining their status are not what they appear to be. When Wonderboy encounters a stranger, he faces unexpected questions that set off a chain of events affecting the entire community. Priscilla and Diamond, two women connected to these men, witness their appeal while experiencing the consequences of their actions. Through their perspectives, the novel examines how secrets, shame, and silence shape a community, and how love can coexist with the everyday violence and casual sins of the powerful. This Black Southern family drama explores how fear and patriarchy shape lives, and considers the possibility of breaking free from these forces.