Flo Ballard by Maxine Ballard

About me:
She took her last breath of life on February 22, 1976.Florence "Glender" Ballard Chapman had a way of looking at you when she had something on her mind. Whenever I think of my sister, I think about the times when she seemed to be on top of the world. Unfortunately, Flo’s disagreements with the other two members of Motown’s most famous female trio, The Supremes, would, ultimately, take her soaring to the highest heights, and the lowest lows.Childhood friends, Mary Wilson and Diana “Diane” Ross, had quickly become foes in the shadow of stardom. Flo was, most often, unhappy with the condition of the relationships within The Supremes, the failure of her musical career, and the resulting negative turn her life had taken. I think what hurt Flo most was the way she was treated by Mary and Diane, as she often spoke at length of the pain and suffering their treatment caused her. I wondered what could have gone so terribly wrong between them to cause this rift. I think the pain was too much for her to endure---and the cause of her problems with alcoholism.Looking back on all that Flo accomplished in her life, I can truly say that she led a full life - in effect her life was a journey. I really believe that Flo’s life was filled with happiness and great childhood moments, with a myriad of happy feelings. But, as her life continued, especially into adulthood and throughout her career with The Supremes, those happy feelings soon faded away.When I first started to write a book about my sister's life, I felt cold initially, but the cold feeling was soon replaced by warmth as I felt myself being pushed to write more and more. I knew that writing a book about my sister, Flo would bring me peace. As I transported myself to the past during this writing process, I could not help but feel the anger and conflict my sister must have been experiencing throughout her life. A force that I have yet to define seemed to allow me to relive all of the memories of our childhood, and try to feel exactly as Flo had during so many moments of her life---from desperation and poverty, to extreme fame, popularity and wealth. My hope is that upon reading the book I have written, you will gain a greater understanding of Flo Ballard, without feeling sympathy for the outcome of her life, and, ultimately, garner strength in her story.BUY the BOOK NOW!Visit maxineballard.com to purchase the book.