Andrea Robinson, editor of The Miami Herald's Neighbors sections that appear in North-Central Miami-Dade and Northwest Miami-Dade, asked this of Lyah Beth LeFlore, the author of ``Wildflowers'' (Broadway Books, $13.99), a gripping tale about the strong black women in the Davis family that explores natural and spiritual bonds between mothers and daughters and the lengths they go to protect their name:

Q: Do you find that women are more protective of the family name more so than men, and is this an issue with African American families or families in general?

A: I think by instinct and makeup as women, we are naturally more protective of our families -- children, siblings, parents, even family traditions and secrets. We are the ``keepers'' and ``caretakers.''

I think from a historical perspective, when you go back to slavery, on up to the Civil rights movement, etc., black women especially have had to be the glue in our families.

When our men were being stripped down emotionally, physically, psychologically, we had to muster the strength to help pull them through -- all while keeping our families together.

So bringing it back to my novel ``Wildflowers'', in writing the book and creating the eight women who make up the Davis clan, I really wanted to explore the special connection women, particularly African American mothers and daughters, have and how we are protective of each other in trying times.

Since the novel focuses on secrets within families, you do find each of the Davis women initially very concerned about protecting the family image to outsiders, particularly Chloe who is ``running away'' from an abusive, short-lived marriage. She is more concerned with what others will think at first.

However, as the Davis women weather the storms in their lives and the bonds of family are tested, their deep love and spirituality is what pulls them through.

Q. Do the spiritual teachings of great-grandmothers and grandmothers that worked well in previous generations have the same effect with modern-day women? What examples did you find in researching this novel?

A. I think that when you come from a family where traditions and teachings have been kept alive and passed down, you naturally go back to ``that'' place, particularly in times of need or trouble. That place being the tidbits and life lessons you remember hearing from your grandmother or great grandmother, or that your mother has kept alive.

I believe that's still the case with so many women today. I hear so many of my girlfriends talk about what their grandmother said they should do about ``this'' or ``that.'' I didn't have to go far to do research for this novel at all.

I grew up in a family where the female chromosome ruled, and the women are very close in my family. We love men, but everyone, cousins, aunts, for the most part kept having girl babies.

I remember sometimes feeling sorry for my dad having to tolerate all that estrogen. Actually, the original title for the book was ``The House Of Estrogen.'' In my family the women kept the stories and traditions alive, from home remedies to lessons on the power of prayer. I think because of this influence, it was very important for me to surround myself with great ``sistafriends.''

Listening to the experiences and life journey's of my aunts, female cousins, biological sisters, my sorority sisters, and my girlfriends in general, all gave me insight into creating the wonderful, multilayered Davis women in ``Wildflowers.'' The importance of a character like Chloe Michaels is that she is 35 and is exactly that modern-day woman who, in troubled times, clings to the spiritual teachings passed down in her family through the generations. Chloe has a fabulous career and fast-paced lifestyle, and is making more money than her mother or aunts or grandmothers could've ever dreamed of.

That's so true for so many women today in my generation. We have access to excess. However, Chloe shows us that having a strong, grounded, spiritual foundation is ``priceless'' and that possessing a million pairs of Manolos could never replace the love of family and the importance of faith.

• 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Room 7106-7107. With Trisha Thomas, author of ``Nappily in Bloom.''

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