By Earl Heath

Staff Writer

It's been some time now since many of us tuned in to the seventies sitcom "Good Times". Bern Nadette Stanis, known as Thelma on the hit show, gave us many laughs. She portrayed a positive image of a young Black women on television.

Stanis personified Black beauty of the seventies. She was widely praised for helping overcome African-American stereotypes in America.

BerNadette Stanis (L) is joined by fan Diane Foster

She spoke of her "Good Times" cast member, John Amos. "He was great," said Stanis. "He taught us a lot."

On the legendary Esther Rolle - "She was wonderful. She was a mother figure in real life. Everyone on the show loved her."

Ralph Carter (Michael) was nicknamed the ‘militant midget' on the show. "He grew up similarly to his character. He spent over 10 years living in Africa."

Stanis, who attended the Julliard School in New York, used her talent to create the book which addresses a variety of relationship concerns felt by today's women. Before you go complaining of one sidedness I will tell you, this is more than a book  just for women. While sharing a few moments with this gifted women at a book signing, I personally witnessed male after male that came to purchase the book seeking her autograph.

"When I wrote it I thought that women would just be the ones to buy the book," said Stanis. "I found that men buy it, love it and email me and tell me how they enjoyed it."

A big topic that people discuss is abuse and not always physical and not always by men. Both sexes have a tendency to go back to the person that dishes out the abuse.

"You're like addicted to a person when there no good for you. I've found many people have a self-esteem issue. A lot of times it's about a person being toxic for you, people keep going back to that bad person."

The book does contain humor. You will find a situation related to you or a friend.

Jack Madre shares a moment with BerNadette Stanis

Stanis travels around the country with her beautiful mother, Eula. The Julliard grad makes about seventy speaking engagements a year.

For more update on Stanis, who now makes her home in Southern California, go to www.thelmaofgoodtimes.com