2008 Participants

a. Kai – www.discoverkai.com
a.Kai is a published poet and novelist who also enjoys writing fiction (fantasy/speculative fiction/adult/young adult).  Kai began posting her intimate thoughts, musings, experience and imaginings under the pen name of a. Kai to create a private zone where she could freely release her inhibitions and give herself completely to writing. She continues to blog daily at www.discoverkai.blogspot.com and creates online e-books, or online novels, for reader entertainment.

Her writing credits include: ** The Discover Kai Poetry Collection, Contributing poet to Step Up to the Mic: A Poetry Explosion, by Poetic Press, Contributing author to If It Ain’t One Thing…, by Diva Books, Inc., Author, Life: Frustration’s Repercussions and more!  She also serves as a Reviewer for RAWSISTAZ Literary Group and Read Zone Book Reviews.

Allison Hobbs – http://www.allisonhobbs.com
Allison Hobbs is known for her twisted scenarios and memorable characters. She takes erotica to another level but always interjects humor throughout.   Allison is the author of 8 novels all in the short span of 5 years . A prolific author, she has two two full-length novellas  and two novellas (written for Zane’s Quickiez imprint ) scheduled for release in 2009.   She co-chaired “The Urban Experiences Summit: A Writers Boot Camp” at the Cleveland Public Library in June 2008 and has been a panel member on numerous panels throughout her career including the upcoming Romantic Times Convention in April 2009 where she will participate in the mu lit-cultural panel.
Allison’s novel The Climax was recently nominated for Best Erotica by the African American Literary Awards Show.  And, she is the only Strebor author whom Zane considers as her protégé, giving her personal stamp of approval to make her an erotica queen like herself.

Ana’Gia Wright – http://www.anagiawright.com
Ana’Gia Wright has enjoyed the written word since she was a child.   Exposed to literature at an early age she has always had a love for the written and spoken word. The books lining the numerous shelves in her home pay homage to her love of all types of literature. A native of Georgia she spent many years writing song lyrics to instrumentals provided by her many friends in the music industry. This love of lyrics ultimately led her to completing a Bachelor of Science in Music industry at Georgia State University.  Her second novel Loving Dasia will be released April 2009 via Urban Renaissance. You can find Lil’ Sisters in a store nearer you.

Angela Winters – http://www.viewparkonline.com
Angela Winters is the national bestselling author of more than 17 novels. Her latest, NO MORE GOOD, is the third book in the VIEW PARK series, a family saga featuring the scandals and dysfunctions of America’s richest black family. Angela’s other novels are romantic suspense and include SAVING GRACE, ALWAYS A CHANCE, A CAPITOL AFFAIR and LOVE ON THE RUN. A native of Chicago, Angela received her B.S. in Communications from the University of Illinois.  She is currently a diversity consultant in the Washington, D.C. area.

Angela’s next novel, A PRICE TO PAY, will the 4th installment of the VIEW PARK saga and will be released in the summer of 2009.

Angeline Bandon-Bibum -  http://sojournersdreamanovel.blogspot.com
Angeline Bandon-Bibum is a graduate of Howard University who lives and works in Montgomery County, Maryland. She is a the author of Sojourner’s Dream, a novel.  Ms. Bandon-Bibum is a wife and mother of three children.

aNN Brown – http://www.rawsistaz.com/TRRJun05SpotlightaNN.htm
aNN Brown is a  Senior Review for RAWSISTAZ and a Computer Systems Analyst who resides in Newport News, VA. She is an avid and eclectic reader and enjoys sharing her views on authors, and books. Some of her other hobbies include of course discussing and reviewing books, watching Tennis, Basketball and Football. (Yep, it’s aNN…small a, big N’s)

Aundrea Lacy – http://luvsbrownies.com
Author’s Bio: Aundrea Lacy, born and raised in San Francisco, has been a model, a television journalist, and a marketing executive for Fortune 500 companies. She earned her MBA from Golden State University. In 1996, she went from baking brownies for friends to building her own online bakery business, Luv Brownies. In addition, she gives career presentations for girls and women from around the country.

Barbara Joe-Williams- http://www.amanipublishing.net
Barbara Joe Williams is a freelance writer, motivational speaker, and independent publisher. She’s a graduate of Florida A & M University with a master’s degree in Counseling Education. She has published several books for herself and other aspiring authors. She resides in Tallahassee, Florida, with her husband, Wilbert; daughter, Amani; and dog, Cali.

Bettye Griffin – http://www.bettyegriffin.com
Bettye Griffin is the author of 10 contemporary romances and four works of women’s fiction.  In 2008 she marks her 10th year as a pubished novelist.  Her 15th novel, A NEW KIND OF BLISS, will be published in May 2009 by Dafina Books.  Bettye and her husband live in southeastern Wisconsin, between Chicago and Milwaukee.

Byron D. Harmon – http://agatepublishing.com/book/?GCOI=93284100257450
Byron Harmon is a veteran television professional who now works as a senior executive producer at CNN International in Atlanta. He is the author of three novels, most recently Crabs in a Barrel (Agate, 2006), and this is his first work of nonfiction. Born and raised in Louisiana, he served in the U.S. Army and fought in the Persian Gulf War before going into television. He lives in New York.

Candace K – http://www.candann.com
Candace Cottrell has been a web developer for over ten years. With her additional background in editing, design, and project management, she lends a wide spectrum of talents and strengths to her projects. Her company, CanDann Productions, is a full-service design and web technology firm. They pride themselves on keeping abreast of the latest technologies and trends and how they affect their clients.

Carla Sarratt – http://www.carlasarratt.com
Carla Sarratt loves books like most women love shoes.  In fact, she has more books than shoes.  Books make her happy and as a high school English teacher, it bothered her to hear many of her students put down books and reading.  But with a little finessing, Carla was able to introduce her students to several books that caused her students to blossom into readers.  It made her proud to have students ask her to recommend books for them to read.   Drawing upon her adventures as a high school student and teacher, Carla began writing Freshman Focus which she self-published in 2007.  Freshman Focus is the story of four high school freshmen navigating the ups and downs of high school in Charlotte, North Carolina.  The sequel Just Be was published in 2008.

Carleen Brice – http:// www.carleenbrice.com
Carleen Brice is author of the books Orange Mint and Honey (Ballantine, 2008) and Lead Me Home: An African American’s Guide Through the Grief Journey (HarperCollins).  Orange Mint and Honey has been optioned by the Lifetime Movie Network. Damon Lee (“This Christmas” and “Undercover Brother”) is producing.

She is also editor of the anthology Age Ain’t Nothing but a Number: Black Women Explore Midlife (Beacon Press, Souvenir Press). Her book Walk Tall: Affirmations for People of Color sold over 100,000 copies and was in print with traditional publishers for 10 years. It is now ava ilable from iUniverse and Lou Gossett Jr.’s website, Eracism Foundation. She is a two-time finalist for the Colorado Book Award in nonfiction (for Lead Me Home and Age Ain’t Nothing but a Number).  She is a finalist for Breakout Author of the Year from the African American Literary Awards Show.

She lives in Colorado with her husband and two cats where she gardens and works on her second novel, Children of the Waters, which One World/Ballantine will release in July 2009.

Chanel Smith – http://www.w-p-d.net
Web Presence Designs is based in Stone Mountain, Georgia where Chanel Smith provides web and graphic design services.  Whether you are looking for a one page design, a complex design utilizing flash and web forms, she can develop a web presence that complements your company image.  She specializes in professional web and graphic design at affordable prices for authors, individuals, and small businesses.  Allow Web Presence Designs to creatively design your web presence.

Dana Pittman – http://www.niapromotions.com
Dana Pittman is the founder of Nia Promotions, a marketing company that provides a variety of marketing services. We assist authors and publishers with internet book marketing using strategy, branding, and education. We connect with our readers through Nia Virtual Book Tours and by hosting live webcasts with authors and publishing professionals, teleseminars, online workshops, chats, and virtual books tours.

Darrell King – http://www.myspace.com/dak1968
Mr. Darrell King, Sr. has been writing ever since the age of eight. His first published work of fiction was penned during the fall of 1976 as a student of Mary Field’s Elementary School on South Carolina’s Daufuskie Island. This effort, an adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkein’s “The Hobbit,” was both written and illustrated by Mr. King and was published in the school’s quarterly periodical, “The Daufuskie Kid’s Magazine.” Mr. King went on to write several unpublished stories and numerous poems, several of which were published in the 1995-1996 “Poetry Anthology” by the National Library of Poetry in Owings Mills, Maryland. During the 90s, Mr. King was attracted to and inspired by the lurid tales of inner city crime and drama that he read on the pages of novels by great writers such as Donald Goines and Iceberg Slim. This, coupled with an enduring appreciation for the hard-edged, yet enlightened lyric of the era’s gangsta rap icons like Tupac Shakur, The Notorious B.I.G., Easy E and others prompted Mr. King to begin writing his very own stories of urban crime and inner city drama.  Mr. King resides in Prince George’s County, Maryland with his wife Sonya and their five children.

Darrell’s most recent work is Mo’ Dirty, the sequel to Dirty South.

Dee Dee Dalton – http://www.sexyebonybbws.com
Desiree “Dee Dee” is an avid reader born and raised in NYC. She is a single mother of two children (twins), living the life of a Plus-Size Diva. Her 9-5 job at a health insurance agency in NYC pays the bills but it is her online and literary activities that give her life passion. She is the Online Activities Coordinator for the Sexy Ebony BBWS 4 Blkmen discussion groups and, and Co-Moderator of East Coast SISTAZ (online discussion group for women that live on the East Coast). Desiree’s literary activities are diverse. She is founder of Sexy Ebony BBW African American Book Club (www.sexyebonybbwaabookclub.com) and the founder of BBW Reviews (www.bbwreviewers.com), a review group created to bring together her activities in both the literary and BBW communities.  

Dee Stewart — http://www.deestewart.com
Dee Stewart is a bookseller, multimedia journalist, novelist, publicist and now talk show host.  She is also inspirational book reviewer for Romantic Times Magazine, Atlanta Satellite Bookseller for The Mocha  Bookstores, and owner of Christian Fiction Blog.  Her writings have appeared in: Spirit Led Woman, Gospel Today, Advanced Christian Writer, Atlanta Christian Family, Mosaic Literary, Precious Times, Vertical Fix just a few.  In 2009 she will begin hosting book marketing coaching sessions for Christian artists. Follow her on Twitter at DeeGospel.

Don Tate – http://www.dontate.com
Don Tate is the award-winning illustrator of more than 25 trade and educational books for children. With a bold, dynamic style, Don’s oil and acrylic paintings bring to life the pages of the children’s books he illustrates.
Sure as Sunrise: Stories of Bruh Rabbit and his Walkin’ Talkin’ Friends (Houghton Mifflin, 2004) received starred reviews from Booklist Magazine as well as School Library Journal. It also made the Texas Bluebonnet Award master list, 2006 – 2007.
Don has three picture books on the horizon: I Am My Grandpa’s Enkelin (Paraclete Press), Zoom: A Book of Things That Go (HarperCollins), and Little Ron on a Big Mission (Dutton).
As a first-time author, Don is the recipient of Lee & Low Books New Voices Honor. His book, It Jes Happened, will publish with Lee & Low Books in the fall of 2009.

Doug Siebold – http://www.agatepublishing.com
Doug Seibold, president and publisher, founded Agate in 2003. Formerly executive editor of The Noble Press, he most recently was founding editorial director of UNext, an online education company that creates graduate-level business coursework in partnership with Stanford University, the University of Chicago, and other leading universities.

Dr. Ni – http://www.blowingupbarriers.com
Niama Leslie Williams “Dr. Ni” a June 2006 Leeway Foundation Art and Social Change Grant recipient, and a 2006 (July) participant in a Sable Literary Magazine/Arvon Foundation residential course in Shropshire, UK, possesses a doctorate in African American literature from Temple University, a bachelor’s in comparative literature from Occidental College, and a master’s in professional writing from the University of Southern California.  Dr. Williams’ master’s thesis at USC earned her an honorable mention in the University’s 1991 Phi Kappa Phi competition.  Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, she currently resides in Norristown, Pennsylvania.

Dr. Williams has participated in several writers’ conferences, including the Squaw Valley Community of Writers (2000), Hurston/Wright Writers Week (1996), and Flight of the Mind (1993).  Her work has appeared in Poets & Writers Magazine; Dark Eros: Black Erotic Writings; Spirit & Flame: An Anthology of African American Poetry; Catch the Fire: A Cross-Generational Anthology of Contemporary African-American Poetry; Beyond the Frontier: African American Poetry for the 21st Century; Mischief, Caprice, and Other Poetic Strategies (Red Hen Press); A Deeper Shade of Sex: The Best in Black Erotica, and Check the Rhyme:  An Anthology of Female Poets & Emcees. Check the Rhyme was nominated for an NAACP Image Award (2007).

Dwight Fryer – http://www.dwightfryer.com
Dwight Fryer is an ordained Christian minister and marketing principal at a global transportation company, a graduate of the University of Memphis and Christian Brothers University, and a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. His first novel, The Legend of Quito Road, earned him a position among the five finalists for Outstanding Literary Work from a Debut Author at the 38th NAACP Image Awards in February 2007.
The University of Memphis has ordered The Legend of Quito Road as a required text for the Forms of Fiction class this Fall in the school’s Masters of Fine Arts program graduate school class for historical fiction. Dwight is an enthusiast of history and his work has a major crossover following among readers of varied backgrounds.

Dyanne Davis – http://www.dyannedavis.com
Award winning author, Dyanne Davis lives in a Chicago suburb with her husband Bill, and their son Bill Jr. She retired from nursing several years ago to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming a published author.  An avid reader, Dyanne began reading at the age of four. Her love of the written word turned into a desire to write. Her first novel, The Color of Trouble, was released July of 2003. It won her an Emma for Favorite New Author of the year. Her second novel, The Wedding Gown was released in February 2004 and was chosen by Black Expressions as a monthly club pick.  The book was an Emma finalist in March 2005 for Steamiest Romance, and for Book of the Year. The Wedding Gown was also a finalist for Affaire de Coeur Reader’s poll. Since then her books have consistently made finalist.
 
Dyanne has been a presenter of numerous workshops. She hosts a local cable show in her hometown to give writing tips to aspiring writers.  Also, she writes under a pseudonym (F.D. Davis) for her new vampire series. When not writing you can find Dyanne with a book in her hands, her greatest passion next to spending time with her husband Bill and son Bill Jr. Whenever possible she loves getting together with friends and family.

Earl Sewell – http://www.earlsewell.com
National Bestselling Author and Award-Winning author, Earl Sewell, has written eight novels which include, The Good Got to Suffer with the Bad, Through Thick and Thin, The Flip Side of Money, When Push Comes to Shove, Keysha’s Drama, If I Were Your Boyfriend, Love Lies and Scandal and his debut title Taken For Granted, which was originally self-published through his own publishing company, Katie Books.  His work has also appeared in four separate anthologies which include, On the Line, Whispers Between the Sheets, Sistergirls.com and Afterhours: A Collection of Erotic Writing by Black Men.   He has written numerous romantic short stories for Black Romance Magazine and has been featured Black Issues Book Review Magazine. He is also the founder of Earl Sewell’s Travel Network, which is a full service online travel agency.  In addition Earl has run three Chicago Marathons, three Chicago Half Marathons, two triathlons and has completed a cross country bicycle tour from Red Wing, MN to Bar Harbor ME.  In his spare time he enjoys gardening and restoring old furniture.

Ella D. Curry – http://www.edc-creations.com/EDCCreationsMagazine/index1.html
Ella D. Curry is the president and CEO of EDC Creations, a marketing and branding firm in Prince George’s County Maryland, a radio show host, marketing director, and literary advocate. She is also the founder of Sankofa Literary Society which empowers independent and/or self-published authors through mentoring programs, Internet workshops, marketing and brand coaching.
 
The Sankofa Literary Society sponsors the Black Authors Network Literary program which offers new authors a chance to showcase their books and articles on Internet radio, on the Sankofa Literary Society’s site, along with book and branding coaching that will help them present themselves as professionals as they enter literary circles.

Eraina Tinnin – http://www.ncrawsistaz.weebly.com
Eraina is the president of the Piedmont-Triad RAWSISTAZ Book Club (North Carolina). She is married with two children and works outside of the home for a life insurance company. Eraina has been an avid reader since she began reading at the tender age of four. She is very active in her church and various other activities both online and offline. During her spare time she enjoys reading, surfing the internet, watching the Lifetime channel and spending time with her family. She has been a member of the online bookclub of R.A.W.SISTAZ since 2001 and is a former member of The R.A.W. Reviewers.

Evelyn Palfrey – http://www.evelynpalfrey.com
Evelyn Palfrey is a native Texan and a lawyer who writes romantic suspense for the ‘marvelously mature’–because romance is just as sweet with a little gray at the temple. Evelyn is the author of four novels, Three Perfect Men, The Price of Passion, Dangerous Dilemmas and Everything In Its Place, and essays in two Chicken Soup releases.

Frederick Williams – http://www.fredrickwilliams.com
Frederick Williams worked on Capitol Hill for seven years as a legislative assistant to a United States Senator and a special assistant to a Congressman He is now an Adjunct Professor of African-American Studies at the University of Texas at San Antonio. He teaches courses to include Introduction to African-American Studies, African-American Political Thought, African-American Politics, Novelists of the Harlem Renaissance, and African-American Literature.
He has also taught a course on Creative Writing. He does creative writing workshops for Dr. Rosie Milligan’s Black Authors on Tour and for the Divine Literary Tour. He is a board member for the Divine Literary Tour.   Just Loving You is his third novel. He lives in San Antonio, Texas with his wife and daughter.

Gil L. Robertson IV – http://www.notinmyfamily.com
Gil L. Robertson IV is a journalist whose work has appeared in Essence, Billboard, Black Enterprise, the Source, Los Angeles Times and Atlanta Journal Constitution, among others. He has appeared on The Tavis Smiley Show, CNN, and BET, and his syndicated column, The Robertson Treatment, appears in over 30 newspapers, reaching more than 2 million readers across the country.

Gwyneth Bolton – http://www.gwynethbolton.com
Gwyneth Bolton was born and raised in Paterson, New Jersey. She currently lives in Syracuse, New York with her husband Cedric. When she was 12-years-old, she became an avid reader of romance by sneaking her mother’s stash of Harlequin and Silhouette novels. In the 90s, she was introduced to African American and multicultural romance novels and her life hasn’t been the same since. While she had always been a reader of romance, she didn’t feel inspired to write them until the genre opened up to include other voices. And even then, it took finishing graduate school, several non-fiction publications, and a six-week course at the Loft Literary Center titled Writing the Romance Novel; before she gathered the courage to start writing her first romance novel.
She has a BA and an MA in English/Creative Writing and a Ph.D. in English/Composition and Rhetoric. She teaches classes in writing and women’s studies at the college level. She has won several awards for her romance novels, including four Emma Awards and the Romance In Color Reviewer’s Choice award for new author of the year. When she is not teaching or working on her own African American romance novels, she is curled up with a cup of herbal tea, a warm quilt, and a good book.

Gwynne Forster – http://www.gwynneforster.com
Gwynne Forster is a national best-selling author of thirty-three works of fiction, including her latest mainstream novels, GETTING SOME OF HER OWN (August 2007) and WHEN YOU DANCE WITH THE DEVIL. She has won numerous awards for fiction writing, including the Romantic Times 2007 Lifetime Achievement Award, the Romance In Color Author of the Year award, the Gold Pen Award and has been inducted in the Affaire de Coeur Hall of Fame.
A demographer by profession, she is formerly a senior United Nations Officer, Population Division, United Nations, New York, where she was chief officer in charge of Research in Fertility and Family Planning studies. Gwynne is author of twenty-seven publications in demography.  She holds bachelors and masters degrees in sociology and a master’s degree in economics/demography. As an officer, first for United Nations and later for the International Planned Parenthood Federation, London, England, Gwynne traveled and/or worked in sixty-three countries. Gwynne loves to read and listen to music, especially jazz, classical music, opera and blues. She loves to dance and enjoys entertaining at small dinner parties. She lives in New York with her husband, who is her true soul mate.  

J’me Adams – http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PASSION4READING/
J’me is the founder of the online group Passion 4 Reading.  In 2002, she decided she wanted to share her passion for reading with others and on July 15, 2002 Passion 4 Reading @ YahooGroups was formed. Passion 4 Reading consists of authors, publishers, promoters and avid readers. We currently are almost at 600 members. This group is very active.

Kelly Starling-Lyons – http://www.kellystarlinglyons.com
Kelly Starling Lyons is a children’s book author and freelance writer whose mission is to transform moments, memories and history into stories of discovery. Her books include One Million Men and Me, a picture book with illustrator Peter Ambush that explores the Million Man March through the eyes of a little girl who was there with her daddy, and chapter book, NEATE: Eddie’s Ordeal. She has two forthcoming picture books with G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers.
Kelly’s articles and essays have appeared in many publications including Ebony magazine, The News & Observer, The Christian Science Monitor and books in the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. A native of Pittsburgh, Kelly lives in North Carolina where she facilitates a book club for African-American girls.

LaConnie Taylor-Jones – http://www.laconnietaylorjones.com
LaConnie Taylor-Jones, a native Memphian, is a health educator consultant and holds advanced degrees in community public health and business administration. Married, she is the mother of four and resides with her family in Northern California.

For over twenty-five years, Ms. Taylor-Jones has been an avid romance reader. In the summer of 2003 a challenge from her husband made her seize the opportunity to blend her enthusiasm for teaching health, social responsibility and social justice with her love for reading the genre. Her experience as a health educator sparked a multitude of storylines and her romance, which she defines as the spirit of adventure, played a pivotal part in her road to publication. In a little over four years, she’s authored three full-length novels.

LaShaunda Hoffman – http://sormag.blogspot.com
LaShaunda is the founder of SORMAG, an award winning online magazine for readers and writers of multi-cultural literature. 

Lissa Woodson – http://macropublishinggroup.com / www.naleighnakai.com
Lissa Woodson is the founder of the Macro Marketing & Promotions Group, and writes under the pen name Naleighna Kai.  Naleighna Kai is the author of Every Woman Needs a Wife, She Touched My Soul, and Open Door Marriage.  She is a contributing author to a New York Times Best-Seller and co author of Speak it into Existence. Naleighna founded the Cavalcade of Authors weekend in Chicago and is CEO of Macro Marketing & Promotions Group. She is the mother of J. L. Woodson, NAACP Image Award Nominee for Outstanding Literary Work.  She resides in Chicago where she is currently working on her latest novel, Was it Good For You, Too? and two novellas under another pen name.

M. LaVora Perry – http://www.mlavoraperry.com
American Greetings’ first African-American card writer (1995-2002),M. LaVora Perry  is currently the Executive Editor for UPRISCorp—a company that designs one-of-a-kind online health communities.  Perry has written for several publications. In September, her first children’s novel, Taneesha Never Disparaging (middle grade), was published by Wisdom Publications, the Dali Lama’s publisher. Perry is now completing its young adult sequel–Hidden Jewel, and Courageous Hearts: The True Story of Transplant Survivors Andrea and Marques Cain.

Marilynn Griffith – http://marilynngriffith.com
Marilynn Griffith is the author of eight novels, mother to seven children, wife to a deacon and proof of God’s enduring mercy. She has served as national Vice President of American Christian Fiction Writers and has served on faculty at several national writers conferences. When she’s not writing about friendship, family and faith, Marilynn blogs and speaks to women and writers.
One of her novels, If the Shoe Fits, served as a prop in Tyler Perry’s box office hit Why Did I Get Married?  She most recently took part in the Soul Expressions Book Tour with Angela Benson, Victoria Christopher Murray, Kimberla Lawson Roby and 11 other authors throughout Indiana and Illinois.

Though she lives in Florida now, Marilynn’s muse often wanders the Midwest (especially her native Ohio) wearing a warm jacket and carrying a long stick, eavesdropping on the conversations of imaginary people.

Marlive Harris – http://www.thegrits.com/literaryservices
Marlive Harris, aka MsGRITS,  is the founder and business owner of The GRITS COM Literary Service, a niche web publicity service created in 2003 that develops online book  campaigns for authors and publishers.  Their years of managing and coordinating a variety of online literary communities such as The G.R.I.T.S. Online Reading Club (launched in January 2000), the award winning G.R.I.T.S. Kidz Book Club (a USAToday.com Hot Site), contributing book news and information to AAKultureZone.com’s Written Voices Column, and hosting and sponsoring various online and offline events have afforded them the expertise to provide authors and self-publishers online coaching and promotion services that are perfect for this ever-changing medium. 

Melissa Forbes – http://www.ccediting.com
Melissa Forbes has been copy-editing and proofreading since she can remember. Really. Her childhood and adult friends have dubbed her “Miss Know-It-All,” but they don’t hesitate to ask for help when they need their writing to be perfect.

Melissa’s formal copy-editing and proofreading experience began in high school and continued throughout college. She was an editor and writer for both her high school and college newspapers. She received her bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies and Theater from Ursinus College in May of 1999 and her Master in Journalism degree from Temple University in January of 2005.

Melissa’s professional experience includes working with both print and online magazines, manuscript editing for individual authors, and most recently editing for publishing companies such as Q-Boro Books, Pilot Publishing Group, KeiterBennett Publishers, and Melodrama Publishing. Melissa has an unmatched work ethic, and she has proven that she can deliver a quality product under strict deadlines.

Melissa will make your manuscript, paper, resume, letter, or any other piece of writing more of what you want it to be. She can also help you tune into your literary voice. Melissa Forbes will leave you with a professionally edited product that will always remain true to your voice, tone, and writing style.

Michelle Larks – http://www.michellelarks.com
Michelle Larks is the author of the following books, A Myriad of Emotions, released in March 2003, by Ebony Energy Publishing, Crisis Mode was originally released in March 2004 with AuthorHouse. She re-released Crisis Mode in May of 2005 under her own publishing company F&M Enterprises. Mirrored Images, an e-book published by OceanMist Press was released February 6th, 2006 and Who’s Your Daddy was released on May 3, 2006 with Book Surge. My latest novel Keeping Misery Company was released by Urban Christian Books in the October of 2007. The Legacies was released by Urban Christian Books on July 29, 2008.

Misherald Brown – http://www.mlbrownassociatesllc.com
Misherald “Missy” Brown is the founder & lead agent of ML Brown & Associates LLC.  Missy has extensive experience in the literary industry including years of being a publicist, acquisitions editor, reviewer and bookseller.  As an agent, Missy uses her love for books and industry connections to help her clients make their dreams a reality.

Monique Bruner (Deltareviewer) – http://www.myspace.com/realpageturners
Monique Bruner is an avid reader who reviews books for Real Page Turners Book Review.   To her credit, Bruner co-wrote a textbook entitled, Strategies That Empower People for Success in College and Life; co-editor of Delta Girls:  Stories of Sisterhood; and contributor to Violets.  She spends family time watching movies, putting together jigsaw puzzles, and watching football with her husband and two daughters.  Known for her quick wit and contagious laughter Monique has dedicated endless amount of time and hard work to support the programs of her beloved sorority, DELTA SIGMA THETA Sorority, Inc. and currently serves the community as President of the Oklahoma City Urban League Young Professionals.  Monique’s online name is Deltareviewer and must be reading the next page-turning novel right now… wonder if it’s yours? 

Ms. T – http://www.theplayerslayer.com
Ms. T. lives in a large eastern city where, despite her obvious advantage, she continues to dabble in the art of player slaying.

Nakea Murray – http://literaryconsultantgroup.com / http://www.myspace.com/chickonlit
Nakea Murray is a literary enthusiast who is currently the owner and operator of The Literary Consultant Group; a full service consulting and publicity firm based in Philadelphia PA. Her many years of being an avid reader of African American literature and a bookseller has allowed her to turn her passion into profit. Soon after making her mark on the book-selling end, her love for reading challenged her to find others in her community who loved reading as much as she did. As a result As The Page Turns Book Club was formed in the summer of 2001.

On the publicity side Nakea’s publishing, bookseller, distribution and media contacts have made her a highly sought after publicist by authors and publishers alike. Her genuine love for literature enables her to show compassion towards her clients. This allows them to see that she has their best interest at heart and that she truly enjoys her job.  She is also one of the hosts of the 3 Chicks on Lit Radio Show.
 
Nicole Bailey-Williams – http://www.nicolebailey-williams.com/
NICOLE BAILEY-WILLIAMS, the author of A Little Piece of Sky and Floating, is a high school English teacher.  Her writing has appeared in a variety of publications, including Publishers Weekly, Black Issues Book Review, and Gumbo: An Anthology of African American Writing.  She lives near Philadelphia, PA.

Nikki Rashan – http://www.nikkirashan.com
Described as thoughtful and reflective, Nikki Rashan uses her ability to tap into the depths of human nature to create emotionally honest and passionate stories of love and romance, mixed with bits of humor and suspense. In her writings, Nikki utilizes the energy she experienced through her journey of self-realization, as she openly shared on the Oprah Winfrey show in 2004. Born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Nikki is the loving mom of teenage twin girls.

Pam Perry – http://www.ministrymarketingsolutions.com
Pam Perry is the founder of Ministry Marketing Solutions, Inc. a marketing consulting and public relations agency that brings a high level of understanding of positioning, branding, and promoting products and services that target the African American Christian Market (AACM).

Pamela Samuels Young – http://www.pamelasamuelsyoung.com
Pamela Samuels Young is a practicing attorney and author of the legal thrillers, Murder on the Down Low, Every Reasonable Doubt and In Firm Pursuit.  A desire to see engaging African-American and female attorneys depicted in today’s legal fiction prompted her to begin writing despite a busy legal career.  Every Reasonable Doubt won the Black Expressions Book Club’s Fiction Writing Contest and In Firm Pursuit was nominated for Best African-American Novel of 2007 by Romantic Times Book Reviews.

Pamela is on the Board of Directors of the Southern California chapter of Mystery Writers of America and is a graduate of  USC, Northwestern University, and UC Berkeley’s Boalt Hall School of Law.  The Cypress resident is a frequent speaker on the topics of discrimination law, diversity and self-empowerment.
 
Paula Chase-Hyman – http://www.paulachasehyman.com
Paula Chase-Hyman doesn’t mind being known as a Jane of all trades, Queen of none. But a single theme has followed throughout her career in communications—keeping her finger on the pulse of teen culture. From starting her own mentoring group at Annapolis Senior High School in ‘94 to coaching her Green Hornet cheerleaders to Grand Champion (ahem, twice), Chase-Hyman refuses to squash her inner teen diva. Luckily, her long memory for all things young led to a career writing young adult novels.
Paula’s Del Rio Bay series, which helped introduce Dafina’s YA line,  debuted in March 2007.

Pynk – http://www.authorpynk.com
Pynk makes her debut into erotic fiction with Erotic City, (November 2008), about the steamy and controversial lives of swingers in Hotlanta, and Sexaholics, (October 2009), about four sex-addicted women in rehab in Los Angeles. Both titles are from Grand Central Publishing. Pynk’s erotica titles focus on the concept of “guilt-free,” responsible sex for today’s liberated women, and explores both the upsides and downsides of sex. Pynk is the pseudonym for Marissa Monteilh, a former commercial actress and television news reporter, who is now the best-selling author of seven mainstream novels. Marissa is a native of Los Angeles who now calls Atlanta her home.

Regina Louise – http://www.reginalouise.com
Author’s Bio: Regina Louise has been a keynote speaker at numerous foster care and social workers’ conventions across the country. She has appeared on NPR’s All Things Considered, the CBS Early Show, and the Tavis Smiley Show, and a one-woman play version of her story was produced by the Sacramento Theater Company in May 2007. A successful businesswoman and salon owner, she currently lives in Berkeley. 

Renee Daniel Flagler – http://www.aspicomm.com
Renee Daniel Flagler is an award winning journalist and author of three novels, Mountain High Valley Low, Miss-Guided and In Her Mind. She is one of the Literary Leaders, featured on the weekly hour long radio show ‘Off The Page’, every Thursday from 12 noon till 1pm on New York’s WBAI 99.5FM. Flagler is owner of Aspicomm Media Inc., a company specializing in publishing, marketing and events.  In 2005, the Aspicomm events division launched the Self-Publishing Symposium, an annual business conference for self and independent publishers.

Renee Williams – http://www.allthebuzzreviews.com
Renee Williams, a freelance reviewer and promotional assistant for TheGRITS.com, is the CEO of Literary Signature Services, an event planning business specializing in literary gifts and events for authors and literary blogger/reviewer at All The Buzz.

RJ Poet – http://www.rjpoet.com
Rjpoet, born Richard T. James, Jr. is a poet and writer currently living in his home town of Detroit, Michigan. A 1990 graduate of Morehouse College, he acquired his Bachelors degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing. He holds an MBA in Strategic Planning Management from Davenport University. He also obtained an Educational Specialist degree in Educational Administration from Wayne State University. Proudly, in 2003, Richard completed his doctoral degree program in Educational Administration and Policy studies from Wayne State University. He teaches Marketing/Business =2 0 Education in the Detroit Public School system.

Rjpoet’s works reflect his life experiences. Inspired by such African American writers as Paul Lawrence Dunbar, Langston Hughes, and Nikki Giovanni; his words are imaginative, soul stirring and captivating. Rjpoet has been published in Imaginaries I, a French publication published by the Universite de Nantes; A Delicate Balance and The Space Between, published by the National Library of Poetry; the Sphinx magazine, published by Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and numerous other publications.

Robert Greer – http://www.robertgreerbooks.com
Robert Greer is a native of Columbus, Ohio, who spent his formative years in the steel mill town of Gary, Indiana. He graduated from Miami University at Oxford, Ohio, in 1965 with a Bachelor of Arts degree and subsequently earned degrees in dentistry, medicine and pathology from Howard University and Boston University. He is a professor of pathology, medicine, surgery, and dentistry at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center where he specializes in head and neck pathology and cancer research. He also holds a masters degree in Creative Writing from Boston University and an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Miami University, his alma mater.

Rodney Hurst – http://www.rodneyhurst.com         
In addition to his involvement in the Civil Rights Movement, Rodney Hurst’s years of service in the Jacksonville Community include, two four-year terms on the Jacksonville City Council, one of the first thirteen national recipients of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting Television Fellowships, and the first Black to co-host a television talk show in Jacksonville. Hurst has served on the boards of several state and national organizations, most being notably the Arrangements Committee of the 1980 National Democratic Convention.
          
A former administrator at Edward Waters College, Hurst remains active in the Jacksonville community and serves on several local organizational and agency boards. He is the recipient of numerous recognitions and awards and is a Silver Life Member of the NAACP. He is a member of the Bethel Baptist Institutional Church in Jacksonville Florida where he actively serves in the Fine Arts Ministry. Hurst and his wife Ann have been married for more than 41 years. They have two sons, Todd, and Rodney, and two granddaughters Marquiette, and Jasmine.  His hobbies are Oldies and Motown music, and he spends what he calls quality time, as an “Oldies” DJ.

Rose Beavers – http://www.prioritybooks.com
Rose is the owner of the Family Enhancement Center, a non-profit organization that focuses on enhancing the lives of families through a variety of programs such as employment, parent training, and home visiting. The organization is a federally approved Internal Revenue Service classification, 501 c (3). She is also the publisher/owner of Prioritybooks Publications.  She has published work in numerous publications, including: A-Magazine, as a freelance writer and columnist; Spanish Lake Word Newspaper, as a columnist; and the North County Journal, as an opinion shaper. She has published five books and has published the works of seventeen local authors. She received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Illinois State and Southern Illinois University.
Currently, she is a columnist for the Monitor Newspaper, Reading Corner.  In this column she recommends books to the East St. Louis community and surrounding cities.

Beavers have a vast amount of experience working with people of all ages, though she is partial to teenagers.  She also spends time working in church and volunteering for local organizations throughout her community. The East St. Louis native currently lives in Florissant, Missouri with her husband, Cedric of twenty-four years and her college-age daughter, Adeesha.

Shelia Goss – http://www.sheliagoss.com
Shelia M. Goss’ journey into the literary world began several years ago. She’s received recognition in Writer’s Digest and The New York Times. Her books have been on bestsellers lists such as The Dallas Morning News, Essence Magazine, and Black Expressions Book Club.   My Invisible Husband, Roses are thorns, Violets are true, Paige’s Web, and Double Platinum are published under Kensington Books Urban Soul imprint.

Sylvia Hubbard – http://sylviahubbard.homestead.com / http://motownwriters.homestead.com/
Sylvia Hubbard is an author, lecturer & coordinator of Motown Writer’s Network and owner of Hub Books Publisher/Distributor.  She has independently published 4 paperback books and over 10 e-books. Her foundation genre has always been romance, but she has ventured into suspense, erotic, mystery, paranormal and I/R.  She has a degree in Marketing/Management and minored in journalism, broadcasting (Specs Howard), drama, html programming, teaching assistant, customer service specialist, and commercial art.

Established in 2000, the Motown Writer’s Network provides literary education and events in metroit Detroit.

T.L. James – http://www.authortljames.com
TL James studied English at the University of Houston and Texas Southern University and graduated with an MBA from LeTourneauUniversity. There is where she cultivated an interest in biblical studies which is woven throughout the trilogy.
TL currently resides in Houston, TX with her son and is working on editing The MPire: Death Cometh.

Terra Little – http://www.terralittle.com
Terra Little is a native of Missouri, where she currently works in community corrections and is the mother of a teenage daughter. She is a graduate of the University of Missouri-St. Louis, Lindenwood University, and soon, the University of Phoenix. Her first title, Running from Mercy, was released in January 2008 (Q-Boro Books) and Where There’s Smoke, her second title, will be released in January 2009. She also writes freelance articles and is a freelance editor.

Tina Brooks-McKinney – http://www.tinamckinney.com
Tina Brooks-McKinney is a native of Baltimore currently residing in the suburbs of Atlanta.  She wears many hats, as she balances her time between that of wife, mother, talk show hostess/interviewer and creative force behind the mind of Seductress Sammie Davis. Sammie was first introduced to readers across the country in the debut novel All That Drama in 2004/released in mass market paperback Mar. 2007. Tina Brooks-McKinney also released the long-awaited sequel, Lawd, Mo’ Drama and the third installment, Fool Stop Trippin’.  Her current book is Dubious.

As if writing wasn’t enough, Tina also hosts a internet radio series for both self-published and mainstream writers, to showcase their own work.

Toschia – http://www.toschia.com
Toschia is part of a new African American literary genre that couples hip-hop culture with the themes of love and life that writers have explored for centuries. You Wrong For That, her debut novel, was published in 2005 by Urban Books and its sequel, See… What Had Happened Was!, will be released later this year. Toschia is also working on a non-fiction book, From Zora to Diddy: A Contrast and Comparison of the Harlem and the Hip-Hop Renaissance.

A member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Moffett is co-founder and tour organizer of The Divine Literary Tour, the first nationwide book tour of authors from Black Greek fraternities and sororities. She is also an attorney, a political advocate and an entrepreneur. Toschia credits her early love and knowledge of literature to her parents but says that Coker College helped catapult her literary career. She lives in Texas and works for Dell.

Trice Hickman – www.tricehickman.com
Prior to writing, Trice Hickman’s diverse professional career included work in both corporate and non-profit organizations. Currently, she is putting the finishing touches on her second novel, and a third book is already underway. She resides in Washington, D.C., with her husband.

Tysha – http://www.NovelsByTysha.com
Tysha is a native of Youngstown, Ohio and grew up on the same gritty streets she speaks of in her urban tales.  Her love of reading began in the fourth grade when her first poem was published in a hometown newspaper.  During her high school years, Tysha’s English teacher discovered her talent for writing and encouraged her to utilize her gift.  After graduating from high school Tysha’s lot in life was altered and by age twenty-one, she was a single mother of two. Jobs were scarce in the poverty stricken city and Tysha found it impossible to live off of her monthly welfare allotment.  In order to take care of her boys, Tysha began two hustles; braiding hair and playing a small role in the drug scene. Fortunately, Tysha has been able to leave the drug game behind and enter the literary scene.  Tysha describes her works as fiction with a bit of truth peppered in.  Her storylines originate from her life experiences, dreams and some let downs.  In addition to entertaining, Tysha hopes to send a message to her readers about various issues resonating throughout the African-American community. 
Tysha currently lives in Columbus, Ohio with her husband and their blended family of three boys and one girl.  Her first published work, “BOSSY” is featured in Street Chronicles – Girls In The Game. 

Vanessa Johnson – www.vanessaajohnson.com
Vanessa Alexander Johnson is a native Louisianan. She started writing after the close, untimely deaths of her mother and son in 1994. Her first book, dedicated to her loved ones is titled, When Death Comes a Knockin’ (Book Haven Publishing, March 2005, ISBN 1-4116-2470-X), a self-help, inspirational book about loss and grief.

Varian Johnson – http://www.varianjohnson.com
Varian Johnson is the author of two novels, including the Essence Magazine Bestseller, A Red Polka Dot In A World Full of Plaid. He was born and raised in Florence, South Carolina, and attended the University of Oklahoma, where he received a BS in Civil Engineering. Varian now lives in Austin, TX with his wife, Crystal, and is currently pursuing an MFA for Writing for Children and Young Adults at Vermont College. His second novel, My Life as a Rhombus, was released, January 2008.

Victor McGlothin – http://www.TheWriteBrother.com
Victor McGlothin left a Vice-President position with a leading bank to persue his dream of writing.  After 10 titles and eight years in the business, he is now also working on movie projects.