Called to writing as a child, award-winning author Carole Boston Weatherford wrote her first poem in grade school. When her father, a printing teacher, printed several of her poems, Weatherford received a special thrill. Little did she know she held the future in her hands. Weatherford’s Maryland upbringing held another of her destinies too. She has roots in the same [ Read the full article… ]
28 Days
John Holyfield
When I first wrote this introduction, I described John Holyfield as a successful children’s book illustrator. However, I’ve come to realize that description comes up short. John Holyfield, first and foremost, is a caring father. He’s a successful fine artist, a painter, a hard-working entrepreneur. And, oh yea, a children’s book illustrator, too. John’s debut [ Read the full article… ]
Sundee Frazier
John Steptoe’s and Coretta Scott King’s…oh my. In a blink of an eye publishing time (so more like a slow droop) Sundee Frazier went from debut author to award-winning author. It’s the honor of an elite few, but the dream of many. With Brendan Buckley’s Universe and Everything in it snug on shelves with its new shiny [ Read the full article… ]
Eloise Greenfield
I was tickled the other day, following the Grammy music awards. The discussion: Beyoncé’s introduction of Tina Turner as “the queen.” It caused quite a stir. At least with Aretha it did. Pitty the fool who crosses the queen. I really don’t care about who’s considered the queen of soul music. As far as I’m [ Read the full article… ]
Troy CLE
Chalk it up to my busy life juggling multiple careers, but I hadn’t heard of Troy CLE until his name was submitted on the BBS website. As life would have it, once I knew his name, I became hyper aware of it. Suddenly Troy CLE’s name was everywhere. Most recently, as the Essence Literary Award [ Read the full article… ]
Tonya Bolden
Growing up, Tonya Bolden thought one day she would be a teacher. Today, as an award-winning author of more than 20 books for young people and adults, she is just that. Her classroom has no walls. Instead, you just need to pick up one her acclaimed books on topics such as the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., George [ Read the full article… ]
Allison Whittenberg
Much like the revered Langston Hughes, Allison Whittenberg is also an author, poet, and playwright. An admirer of Gwendolyn Brooks, Tennessee Williams, Richard Wright, Katherine Mansfield, Dorothy Parker, and Albert Camus, Allison knew early in life that she wanted to be a writer. As the author of Sweet Thang and Life is Fine coming in [ Read the full article… ]
Nnedi Okorafor-Mbachu
For the longest time, whenever anyone mentioned “Science Fiction Author” and “African-American” in the same sentence, the only author that came to mind was the late, great Octavia Butler. However, times are a-changing. Author Nnedi Okorafor-Mbachu was born in the United States to two Igbo (Nigerian) immigrant parents, and currently resides in the suburbs of [ Read the full article… ]