Artist C. Arthur was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland where she currently resides with her husband and three children. An active imagination and a love for reading encouraged her to begin writing in high school and she hasn’t stopped since.

Determined to bring a new edge to romance, she continues to develop intriguing plots, racy characters and fresh dialogue—thus keeping the readers on their toes! Visit her website at www.acarthur.net.

Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, and educated in the Cleveland Public Schools, Adam Banks received his B.A. in English from Cleveland State University, and spent several years working in education and non-profit agencies before earning a Master of Arts and Ph.D. in English, both with distinction, from Penn State University.

Dr. Banks is in his fourth year as an Assistant Professor of Writing and Rhetoric in Syracuse University’s writing program, where he teaches courses in African American Rhetoric, technical writing, and rhetoric and composition theory. He is the author of Race, Rhetoric, and Technology: Searching for Higher Ground, a book challenging teachers and scholars in writing and technology fields to explore the depths of Black traditions more thoroughly and calling African Americans to make technology a central area for struggle.

He has taught a free community course for Syracuse’s African American community every semester for the last 2 1/2 years; this semester’s course is “Where Do We Go From Here: HipHop Energy, Old School Wisdom, and a Covenant with Black America.”

L.A. Banks, author of The Vampire Huntress Legend series, pens a variety of paranormals, crime thrillers, as well as romances under multiple pseudonyms. A full-time author, graduate of University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton undergraduate program and holding a Masters in Fine Arts in filmmaking from Temple University, Banks is currently penning more projects across all genres. She lives with her husband and family in Philadelphia. For a full list of her varied work and upcoming projects, visit her websites at www.LeslieEsdaileBanks.com and www.vampirehuntress.com.

Gwyneth Bolton, real name Gwendolyn Pough, was born and raised in Paterson, New Jersey. She is currently an Associate Professor of Women's Studies and Writing at Syracuse University. Her research focuses on black feminist theory and the public sphere with an emphasis on Black popular culture. She has written a book on women and hip-hop culture, Check It While I Wreck It: Black Womanhood, Hip-Hop Culture, and the Public Sphere which was as published in June 2004 by Northeastern University Press. She’s currently writing a book on the cultural and political impact of contemporary Black women's book clubs and reading groups.

Writing as Gwyneth Bolton, she gets to live out a fantasy she’s had ever since she can remember. Writing is the one goal that has been a constant in her life. When she was in the eighth grade, she took part in an after school creative writing program. It was just a six-week program, but taking part in it made her dream even more of one day seeing her name in print. There weren’t a lot of other creative writing opportunities in the inner city where she grew up, but she continued to write out her novels on lined-three-hole-punch paper. In 1996 she won the College Language Association Margaret Walker Creative Writing Award for Playwriting for her one-act play, I’m Every Sister.

She has dabbled in poetry, screenwriting, and playwriting but her heart belongs to fiction. Visit her website at www.gwynethbolton.com or www.gwendolyndpough.com.

Brooklyn, New York born Louré Bussey always knew what she wanted to be a writer and a singer. During college, she explored her passion for each profession. But after graduation, working in various corporations is what paid the bills. She strived to give her employers her best. Still, deep down she was hungry to make her dreams to come true.

While honing her vocal talent in recording studios with gifted musicians, she learned to compose R&B, pop, jazz, and gospel music. She also wrote a short story about a young, psychic woman, which she sold to a romance confession magazine. It led to the publication of fifty-six short stories.

After spending one summer writing her first novel, Louré was ecstatic when an editor offered her a two-book contract. Now, a best-selling author of twelve novels, her steamy, thrilling page-turners are highly acclaimed by readers and reviewers. For each novel, Louré creates a song. Many of the tunes are on her debut CD Dreams Do Come True.

Louré’s other successes include the feature of her music on cable television and two contest wins for her original screenplay, The Secrets of Westbridge, a sexy thriller. She has appeared on radio and television, and been featured in newspapers and magazines. Visit her on the web at LoureBussey.com.

National Best-selling author of twenty-four multicultural romance, Adrianne Byrd has always preferred to live within the realms of her imagination where all the men are gorgeous and the women are worth whatever trouble they manage to get into. As an army brat, she traveled throughout Europe and learned to appreciate and value different cultures. Now, she calls Georgia home.

Writing remained a hobby until 1994 when a co-worker approached her with an article on Romance Writers of America. Who knew there was an organization of women just like her? By 1996 she sold her first novel, Defenseless, to Kensington Publishing.

Her first release received rave reviews by Romantic Times and fans. Her other novels were consistently selected as the Magazine’s Top Pick. In 2001 Slam Jam nominated, Say You Love Me, for best romance. Her 2003 release Comfort of a Man won Romantic Times Best Multicultural Romance. Romance in Color’s Readers Choice Awards for Favorite Book, Favorite Hero, and Favorite Heroine. Shades of Romance’s Best/Arabesque Romance Book. Slam Jams' Emma Award for Favorite Traditional Romance. Romance in Color’s Reviewer’s Choice Award for Author of the Year, Book of the Year and Best BET/Arabesque Book. And lastly Comfort of a Man was a 2003 Georgia Romance Writers Maggie finalist for best Contemporary.

In 2004-She released her first romantic suspense novel, If You Dare with HarperCollins.

In 2005-Romantic Times nominated Measure of a Man for Best Multicultural Romance and she received her third nomination for Career Achievement.

Ms. Byrd has been featured in many national publications, including Today’s Black Woman, Upscale, and Heart and Soul. She has also won local awards for screenwriting. For the future, she looks forward to continue creating characters that makes people smile, laugh, and fall in love.

In 2006-Adrianne, writing as Christian Williams, along with good friend Niobia Bryant, writing as Meesha Mink, penned their first Urban book, Desperate Hoodwives and sold to Simon & Schuster’s Touchstone line. It is scheduled for a summer 2007 release.

Giselle Carmichael was born into a military family. Now married to a career military man, she has lived from coast to coast, and several places in between. Two years of living in England afforded her the opportunity to travel extensively throughout Europe. Her experiences as a military spouse have given her a perspective on love and relationships that is reflected in her writing.

Finalists in the 2005 Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence Contest with Lace, her works include Magnolia Sunset, Life Goes On, a novella, and I'll Be Your Shelter.

Giselle loves to hear from her fans. Visit her at www.gisellecarmichael.com.

Jax Cassidy is a multi-published author and has written under the pen name Cassidy Kent. She is Co-Founder of Romance Divas, an award winning romance writer's website and discussion forum. In between skydiving for charity and campaigning against human trafficking, she enjoys the company of close friends and indulges her caffeine fix at the nearest cafe. An avid traveler and an adventurous spirit, Jax has drawn inspiration from her experiences and often blends the exotic mix of Eastern and Western lifestyles into her writing. When she isn't locked up in her office penning her latest manuscript, Jax can be found creating abstract paintings for future art shows, or dividing her time between California and Florida.

For more information on Jax, visit her website at www.jaxcassidy.com or read her daily ramblings at www.jaxadora.blogspot.com. She loves hearing from her readers and can be contacted at jaxcassidy@gmail.com.

Lorraine Morris Cole is a seasoned writer and communications professional. Some of the publications that have featured her work include Upscale and Military Spouse magazines. Her voice has been heard as a correspondent on National Public Radio (NPR). She writes promotional video scripts and has had poetry published by a national greeting card company. She is credited for nominating the first ever Arabesque Man for BET Books. With over 100 articles published she continues to freelance for various publications. She also presents workshops and seminars around the country, including the popular “Effective Communication Skills in the Workplace.” Her professional experience also includes teaching job skills like public speaking to adults seeking job-related training. Most recently she added yet another dimension to her career in communications by adding columnist to her list of credentials. Her favorite professional pursuit is any project that empowers women.

Angie Daniels is a chronic daydreamer who loves a page-turner. Already an avid reader by age seven, she knew early on that someday she wanted to create stories of love and adventure. She began her career in 2000 and to date has sold ten books to Genesis Press, BET/Arabesque and Dafina Books. Angie has received Romantic Times Magazines highest rating, and in 2006 When it Rains won the Reviewer’s Choice Award for Best African America Romance. Her most recent title, In the Company of My Sistahs, was selected for Black Expressions Book club.

Born in Chicago, Angie considers Missouri home where she writes full-time. She has a Bachelor’s in Business Administration and a Master’s in Human Resource Management. You can visit her website at www.angiedaniels.com.

As an avid reader, writing was the next step for Dyanne Davis. She lives in a Chicago suburb with her soul mate Bill and son Bill, Jr. For almost thirty-six years of marriage he's been her inspiration. Dyanne is the author of The Color of Trouble and won an Emma for Favorite new author in 2004. Her second book, The Wedding Gown was a finalist for the Emma in 2005 for Book of the year and Steamiest Romance. It was also a finalist in Affaire De Coeur Reader's poll. The Wedding Gown was also selected as a book club pick. Please visit Dyanne at www.dyannedavis.com.

Natalie Dunbar is a Detroit native and lover of books and writing. In each carefully crafted book she strives to take readers into the worlds of her imagination and engage their minds and emotions in the lives, loves, and adventures of her dynamic characters. An incurable romantic, she is married to her high school sweetheart. Four of her novels have been published by Genesis Press Inc, one by BET Books, and two by Silhouette Bombshell.

Visit her website at www.nataliedunbar.com.

Aisha S. Durham is an essayist and Editorial Assistant for several cultural studies journals, including Qualitative Inquiry, where her performance work is featured. Durham’s dissertation research examining Hip Hop feminism will be featured in Home Girls Make Some Noise: Hip Hop Feminist Anthology. She is a doctoral candidate in the Institute of Communications Research at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Seressia Glass has always been a voracious reader, cutting her teeth on comics, cereal boxes—anything at hand. So it came as no surprise to family and teachers that she began writing stories about some of her favorite characters, as well as her own original short stories. After winning the "Living the Dream" essay contest for the inaugural Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday celebration in her hometown of Atlanta, Seressia realized her ability to move people with her words. Today, Seressia weaves the ideals in her winning essay into stories of diverse people realizing the universal dreams of love and acceptance. She has published four titles thus far. The latest title, Through the Fire, was chosen for Black Expressions Book Club. In each of her books, no matter the setting, Seressia strives to touch the heart of readers.

A resident of Atlanta, Seressia works full time as an instructional designer for an international home improvement company. When not writing, she enjoys reading, listening to music, buying jewelry, and people-watching. For more news and information, visit her on the web at www.seressia.com.

Former Catholic schoolgirl, Simone Harlow who believes you can never be too naughty. When not writing, she likes to laze by the pool sipping a cool drink, eating imported chocolates and watching the pool boy. She lives in a small Southern California town where the horses outnumber the people. Simone loves to hear from her readers at MizSimone@aol.com.

T.T. Henderson was born and raised in Denver, Colorado. She currently resides in San Antonio, Texas, one of many cities whose public officials and citizens welcomed the victims of Hurricane Katrina. She became a fan of romance only after attending a writer’s conference in Colorado Springs in the early 90’s. There she met many prolific romance authors and the amazing best selling author, Nora Roberts. It was clear that there was not a wealth of African American authors in the genre and so, after taking a continuing education class with the Pikes Peak Romance Authors, she set about writing one. Ms. Henderson has written over six romance novels while holding down a full-time job. Now a Vice-President of a Fortune 500 company, she will tell you that writing romance novels is what keeps her sane.

Jackie Hamilton and Miriam Pace comprise the Emma award-winning writing team, J.M. Jeffries.

Miriam and Jackie began writing together nearly ten years ago and during that time they have written almost twenty books for ImaJinn, Genesis, and Amber Quill, won the prestigious Emma award, the Beacon, Orange Rose, the Lories and was awarded Best Genesis Book from Shades of Romance Magazine. They have consistently been given 4 star reviews from Romantic Times Book Club Magazine and their book A Dangerous Love was listed in the Bad Boys of Romance as a Best Read.

Miriam and Jackie can be reached at cupidclub@yahoo.com or from their website www.JMJeffries.com.

Beverly Jenkins is the premier African-American historical romance writer in the country. Her first novel, Night Song, was published in 1994 by Avon. She has received numerous awards for her works and has been featured in many national publications, including the Wall Street Journal, People Magazine, Dallas Morning News and Vibe Magazine. She has lectured at such prestigious universities as Oberlin University, the University of Illinois, and the University of Michigan. She speaks widely on both romance and 19th century African-American history. In February of 2004, Ms. Jenkins’ first contemporary novel of romantic suspense, The Edge of Midnight, was released.

Born in Detroit, she and her family live in southeastern Michigan. Beverly graduated from Cass Technical High School, and majored in Journalism and English Literature at the Michigan State University. She is active in both her church and community, and in November 2001, was named a YWCA Woman of Achievement. Please visit Beverly at www.BeverlyJenkins.net.

Katherine D. Jones, author of the Special Corruption Unit series, has published three books with her fourth due out October 2006. Her work includes the acclaimed novels Worth the Wait, by BET Books and Undercover Lover by Kensington Dafina Publishing, which was recently, recognized in Essence Magazine. Katherine says that she writes contemporary romance fiction with a twist, because she likes to give her readers an unexpected ride. You can visit her website at www.katherinedjones.com.\\

Having grown up with a love of telling stories, it was only natural for Adrienne Kama to begin writing books. Known for her steamy erotic chick lit series, The Chronicles of Stella Rice, Adrienne looks forward to having a long career ahead of her. This CAPA award nominee writes erotic chick lit, multi-cultural fantasy, and steamy paranormal romance with domineering heroes and adventurous heroines.

Adrienne is happily married to her own, real-life "hero." She resides in Maryland where she enjoys playing guitar, singing, and reading. To find out more about her books, come visit Adrienne at www.AdrienneKama.com and at her blog adriennekama.blogspot.com.

Barbara Keaton, a native of Chicago, who thinks its the best in the world, also enjoys writing. Her first diary is dated December 1975! And since then, Barbara has written articles for Today's Black Woman Magazine, Chicago Reader, Chicago Crusader and most recently, True Confessions. In addition, Barbara is an accomplished romance author, having seven titles to her name. Barbara credits her late grandfather, Thomas Hill, and the Oblate Sisters of Providence for instilling in her a love and passion for the written word. Visit her on the Web at www.bkeaton.com.

A Chicago area resident, Deatri King-Bey works as a fiction
content editor. An avid writer since childhood, Deatri has authored several articles, essays, workshops, and books. Three children, two dogs, and one husband keep her days pretty full. Her idea of a great afternoon is a trip to the bookstore, followed by hours curled up on the sofa with her newly purchased romance, fantasy, or science fiction novel.

Visit her website at www.deewrites.com.

Monique Lamont was born and raised in San Diego, CA and now currently resides in Virginia with her loving husband and two wonderful children. She loves to travel, read and write. She holds degrees in both education and counseling. She has always enjoyed working with people. Currently, she is pursing her M.A. in English and Professional Writing. Fondly, she holds a membership with Chesapeake Romance Writers.

In her stories she loves taking the impossible and making it possible, sensual and believable in a story.

She has been writing since sixteen and working toward perfecting her skill ever since. In 2003, she published her first book while living in Europe. Since then she has won the publisher’s award for her second book Double Take. She went onto publish Healing Hearts, Freedom’s Quest (part of an anthology) and there are many more to come. Visit Monique at her website: http://www.moniquelamont.blogspot.com
She loves to hear from her readers: rmancn_u@yahoo.com

Pamela McBride has provided extensive individual career counseling and career management workshops during 14 years experience in the career counseling field. In the mid 90’s she parlayed that experience into the world of freelance writing and quickly racked up more than 100 nationally published articles. She has been a frequent contributor to the “Work and Wealth” section of Essence magazine, Black Collegian, Upscale, and Army Times publications. Her work has appeared in Black Enterprise, Military Spouse magazine, and various online publications. She was also a columnist for the Honolulu Star-Bulletin.

Pamela now manages multi-million dollar programs/contracts with a leading firm that provides professional and technical services. She has a B.A. in Business Management and Spanish, a Master’s Degree in Community Counseling, and is a member of the National Association for Female Executives (NAFE).

Born and raised in Boston, MA, Pamela now lives in Georgia, with Doug, her husband of 17 years and Lieutenant Colonel in the Army, her son, and her daughter.

Rachel Raimist is filmmaker, scholar, educator, hip-hop feminist, activist, community organizer, and mother. She is most known for her documentary about women in hip-hop, Nobody Knows My Name. She received her B.A. and M.F.A in Film Directing from the UCLA School of Film and Television. She has taught at the University of California, Irvine and Los Angeles, and Macalester College. Currently, she is pursuing her Ph.D. in Feminist Studies from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.

Elaine Richardson is jointly appointed Associate Professor of English and Applied Linguistics at Pennsylvania State University. Her research interests are in language and literacy studies, discourse and society, literacies and discourse practices of Afro diasporic cultures. Richardson received a 2004 Fulbright lecturing-research award to the University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica for her current project, Black Discourses in Popular Culture: Dancehall and Hiphop. Elaine is the author of African American Literacies (2003) and the forthcoming Hip Hop Literacies.

A fan of horror, fantasy and sci-fi, Javan Shepard grew up admiring Octavia Butler and Stephen King. And just like these authors, Javan’s passion is to pen stories that stretch the imagination and take the reader to worlds far from their own.

Writing for six years, Javan took writing courses at the Writer’s Center in Bethesda, MD and at the University of California at San Diego. But he’s a science and “tech guy” by trade having received a Bachelors of Science degree in Microbiology from Howard University and a Masters of Information Systems from Johns Hopkins University.

He currently works as a Hyperion Financial Systems Consultant in San Diego, CA. Javan’s website is www.javanshepard.com.

Maureen Smith has enjoyed writing for as long as she can remember, and secretly suspects she was born with a pen in her hand. She received a B.A. in English from the University of Maryland College Park and worked as a freelance writer while she penned her first novel. To her delight, Ghosts of Fire was nominated for a Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award and an Emma Award for Favorite New Author, and won the Romance in Color Reviewers’ Choice Awards for New Author of the Year and Romantic Suspense of the Year. Maureen’s second novel, With Every Breath, was also nominated for a Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award, and garnered four Emma Award nominations in the categories of Favorite Hero, Favorite Romantic Suspense, Author of the Year and Book of the Year.

Maureen lives in San Antonio, TX with her husband, two children, a cat and a miniature schnauzer. You can find out more about her at www.maureen-smith.com.

Kimberly Kaye Terry marked her debut into the literary world with her popular, erotic thriller, Love’s Redemption, with New Concepts Publishing. She has since had published three additional multicultural, erotic novels with Romantica™ Publisher, Ellora’s Cave, as well as contracted recently with Kensington Publishing.

Kimberly has a bachelor’s degree in Social Work and a Master’s degree in Human Relations and Counseling. She lives with her husband of eleven years who is currently a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army, along with their daughter. Kimberly has enjoyed traveling the world living in a variety of settings that have helped to add fodder to her already active imagination.

She invites you to step into her literary world where passion suspense and fantasy unite, and leave you breathless… by visiting her at www.kimberlykayeterry.com to learn more about her, and her upcoming releases!

Wanda Y. Thomas is the award-winning author of five full-length romance novels and the novella, Treasured Dreams, a story themed to 911 and based on the real life of an African-American woman of achievement in the military. Truly Inseparable, first released in 1998 and her first novel, was a 2004 African American Literary Awards nominee in the Romance category. In between her duties as the Vice President of Affiliate Relations for a cable programming network in California, Wanda continues to write stories she hopes her readers will love.

Website: www.wandaythomas.com
Email wanda@wandaythomas.com

A Southern Girl by way of Tennessee, Angela Weaver has lived in Philadelphia, Atlanta, Washington D.C., New York, and Japan. An avid reader and occasional romantic optimist, she began writing her first novel in a dare and hasn't stopped since. Having heeded the call to come home to the South, Angela now calls Atlanta her home. On weekends, she can be found gardening in her backyard, reading a book under a tree, working away in front of her computer, or grooming horses at the stables. She is the author of four Arabesque books and currently at work on her next goal, that being her next novel.