AALBC Search
Don Fulton
Don Fulton NONE Don Fulton, a Washington D.C. native, is a screenwriter inspired by the lack of quality and diverse Christmas films in Hollywood. His screenplay, “Please Come Home for Christmas,” is ...
Brandon Williams
Brandon Williams NONE Brandon Williams, author of “Self-Value: The Story of Me,” shares his inspiring journey from childhood homelessness and delinquency to success. Raised in a low-income community,...
Fred W. Kennedy
Fred W. Kennedy 0000000062844912 Fred W. Kennedy is a former secondary school teacher and principal who has transitioned into writing Jamaican historical fiction. His latest work, “Huareo: Story of a...
Kiran H. J. Dellimore
Kiran H. J. Dellimore NONE Kiran Dellimore, a scientist, inventor, and author based in Utrecht, has authored three books on diverse topics. A keen runner, squash player, and rock climber, he is curre...
Mbozi Haimbe
Mbozi Haimbe NONE Mbozi Haimbe, a Zambian author, writes African-inspired fiction. Her work has been published by Granta, Catapult, and Catalyst Press. She's a panelist, guest speaker, scriptwriter, ...
Idza Luhumyo
Idza Luhumyo NONE Idza Luhumyo, born in 1993, is a rising star in African literature, known for her award-winning works. She earned the Margaret Busby New Daughters of Africa Award in 2020 and the Sh...
Louise Story and Ebony Reed
Louise Story and Ebony Reed MULTIPLE Louise Story is a renowned investigative journalist and Yale professor, known for her work at The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, and for her investig...
Nadia Salomon
Nadia Salomon NONE Nadia Salomon is a #PitMad Success Story and award-winning author of A Voice of Hope: The Myrlie Evers Williams Story, the first picture book biography ever written about the iconi...
Patricia A. Pingry
Patricia A. Pingry NONE Patricia A. Pingry, a prolific children's author from Nashville, Tennessee, is celebrated for her bestselling titles 'The Story of Christmas' and 'The Story of Easter,' with o...
Lindsey McDivitt
Lindsey McDivitt NONE Lindsey McDivitt, author of “Friend: The Gwen Frostic Story” and “Truth and Honor: The President Ford Story,” writes extensively about ageism and the significance of older role ...
David T. Boyd
David T. Boyd NONE Chicago-born author David T. Boyd discovered his passion for writing early, penning his first story at nine. Inspired by authors like Stephen King, he developed his short story int...
Dwayne S. Joseph
Dwayne S. Joseph NONE Dwayne S. Joseph, acclaimed for his dramatic storytelling since age 13, has penned 10 novels and contributed to four anthology collections, including the Essence bestseller, Aro...
Leone Ross
Leone Ross 0000000114886285 Leone Ross is an acclaimed British novelist, short story writer and lecturer. Born in England, raised in Jamaica, her works include “All The Blood Is Red” and “Orange Laug...
Ron Lacks
Ron Lacks NONE "Ron Lacks, the oldest grandson of Henrietta Lacks, shares a deeply personal memoir in 'Henrietta Lacks The Untold Story', revealing the past 9 years of his family's history. The book ...
Chris Washburn
Chris Washburn NONE "Ex-high school basketball star, Chris Washburn, shares his journey from NBA fame to losing everything due to a 14-year crack addiction in his upcoming memoir. His redemptive stor...
Shannon Sanders
Shannon Sanders NONE Shannon Sanders is a Washington, DC-based author. Her fiction has been featured in various publications and won the 2020 PEN/Robert J. Dau Short Story Prize for Emerging Writers....
Tlotlo Tsamaase
Tlotlo Tsamaase NONE Tlotlo Tsamaase is a Motswana author of Womb City and The Silence of the Wilting Skin. Her second novel, House of Margins, is forthcoming in Spring 2026, as well as her debut YA...
James Baldwin
James Baldwin 0000000121446704 “No white critic can judge my work. I’d be a fool if I depended upon that judgement.” James Arthur Baldwin (1924-1987), born in Harlem, NY, was a ren...
Sheryl K. Carkhum-Lord
Sheryl K. Carkhum-Lord NONE Sheryl K. Carkhum-Lord's novel is inspired by the story of the model for Charles Cordier's 1851 sculpture, “The African Venus.” The book explores the history of slavery in...
Ann Petry
Ann Petry 0000000114367004 Did you know? Ann Petry’s first novel The Street was the first novel by an African American to sell more than a million copies. Ann Petry (1908–1997) was an acclaimed ...
Kathleen Cormack
Kathleen Cormack NONE Kathleen Cormack, a Chicago-born author, discovered her love for writing in fifth grade and has since developed a successful writing career. With a M.Ed in Higher Education and ...
Brian Egeston
Brian Egeston NONE Brian Egeston, a writer and former engineer, uses his jovial demeanor and humor to transfer emotion through his words. He began writing to combat boredom, turning his short stories...
Lesa Cline-Ransome
Lesa Cline-Ransome NONE Lesa Cline-Ransome, a renowned picture book author, is known for her biography titles like “Satchel Paige”, “Before She Was Harriet”, and more. From Massachusetts, she's worke...
Petina Gappah
Petina Gappah 0000000076949184 Petina Gappah is a Zimbabwean writer and international trade lawyer based in Geneva. Known for her debut book, 'An Elegy for Easterly', which won the 2009 Guardian Firs...
Felicia Pearson
Felicia Pearson 0000000036169140 Felicia “Snoop“ Pearson, known for her chilling role in HBO's The Wire, has overcome significant life challenges. Born in difficult circumstances in East Baltimor...
Charles Fuller
Charles Fuller 0000000109011919 Charles H. Fuller, Jr. is an acclaimed author and playwright known for his works on racial tensions. Notably, he wrote The Village: A Party, The Brownsville Raid, and ...
Charles Wright
Charles Wright 0000000119446967 Charles Wright (1932-2008) was an American novelist, avid reader, and high school dropout who served in the Army during the Korean War. Moving to New York in his 20s, ...
Rion Amilcar Scott
Rion Amilcar Scott 000000050163167X Rion Amilcar Scott, a celebrated author, has been published in numerous journals and holds awards like the Mary Roberts Rinehart award. His works include the short...
David Anthony Durham
David Anthony Durham 0000000114789864 David Anthony Durham, born in 1969, is an award-winning author known for novels like Gabriel’s Story and Pride of Carthage. A recipient of the 1992 Zora Neale Hu...
Dolen Perkins-Valdez
Dolen Perkins-Valdez 0000000074479879 Dolen Perkins-Valdez, a Memphis-born novelist, is renowned for her New York Times bestselling novel 'Wench.' A Harvard graduate and former University of Californ...
Marsha Hunt
Marsha Hunt 0000000117741647 Marsha Hunt, born 1946, is a British-based actress, singer, and novelist, best known for her role in the rock musical 'Hair'. She has written autobiographies and novels, ...
E. C. Osondu
E. C. Osondu NONE E.C. Osondu is a renowned Nigerian author and English professor at Providence College. Known for his short stories, he won the 2009 Caine Prize for African Writing. His debut collec...
N. K. Jemisin
N. K. Jemisin 0000000107503776 Jemisin, in 2018, Became the Only Writer to Win 3 Best Novel Hugo Awards in Consecutive Years (note) Nora K. Jemisin, born in 1972, is a renowned speculative fiction aut...
Charlie Wilson
Charlie Wilson 0000000055156329 Charlie Wilson, renowned R&B and soul musician, has earned multiple Grammy nominations and acclaim for his distinct voice and timeless hits. Despite struggles with hom...
Neale Sourna
Neale Sourna NONE Neale Sourna is an award-winning author, screenwriter, and game story narrative writer based in Cleveland, Ohio. She has a diverse background, including business banking, wealth man...
Frances E. W. Harper
Frances E. W. Harper 0000000109120234 Read Politics and Poetics: The Legacy of Frances E. W. Harper Frances Ellen Watkins Harper (1825-1911) was a prominent African American abolitionist, suffragist, ...
Christine Taylor Butler
Christine Taylor Butler NONE Christine Taylor Butler is an accomplished children's author from Ohio. Overcoming initial fears, she pursued her passion for writing, inspired by her daughters' love for...
Leslie C. Youngblood
Leslie C. Youngblood NONE Author Leslie C. Youngblood, MFA holder from UNC Greensboro, is a recipient of numerous writing awards, including the Lorian Hemingway Short Story Prize. As of 2018, she tea...
J.L. Woodson
J.L. Woodson NONE J.L. Woodson is an award-winning author and graphic designer from Chicago. He started his literary career at 16 and later shifted to graphic design, creating book covers and marketi...
Daniel Bernstrom
Daniel Bernstrom NONE Daniel Bernstrom is a visually impaired author who enjoys creating rhythmic stories. His work often draws inspiration from his surroundings, such as his story about a eucalyptus...
Jacki Simmons
Jacki Simmons NONE Bronx-born, Harlem-raised author Jacki Simmons found inspiration in her surroundings from a young age. She completed her first short story at 11 and her first novel at 16. After wi...
EA Luetkemeyer
EA Luetkemeyer NONE EA Luetkemeyer, an author informed by his prison experiences, explores America's class and racial divides. He is a Lesley University MFA graduate and author of novels including 'P...
Josiah Henson
Josiah Henson 0000000082230213 Josiah Henson (1789-1883) was an author, abolitionist, and minister who escaped from slavery and founded a settlement in Upper Canada for fugitive slaves. His autobiogr...
Caleb Azumah Nelson
Caleb Azumah Nelson 0000000505162647 A 2021 National Book Foundation “5 Under 35” Honoree Caleb Azumah Nelson is a British-Ghanaian writer and photographer based in London. Known for his n...
Zin E. Rocklyn
Zin E. Rocklyn NONE Zin E. Rocklyn is a celebrated author, contributing to award-winning anthologies and zines. They've received notable recognition for their horror story, “Summer Skin”, and contrib...
Bella Makatini
Bella Makatini NONE Bella Makatini, born 1980 in Den Bosch, NL, has been writing since childhood. She successfully blends her passion for writing with her background in communication sciences and soc...
Howard L. Bingham
Howard L. Bingham NONE Howard L. Bingham, the first black photographer in the Hollywood Camera Guild, is known for his intimate photos of Muhammad Ali and the Black Panthers. His remarkable career in...
Damien Echols and Lorri Davis
Damien Echols and Lorri Davis MULTIPLE Bestselling author and visual artist Damien Echols, known for his wrongful death row sentence and magick practice, has penned six books, including two with his ...
William “Damani” Keene and Carole “Ife” Keene
William “Damani” Keene and Carole “Ife” Keene MULTIPLE William “Damani” Keene and Carole “Ife” Keene, a couple with a long history together, have turned to historical fiction to tell the captivating ...
Louise Meriwether
Louise Meriwether 0000000110768302 Louise Meriwether was a renowned novelist, essayist, journalist, and activist, best known for her children's biographies of significant African Americans. Born in N...
Janelle M. Williams
Janelle M. Williams NONE Janelle M. Williams, an award-winning author with a BA from Howard University and MFA from Manhattanville College, is known for her acclaimed story “From the Closest Waffle H...
Briony Cameron
Briony Cameron NONE Briony Cameron, a queer, disabled writer from Cardiff, UK, blends diverse heritage and a love for history into her writing. After studying English and creative writing, she gained...
Kelsey Norris
Kelsey Norris NONE Kelsey Norris is a writer and editor from Alabama. Her debut story collection, House Gone Quiet, is a finalist for the Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction. Kelsey Norris is a ...
Tiphanie Yanique
Tiphanie Yanique 0000000071326295 Tiphanie Yanique, a novelist, poet, and professor from Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, is renowned for her numerous awards including the Mary Grant Charles Award ...
Tiya Miles
Tiya Miles 0000000114701869 Tiya Alicia Miles is a historian and professor at the University of Michigan. Specializing in African American and Native American histories, she's the author of award-win...
George Ford
George Ford 0000000100607572 George Ford, a prolific children's book illustrator, has contributed to over 30 books. He is a Coretta Scott King Award recipient for his work on 'Ray Charles' and 'The S...
Elnathan John
Elnathan John 0000000460091813 Elnathan John is a distinguished Nigerian novelist and satirist known for his short stories, “Bayan Layi” and “Flying,” both shortlisted for the Caine Prize for African...
William Melvin Kelley
William Melvin Kelley 0000000108984997 William Melvin Kelley was a notable American novelist and short-story writer, known for using African American comedy to critique racial attitudes. He taught li...
Yvonne Blackwood
Yvonne Blackwood NONE Yvonne Blackwood is a renowned author, speaker, and retired banker, known for her world travels and writing. She has written successful books like 'Into Africa a Personal Journe...
Laura Freeman
Laura Freeman NONE Laura Freeman is a BFA graduate from the School of Visual Arts, New York, who started her career in editorial illustration. She has illustrated numerous acclaimed children's books,...
Pat Carr
Pat Carr 0000000073993382 Pat Carr, a retired English professor who taught at several universities including Rice and Tulane, is an accomplished author based in Elkins, Arkansas. She has penned four ...
Tracie Church Guzzio
Tracie Church Guzzio NONE Tracie Church Guzzio is an Associate English Professor at SUNY Plattsburgh, with published works in anthologies like American Writers and The Reader's Companion to the Ameri...
Bolu Babalola
Bolu Babalola 0000000505557067 Bolu Babalola is a British-Nigerian journalist and writer, known for her short story “Netflix & Chill†and work in books, TV, and press. She excels as a cultural co...
Aaliyah Bilal
Aaliyah Bilal NONE Aaliyah Bilal, a Maryland native, is a graduate of Oberlin College and the University of London. Known for her work with The Michigan Quarterly Review and The Rumpus, she debuted w...
Damilare Kuku
Damilare Kuku NONE Damilare Kuku is a multi-talented Nigerian author, known for her bestseller story collection, Nearly All the Men in Lagos Are Mad. She has experience in radio, scripts, film, and a...
Aileen Muhammad
Aileen Muhammad NONE Aileen Muhammad, born in 1950, is a notable poet and author from Philadelphia. Her poetry appeared in Journal of Black Poetry and Muhammad Speaks in the 1960s. She graduated from...
Stephanie Renee Bell
Stephanie Renee Bell NONE Stephanie Renée Bell, an author of 5 books and a gifted musician, dedicated her life to her faith and art until her passing in 2010. Renowned for her Christian rap songs, p...
Thomas Long
Thomas Long 0000000376122955 Thomas Long, a self-published poet from Baltimore, transitioned to urban fiction, reflecting his experiences growing up in the inner city. His debut novel, Dayvon’s Story...
Sharon Bell Mathis
Sharon Bell Mathis 0000000063330251 Sharon Bell Mathis, initially a teacher, became an acclaimed author known for her middle-grade novels and picture books. Her works such as 'Sidewalk Story', 'Tea C...
Calvin Alexander Ramsey
Calvin Alexander Ramsey NONE Calvin Alexander Ramsey is a multi-talented artist known for his award-winning children's books, photography, folk art painting, and plays. His works have been recognized...
Gwendolyn Bennett
Gwendolyn Bennett 0000000041133249 Gwendolyn B. Bennett was an influential American artist, writer, and journalist during the Harlem Renaissance. Born in 1902, she contributed to Opportunity, publish...
Asia Hill
Asia Hill NONE Asia Hill, a highly gifted author, earned a rare publishing deal with Good2go Publishing in 2015 from a federal correctional facility, impressively with her debut book, My Besties PT 1...
Shirley Chisholm
Shirley Chisholm 0000000021812965 Shirley Anita Chisholm January 3, 1977 – January 3, 1981 was the first black woman elected to the U.S. Congress in 1969 and was re-elected six times until she...
Barbara Neely
Barbara Neely 0000000008613515 Barbara Neely (1941-), the only African American in her Pennsylvania school, moved to Pittsburgh in 1971 and earned a Master's in Urban and Regional Planning. She publi...
Booker T. Mattison
Booker T. Mattison NONE Booker T. Mattison is an author and filmmaker who wrote the screenplay for and directed the film adaptation of Zora Neale Hurston's classic story "The Gi...
Tara Sullivan
Tara Sullivan NONE Tara Sullivan, born in Calcutta and raised across South America and the Caribbean, is a global-minded author with a dual Master's degree in Non-Profit Management and International ...
Brook Susan Parker
Brook Susan Parker NONE Dr. Brook Bello (formerly brook susan parker), CEO/Executive Director, and Founder of More Too Life, Inc. and Living Above the Noise Center in Florida. She is a #Champion fro...
Nega Mezlekia
Nega Mezlekia 000000010946810X Nega Mezlekia, born in Ethiopia, initially supported the revolution but later criticized the regime. He abandoned his family to join rebel groups and left Ethiopia in 1...
Nikki Rashan
Nikki Rashan NONE Nikki Rashan is an acclaimed author known for 'Double Pleasure Double Pain', 'You Make Me Wanna', 'Cyber Case', and 'The EXchange'. She shared her coming out story on Oprah and has ...
Thomas Norman DeWolf
Thomas Norman DeWolf 0000000074225246 Author of 'Inheriting the Trade', explores his family's past as the largest slave-trading dynasty in U.S. history. Featured in the Emmy-nominated documentary 'Tr...
Angel Mechelle
Angel Mechelle NONE Author Angel Mechelle, a military brat turned acclaimed writer, has a passion for storytelling. She resides in Virginia and began her literary journey as a contributing author in ...
Kia DuPree
Kia DuPree NONE Kia DuPree, a former English instructor, hails from a large family in one of Washington, D.C.'s poorest areas. Her background inspires her writing, focusing on complex family relation...
Cherlyn Michaels
Cherlyn Michaels NONE Cherlyn Michaels is a self-published author and chemical engineer who began writing in grade school. She pursued her passion for writing after graduating from university, bravel...
Linda Janet Holmes
Linda Janet Holmes 0000000036823341 Linda Janet Holmes is an accomplished writer, scholar, and women's health activist. Known for her work on African American midwifery practices, she has also author...
Christopher Chambers
Christopher Chambers NONE Born and raised in DC, Christopher Chambers is an honors graduate of Princeton University and the University of Baltimore School of Law. He served with the US Justice Depart...
Sarah E. Farro
Sarah E. Farro NONE Sarah E. Farro, a black author born in 1859, wrote 'True Love: A Story of English Domestic Life' in 1891, making her the second known African-American woman novelist of the 19th c...
Christopher Paul Curtis
Christopher Paul Curtis 0000000114691891 Christopher Paul Curtis, born in Flint, Michigan, worked in a car factory before turning to writing. Inspired by a family history of entertainers, he authored...
Heru Ptah
Heru Ptah NONE Heru Ptah is a multifaceted writer, known for his work as a poet, novelist, playwright, and screenwriter. He's appeared on HBO's Def Poetry Jam, CNN, and has a novel published by MTV B...
Julia Hare
Julia Hare NONE Dr. Julia Hare (1939-2019) was a renowned motivational speaker and influential figure in black communities both in America and abroad. Known for her powerful speeches about black lead...
Lisa Teasley
Lisa Teasley 0000000037575087 Lisa Teasley is an acclaimed author of novels and story collections, including the award-winning 'Glow in the Dark'. Her works are translated into multiple languages. Sh...
Amina Gautier
Amina Gautier 0000000118109950 Dr. Amina Gautier, an award-winning author of three short story collections, is a scholar and professor specializing in African American literature. She teaches in the ...
Brenda Lane Richardson
Brenda Lane Richardson NONE Brenda Lane Richardson is an award-winning author and trained minister known for her books like Story Power, Chesapeake Song and more. A former Oakland Tribune columnist, ...
Paul C. Thornton
Paul C. Thornton NONE Paul C. Thornton, a Brooklyn native, served in the US Army as a mental health specialist. His diverse career includes roles as a financial executive, retail entrepreneur, city g...
Ersula Knox Odom
Ersula Knox Odom NONE Ersula Knox Odom is a renowned legacy writer and author with over 100 published articles and two biographies. She's also a motivational speaker, prize-winning lyricist, and port...
Stephanie Outten
Stephanie Outten NONE Stephanie Outten is a transformation coach, author and speaker who overcame personal struggles to find joy. She uses her experiences to guide others in her roles as the founder ...
Abubakar Adam Ibrahim
Abubakar Adam Ibrahim 0000000458785840 Abubakar Adam Ibrahim is a renowned Nigerian writer and journalist, known for his novel 'Season of Crimson Blossoms' and short story collection 'The Whispering ...
Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor
Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor 0000000049060048 Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor is a renowned Kenyan writer, recognized for her contribution to literature and arts in Kenya. She won the 2003 Caine Prize for her story “...
Gabourey Sidibe
Gabourey Sidibe 0000000120325062 Gabourey Sidibe is an award-winning actress known for roles in 'Precious', 'American Horror Story' and 'Empire'. She also made her directorial debut with 'The Tale of...