AALBC Search
Sarah Bird
Sarah Bird 000000011726115X Sarah Bird, acclaimed author of ten novels, is recognized for her literary contributions through awards like Texas Writer of the Year and the Texas Institute of Letters Li...
Rose Brock
Rose Brock 0000000107888362 Rose Brock, a professor at Sam Houston State University, is renowned for inspiring youth to love books. In addition to her career as a librarian and educator, she co-found...
Joye M. Carter
Joye M. Carter NONE Dr. Joye Carter, M.D., first female and African American Chief Medical Examiner in the U.S, served in Washington, DC and Houston, Texas. Now a forensic pathology consultant and au...
Martha Kennerson
Martha Kennerson NONE Martha Kennerson, a bestselling and award-winning author, uses her passion for reading and writing to create heartfelt stories. Known for her novels Choices and Consequences and...
Donna M. Gray-Banks
Donna M. Gray-Banks NONE Donna M. Gray-Banks, founder of F.R.E.S.H. Book Festival, is a successful author known for her suspense erotic trilogy and a guest columnist for various outlets. She hosts tw...
Jael Richardson
Jael Richardson NONE Jael Ealey Richardson is a Toronto-based author and educator with an MFA in Creative Writing. Known for her memoir and children's book, both titled The Stone Thrower, her work re...
Toni Blackman
Toni Blackman 0000000036920264 Toni Blackman, an international champion of hip-hop culture, is known for her captivating performances and powerful presence. She's the first hip-hop artist to work as ...
LaKesa Cox
LaKesa Cox NONE LaKesa Cox is an award-winning author and screenwriter with over 20 years of experience. She has published four novels and has contributed to two anthologies. She was acknowledged as ...
Reginald C. Adams
Reginald C. Adams NONE Reginald C. Adams is a Houston-based public artist known for his award-winning murals and sculptures in historic and underserved US communities. His art is featured in the 2023...
Charles Henry Rowell
Charles Henry Rowell NONE Charles Henry Rowell is the founder of Callaloo, a leading literary journal of the African diaspora. He's also an English professor at Texas A&M University in College Statio...
Zetta Brown
Zetta Brown NONE Zetta Brown, owner of the successful L-L Publications based in Scotland, boasts an impressive portfolio including acclaimed books and a sister imprint, Logical-Lust. Also a Developme...
Teffanie Thompson
Teffanie Thompson NONE Teffanie Thompson, a Texas native and Seton Hill University's Writing Popular Fiction program graduate, has written numerous stories for children, teens, and ballerinas. Curren...
Chris Barton
Chris Barton 0000000082953972 Chris Barton, an award-winning, best-selling author, has written numerous children's books, drawing from a lifelong passion for storytelling. He grew up in Texas, nurtur...
Francis Ray
Francis Ray 0000000110715606 Francis Ray (1944-2013) was a celebrated Texas-based author and school nurse practitioner. Known for her bestsellers in Blackboard and Essence Magazine, her work includes...
Alan B. Govenar, Francis Edward Abernethy, Patrick B. Mullen
Alan B. Govenar, Francis Edward Abernethy, Patrick B. Mullen MULTIPLE Francis E. Abernethy was a notable English professor and editor at the Texas Folklore Society. Patrick B. Mullen is an English pr...
Zuksiwa Wanner
Zuksiwa Wanner NONE Zukiswa Wanner, born to South African and Zimbabwean parents in Zambia, is a celebrated author known for award-nominated novels like “Men of the South.” As an essayist, she focuse...
Lola Shoneyin
Lola Shoneyin 0000000041835603 Lola Shoneyin is a renowned Nigerian poet and author, best known for her debut novel, “The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives.” Identified as a promising African writer ...
Ava DuVernay
Ava DuVernay 000000035624500X Ava DuVernay is an award-winning writer, producer, and director in independent film. She founded DVA Media + Marketing and the African-American Film Festival Releasing M...
Darlene Williams
Darlene Williams NONE Darlene Williams is an award-winning businesswoman, adjunct lecturer, bestselling author, and nationally recognized youth and literacy advocate. She serves as President of the ...
Patricia A. Saunders
Patricia A. Saunders NONE Patricia A. Saunders, an author from Connecticut, now based in San Francisco, began her writing journey after her mother's passing. She released her first book in 2012 and i...
Daniel Henderson
Daniel Henderson 0000000016295318 Daniel B. Henderson Sr., also known as Smokey 'D', is a poet residing in Ashdown, AR. Born in 1956, he served in the U.S. Marine Corps and Air Force Reserves. He hol...
Varian Johnson
Varian Johnson 0000000049306941 Varian Johnson is an award-winning author of children and young adult novels, including 'The Parker Inheritance' and 'The Great Greene Heist'. His works have received ...
Anika Malone
Anika Malone NONE Anika Malone, author of the acclaimed “10 Minutes Past Too Late”, is celebrated as a fresh voice in contemporary fiction. She has participated in notable book events across the Unit...
Kellie Magnus
Kellie Magnus 0000000114740104 Kellie Magnus is a Jamaican children's author and media writer. An alumna of Harvard and Columbia Universities, she's the Chair of the Kingston Book Festival and serves...
Melica Niccole
Melica Niccole NONE Melica Niccole, a Columbus-native author, poet, and Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, has a passion for writing which she uses to explore various subjects. She created an annua...
Arlington R. Callies
Arlington R. Callies NONE Arlington R. Callies, born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, is an author, experienced AAU Basketball and Track coach, and real estate broker. He has written a book about AA...
Nathan Harris
Nathan Harris 0000000047365403 A 2021 National Book Foundation “5 Under 35” Honoree Nathan Harris, an award-winning author, holds an MFA from the University of Texas and lives in Austin. K...
Samson Bimbo Adenugba
Samson Bimbo Adenugba NONE Samson Bimbo Adenugba, a Houston-based Nigerian painter/illustrator, is known for his contributions to the 2023 children's book 'Juneteeth' and the Juneteenth mural in Texa...
Jerome Pumphrey and Jarrett Pumphrey
Jerome Pumphrey and Jarrett Pumphrey MULTIPLE Jerome and Jarrett Pumphrey are award-winning authors and illustrators known for works like 'The Old Truck' and 'There Was a Party for Langston'. Jerome ...
Raúl the Third
Raúl the Third NONE Raúl the Third, a three-time Pura Belpré Award winner, is known for illustrating the bestselling Stuntboy and writing the popular Lowrider series. His work, including contributi...
Kimberly Thacker Webb
Kimberly Thacker Webb NONE Kimberly Thacker Webb, a Dallas native, is a Howard University and Texas Wesleyan School of Law graduate. An accomplished author and powerful speaker, she's also had a succ...
Casey Gerald
Casey Gerald NONE Casey Gerald is the author of There Will Be No Miracles Here, a memoir that was named a Best Book of 2018 by NPR and The New York Times, a finalist for the LAMBDA Literary Award, a...
Donna Janell Bowman
Donna Janell Bowman NONE John David Anderson is an acclaimed author of children's books. He has written several bestselling series, including “Sidekicked” and “Minion.” Anderson's writing is known fo...
Gwen Richardson
Gwen Richardson NONE Gwen Richardson, co-founder of Cushcity.com, the largest African-American internet retailer, is a successful entrepreneur and writer with a marketing degree from Georgetown Unive...
Colette Bancroft
Colette Bancroft NONE Colette Bancroft is the book editor for the Tampa Bay Times since 2007, directs the annual Festival of Reading, and served on the National Book Critics Circle board. She holds E...
justin a. reynolds
justin a. reynolds NONE Justin A. Reynolds is an acclaimed author renowned for his debut YA novel, “Opposite of Always,” and second novel “Early Departures.” His work includes a Marvel graphic novel ...
David Washington
David Washington NONE Dr. David Washington decision to write a graphic novel stemmed from his dissatisfaction with the lack of diversity in the superhero genre. He hoped to provide his children with ...
D.T. Pollard
D.T. Pollard NONE D.T. Pollard, an Essence Bestselling author from Texas, discovered his passion for writing at a young age but paused during college. After a 25-year career in technology sales, he r...
Jacqueline • Jones
Jacqueline • Jones NONE Jacqueline Jones, born in 1948, is a distinguished professor of history at the University of Texas, Austin. She's the author of notable works including 'Saving Savannah', 'Ame...
Daina Ramey Berry
Daina Ramey Berry 0000000035859190 Dr. Daina Ramey Berry is an award-winning historian and professor at the University of Texas at Austin, specializing in gender and slavery history in the US. A Dist...
Evelyn Palfrey
Evelyn Palfrey NONE Evelyn Palfrey, a native Texan, is a graduate of Southern Methodist University and the University of Texas Law School. As an attorney and writer, she's known for her romantic susp...
Allen Bernard West
Allen Bernard West NONE Allen Bernard West is a decorated military veteran, former US Congressman, and notable contributor to media and policy organizations. His military legacy spans four generation...
Courtney Kelly
Courtney Kelly NONE Courtney Kelly, originally from New Orleans, is a civil engineer and project manager with a career in infrastructure projects. She holds degrees from Southern Methodist University...
Erin Nielson
Erin Nielson NONE Erin Nielson is a Texas-based freelance illustrator known for her whimsical artwork often featuring animals. She has clients like BYU Independent Study and Cincinnati Children’s Hos...
Esther Phillips
Esther Phillips 0000000073657506 Esther Phillips, founder of The Bim Literary Festival & Book Fair and editor of Bim magazine, is a highly decorated poet with an MFA in Creative Writing. She's won pr...
Thando Mgqolozana
Thando Mgqolozana 0000000071220474 Thando Mgqolozana, born in 1983, is a renowned South African novelist and Mandela Rhodes Scholar. He authored novels like 'Hear Me Alone' and 'Unimportance' and co-...
Vashti Harrison
Vashti Harrison 0000000476987403 Vashti Harrison, born in 1988, is a Virginia-based author, illustrator, and filmmaker with a passion for storytelling. She has degrees in Media Studies, Studio Art, F...
Stacy Spikes
Stacy Spikes NONE Stacy Spikes, co-founder of MoviePass and founder of Urbanworld Film Festival, is an award-winning entrepreneur and former film marketing executive. Recognized as one of the most in...
William Byrd
William Byrd 0000000109367704 Dr. William “Super” Byrd, a Newark native, is an acclaimed author and educator specializing in Sports Education. A holder of multiple degrees and professional licenses, ...
Alberto O. Cappas
Alberto O. Cappas NONE Alberto O. Cappas, a Puerto Rican-born poet, writer, and community activist, is known for his work in economic development, literature, and advocacy in New York and Buffalo. He...
Cheryl Clarke
Cheryl Clarke 0000000383377198 Cheryl L. Clarke, born in 1947, is a lesbian poet, essayist, and a Black feminist activist. Her work emphasizes African-American women's literature and black lesbian fe...
Matthew A. Cherry
Matthew A. Cherry 0000000500418922 Former NFL wide receiver, Matthew A. Cherry, transitioned into filmmaking after his retirement in 2007. He's known for directing over 20 music videos, his feature f...
Louis Edwards
Louis Edwards 0000000028382400 Louis Edwards, a Guggenheim Fellowship and Whiting Award-winning author, has written four novels including Ramadan Ramsey and Ten Seconds. Louisiana-born Edwards is als...
Biyi Bandele
Biyi Bandele 0000000120964833 Biyi Bandele-Thomas (1967-2022) was a renowned Nigerian novelist, playwright, director, and photographer. He was celebrated as one of Africa's top 50 artists. Bandele's ...
Regie Gibson
Regie Gibson NONE Regie Gibson is a poet, songwriter, author, workshop facilitator, and educator. Regie has performed, taught, and lectured at schools, universities, theaters and various other ve...
Melvin Patrick Ely
Melvin Patrick Ely 0000000030403653 Melvin Patrick Ely is an acclaimed author and historian specializing in African American and Southern history. His prize-winning book, 'Israel on the Appomattox', ...
Nancy Churnin
Nancy Churnin NONE Nancy Churnin is a celebrated children's book author, known for inspiring kids to be heroes through her stories. She's a Eureka Silver Award winner and has been recognized with the...
Ai Ogawa
Ai Ogawa 0000000368573553 Ai Ogawa (1947-2010), born Florence Anthony, was a prominent poet and author awarded with the American Book Award and a National Book Award. She authored seven books of poet...
Anna Myers
Anna Myers 0000000067526788 Anna Myers, an acclaimed author of 20 youth books and Oklahoma Writers' Hall of Fame member, is a native of west Texas and longtime Oklahoma resident. She holds four Oklah...
Patrice Caldwell
Patrice Caldwell NONE Patrice Caldwell, a Wellesley College alumna, is the founder of People of Color in Publishing. She's an ex-children's book editor, current literary agent, and author, known for ...
Meredith Davis and Rebeka Uwitonze
Meredith Davis and Rebeka Uwitonze MULTIPLE Meredith Davis, a former bookstore worker and children's book writers' society founder from Austin, Texas, holds an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts. ...
Cathy Finch White
Cathy Finch White NONE Cathy Finch White, a former medical professional turned author, advocates for child education through reading. She has written four award-winning books, including “Anna Learn's...
Brentom Jackson
Brentom Jackson NONE Brentom “Chuck” Jackson is a Texas-based psychotherapist and author, exploring universal themes within Black American culture. His debut children's book, “Elijah's Easter Suit,” ...
Ned Sublette
Ned Sublette 0000000108555156 Ned Sublette, born in 1951, is a talented composer, musician, and author hailing from Texas. Known for his work in Spanish Classical Guitar, he is also a renowned musico...
Chinedu Achebe
Chinedu Achebe NONE Chinedu W. Achebe, a Nigerian American author, published his first book in 2012 and its sequel in 2017. He's contributed to the Huffington Post, Medium, and Bella Naija. A Univers...
Erika Lynne Jones
Erika Lynne Jones NONE Erika Lynne Jones, a children's book author and illustrator, uses her work to celebrate culture and affirm children's worth. Known for “The Loud Librarian” and based in Dallas,...
Donna Drew Sawyer
Donna Drew Sawyer NONE Donna Drew Sawyer, author of Provenance, has a rich background in arts administration, advertising, and public relations. A New Yorker with over three decades of experience in ...
Breena Clarke and Amy Newmark
Breena Clarke and Amy Newmark MULTIPLE Amy Newmark is the author, editor, and publisher of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. Breena Clarke, a distinguished Black scholar and novelist, penned the ...
Debbie Allen
Debbie Allen 0000000114435847 Debbie Allen, born in 1950, is a bestselling children's book author, actress, dancer, and choreographer from Houston, Texas. She is renowned for her role in the 1982 ser...
Saeed Jones
Saeed Jones 0000000365991477 Saeed Jones, award-winning author of 'Prelude to Bruise', is known for his work at BuzzFeed as an LGBT and Culture editor, as well as co-host of AM to DM. Born in Memphis...
Jerome Pumphrey
Jerome Pumphrey NONE Jerome Pumphrey is a celebrated designer, illustrator, and writer known for multiple acclaimed works like The Old Truck and It’s a Sign!. Collaborating with his brother Jarrett, ...
Tonya Engel
Tonya Engel NONE Tonya Engel, a self-taught painter from Houston, Texas, is renowned for her children's book illustrations and expressive figurative art inspired by southern folk artists. Notably, sh...
Rick Rigsby
Rick Rigsby NONE Rick Rigsby, Ph.D., is a renowned motivational speaker, author, and ex-college football coach from Texas. Widely recognized for his stirring speeches on leadership and personal respo...
Kathy Whitehead
Kathy Whitehead NONE Kathy Whitehead, a former elementary teacher, now writes children's literature inspired by her love for history. Her work includes a picture book biography about African-American...
Ayana Mathis
Ayana Mathis 0000000367812022 Ayana Mathis, an Iowa Writers' Workshop graduate and Michener-Copernicus Fellowship recipient, is best known for her NYT best-selling novel 'The Twelve Tribes of Hattie'...
Sydney McGee
Sydney McGee NONE “McGee is the youngest bestselling author in AALBC.com History!” Sydney McGee, also known as “Sydney Sunshine”, is a young author from Houston, Texas, known for her uniqu...
Rivers Solomon
Rivers Solomon 0000000493415300 Rivers Solomon, a US-born author based in the UK, is known for her debut novel “An Unkindness of Ghosts”, an afrofuturistic blend of speculative and literary elements ...
Cyrus Cassells
Cyrus Cassells 0000000067291069 Cyrus Cassells is a celebrated author and poet, known for award-winning works such as The Mud Actor and Beautiful Signor. He is a Pulitzer Prize nominee, recipient of ...
Alice Wootson
Alice Wootson NONE Alice Greenhowe Wootson is a retired teacher and acclaimed author of thirteen novels, including romance and romantic suspense. A prize-winning poet, member of various writers' asso...
Elizabeth Savage
Elizabeth Savage NONE Elizabeth Navarette Savage, native of Texas, is the CEO of S.T.A.N.D, a non-profit organization against domestic violence. As an author, public speaker, and survivor, she inspir...
Daina Ramey Berry and Kali Nicole Gross
Daina Ramey Berry and Kali Nicole Gross MULTIPLE Daina Ramey Berry, a History Professor and associate dean at the University of Texas, and Kali Nicole Gross, Martin Luther King Jr. Professor of Histo...
Jarrett Pumphrey
Jarrett Pumphrey NONE Award-winning author-illustrator Jarrett Pumphrey, with his brother Jerome, creates acclaimed children's books like “The Old Truck” and “There Was a Party for Langston.” Based n...
M. Genevieve West
M. Genevieve West NONE M. Genevieve West is an English Professor at Texas Woman’s University, renowned for her scholarly work on Zora Neale Hurston. She has contributed to esteemed academic journals ...
Peniel E. Joseph
Peniel E. Joseph 0000000115111895 Peniel E. Joseph, historian and professor at The University of Texas, is the founding director of the LBJ School’s Center for the Study of Race and Democracy. Specia...
Sharon M. Draper
Sharon M. Draper 0000000374578086 Sharon M. Draper, acclaimed author of the Sassy series and numerous teen novels, is a New York Times bestseller and multiple Coretta Scott King Award winner. A forme...
Shane W. Evans
Shane W. Evans 0000000038504360 Shane Evans is a renowned illustrator, artist and designer whose work has been recognized by The Boston Globe-Horn Book Award and The Orbis Pictus Award. His illustrat...
Olive Senior
Olive Senior 0000000110714769 Jamaican-born Olive Senior is an accomplished scholar, journalist, and editor. Educated at Carleton University and the Thomson Foundation, she's held roles at the Daily ...
V. Brooks Dunbar
V. Brooks Dunbar NONE Dr. V. Brooks Dunbar is a renowned author, speaker, and leadership consultant. Known as the Confidence Commander, she empowers individuals and organizations to unlock their pote...
Tamiya Davis
Tamiya Davis NONE Tamiya Davis, a Virginia native, is a longshoreman, fashion entrepreneur, author, and motivational speaker. Her achievements include running a rights restoration chapter, owning a f...
Jacquelin Thomas
Jacquelin Thomas NONE Award-winning author Jacquelin Thomas has published over 50 titles across romance, women’s fiction, inspirational, and young adult genres. She's received multiple awards includi...
Tony Ginyard
Tony Ginyard NONE Tony Ginyard is a former US Air Force Law Enforcement Specialist from Philadelphia. He has lived in Europe, California, Texas, and New Jersey, and now resides in South Philadelphia ...
Roger Reeves
Roger Reeves 0000000438834254 Roger Reeves, author of 'King Me', is a distinguished poet based in Austin, Texas. He has been honored with a National Endowment for the Arts fellowship and a Ruth Lilly...
Jason Overstreet
Jason Overstreet NONE Jason Overstreet is a full-time fiction writer based in Los Angeles. With a BA and MS from Southern California universities, he spent a decade in education before attending UCLA...
Tamara Nicole Pizzoli
Tamara Nicole Pizzoli NONE Dr. Tamara Pizzoli, originally from Killeen, Texas, is a devoted mother and prolific author who divides her time between Italy, America, and her creative mind, writing hear...
Karen Celestan
Karen Celestan NONE Karen Celestan is a skilled writer and editor at Texas Southern University, where she also teaches English. She has prior experience as a senior program manager for Music Rising a...
Nelly Rosario
Nelly Rosario 0000000114903006 Dominican American novelist and creative writing instructor, Nelly Rosario (born 1972), is currently teaching in the MFA Program at Texas State University. Born in the ...
Omise’eke Natasha Tinsley
Omise’eke Natasha Tinsley 0000000110024215 Omise’eke Natasha Tinsley is an associate professor at the University of Texas, specializing in African Diaspora Studies and Women’s and Gender Studies. She...
Ashley D. Farmer
Ashley D. Farmer NONE Ashley D. Farmer is an assistant professor at the University of Texas-Austin, specializing in history and African and African Diaspora Studies. Ashley D. Farmer is assistant pro...
Dan Jakana
Dan Jakana NONE Dan Jakana was born on July 4, 1955, in Kampala, Uganda, where he attended both elementary and high school. In 1973, he enrolled in the University of Texas at El Paso College of Busi...
Tim Madigan
Tim Madigan 0000000114620276 Tim Madigan, award-winning writer for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, was twice named Texas Reporter of the Year. He's the author of 'See No Evil: Blind Devotion and Bloods...