Kem is the Grammy-nominated R&B artist whose sultry sounds have made him a worldwide sensation. His story is of more than of his immense talent. Rather, Kem’s journey from Detroit to the spotlight was turbulent, to say the least, as he overcame abject poverty, depression, homelessness and drug and alcohol addiction to somehow ascend to a revered place as one of America’s most celebrated artists with five No. 1 songs among his platinum and gold records. He has documented his […]

Kimberla Lawson Roby is the New York Times bestselling author whose books are is fueled by keen storytelling. Her latest, Sister Friends Forever follows her legacy of engaging stories that forces you to turn page after page. She’s built a faithful national reading audience that waits with anticipation of her next release. Kim is also a past recipient of the NBCC’s Walter Mosley Author of Distinction Award. Kim is also the Founder of Successful Women of Faith – The Sisterhood (an online community for women), and […]

Sadeqa Johnson, is the award-winning and NY TImes best-selling author who won the 2018 National Book Club Conference Fiction Book of the Year Award for And Then There Was Me, will be featured at our 2023 weekend of Literary Bliss, July 27-30 at the Atlanta Marriott Buckhead. Sadeqa’s brilliance has been magnified by her latest amazing work, The House of Eve, which became an instant New York Times Best Seller. This work was described by actress Reese Witherspoon (who selected it for her book […]

Bernice L. McFadden is the author of ten critically acclaimed novels including Praise Song for the Butterflies (Long listed for the 2019 Women’s Prize in Fiction ) The Book of Harlan (winner of a 2017 American Book Award and the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work, Fiction) Sugar, Loving Donovan, Nowhere Is a Place, The Warmest December, Gathering of Waters (a New York Times Editors’ Choice and one of the 100 Notable Books of 2012) and Glorious . She is a four-time […]

Kwame Alexander’s The Door of No Return is the first book in a searing, breathtaking trilogy that tells the story of a boy, a village, and the epic odyssey of an African family. In his village in Upper Kwanta, 11-year-old Kofi loves his family, playing oware with his grandfather and swimming in the river Offin. He’s warned though, to never go to the river at night. His brother tells him ”There are things about the water you do not know. “ Like what? Kofi asks. “The beasts.” […]

Dr. Ian K Smith is the former host of the Emmy Award-winning syndicated daytime talk show, The Doctors and is the former medical correspondent for NBC News and for NewsChannel 4 in New York, where he filed reports for NBC Nightly News and The Today Show. He transitioned into a New York Times No. 1 bestselling author, penning 21 books between works on medicine and health and crime novels. Dr. Smith attended the 2005 NBCC when he wrote his first novel, The Blackbird Papers. His upcoming book is the […]

ReShonda Tate Billingsley is the national bestselling author of more than 53 books, using her passion to bring stories to life, including in her most recent work, the must-read, Miss Pearly’s Girls: A Captivating Story of Family Healing. ReShonda writes both adult and teen fiction, as well as nonfiction. Her sophomore novel, Let the Church Say Amen, was made into a film directed by actress Regina King, and produced by TD Jakes and Queen Latifah. ReShonda made her on-screen movie debut in the […]

Ilyasah Shabazz, the daughter of the legendary Malcolm x,  is an author and professor who promotes higher education for at-risk youth, interfaith dialogue to build bridges between cultures for young leaders of the world, and she participates in international humanitarian delegations. She has penned five books, including the revealing Growing Up X and The Awakening of Malcolm X, a novel with Tiffany D. Jackson. She served as a member of the U.S. Delegation that accompanied President Bill Clinton to South Africa to commemorate […]