Hazel McGriff was born and raised in the city of Philadelphia. In the beautiful State of Pennsylvania. Hazel considers and believes in her faith and family to be dear and important to her. If she isn’t spending time with her family and friends she is helping others. She has a passion for helping others. Caring for people led Hazel to write her first children’s book,
‘“Young Buddy Arms,'' copyright 2021 which is a children’s book about Social Distancing.
Chyrel J. Jackson and Lyris D. Wallace are avid lovers, readers and writers of African American Literature. They grew up in
a Southern Suburb of Chicago, IL. Country Club Hills. As young girls they read Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, and Judy Blume
novels. College was the real scholastic awakening introducing these two Literary Enthusiasts to the Literary works of their
great ancestors: James Baldwin, Toni Morrison, Maya Angelou, Langston Hughes, Nikki Giovanni and Sonia Sanchez. These
writers influenced Chyrel and Lyris so much. It only makes sense that they would now be writing in the Spirit of these
ancestors. Giving a voice to social issues that plague our modern time.
Their latest self-published work a book of poetry is Different Sides of the Same Coin. It is a modern and sassy collage of
poetry as experienced from the Black female perspective of 2 sisters and authors. This timeless collection of poems is
refreshing and unique. Different Sides of the Same Coin is a soul searing and heartwarming work of new age black voice
and spoken word. This adaptation highlights the human experience of life, love, loss, parting and sorrow. Timeless
wording, honestly written with a little of the unexpected. Black Expression has never been more vibrant, relevant and real.
This work is an interesting twist on Harlem Renaissance revisited as it collides with 2020 social struggles and conditions of
our current time. In no short order we are reminded of why written and spoken word is so vital to the sustenance of
African American Literature.
They have written for much of their adult lives. Political Opinion Editorials, Book Reviews, Romance Novels, Television
Show Treatments, Journaling and Poetry are what these sisters enjoy writing best. When asked why they write? Their
answer, they write for visibility. They write to say they are present in the world. Their lives and stories matter.
Chyrel and Lyris want to be a voice for all those who feel they have something of value to say but aren’t capable of putting
it in their own words. Words surpass life, love and loss. Whether written, spoken or sung may the readers of our written
words find healing and comfort in our poems.
Writers are born when life intersects with time and chance. You will always find them doing what they love reading, and
writing. Writing, and telling stories is how they fulfil their divine purpose. You can’t ignore what is so visible and
undeniable. Writing saved us at our lowest points in living. We hope to provide healing through our writing. We want to
uplift others through their pain as writing has uplifted us and provided great healing in time of profound despair and hurt.
Throughout the passage of time words remain
Joyce Licorish is the youngest of 7 daughters and mother of 2 beautiful daughters and 1 rambunctious son. She recently married film actor Jerome Davis. She was born and raised in the inner-city of Indianapolis, where she was bussed to a primarily white school and saw early on the effects of discrimination and racism.
Joyce, singer, actress, plus model and playwright, takes a turn toward another creative vein as the author of the Heirloom Trilogy - The Forgotten Timepiece, The Forbidden Ring, The Lost Locket. Her debut novel The Forgotten Timepiece shot up to #1 on Amazon in 3 categories. Best Historical Fiction, Best African American Sci-Fi and Fantasy.
Best known for her direction/production of Oprah Winfrey’s Color Purple Tour, her powerhouse vocal abilities and stage acting, she takes a step away from the microphone and stage towards the pen to create her debut series of novels.
Latrina Graves McCarty, M.Ed. is an author, educator, entrepreneur, playwright, and speaker.
She is known as the Grammar Queen among her family, friends, and students. Even though Latrina’s passion for reading and writing has been her passion for as long as she could remember, entrepreneurship ignited after the death of her husband. Latrina says, “As a former young woman, it was instilled and engrained in us that a man will find us; however, no one ever shared with me the ‘what if’s’! No one ever suggested or even hinted of life without a spouse.”
Now, McCarty emphasizes that in societies today, female empowerment is growing with more women taking positions of authority. Through “Oliva’s Journey,” McCarty shows readers that a woman can be accomplished while also being a widow. McCarty hopes that readers will relate to Olivia, and through that grab their self-value, and they will embrace Olivia’s Journey as their own personal journey. McCarty’s passion for teaching and learning inspires and empowers individual to continue his or her Journey and Enjoy the Ride.
McCarty incorporated her stage plays and novel under LGM Productions, LLC. “My Journey” was then added as a fictious label whereas she can promote her trademark.
McCarty is also the CEO and Founder of Mississippi Speaker Connection, LLC. MSC is a community and collaborative effort to instruct as well as educate inspiring public speakers. It is designed as a networking resource for professionals as well as novice speakers to collaborate. The key to this open platform is for guests to Speak Your Why as it relates to any given topic.
McCarty believes everyone has gifts and talents, and she says that how we display and use them to encourage others is everyone’s Journey. McCarty’s passion for teaching and learning inspires and empowers individuals to continue his or her Journey and Enjoy the Ride.
I am, Cheryl Legrand. from Newark New Jersey. I am a single mother of 3 young adults. I currently am an aspiring professional author who uses the gift of speaking to empower women from all walks of life. Some of my works include Behind Closed Doors and Married to Single. I also have lupus but am dealing with it throughout my daily life.
Patrice Rivers wears many hats in the world of entrepreneurship. She is currently residing in Suffolk, VA where Virginia State University’s blue and orange bleeds through her veins graduating from the HBCU in May 2009 in Petersburg, VA. Patrice majored in Mass Communications where she had a minor in writing earning her Bachelors of Arts degree. She started writing at the tender age of only nine where creating short stories was more than just a hobby. Patrice has a very vivid and creative imagination when it comes to words. Poetry has and will always be her first love. Since she was 15, Patrice took a strong interest in writing poems. Throughout the years, writing poetry has always been a therapeutic way to expressing her true feelings. Patrice’s creativity took her all the way to publishing her first book of poetry in 2012 entitled “A Collection of God’s Word and Motivation” which is a great seller. The following year her second book of poetry was published in 2013 called “Lyrical Passion Tears from my Inkwell” where she encourages and captivates her reader’s attention through real situations and encouraging words. Patrice has published a total of nine books with two of them being children’s books about a little girl living with Sickle Cell Disease. As a survivor and person living with SCD herself, she wanted to create not only a children’s book, but a series called “Come Learn with Patricia” that will serve as an educational tool for kids and adults as well in communities. Patrice is also the proud owner and creator of That Riverz Girl Brand LLC which consists of different facets such as Books, Media, Journalism, Health and Wellness and, Services. Her media platform Versafi Media is a platform for men and women that are business owners, entrepreneurs and authors that allows them to talk about their brand, business, product or service. “Let’s Talk Cell Talk” is a health platform that promotes and spreads awareness of Sickle Cell Disease. Patrice is determined to educate communities by talking about her personal testimony living with SCD and creating her own Facebook Live Series called “Let’s Talk Cell Talk” She plans to write more books relating to her life as well as children books. Patrice is very passionate about the writing community and wants to expand her writing services to a small writing boutique providing services to new authors, continuous authors, brands, business owners and entrepreneurs all over. This determined boss babe is nothing more than passionate, a goal digger, creative, professional and unique with her brand. She hopes to someday expand her brand to a wider audience in the world of business.
Deeann D. Mathews is an author, musician, and fractal artist, from San Francisco, CA. She is the author of Black, White, and RED All Over, the first in a series of clean Christian mysteries, and also the author of Seasons Siblings' Timeshare Tiff, a fictional take on the famous fall weather of her hometown. She is also the creative director of Praising Pilgrims Music, a small publishing company of music and music-related materials based in San Francisco, California. Ms. Mathews is also actively creating fractal art and other creative works across a variety of disciplines on Peakd.com.
Book:
Black, White & Red All Over
A clean Christian mystery that could have been ripped from today's headlines ... Ironwood Hamilton, new captain of police in Tinyville VA, is put at odds with his regional police colleagues when a new and confrontational Black newspaper hits them all with a demand for public release of records about police brutality in Lofton County. With the help of one loyal lieutenant and a relative with a famous name and suitably dangerous temperament, Captain Hamilton must gather the clues to a plan for rogue police action that will eventuate in blood and fire! A complex and yet squeaky clean tale -- the first in a series of clean Christian mysteries in Lofton County!