Profiles: K

Barbara Keaton is a native of Chicago, having grown up in the Southside Community of Morgan Park. Recently, she accepted a position at The Chicago Transit Authority in their Govnernment and Community Affairs Department. She has always had a love of “storytelling,” and started writing when she was old enough to pick up a pencil. She began writing her personal journal when she was ten, but it was the little-known order of black nuns, The Oblate Sisters of Providence, at her grammar school who instilled in Barbara a true passion for writing.

Barbara holds a B.A. degree in Communications from Columbia College and a M.S. degree in Journalism from Roosevelt University. ALL I ASK is her first book, published by Genesis Press, Inc., Indigo imprint. She is working on her second book, intended for Genesis Press, entitled AN UNFINISHED LOVE AFFAIR, scheduled to be released in March, 2001.

Sinclair LeBeau (a.k.a Linda White Smith) is a native of Norfolk, Virginia. She has written over four hundred confession stories for Jive, Black Romance, Bronze Thrills, True Confessions, True Love and True Experiences.

Sinclair's first romance novel, GLORY OF LOVE, was published by Genesis Press in 1997. In 1998, her second novel, SOMEONE'S BABY, was released. As of September 2000, her third Indigo romance, SO AMAZING, is available wherever paperbacks are sold. Sinclair also has listed a short story, 'Isn't she Lovely", on www.mightlyword.com. This work is the basis for a mainstream she is currently working on, tentatively titled, PIERCE HEARTS.

Her next Indigo release, YOUR PRECIOUS LOVE, is scheduled for release in June 2001.

Annetta P. Lee grew up on the farm of her grandparents in Starkville, Mississippi. She has worked as an Administrative Assistant for over thirty years.

She now shares her life with her husband, Kenneth, one daughter and three grandchildren. Annetta finds great pleasure in serving her community and church as lay-minister.

After graduating from The Institute of Children’s Literature in 1997, Annetta obtained a life long dream of becoming a published writer.

“It is very gratifying,” she says, “to channel a passion for writing through the eyes of her faith. It has given her opportunity not only to write about the distresses of living life but touch others in the midst of it.

Author, Edwina Martin-Arnold, remembers her mother’s proclamation made long ago. "You’re either going to be a lawyer or a writer because you’re always debating with me about something or scribbling in a notebook." Edwina’s mother knew her well because with the publication of Eve’s Prescription, Edwina has become both an attorney and an author.

Edwina was born in Texas and grew up in Washington State. She attended the University of Washington where she met and married her husband, John. After working for two years as a buyer at Boeing, Edwina left to attend law school at the University of Puget Sound. Upon graduation, Edwina became a prosecutor. She enjoyed a seven-year career before she left to spend more time with her three children. It was during this time that Edwina was able to fulfill her life long fantasy of becoming a romance writer. She is currently working on her second book.

Timmothy B. McCann is an ex-college All American football player, former owner of a financial planning agency, and the author of an advice column called “Ask DLastRomeo.” He also teaches a course on the Art Of Commercial Fiction at Santa Fe Community College in Gainesville, Florida. Best known for two highly-acclaimed novels, ALWAYS and until... which were featured by Black Expressions Book Club, McCann lives in Florida and is the single father of two children. His third book, FOREVER, was released in April 2001. He has recently completed his fourth novel; which will be in stores in 2002.

Mary B. Morrison woke up one morning, in 1999, and decided it was time for her to step out on faith. It was time to stop talking about her dream and start living her dream to become a critically acclaimed best-selling author. From that moment forward, Mary has lived by the words she subscribed to: “I’d rather die a failure, than to have lived and never known whether I would become a success.”

After working eighteen years for the government, Mary resigned from her Management Analysis Officer position on June 3, 2000, to pursue her passion for writing. Earning a GS-14 salary of seventy-five thousand dollars a year from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development was no incentive for this risk-taker to continue working nine-to-five.

Mary B. Morrison is now the national best-selling author of her debut novel Soul Mates Dissipate that was self-published on June 1, 2000. Four months after the release of Soul Mates Dissipate, Mary was offered and accepted a six-figure three-book deal from Kensington Publishing Corporation. Soul Mates Dissipate made Blackboard Bestsellers list in October and November 2000, and Essence Bestseller list in February and April 2001. Fourteen thousand copies of the self-published version were sold in the first six months. Soul Mates Dissipate will be re-released in hardcover by Kensington on June 1, 2001.

In addition to being a mainstream author, Mary is President and Founder of Booga Bear Publishing. The company promotes her works and shares self-publishing information with aspiring authors. On February 21, 2001, Mary became the incorporator of the McDonogh No. 35 Alumni Association, Incorporated. She incorporated the organization to assist her former public high school in New Orleans, Louisiana, with one hundred percent college placement for graduating students.

Mary is also the author of WHO'S MAKING LOVE (a self-help guide to finding your ideal mate) scheduled for release May 1, 2001, by Booga Bear Publishing. JUSTICE JUST US, JUST ME was Mary’s first published work of forty-six powerful poems released on August 23, 1999. She is currently writing the sequel to Soul Mates Dissipate entitled Never Again Once More. Mary currently resides in Laurel, Maryland. For more information, visit Mary’s website at www.marymorrison.com.

Celeste O. Norfleet, born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is a graduate of Moore College of Art & Design with a B.F.A in Fashion Illustration. Presently, she works as a freelance graphic designer for area businesses while also working part-time in a local book store.

An avid reader and writer, she sold her first two novels, PRECIOUS GIFT, release date March 2002 and A Christmas Wish, release date October 2002, to BET/Arabesque within three years of beginning her writing career. She is a member of Washington Romance Writers and Romance Writers Of America and lives in Virginia with her family.