BlackWritersSpace

John Ruffin-Writer, Director, Producer & Actor Premier playwright and film director, John Ruffin is a native Chicagoan. He was born on July 3, 1971, and began his career at the early age of twelve, directing a play consisting of his two brothers and two sisters and his parents for an audience. Having a natural love for the performing arts, Ruffin went on to gain a lead role in a children's play, "The Emperor's New Clothes" and "Aladdin" at Thornton Township High School in Harvey, Illinois. Other works accredited to Ruffin include: "I Won't Go Back," a biography about his former Pastor, the late L.T. Hutton, "It's Too Good To Be True" and “We're Dreaming of You, Selena". Ruffin directed and produced a bi-weekly variety show, "Gospeltime, Live At The Legacy". Others have sought Ruffin out for his talents as he has directed Imani Productions, "New Beginning…Startin' All Over", TJW Productions, “He Loves Me..He Loves Me Not” and he has also received calls to direct a Shakespearean piece, "The Age of Othello" (written by Anthony Norman) and "Trouble Don't Last Always". Ruffin has also written many skits for churches around the Chicago land area. Ruffin showcased his God-given writing skills of Gospel hit Stage Plays, "Love Me and Leave Me" and “The Other Woman”, “All for Love” and “No More Sheets”, “Mr. Right Now or Mr. Wrong Later”, all which have sold out across the nation.

DJ, Music Artist, & Author MARCUS THOMPSON (a.k.a. DJ Marcus T) is the original founding memberof the R&B group Timex Social Club and co-writer of the groups biggest hit song "Rumors".Timex Social Club was founded in 1984 and Marcus started writingsongs with high school friends Michael Marshall and Alex Hill. To date, Marcushas written lyrics for more than 100 songs. His songs have been remade/sampled by manyartists, most notably; Tupac Shakur, Master P, Lost Boyz and Club Nouveau. During thedot-com boom, Marcus was an influential music reviewer for the AOL ownedAfrican American website, Netnoir.com.Putting his talent into other mediums, Marcus is thecreative force behind several internet websites including, Dailydiva.com, Onthehush.com, Oldskooldjs.comas well as Thaindex.com (the hip hop sampling database for DJs and producers). Marcus' love and passion for music has lead him to amass an extensivecollection of old school music and he has returned to his first love - DJingfor night clubs and private parties. In 2011 Marcus penned the book "How Do Rumors Get Started: The true story of Timex Social Club". (Kindle/Amazon.com, Lulu.com, TscBook.com). In 2012 Marcus and vocalist Samuelle (The voice of Club Nouveau), have united and are booking shows performing their chart topping hits..."Rumors", "Thinkin' About Ya" and more

Her novels describe the drama in relationships among families, lovers, friends, and colleagues. She likes to take her readers on a roller-coaster ride of emotions that will make them laugh, cry, gasp, think, and question people and the actions and decisions they make. Her first novel, Where Did We Go Wrong?, is scheduled to hit bookstores in April 2012. In the meantime, she is busy at work on future novels. There is nothing more exciting to her than creating a fictional world with flawed characters who take over her mind and tell her how they want the story to play out. Monica is a member of Romance Writers of America (RWA) and several writer's networks and groups.

Lets see what she's up to next,........ After serving a nine and a half year prison sentence, Wahida Clark was released to a halfway house in 2007, from the federal prison camp in Alderson, West Virginia. Today she is the Vice President of the nonprofit organization based out of East Orange, New Jersey, Prodigal Sons and Daughters Redirection Services, a re-entry program for convicts and ex-convicts. She has given motivational speeches and shared her story at high schools in New York, New Jersey and Halfway Houses throughout New Jersey. She is also Vice President of Phoenix Academy Inc. An organization that also provides support groups and mentors for at-risk youth. The ultimate goal of the Phoenix Academy is to establish a charter and vocational training school. Wahida currently operates her publishing company out of East Orange, New Jersey, Wahida Clark Presents Publishing. WCP currently has 11 authors,15 titles in stores across the country including three Young Adult Novels and is the fastest growing and most popular Urban Independent Publishing House in the industry.

As an MC, Shanté was renowned for her ability to freestyle (improvise) entire songs. "Roxanne’s Revenge" was an example, reportedly written as it was recorded—in one take. However, the original version of the song was rerecorded after UTFO sued over the usage of its original backing track; the new version featured slightly different music with less profanity. People are most familiar with this version, which appears on the original 12-inch single released in 1984, with the original on the reverse side.

My Side of the Story" The newest collection of poetry entitled, My Side of The Story, focuses on the thoughts, feelings, emotions, life's obstacles, racial inequality, and heartbreaks, which women often leave untold. These poetic stories, written by Charron Monaye, doses her readers with ounces of her own life, allowing others to know that she shares the feelings of being hurt, taking advantage of, loved, cared for, appreciated, and/or in enraged.

The Force M.D.'s were among the first R&B vocal groups to intermix doo-wop-affected consonances with hip-hop beats and sold millions of records. The Force M.D.'s finally scored its first R&B #1 hit in 1987, "Love is a House," from the group's third album, Touch & Go. A fourth album, Step to Me, was released in 1990. The group then released the album Moments in Time in 1994. The Remaining MDs returned with a comeback album titled The Reunion in 2000. In an interview in 2009 President Obama highlighted the Force M.D.s among other artists included in his Air Force One iPod playlist. On April 8, 2010, the Force M.D.'s made a national television appearance on B.E.T.'s Monique Show.

BWS Chats w/ Original Member of Klmaxx Cheryl Cooley No one can forget singing the 80's classics, “The Men all Pause” and “Meeting in the Ladies Room. The all female R&B/Funk band, KLYMAXX, took the music industry by storm. KLYMAXX showed the world that they were more than just a group of pretty faces. These ladies also possessed some awesome talent. In 1986 they produced Billboard Magazines #3 song of the year, “I Miss You.” Showing that whether you were ready to hit the club or just wanted to relax and unwind they had something in their repertoire that you wanted to hear. Co-founder and original member Cheryl Cooley has revived that 80's sound. She has added some exciting new members giving the group that modern twist. During a time when the airways are saturated with sampled beats, unimaginative lyrics and synthesized music,KLYMAXX continues to be a trend setter and delivers dynamic vocals and uncompromised grooves.

Eddie Levert, Sr. is one of the founders and lead singers of the legendary R&B group, The O'Jays. Known for his raspy voice and sexy moves, Eddie has a range that takes him from alto to second tenor. His style is full of emotion and deep passion. To add to his resume, Levert has written and produced many hits as well as mentoring his very successful sons Gerald and Sean who also became major forces in the music industry. With a career that spans over 50 years, Eddie Levert has done and seen enough to write many books, one of which him and his late son Gerald have already completed ('I Got Your Back' pub. 2008).