Writer's Life Chats

Aleka Melson was born and raised in the Washington DC, Maryland area. She is currently a member of The Life Center Church in Camp Springs, MD under the direction of pastor Jay Cameron.  She works for CareFirst Blue Cross Blue Shield as a quality assurance auditor.  She is a mentor with the I Love Me girls mentoring program and currently teaches/coaches the Friendly High School flag team which is her alma mater.  Aleka is a proud mother of a daughter who just graduated from high school and as she prepares her for the next chapter of her life in college, she is now preparing herself to take on the role of being a new author.   PRECIOUS WILLIAMS-As a 13-time local and national business elevator pitch champion and former lawyer, Precious Williams has been featured on top television shows and publications for her pitching and branding skills. She was featured in ABC’s “Shark Tank,” CNN, MSNBC, Wall Street Journal as well as several others.The philosophy of her “killer” pitch is evident in the strategic and personalized creative communications and presentations solutions Williams puts forth. As a serial entrepreneur, international professional speaker, and coach, Williams is equipped to bring life, authenticity, strategy, and boldness to all your oral and written communication needs.   Williams is a graduate of Spelman College and Rutgers School of Law. She is a current member of Phi Beta Kappa and lives in New York.

As Founder and Owner of Pen Legacy ®, Charron Monaye has been recognized as a Literary Game Changer who doesn’t mind adapting words into legacies. She’s authored 10 books (co-authored 4), published over 25 new authors, written/produced 3 theatrical productions, contributed to more than 20 book anthologies worldwide, and hired to adapt other novels into theatrical scripts such as; From Federal Prison to First Lady, Til Death Do us Part, Testify, just to name a few. In 2018/2019, she had the opportunity to produce and premiere her sold-out stage play, “Get Out Of Your Own Way” in Hollywood, California and Times Square, New York.  Utilizing many of the same tactics commonly used today, Charron Monaye gave a new meaning to what it means to “share your truth” and exemplifies just how far your truth will take you. From her then unprecedented writing techniques to the continuously innovative ways in which she uses social issues, current events, timeless messages and her expertise on scriptwriting and storytelling, Charron remains a cutting-edge writer, who pushes all boundaries.  Toni Moore, Esquire is an attorney, author, and strategist who is committed to helping women become savvy CEOs in every aspect of their lives.  Toni Moore is a first-generation college student who graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and attended the Temple University Beasley School of Law. Toni is a licensed attorney in the States of Pennsylvania and New Jersey; attained a Ll.M. in Taxation, Certifications in Group Insurance and Retirement Benefits; teaches Nonprofit Compliance, Public Policy and Super Soul Leadership and previously maintained an insurance license, mortgage broker’s license as well as Series 6, 63 and 26 Investment Licenses.  

J.M. Benjamin is an inexhaustible author hailing from Plainfield, New Jersey. He has penned over a dozen Urban Fiction novels, including his Essence and Black Expressions Best Selling Series, Ride Or Die Chick  with his award-winning debut novel, Down In The Dirty and Watch out For The Big Girls series while also being a  contributing author to five anthologies. Benjamin is the author of four nonfiction titles; From Incarceration 2 Incorporation, Incarceration: Before, During & After and 10 Solid Tips To Success in Self-Publishing: A Simple Guide and the highly anticipated, Things our Fathers Never Taught  or Told Us, That Our Sons Should Know.    Benjamin has received countless awards and acknowledgments for his major contribution to the literary industry, including an NAACP Award for entrepreneurship, community service and youth outreach.  After serving a substantial amount of time in prison and back to society, with a different plan...and a different direction. Mr. Benjamin is a prime example of the statement, ―It's never too late!   J.M. is the founder of A New Quality Publishing and upcoming indie film producer. Besides, he also serves as a motivational speaker and mentors to the youth and ex-offenders. Benjamin serves as a literary coach and consultant for aspiring writers and authors looking to successfully publish. He is an award-winning screenplay writer who won the Paul Robeson Award at the Newark Black Indie Film Fest in 2016, he's bridging the gap of turning books to film as a student at Ivy Tech for Visual Communications. J.M.’s contribution is bigger than just books due to his vision, dedication and passion.

Tinesha Boswell was born and raised in Philadelphia, PA and she is a wife, mother, Motivational Speaker, Wellness Coach, an aspiring author. Tinesha has a Bachelor of Science in Business Management degree from University of Phoenix. She is also a Certified Life Coach, Marriage Mentor Coach and is currently studying Nutrition and Aromatherapy. Tinesha is also the founder of i.P.U.S.H Wellness Coaching and Consulting LLC. What lead her to create i.P.U.S.H is due to her multiple chronic illnesses; asthma, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type II diabetes, and fibromyalgia. It’s purpose is to help you become at peace with your illness by learning to how to best deal with your chronic illness. i.P.U.S.H Wellness mission is to help women PUSH pass their pause by teaching them how to balance their Mind through personal development, their Body with fitness and nutrition, and by creating peace and Tranquility in their lives.  

Kinyatta E. Gray is an Author and the Creator & CEO of FlightsInStilettos®. FlightsInStilettos® was founded in 2018 by Kinyatta based on her real-life travel style -- traveling glamorously through the airport.  Kinyatta's goal is to inspire women travelers to put their best selves forward when traveling and to think about their individual travel style. Since launching FlightsInStilettos, the signature t-shirts and travel accessories have been spotted around the world. "Travel, Glamour, Slay." In 2019, FlightsInStilettos® debuted during New York Fashion Week and was spotted being worn by a host of celebrities.   In addition, FlightsInStilettos was featured on noted top tier websites such as Buzzfeed and ThriveGlobal. FlightsInStilettos® has been worldly recognized by vast platforms. Rising in the brand’s success, FlightsInStilettos was featured in Fashion GXD Magazine, which was advertised on Amazon.com and Barnes & Nobles. FlightsInStilettos was highlighted on the “Travel in Style” segment of BMORE Lifestyle on MyTV24 Baltimore co-anchored by Chardelle Moore & Christina Denny. Kinyatta released her first memoir in 2019 entitled: 30 Days: Surviving the Trauma and Unexpected Loss of a Single Parent as an Only Child.

Hailing from Newark, New Jersey, Kwame Teague is the award winning, critically acclaimed, and Essence #1 bestselling author of the street classic Dutch trilogy. His other novels include The Adventures of Ghetto Sam and the Glory of My Demise, and Thug Politics under the pseudonym Dutch. With a passion for writing, Kwame is hard at work on his next novel. Kwame Teague has been in a North Carolina prison inmate since 1996 when he was convicted of kidnapping and murdering two people in a field outside Goldsboro. The 45-year-old from Newark, N.J., also has been lobbying for the past six years for the North Carolina prison system to recognize humanism as a faith group.

Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, Peter Mack is the pen name of Isiko Cooks, CEO of Peter Mack Presents, LLC. He has been writing groundbreaking novels for over ten years, including his recent release, FILTHY, based on a true story and winner of a PEN American Center book award. Peter Mack writes with desire, motivation and dedication in pursuit of peace, power and position. To live rich and die ready is the path to it all. Peter Mack strives to represent the best of creative fiction by offering dynamic situations with relatable characters. All of his novels are based on true events that readers find themselves living long after the last page is read. Isiko Cooks is the father of Jelani Malik, whose mother, Lisa Nichols, is herself an accomplished author and motivational speaker.

Stacey Fenner born December 1, and raised in New Haven, Ct the youngest of three. Relocated to Atlanta GA in 1999. Resided there for a year and relocated to Baltimore Md to care for her parents with her two daughters. Overcoming many trials and tribulations. Writing since a child as a way to express herself but never pursued her gift until 2008.Although she obtained her degree in accounting and currently works in that field her passion is writing. Her writing career is focused on writing novels about relationships. Her first book A toxic love Affair published on April 23,2015 which landed her in the #37 spot on the Woman’s Urban Best Selling list. Since then she has written A Toxic Love Affair Part 2, & 3, The Commandments of a Female Hustler Part 1 & 2, also her new series New Haven Ratchet business! Be on the lookout as this Author plans to take her writing career to the next level! 

Join Kisha Green and Joey Percy Newton as they announce this years winner of the Literary Jewels Literary Awards showcasing the greats in the industry. The awards are an annual show and voting polls are open for 3 weeks. The nomination process takes about 6-9 months to complete via social media and email.

The life of radio personality and celebrity blogger Vivian ‘Gossip Viv’ Billings was never easy. As a mother of two at the age of sixteen, she dealt with the harsh realities of an abusive relationship, and a boyfriend uninterested in helping raise their children. With great personal strength, she eventually left him behind and began a new life with her children. Years later, Vivian once again called on that inner strength when her child, Kadijah, confided in her that he was not her daughter, but her son. The news came as a shock to her. She vowed to protect Kadijah and herself by separating her personal life from her public persona. All is well until Vivian began filming VH1’s, The Gossip Game. It isn’t long before Kadijah’s gender identity becomes an on camera topic of discussion, and what was once a personal matter is laid out for the world to see. Faced with the feelings of being exposed, emotions soon run high, heated arguments take place, and Vivian loses track of what’s most important; her relationship with her child. Although it seemed like things would never get better for Vivian and Kadijah, who is now known as Kamal, they inevitably do. Vivian is proud of the man Kamal is becoming, and although uncertain at times, she provides love and support to him when he needs it the most. Vivian penned her debut novel, How I Came To Accept Him: Loving Your Child For Who They Are. In this emotionally accurate account, readers will be given a front row seat into her world as she deals with her reality and one thing is for sure is that her life is not scripted and there is no editing nor deleting of scenes.