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October
2011 Sweet Readers
in order of appearance
Jill Cloud
Guest Author
Jill Cloud is the co-founder of the Soul Factory Church
and founder of QueenBe and Customize Solution; she is also
the author of the forthcoming Raising a Doctor. Leading Them
To Their Promised Land Without Losing Yourself Along the
Way. In addition to being featured on CNN and "Rock
The Flow" Radio, Jill was honored by the National Congress
of Black Women for her tenacity, courage and leadership
ability. Jill’s philanthropy, community outreach and
nationally recognized youth initiatives have intimately
touched the lives of thousands. Her forthcoming book,
Raising a Doctor. Leading Them To Their Promised Land
Without Losing Yourself Along the Way is due out in 2012.
www.queenbe.com
Hollis Lashley
Guest Author
Hollis Lashley is a prolific artist and the author of
"Gifts from the Heart." He has performed his music and
poetry at many venues throughout the U.S. including The
Smithsonian Institute, The St. Louis Museum, The Minneapolis
Institute of Art and the Brooklyn Museum. He is a
life-long student of spirituality. He lives in Maryland with
his thyme plant.
www.hollislashley.com.
Erica Kennedy
Guest Author
Erica Kennedy is a graduate of Howard University and
Seton Hill University . She holds a bachelor’s degrees in
Journalism and a master’s degree in Writing Popular Fiction.
Her career includes stints at BET, Sister 2 Sister magazine,
and as a writing professor for Prince George ’s Community
College. Throughout the years, Erica has written short
stories, poetry, and essays for leisure, and most recently
won a songwriting contest hosted by R&B singer Marcell
Russell, in which her song will be featured on his upcoming
CD. She works fulltime as an editor and program manager for
the American Academy of Actuaries in Washington , DC , and
also as a freelance book editor in her spare time. In
addition to serving as president of the Literacy Council’s
Board of Directors, she is also president of the Howard
University Alumni Club of Prince George’s County. Erica will share excerpts from her
debut novel, The Tides
That Bind.
Gayle Cox
Guest Reader
Member, Literacy Council
Gayle will be reading excerpts from The Memory Palace
by Mira Bartok.
Notashia Thomas
Guest Reader
Notashia Thomas, graduate of North Carolina A&T State
University is currently working on a Masters degree from
Bowie State University. She is passionate about educating
children and works with tutoring programs throughout
Washington, DC. Notashia will be sharing excerpts from
Cold Tangerines by Shauna Niequist.
Urenna Okoye
Guest Author, When I Play Soccer
Urenna started writing this book when I was seven, when
she had just started second grade. She plays soccer, just
like the story in the book. In addition to playing soccer,
she plays the piano and runs track with the Hummingbird
Track Club. Urenna goes to school at Beltsville Elementary
in Maryland, where she has a lot of friends and the best
teachers in the world! When she grows up she wants to be an
artist, a doctor and an author.
Gabrielle Williams
Guest Author, The Making of a Young Entreprenuer
From the time Gabrielle was old enough to open her eyes,
she had an attraction to the shiny things in life. Gabrielle
began making jewelry at the age of 7 after watching an
instructional video on YouTube. Since that time she has
aggressively pursued her craft, and has done so with the
passion of a seasoned pro. She started her own jewelry
company in 2009 called Jewelz of Jordan; a Maryland based
business that sells beautiful fashion jewelry for both women
and girls with a focus on mother and daughter matching
jewelry. Gabrielle is also a motivational speaker reaching
young people and author of the book The Making of a Young
Entrepreneur. She loves promoting entrepreneurship and
the importance of pursuing ones dreams.
www.jewelzofjordan.com.
Talita Jordan-Miller, M.D.
Guest Reader
Talita Jordan-Miller or "Dr. J," as she is known by
patients, is Chief Pediatric Resident at Children's National
Medical Center, one of the nation’s leading children's
hospitals. She will be reading excerpts from My Mother’s
Rules: A Practical Guide to Becoming an Emotional Genius
byJudge Lynn Toler.
Sharrief McGee, RN
Guest Reader
Sharrief McGee has worked as a nurse at The University
of Maryland Medical Center in the Cardiac Surgery Intensive
Care unit for the past seven years. She specializes in
recovering heart and lung transplant patients as well as
patients with artificial heart devises. Sharrief enjoys
teaching and mentoring new nurses. Sharrief has been married
to her husband Laurence for 6 years and has two wonderful
children, Cole and Bryce. She will be reading excerpts
from The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver.
Jacqueline Martin, DDS
Guest Reader
Jacqueline Martin is a practicing dentist of 18 years.
She is the wife of Darryl Martin, for 10 years this December
and the mother of two absolutely wonderful sons: Randy (11)
and Daniel (7). She enjoys life and gives 110% of her energy
to everything that she involved in. She will be reading
excerpts from The Shack by William P. Young
February 2011 Sweet
Readers
 Marita
Golden
Featured Author at Inaugural Sweet Read Event
Marita Golden is the award-winning author of over a dozen
works of fiction and nonfiction including the bestsellers
Migrations of the Heart, Long Distance Life and
Saving Our Sons. She has taught fiction and
nonfiction writing at George Mason University and Virginia
Commonwealth University as well as many writing workshops
including the Norman Mailer Writers Colony.
www.maritagolden.com
 Temeka
Parker
Guest Author at Inaugural Sweet Read Event
Temeka Parker is a child and adolescent therapist with a personal mission
to counter the beauty standards and images characterized by
mainstream society by providing positive stories and
representations that reflect the innate splendor of the
African-American females. Locs Like Mine, her
first book, was created to encourage girls to express
themselves as confident, young females with pride in their
ethnicity, unique features and natural beauty.
 Miss
Shaleya LaNae
Guest Author at Inaugural Sweet Read Event
Miss Shaleya LaNae is a rising 2nd Grader at John Hanson
Montessori School. Shaleya started writing short stories
during "quiet time" in Mrs. Lee's class and has developed a
passion for creative writing along with a vivid imagination.
Now she is inspired to write stories from her dreams,
stories from every day life, and stories of encouragement.
Are you a writer who is interested
in supporting adult literacy and showcasing your work at an
upcoming sweet reads event? Please contact us at
info@literacycouncil.org to discuss scheduling and
availability. |
