Christine Platt

Christine Platt is a proud native of West Palm Beach, Florida. After graduating from Suncoast Community High School in 1994, she obtained her B.A. in Africana Studies from the University of South Florida, M.A. in African Studies from The Ohio State University, and J.D. from Stetson University College of Law. She  enjoys writing fantasy and fiction interwoven with the African diasporic experience. Her work is drawn from the inspiration of many, particularly Octavia Butler. Her debut novel, The Truth About Awiti, was released March 2015. She released her first collection of poetry, Dear Ancestors, in September 2016.

Kris Villarreal

Kris Villarreal is a literary fiction and fantasy author living in Atlanta, Georgia. She was raised in California by parents of Mexican, French, and African American descent. She grew up in south Atlanta and attended the University of Georgia. Her debut novel Logost was released in July of 2014. Her novel, The Changing Place, was released in September 2015. She is a member of the Atlanta Writer’s Club and her writing has appeared in publications such as Keys to the Page, JEZEBEL Magazine, and Flagpole magazine. Kris hopes to inspire a younger generation to read more and pursue their dreams. Kris enjoys reading, baking, drinking tea and wine, and spending time with her two dogs.

Kimberly Shorter

Baltimore-born, Maryland-bred writer Kimberly Shorter has been putting pencil and pen to paper since she was a little girl. Her body of literary work ranges from whimsical short stories, humorous and insightful essays to thought-provoking poetry. Two of Kimberly’s blogs, The Cicada Files and The Carb Lover’s Notebook, have been featured on AOL.com. Kimberly graduated from Temple University with a B.A. in Radio-Television-Film, and earned an M.A. in Creative Writing from The Johns Hopkins University. Her debut novel, Finding Sanctuary, will be released Fall 2018. She lives in Maryland with her supportive and loving husband , Mark.

Té V. Smith

Té V. Smith’s debut collection, Here We Are Reflections of A God Gone Mad ( Self-Published 2015) was selected for the ESL Emerging Writers Prize. He holds an MFA in Systematic Theology from Western University. Té was the 2015 Sophies Table Writer-in-Residence in Bridgeport CT., a POWER Democracy Fellow, and the 2016 Writer for Dupree International and was selected as a 2017 Writer-in-Residence, for the Rhode Island Writers Colony. His poetry, short stories, and essays have appeared or are forthcoming in various journals and online publications including Black Girl In Ohm, Essence, Blavity, The Kenyan Review, and Tin House. Té divides his time between New Orleans, Brooklyn, and Nigeria. He is publishing his first Young Adult novel, Exit Ticket (Field Order Press 2018) and is working on his debut Literary Fiction novel, Nyumbani.