Jil M. Ross is a certified vendor with Chicago Public Schools (CPS) and City Colleges of Chicago (CCC) and The Chicago Park District. She coordinate and participate in local (Chicago) book fairs, book readings with such organizations as, Bookworms, The Kids Literacy Program for South Side YMCA, and Jack & Jill. She has twice been a guest on WNUA's City Voices, with host Stan West, to discuss her book series and the importance of literacy, folktales and storytelling in the African American Community. In addition, she speaks with students about the necessity and fundamentals of reading, writing and creative expression. She has been featured in articles in the Beverly Review and in Culture Magazine.

For more information on The Shenanigans Series™, visit http://www.shenaniganseries.com.

Contact Info: Email: jil@jilross.com

The Allure is the story of the marriage of John and Valerie, who after seven years of marriage have drifted apart. Valerie desired God's will for her marriage; as long as it meant she could have someone else to come home to. But God began to heal Valerie's heart and marriage, and began to take her and her husband in a direction she didn't expect.

Biography
Jackie is the published author of a non-fiction, and a fiction book for married couples, "Well Said!" and "The Allure". She is currently completing another Christian Romance novel for her publisher, Moody Bible Institute.

Jackie is a retreat speaker, a former radio newscaster, news reporter, and talk show host. She is an adjunct instructor of Creative Writing at El Centro College, and teaches a beginning Christian Writing course in the Bible Institute at her church, Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship.

A native of Dallas, she earned her BFA in Journalism from Southern Methodist University. She is a Ford Fellow in Education Journalism, and has earned course completion certificates in Christian Counseling from the American Association of Christian Counselors.

Jackie resides in Cedar Hill with her husband of more than 20 years, Louis Scott.

Contact Info: Email: jackiekingscott@yahoo.com

Velisse Ammons Williams hails from Joliet, Illinois, a growing suburb south of Chicago. Upon graduating from Eastern Illinois University, with a Bachelor's in Communications, Velisse entered the corporate world, working with two major fast food chains. It was not until seven years ago that she took a hiatus from her corporate career to become a stay at home mom. Consequently, she resumed her passion for creative writing. Velisse presently resides in Dallas with her husband and three children and is currently working on a follow-up series to her recently published work, Candy-Colored Friends. Her writings are inspired by her children in a pursuit to enlighten them about diversity, self-esteem and other relevant topics facing young people today.

For more information on Candy-Colored Friends, please visit http://www.velissewilliams.com.

Contact Info: Email: velisse@velissewilliams.com

D.T. Pollard was born in Henderson, Texas, and currently lives in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. He is married and has one son.

Drawn to writing at an early age he wrote short stories and attempted his first novel while attending West Rusk High School in New London, Texas. Going as far as to purchase a portable electric typewriter he wrote stories but didn't understand the world of publishing and never sought that avenue. He earned an academic scholarship to the School of Business and Industry at Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, Florida.

He stopped writing during his second year in college to concentrate on his academic pursuits. He was at the top of his class in marketing and graduated Summa Cum Laude. He was recognized with the Most Outstanding Performance In Marketing award for his graduating class of 1981. In addition to his academic pursuits, he was president of The Orator's Club which was a public speaking organization and won the competition during his freshman year.

After working in sales for some of the giants of the technology world for over twenty-five years, his desire to write returned after losing several siblings from various causes. His first novel The Trophy Wife Network was published in April 2006 followed by Rooftop Diva-A Novel of Triumph After Katrina in September 2006. Fools' Heaven is his third novel.

Contact Info: Email: dtpollard@dtpollard.com

Contact Info: Email: cwshannon@verizon.net

Captain Michael J. Lockwood is a commercial airline pilot for United Parcel Services of America (UPS). He has been flying for UPS for almost fourteen years since serving his country in the first Gulf War and Somalia. He graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy with a Bachelor's of Science degree. He then went on to be a distinguished graduate from Air Force Pilot Training.

Lockwood was born in Port Arthur, Texas. He is the eldest of three children. He grew up in a small town where he fell in love with being outdoors, fishing, eating seafood, and working in his grandfather's automotive repair shop. It was his grandfather who instilled in him a no-nonsense work ethic. His two hardworking parents reinforced the message that a real man should always work and provide for his family. Lockwood is by no means one dimensional when it comes to work; he's a pilot, a commercial real estate developer, philanthropist, and now author of Women Have All The Power...Too Bad they Don't Know It.

When not working, Lockwood's favorite pastimes are snowboarding, playing tennis, golf, and board games with his wife and daughter. Michael is a God-fearing man who is a loving husband, father and son.

For more information, please visit http://www.MichaelJLockwood.com

Contact Info: Email: womenhaveallthepower@mac.com

Kimberly Webb is a native of Dallas, Texas (Oak Cliff), who rose up to obtain her Bachelor of Science degree from Howard University and her Juris Doctorate (law degree) from Texas Wesleyan School of Law. In the process of achieving a successful corporate career, Kimberly had to overcome various health struggles including infertility, as well as a stress-induced heart attack at a young age. Overcoming these struggles through the power of Jesus Christ has allowed Kimberly to discover her real passion — ministering to hurting people from all walks of life.

Kimberly Webb is an accomplished author and a powerful speaker who leaves an indelible mark on all those who come in contact with her. She is a contributing writer for StreamingFaith.com, the world’s largest provider of online faith-based broadcast services. Additionally, Kimberly writes a monthly column entitled, “Faith Focus” for the Dallas Morning News.

Kimberly Webb and her husband, Steven, have more than six years of experience as Christian pre-marital and marital counselors. This powerful couple resides in Dallas, Texas with their daughter.

For more information, visit http://www.kimberlywebb.org/

Contact Info: Email: snkwebb@verizon.net

Linda Jones is an award-winning journalist and owner of ManeLock Communications, a professional writing and media consulting service.

Linda has written for a number of print and online publications, including People Magazine, The Dallas Morning News, Detroit News, Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel, USA Today/USA Weekend, Newsday, Heart & Soul Magazine, Africa News, Essence and Black Enterprise. She is a writing coach, conducts writing workshops and has taught writing at public schools, colleges and in summer learning programs. Linda has also served as a writing consultant at the Freedom Forum Diversity Institute at Vanderbilt University.

D Magazine, a Dallas monthly publication, listed Linda as one of the 50 most influential and dedicated African Americans in Dallas.

Linda's career highlights include traveling to Israel to write a series on the Black Hebrew Israelites; covering Nelson Mandela's first visit to the U.S. after his release from prison in South Africa and covering his presidential victory during that country's first non-racial elections in 1994. In 2007, Linda was the writer on the documentary team of the Random Acts Foundation gift-giving project in South Africa, Swaziland and Senegal.

She received a first-place award from the Florida Medical Association for co-writing a story about the survival of a baby who was shot in the head while still in his mother's womb and received a first place in feature writing from the Association of Women Journalists for her memoir article about her stillborn son.

Linda is founder of A Nappy Hair Affair, Inc., which promotes African American culture and identity and is author of Nappyisms: Affirmations for Nappy-Headed People and Wannabes! An essay from her book appears in Chicken Soup for the African American Woman's Soul.

Linda, a native of Akron, Ohio, resides in Dallas, Texas.

For more information, visit http://www.manelockcommunications.com

News Story: Journaling helps mother grieve and keeps the spirit of her baby alive

Contact Info: Email: info@manelockcommunications.com