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Sil Lai Abrams

Sil Lai Abrams is a New York City based empowerment specialist, domestic violence awareness advocate and Men's Fitness resident relationship expert, penning a monthly advice column for the magazine's over 700,000 readers. Her passionate belief in the transformative power of greater self-awareness and personal accountability is the motivating force behind her work with others to create empowered lives, healthier relationships and end violence against women and children. Sil Lai's personal experience with overcoming depression, addiction, sexual assault and domestic violence gives her a unique ability to connect with those desiring to overcome their own disempowering thoughts and self-destructive behaviors.

LaJoyce Brookshire

As author Soul Food, LaJoyce is the first African American to novelize a major motion picture. She was chosen to write the novelization from the movie's script on the strength of her first novel, a suspense drama, Web of Deception. Due to LaJoyce putting to use her marketing and publicity expertise, Soul Food had outsold every movie tie-in book written before its release. With Faith Under Fire: Betrayed by a Thing Called Love, LaJoyce takes a pause from fiction and breaks a 10-year silence as she shares the true-life account of marrying a man with full-blown AIDS. LaJoyce travels the country talking about her experiences, lecturing in schools and churches and she has also contributed essays to Souls of My Sisters: Black Women Break Their Silence, Tell Their Stories, and Heal Their Spirits and GHETTOver GIRLS. LaJoyce began her career as a publicist, working with Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, Sean "Puffy" Combs, Whitney Houston and Kenny G. In addition to writing, LaJoyce is an ordained minister, with a doctorate in Naturopathy, as well as a Minister of Health and Master Herbalist degrees. She is also a Certified Group Fitness Instructor; an avid lover of African Dance, and an advocate for literacy and abstinence. She resides in The Poconos with her husband, childhood sweetheart Gus, daughter Brooke, and dogs Phoenix and Lexi.

Kyle Chais

A child living in a homeless shelter at the age of 12 might be expected to imagine scary creatures in the ether. At 13, while living with his single mother at a shelter in Brooklyn, Kyle Chais pictured fallen angels, wandering invisibly amongst New Yorkers, sadly hoping to redeem themselves and join the living. He started penning what he pictured, and at age 17, had completed a story about the lead fallen angel, who he called Nameless. "I got a call from a friend who was teaching a writing class at Grady High in Brooklyn," said publisher Karen Hunter. "She had a student who was being picked on by the other kids and whom she thought was talented. His dream was to be a writer and asked if I would talk to him. I found that he not only had a dream, he had already finished a book that was 360 pages long."

Keith Ellison

He graduated from the University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy in 1981 where he had been active in sports and the student senate.[6][8] At age 19, while attending Wayne State University in Detroit, Ellison converted from Catholicism to Islam, later giving the following explanation: "I can't claim that I was the most observant Catholic at the time [of my conversion]. I had begun to really look around and ask myself about the social circumstances of the country, issues of justice, issues of change. When I looked at my spiritual life, and I looked at what might inform social change, justice in society... I found Islam." After graduating with a B.A. in economics in 1987, he married his high school sweetheart[5] and moved to Minneapolis to attend the University of Minnesota Law School. While attending law school, Ellison wrote several articles in support of Louis Farrakhan of the Nation of Islam. He graduated with a Juris Doctor in 1990.

Karyn Folan

A black lawyer with a white husband, Folan encourages other African-American women to consider dating or marrying outside their immediate circles with a sincere but matter-of-fact discussion of interracial relationships. Challenging readers to stop letting notions of difference keep them from happiness, the Harvard-educated attorney addresses the conscious, unconscious and often-unstated issues that contribute to the ongoing taboo: is a black woman who dates or marries interracially a traitor? Is a white husband an emblem of self-hatred? What factor does the U.S. history of sexual oppression play?

Russell Goings

This modern-day renaissance man played professional football, started the first black-owned firm to own a seat on the New York Stock Exchange, and is credited as the "godfather" of Essence for helping to assemble the players and acquire the funding to begin the magazine. Russell Goings is also founder and was the first chairman of the Studio Museum of Harlem. Goings, who was a dear friend to famed artist and author Romare Beardon, owns the largest collection of Bearden's works. But Goings' latest contribution to history, might be his greatest—"The Children of the Children Keep Coming." This epic poem draws from the African griot songs and traces the history of blacks from the Middle Passages through slavery through Jim Crow through the Civil Rights Movement. It is to the African American experience what the Iliad and the Odyssey are to the Romans and Greeks. In addition to his writings, Goings spends his life working with schools to help educate children. He works with the Jesuits and started a philosophy and ascetics club at St. Aloysius Middle School for Girls in New York and has loaned a significant body of art by Bearden and Jacob Lawrence to the school. He also started a production company to make classroom-ready videos about black artists.

Karyn M. Grice

Karyn M. Grice recalls reading as always having been a large part of her life. That was an early discovery. Writing, however, came as a surprise. With no formal background, Karyn was quite pleased to discover that writing came naturally to her. After completing her sixth novel, What Happens In Vegas Stays in Vegas, Karyn entered a writing contest and made it to the finals. Karyn, a native of Chicago, Illinois, is a member of numerous writing groups. She continues to write in her captivatingly unique style while still perfecting her craft.

E. Lynn Harris

E. Lynn Harris was the author of eleven novels, including Invisible Life and A Love of My Own, and a memoir, What Become of the Brokenhearted. He placed ten consecutive books on the New York Times bestseller list. There are over 4 million copies of his books in print. E. Lynn Harris's family, friends and fans mourn the passing of this beloved author. He died on Thursday, July 23, 2009 in Los Angeles. He was 54. In an obituary in the New York Times, Bruce Weber described him as "one of the nation's most popular writers," and said: "Mr. Harris clearly tapped a rich vein of reader interest with his racy and sometimes graphic tales of affluent, ambitious, powerful black men - athletes, businessmen, lawyers and the like - who nonetheless struggled with their attraction to both men and women. His books married the superficial glamour of jet-setting potboilers with an emotional candor that shed light on a segment of society that had received little attention: black men on the down low - that is, men who are publicly heterosexual but secretly have sex with men. Mr. Harris, who was openly gay but who lived for many years in denial or shame or both over that fact, was able to draw on his own experiences to make credible the emotional conflicts of his characters, and his readers, many of them women, were drawn to his books because they addressed issues that were often surreptitiously pertinent to their own lives."

Karen Hunter

Karen is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and has written seven NY Times best-sellers, including "I Make My Own Rules" (1997) with LL Cool J, "Ladies First" (1999) with Queen Latifah, "Wendy's Got the Heat" (2003) and "The Wendy Williams Experience" (2004) with Wendy Williams, and "On the Down Low" (2004) with AIDS activist JL King. Karen's first novel, "Drama is Her Middle Name," sold more than 57,000 copies in its first three weeks. Karen has also written the critically acclaimed "Al on America" with Rev. Al Sharpton, "Revelations" with Mason "Mase" Betha and "On the Up and Up" with Brenda Stone Browder. Karen started her career as a journalist with the New York Daily News and was a member of the paper's editorial board. In 2001 she was awarded her own column, becoming the first African-American woman to have a news column in the paper. In addition to her writing, Karen has served as Assistant Professor in the Film & Media Department at Hunter College for the past four years and was named Distinguished Lecturer in 2007. Prior to that, she was an adjunct professor at New York University

Janet Jackson

Janet Jackson emerged from the shadows of an already famous family to become one of the most beloved, recognizable, and influential performers in the world. But at what cost? From the age of ten, when she made her acting debut on Good Times, Janet was told by Hollywood that she needed to slim down. Her well-meaning brothers, especially fun-loving Michael, teased her relentlessly until she began to believe that who she was wasn't good enough. It was an idea that no amount of critical acclaim in television and film or, later, international platinum success in music could change. Janet turned to food for comfort and escape. She developed a self-destructive pattern familiar to so many of us: fear and uncertainty led to bad feelings about herself and ultimately depression. The depression led to overeating. And her yo-yoing weight was painfully obvious in the bright lights of the entertainment world. It has taken Janet most of her adult life to come to terms with who she is. But she has finally broken free of the attitudes that brought her down and has embraced realistic goals that help her eat better, exercise better, feel better, and ultimately be better.

Kris Jenner

The Kardashians are famous for letting it all hang out. Whether they're moving cross-country, settling a family feud, dealing with heartbreak, or just having fun with one another, their lives are utterly relatable. No wonder America can't get enough. But what have Kourtney, Kim, Khloé, and the rest of the Kardashian clan got that we haven't got? Off-the-charts beauty, millions of dollars, and Kris Jenner—the superstar mom and manager who made them into the family we can't resist. On Keeping Up with the Kardashians, we watch Kris do it all. She runs a household, manages her children's successful careers, produces four television shows featuring her larger-than-life family, and still finds time to tweet to her fans. How does she manage to maintain her composure, enviable elegance, and unflappable sense of humor? After raising six children of her own, in addition to being a stepmother to four and a grandmother, multitasking is Kris's way of life. But she would have never made it without her unwavering belief in God.

RM Johnson

This Chicago native served five years in the United States Army before receiving his BS in science from the University of Louisiana. He worked as an X-ray technologist and a radiation therapist while he earned his Masters in creative writing from Chicago State University. In 1996, Johnson wrote his first novel, The Harris Men, which was picked up by Simon & Schuster in 1999 and became a best seller. Since then, Johnson has written nine novels, including bestsellers, The Harris Family, Dating Games, and The Million Dollar Divorce. Why Men Fear Marriage, Johnson's first crack at nonfiction, is a detailed look into the mind of men, explaining why so many are so reluctant to say "I do!" Johnson is single (for now) and lives in Atlanta, Ga.

JL King

JL is a New York Times best-selling author of On The Down Low and Essence best-seller, Coming up from the Down Low. He is the poster-person for the phenomenon of men who live a double life—who are in relationships with women but having sex with men. He has been committed to shedding light on the "down low" phenomenon and urging men to be honest and to get tested for HIV. JL's expertise has been cited in more than a hundred national and international publications including Jet (cover), Newsweek, Time, Sister-to-Sister, Ebony, People, The New York Times, and Essence Magazine. He also has been featured on more than a thousand web sites. He has made guest television appearances on Oprah, PBS, BET, CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, The Discover Health Channel and more than 150 national news shows. JL was even executive producer of the BET documentary about HIV in Black America that was the No. 1-watched documentary on BET in 2006. JL's workshops and presentations are the most controversial and widely discussed sessions at conferences throughout the nation. He has consulted with several national health and education organizations, and lectured at numerous universities and colleges throughout the country. He also has presented at over 150 state and national conferences. Named one The 50 Most Intriguing African Americans for 2004 in the November issue of Ebony magazine, JL is also the recipient of several awards for his work in educating people about the importance of getting tested for HIV and his work in motivating people to make healthy choices when it comes to sex has been commended by health officials around the world. When he is not working or writing, JL is the CEO of the Lillie Mae King Foundation, which he founded to provide financial support to black families who have been impacted by HIV/AIDS. JL lives in Atlanta, Georgia and is the proud father of two—both college graduates.

Patti LaBelle

She personifies the words "diva" and "dynamo." In the world of music, there is perhaps not a more dynamic performer than Patti Labelle. For more than 40 years, the three-time Grammy-winning legend has electrified crowds from the days of the Bluebelles and Labelle all the way to the present, where she still is putting out hits, even in the gospel arena. She is a pioneer. And Patti Labelle never stops. As an author, her autobiography, Don't Block the Blessings spent weeks atop the New York Times best-seller's list. And when she decided to show the world her other gift—cooking—she didn't disappoint there, either, selling more than a million copies of her first two cookbooks. Miss Patti is releasing her third cookbook, Patti Labelle: The Good Life just in time for Thanksgiving. It, too, will be hit! (Check out her line hot sauces)

John Lansing

John Lansing has spent the past two decades writing and producing network television. He was a writer and producer for five years on "Walker, Texas Ranger." In the summer of 2010, he co-executive produced the ABC series "Scoundrels." John's first book was Good Cop, Bad Money, a true crime tome with former NYPD Inspector Glen Morisano. Devil's Necktie is his first novel. A native of Long Island, John now resides in Los Angeles.

Frank Matthews

Prison. Not the average place you would expect to find a prodigious and profound author. But that's where Frank Matthews honed his craft during the ten years he spent behind bars. The triumphant journey of Frank Matthews from inmate to author is no ordinary one. The New York City native grew up with aspirations of one day becoming a household name as an NBA superstar. His dream took a detour (but end result will be the same). The lure of the streets and its fast money took Matthews away from hoops and into another game—the drug trade—where he found instant success. But a deal gone bad eventually landed him behind bars. Once incarcerated, Matthews had few options of how to spend his seemingly unending time. Taking advantage of the still and silent nights, Matthews spent hours plunged into "fictional" worlds created by two of the most renowned storytellers in African-American history—Iceberg Slim and Donald Goines.

Karen E. Quinones Miller

Essence best selling and NAACP Literary Award Nominee, Karen E. Quinones Miller was born and raised in Harlem in 1958. Miller dropped out of school during the eighth grade, and spent the majority of her teenage years experiencing street life first-hand. After getting a job as a police attendant in New York City's Midtown North police precinct, Miller became friends with a number of police officers who persuaded her that the life she was living could lead to an early death. So at age 22, Miller joined the Navy and after spending five years in the Navy, Miller married, had a child and divorced all within a two-year period. At age 29, she got a secretarial job with The Philadelphia Daily News, but after three years complaining about the paper's coverage of people living below the poverty level she quit and started taking journalism classes at Temple University. After graduation she became a newspaper reporter, and worked for the Associated Press, The Norfolk Virginian Pilot, and lastly for The Philadelphia Inquirer where she was employed for nine years. She also worked as a correspondent for People Magazine from 1996 to 1999.

Rajen Persaud

Rajen Persaud is a nationally touring stand-up comedian, day trader, filmmaker, and lecturer. He is the author of the non-fiction book Making It Through College, which chronicled his rise from failing high school student to college graduate. He lives in New York City.

Sheryl Lee Ralph

With continued success on stage, screen, television and music along with her philanthropic endeavors, Sheryl Lee Ralph has never been one to rest on her laurels. A triple threat dreamgirl, Ralph is an acclaimed veteran of film, television and the Broadway stage. Her award-winning work includes creating the role of Deena Jones in the legendary Broadway musical, "Dreamgirls," and earning Best Actress nods for Tony and Drama Desk Awards. Recently, she returned to Broadway for a 12-month stint in the Tony-award winning musical, "Thoroughly Modern Millie,' portraying the sassy chanteuse Muzzy Van Hossmere.

Wendy Williams

Mother, wife and best-selling author Wendy Williams burst onto the national talk show scene in July 2009 with the launch of the syndicated weekday program, "The Wendy Williams Show." Called a "breakthrough in daytime" by The New York Times, "The Wendy Williams Show," which airs in 52 countries, and is now in its third season, has just been renewed on Fox through 2014.

Luther Wright

Selected with the No. 18 in the first round of the NBA draft by the Utah Jazz, Luther Wright had the makings of a storybook life. He had a five-year, $5 million contract with a winning team, playing alongside Karl Malone and John Stockton. But he never wanted it. He never wanted to be seven-foot-two inches tall. He just wanted to be normal Luther Wright just wanted to fit in. In his very revealing memoir, Wright will talk about the journey that led him from a high school national championship with Elizabeth High School to the NBA and then his downward spiral to crack addiction and homelessness. It was when he hit rock bottom—having his toes amputated from walking barefoot in the snow—that he decided to change his life. And Wright found the Lord. Today, he heads a youth ministry and he tours around the country talking to young people about his story. Wright is newly married to Angela Felton Wright and lives in Jersey City.