In this group there are two sisters, two law school graduates, two PhD students, and three journalists. Geographically, they live at different points east, west, north and south in the United States and abroad. In addition to authoring books featuring diverse Black characters and stories, they also share the belief that representation matters. Each has authored a critically acclaimed novel that has been well-received by multiple communities: young adult/teen, romance, LGBTQ+ and crime. In short, they are smart women writing smart books that entertain.
Maika and Maritza Moulite are sisters and co-authors.
Maika Moulite is a Miami native and the daughter of Haitian immigrants. She is a Howard University PhD student. Her research focuses on representation in media and its impact on marginalized groups. She’s the eldest of four sisters and loves audiobooks, fierce female leads, and laughing.
Maritza Moulite graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor’s in women’s studies and the University of Southern California with a master’s in journalism. She’s worked in various capacities for NBC News, CNN, and USA TODAY but her favorite roles were Head Start literacy tutor and pre-k teacher assistant. She is now a PhD student at the University of Pennsylvania exploring ways to improve literacy through children’s media.
Oakland native and law grad, Taj McCoy, is committed to writing stories championing Black and multiracial women of color, plus-sized protagonists, Black love, and characters with a strong sense of sisterhood and familial bonds. Her debut novel–a romcom featuring a plus-size heroine–SAVVY SHELDON’S FEELING GOOD AS HELL will be published by MIRA Books (Harlequin HarperCollins). When she’s not writing, she may be on Twitter boosting other marginalized writers, trying to Zen out in yoga, sharing recipes on her website, or cooking private supper club meals for close friends.
Baltimore native Morgan Rogers has a Shih Tzu named Nico and a cat named Grace that she would love to write into a story one day. She likes pupusas, red wine, and brunch. She’s Catholic and laughing about it. And if you troll her Instagram account, you will see she has an enviable eyeglass frame collection. Her debut novel Honey Girl was released February 23, 2021 by Park Row books.
Nadine Matheson was born and lives in London and is a Criminal Solicitor.
In 2016, she won the City University Crime Writing Competition and completed the Creative Writing (Crime/Thriller Novels) MA at City University of London with Distinction in 2018.
Her crime novel, The Jigsaw Man is out now.
Catherine Adel West was born and raised in Chicago, IL where she currently resides. She graduated with both her Bachelors and Masters of Science in Journalism from the University of Illinois – Urbana. Her work is published in Black Fox Literary Magazine, Five2One, Better than Starbucks, Doors Ajar, 805 Lit + Art, The Helix Magazine, Lunch Ticket and Gay Magazine.
Catherine’s short story ORION’S STAR is featured in the body positive anthology EVERY BODY SHINES (Bloomsbury, May 2021). Her sophomore novel BECOMING SARA KING is slated for release in 2022.
In between writing and traveling, Catherine works as an editor.
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Robin Caldwell is the blogger behind freshandfriedhard.com and a public historian and researcher focusing on Black culinary traditions and foodways.
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