ReShonda Tate Billingsley always did have an active imagination. From making up stories to crafting award-winning poems, the national bestselling author has always maintained a love for telling stories. After numerous rejections from publishers, ReShonda stepped out on faith, established her own publishing company, and released her debut novel, My Brother’s Keeper. The book caught the attention of one of the country’s top literary agents, who secured a deal for ReShonda with megahouse publisher, Simon & Schuster/Pocket Books.

The rest, as they say, is history.

ReShonda went on to sign one deal after another with Simon & Schuster/Pocket Books, and to date, has published nine books with the company, including the #1 Essence Magazine Bestselling Book, Let the Church Say Amen and the national bestseller, I Know I’ve Been Changed. She has five more books coming in the next two years. ReShonda’s latest projects include the sequel to Let the Church Say Amen, Everybody Say Amen and her teen inspirational novels, Nothing But Drama, Blessings in Disguise (which was voted a #1 pick by Ebony Magazine) and With Friends Like These, as well as her non-fiction title, Help! I’ve Turned into my Mother. She is also a contributor to the bestselling anthologies Have a Little Faith, Four Degrees of Heat and Proverbs for the People. She has won numerous awards for her journalism, fiction and poetry writing skills, including an international honor as Best New Author from The Black Writer's Alliance and she is a five time winner of the National Association of Black Journalists Spirit in the Words competition. Let the Church Say Amen, was voted best Christian Fiction book of 2004 by the Library Journal.

ReShonda’s upcoming projects include The Pastor's Wife (Nov. 2007); and Can I get a Witness (March 2008). She also has a book of poetry called Something to Say: Poetry to Motivate the Mind.

 

ReShonda’s literary career is such a success that she recently left her job as a reporter with KRIV, Fox 26 News to write full time. The University of Texas at Austin graduate and mother of two was also recently named a 2006 Texas Executive Woman on the Move as well as one of H Texas Magazine’s Top Professionals on the Fast Track. The award-winning journalist and much sought-after public speaker has also worked for television stations in Beaumont, Austin and Oklahoma City, OK. She has a background in newspaper, magazine and radio and is a member of The National Association of Black Journalists and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

Visit ReShonda on Myspace at www.myspace.com/reshonda_tate_billingsley

 

E-mail ReShonda at reshondat@aol.com