Black Writers Collective

Our Team

Sherian Brown has written two novels and has edited several types of fiction, nonfiction, and other creative writing projects for nearly 20 years. When she’s not engrossed in editing her latest project, she enjoys reading, yoga, and traveling. She has a Master of Science in Cardiopulmonary Science and a Bachelor of Science in Biology. A freelance copyeditor with WordWiser Ink, Sherian edits medical, nonfiction, and fiction projects. Learn more at wordwiserink.com.

Gwyn Jordan is a developmental and line editor who specializes in romance, women’s fiction, mystery, thriller, and suspense. She’s also a literary agent and book reviewer for Publishers Weekly. Gwyn specializes in plot and character development, relationship development, consistency, flow, pace, showing vs. telling, head hopping, improving dialogue, developing conflict, and tightening sentences. In addition to individual clients, Gwyn also edits for Hallmark Publishing and HarperCollins. Her portfolio including titles such as The Suspect, Sweet Tea, and South Beach Love (which has been adapted into a Hallmark movie). Visit her website at golddustediting.com or email her at gwyn@golddustediting.com.

Shaundale Rénā is an American author and entrepreneur who holds a bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Systems from Grambling State University and a certification in technical writing from the University of Texas at Arlington. She is the author of one published book entitled Once Broken, Now Blessed (2009), as well as a contributing author for two additional publications that include If Only I Knew Then What I Know Now (2017), which debuted at #16 on Amazon Self-Help/Self-Esteem, and My Story, My Journey: Collateral Beauty (2019). She enjoys reading, writing, and traveling. Visit her website at shaundalerena.com.

J.C. Moore is a celebrated author and literary activist who writes about environmental, racial and other issues. After completing Don’t Fall Asleep, her first novel, J.C. began writing continuing education coursework for professionals and short articles for a small newspaper. Today, J.C. focuses on ethnic fiction, children’s books, screenplays and nonfiction literary works. Titles include award winning I am Crocodile; Oh! Could You Imagine; Don’t Fall Asleep; Time to G.I.T. Quick Public Speaking Guide; and the Light-Bearer & the Darkness series of short stories.

She enjoys studying history, religion, health and economics. Her website is jcmoore.net.

Omavi Victorine is an artist who attempts to introduce chaos into an otherwise bland ordered reality. He is a writer, web designer, graphic artist, and all-around computer geek.

Omavi’s work has been featured in multiple anthologies, magazines, and newspapers over the years as well as on many online literary journals and websites. His work has been published in the anthology “Web of Words” published by ShowEMall!. His poem “Black Beauty” was sampled by the artist Soel in his composition “Black Woman” on the album Momento.

To fill in his spare moments, Omavi designs web pages and does layout and typesetting for books. He is always willing to share his knowledge of web design, book layout, graphic design, and computers with anyone who asks.

An engineer by profession, he is originally from the Commonwealth of Dominica in the West Indies and now resides in Maryland, US. When not working, reading or writing, he enjoys spending time outdoors, photography and video games.

Tia Ross has designed, developed, and edited content for Black Writers’ websites since the late ’90s. Tia is a 30+-year veteran copyeditor and techie with expertise in content management, analytics, SEO, Salesforce, and software and web applications development. Tia has worked with “Big 5” publishers, including Amistad/HarperCollins, Adams Media/Simon & Schuster, and Moon Travel and Workman/Hachette Book Group as well as independent authors as a nonfiction and fiction editor. She is the founder of WordWiser Ink, a boutique editing firm with a team of elite copyeditors and proofreaders, and Black Editors & Proofreaders Directory, which profiles Black freelance editors and coaches of all levels and genres.

A certified yoga instructor and writing/editor coach, Tia hosts luxury writers and editors retreats worldwide. Tia is the author of So You Want to Be an Editor…But Can You Edit?. Her favorite pastime involves traveling throughout the Caribbean, Central America, South Pacific, South Asia, and South America, but she considers Houston home. Learn more about Tia, her editing services, or her writers retreats at www.tiaross.com.

Kimberly Bibbs is an author from Houston, TX, who writes to take people to another world. She knows she was born to write. She has dreamed of becoming an author for as long as she can remember, starting back in elementary school. She published her first book in 2013, Haters and Chasers, a fiction book about women with unconventional business plans. She also writes and edits academic literature. She enjoys collaborating with writers in person or via web meetings. Kimberly is an avid reader and enjoys reading both nonfiction and fiction. Her goal is to help other writers turn their manuscripts into books. Visit her website at kimberlyabibbs.com.

Zoe is currently working toward her degree in business administration to major in marketing. Although young, she has huge goals to achieve in her career and is actively working toward them. Writing since elementary school, creativity is not a stranger to her. She often spends her free time writing short stories and poems or designing graphics. And if she’s not actively doing anything creative, she likes to indulge in old Disney films.

Kyra Barr is a poet and aspiring author living in Atlanta, Georgia.

BWC has opportunities available. For more details, see Get Involved.

Advisors

Venise Berry is an associate professor of journalism and African American studies at the University of Iowa in Iowa City. Berry is published widely in academic and creative circles with books, short stories, journal articles and book chapters. Her academic research focuses on media, African Americans and popular culture. She is the author of three national bestselling novels, with a fourth to be published in 2022, and recipient of an Iowa History Makers Award from the African American Museum in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. In 2003, she received the “Creative Contribution to Literature” award for Colored Sugar Water from the Zora Neale Hurston Society. All of Me received a 2001 Honor Book Award from the Black Caucus of the American Library Association.

Professor Anita Heiss is the award-winning author of non-fiction, historical fiction, commercial women’s fiction, children’s novels and travel articles. She is a proud member of the Wiradjuri Nation of central New South Wales, an Ambassador for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation, the GO Foundation and Worawa Aboriginal College. Her adult fiction includes Not Meeting Mr Right, Avoiding Mr Right, Manhattan Dreaming, Paris Dreaming and Tiddas. Her most recent books include Barbed Wire and Cherry Blossoms which was longlisted for the Dublin International Literary Prize and was named the University of Canberra’s 2020 Book of the Year.

As an advocate for Indigenous literacy, Anita has worked in remote communities as a role model and encouraging young Indigenous Australians to write their own stories. Anita is a board member of the State Library of Queensland, the University of Queensland Press and Circa. Anita is a Professor of Communications at the University of QLD and artist in residence at La Boite Theatre, and has adapted her novel Tiddas for the stage.

Anita enjoys eating chocolate, running half-marathons and being a ‘creative disruptor’.

Our Team

Sherian Brown

Gwyn Jordan

Shaundale Rénā

J.C. Moore

Omavi Victorine

Tia Ross

Kimberly Bibbs

Zoe Foster

Kyra Barr

THIS COULD BE YOU

Advisors

Dr. Venise Berry

Dr. Anita Heiss