Catherine Adel West graduated with both her BA and MA in journalism from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Her work has been published in Gay Magazine , Black Fox Literary Magazine , Five2One , Better Than Starbucks , and others. Catherine was born and raised in Chicago.
What We Kept to Ourselves (2023) Nancy Jooyoun Kim "What We Keep to Ourselves is a breathtaking literary force of a novel. With melodious prose, Nancy Jooyoun Kim has crafted a page-turning mystery with thoughtful meditations on family, love, and connection. This novel is a searing portrait on how long-buried secrets, desperate hopes, and blind compromises shape the decisions that affect generations to come. Kim is a master storyteller!"
The Art of Scandal (2023) Regina Black "The Art of Scandal is a one-of-a-kind story! Sexy and smart with messy yet relatable characters, this is the book you need in your life! Regina Black is a force!"
Sinners of Starlight City (2023) Anika Scott "Expansive and emotive, I couldn't put this book down. Amid the intrigue, revenge, and redemption set against the backdrop of the Chicago World's Fair, Anika Scott still manages to make Sinners of Starlight City a deeply intimate story about family with characters that jump off the page. Another notch in Scott's literary belt!"
One Summer in Savannah (2023) Terah Shelton Harris "Terah Shelton Harris blew me away with One Summer in Savannah. The grace and ease of her storytelling is a thing to behold. I found myself rooting for Sara, Alana, and Jacob. This book, put simply, is a masterclass, a lyrical meditation on trauma, forgiveness, compassion, and love. Harris is definitely a writer to watch!"
The Nigerwife (2023) Vanessa Walters "The Nigerwife solidifies Vanessa Walters as a literary force. Walters boldly and incisively examines race, class, and culture amongst a group of complicated women in a manner that will continue to resonate with me for years to come!"
Anywhere You Run (2022) Wanda M Morris "A propulsive and immersive journey among the treacherous landscape of America in the early 1960s told through the eyes of black women. With unflinching prose, Wanda M. Morris weaves a story of love, loss, and unimaginable strength."
Savvy Sheldon Feels Good as Hell (2022) Taj McCoy "Savvy Sheldon Feels Good as Hell hits all the marks! It's sexy, sumptuous and superb. Funny with fantastic characters and a lot of heart, Taj McCoy takes us on Savvy's journey full of self-realization, self-love and self-empowerment with a graceful poise making it hard to believe this is her debut! Phenomenal food, great friends and a handsome contractor will make us all feel good as hell! McCoy is a new voice in rom-com that's here to stay!"
Honey Girl (2021) Morgan Rogers "HONEY GIRL is a fun, heartfelt and uncompromising look at the risks we take to find love and discover who we are. Morgan Rogers' unique and often poetic prose makes you feel found. It makes you feel seen, no matter who you are. There is a sweetness to HONEY GIRL you'll want to savor for a very long time!"