Norman-Bellamy, Kendra 1967(?)-

PERSONAL:

Born c. 1967, in West Palm Beach, FL; daughter of H.H. Norman (a bishop) and B. Francine Norman (a minister); married: husband's name Jonathan; children: Brittney, Crystal. Education: Valdosta Technical College, A.A., 1997; attended Valdosta State University.

ADDRESSES:

Home—Stone Mountain, GA. Office—KNB Publications, LLC, P.O. Box 831648, Stone Mountain, GA 30083. Agent—Rhonda Bogan, The James PR Group, Ltd., 5523 Salem Ave., PMB 125, Dayton, OH 45426. E-mail—[email protected].

CAREER:

KNB Publications, LLC, Stone Mountain, GA, founder and president; also a part-time fitness instructor and motivational speaker.

MEMBER:

American Christian Fiction Writers, Writer's Hut (founder); Cruisin' for Christ (founder).

AWARDS, HONORS:

Best Christian Author, Memphis Black Writers Conference, 2005; Open Book Award for best Christian fiction, African American Literary Award Show, 2006.

WRITINGS:

A Love So Strong, Moody Publishers (Chicago, IL), 2004.

For Love & Grace, New Spirit/BET (Washington, DC), 2004.

Because of Grace, New Spirit/BET (Washington, DC), 2005.

Crossing Jhordan's River, Moody Publishers (Chicago, IL), 2005.

(With Maxine Billings and Linda Hudson-Smith) Thicker Than Water, New Spirit/BET Books (Washington, DC), 2005.

More Than Grace, Kimani Press (New York, NY), 2006.

One Prayer Away, Moody Publishers (Chicago, IL), 2006.

(With Patricia Haley and Tim McCollors) The Midnight Clear, KNB Publications (Stone Mountain, GA), 2006.

(With Hank Stewart) Three Fifty-seven A.M.: Timing Is Everything, Urban Books (New York, NY), 2007.

Contributor to periodicals, including WOW; columnist for Hope for Women and Global Women.

SIDELIGHTS:

Kendra Norman-Bellamy began writing in 2002, when she was a self-published author trying to break into the business. She went on to cofound KNB Publications, LLC, an independent publishing house, and to sell her books to such publishers as Harlequin, Urban Books, and Moody Publishers. Also a motivational speaker, Norman-Bellamy helps people achieve their goals through writing and faith, and she has an online support group for writers called the Writer's Hut. As well, she is cofounder of Cruisin' for Christ, a cruise that enables individuals to celebrate their faith through various artistic endeavors. Her novels are primarily inspirational romances, and include such titles as Crossing Jhordan's River, More Than Grace, and One Prayer Away.

Other titles stress friendship rather than romance, such as For Love & Grace. This is the story of two friends, Dr. Gregory Dixon and attorney Derrick Madison, whose relationship is tested when Dixon finds himself performing surgery on the man responsible for Madison's mother's death in a serious car accident. A reviewer for the U Can Mark My Word Web site remarked: "Superbly written, this novel is a perfect example of a test of faith and a test of friendship."

In an interview for the Tiffany Godfrey Web site, Norman-Bellamy explained her interest in writing Christian fiction: "I believe my spiritual foundation has everything to do with where I am in my writing career. Christ is the one who gave me this gift in the first place and whether or not I'd use it to His glory was never in question."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Booklist, January 1, 2007, John Mort, review of One Prayer Away, p. 58.

Library Journal, November 1, 2005, Tamara Butler, review of Thicker Than Water, p. 62.

Publishers Weekly, May 31, 2004, review of A Love So Strong, p. 50.

ONLINE

A Christian Writer's World Blog,http://lenanesondooley.blogspot.com/ (August 30, 2007), interview with Kendra Norman-Bellamy.

Kendra Norman-Bellamy MySpace Page,http://www.myspace.com/KendraNorman-Bellamy (August 30, 2007).

KNB Publications Home Page,http://www.knb-publications.com (August 30, 2007).

Novel Journey Blog,http://noveljourney.blogspot.com/ (May 3, 2006), Ane Mulligan, interview with Kendra Norman-Bellamy.

Romer Review,http://www.theromerreview.com/ (August 30, 2007), interview with Kendra Norman-Bellamy.

Sistah Circle Book Club,http://www.thesistahcircle.com/ (August 30, 2007), interview with Kendra Norman-Bellamy.

Suite 101,http://www.suite101.com/ (December 2, 2003), Dee Y. Stewart, "Not the Same ol' Story: An Interview with Inspirational Romance Author, Kendra Norman-Bellamy."

Tiffany Godfrey Web site,http://www.aboveeveryname.com/ (August 30, 2007), interview with Kendra Norman-Bellamy.

U Can Mark My Word Web site,http://www.ucanmarkmyword.com/ (August 30, 2007), review of For Love & Grace.