NOW FEATURED: "ELEMENTAL Art and Book Head for Historic Orangeburg, South Carolina," in the news section.
Welcome to the home of the world-famous ENCYCLOPEDIA OF THE HARLEM RENAISSANCE.
I was born in Savannah, Georgia, and educated at schools throughout the United States, including Savannah State University, Eckerd College (St. Petersburg, Fla.), Macalester College (St. Paul, Minn.), Temple University (Philadelphia), and The New College of California (San Francisco). I served my literary apprenticeship for eight years as an editor, public affairs specialist, and human relations counselor for the U.S. Air Force in Alaska, Great Britain, and Charleston, S.C.
Lately I've become a person prone to sharing in the great collective literary adventures of the modern world so recently founded Creative Thinkers International . In addition, I currently stand as a member of the Authors Guild, Inc., the American Academy of Poets, and Amazon Connect in addition to this great community known as Authors Den.
I'm grateful for the fact that, in addition to winning major awards for Encyclopedia of the Harlem Renaissance (Facts On File), the book was also listed by Black Issues Book Review as one of its "essential reference books for the home library" and listed in ESSENCE Magazine as a recommended holiday gift item. But since I Made My Boy Out of Poetry was my first published book, I'm extremely fond of it as well. And since The Wisdom of W.E.B. Du Bois allowed my name the privilege of sharing a by-line with the great Du Bois himself, well how could I not be humbled and thankful?
For information on acquiring literary properties by Aberjhani, please contact the following:
Stephany Evans
FinePrint Literary Management
240 West 35th Street
Suite 500
New York, NY 10001
212-279-1410 www.fineprintlit.com
Birth Place: Savannah, GA USA
Accomplishments: I’ve been fortunate enough to win a few awards, most recently that of BEST POET AND SPOKEN WORD ARTIST in the 2006 Connect Savannah Readers' Poll and POET OF THE MONTH for January 2007 at THE WRITING FORUM. I'm also a recipient of the Irene Tromble McAlister Literary Prize, and won selection as the “Critic’s Pick” for “Best Savannah Author” in the CREATIVE LOAFING Entertainment Magazine’s “Best of Savannah Year 2000” poll. I have also been selected for inclusion in CONTEMPORARY AUTHORS (published by Gale), which since 1962 has been the most authoritative reference on world authors.
Books
Elemental: The Power of Illuminated Love by . Aberjhani The city of Savannah, Georgia, long celebrated by tourists and natives alike for its charm, beauty, and cultural diversity, has just added another jewel to its fabled crown. ELEMENTAL: The Power of Illuminated Love is a celebrated gift book by two of the city’s most acclaimed creative artists: painter Luther E. Vann, whose work is currently on display at the Telfair Museum Jepson Center for the Ar... Amazon.comAmazon.co.ukBarnes & Noble.comSoar PublishingBlack Books Plus
The American Poet Who Went Home Again by . Aberjhani Expands beyond the safety of pages bound by predictability to explore and often confirm exciting creative possibilities. A shimmering collage of memoir, creative nonfiction, literary journalism, and dizzying flights into poetic observation, this is the amazing story of one writer’s rediscovery of his family, his hometown, and himself...
Takes readers on epic jaunt across landscapes of “t... Click here to buy this book! Amazon.comAmazon.co.ukBarnes & Noble.comAmazonBarnes and Noble
Encyclopedia of the Harlem Renaissance by . Aberjhani The Harlem Renaissance remains exciting, inspiring, and irresistible in the first half of the 21st Century for the same reason that the many people who lived it found it exciting, inspiring, and irresistible in the first half of the 20th Century. Despite the soul-crushing challenges of war, racism, sexism, and political oppression of every kind, poets of the Harlem Renaissance shined a light of h... Amazon.comAmazon.co.ukBarnes & Noble.comFacts On File
Visions of A Skylark Dressed in Black by . Aberjhani “The woman or man who is a poet, or fiction writer, or playwright, or all of these, is engaged constantly in a jazz ballet of vocabularies, passions, genders, histories, perspectives, death, love, and life. The music of revelation announces itself to the reader in somber brooding tones or in melodies light as air and one is invited to dance with the most captivating of partners: poetry. VISIONS OF... BPS E-Publishing
Literary Savannah by . Aberjhani "The statues of Savannah's Monument Square are silent. The statue of the solemn girl in Bonaventure Cemetery—made famous in John Berendt's blockbuster book, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil—can't speak. Only Savannah's literary monuments can give voice to the rich and diverse history of one of America's greatest cities; one that has for centuries inspired fascination worldwide.
Many ha... Amazon.comAmazon.co.ukBarnes & Noble.com
The Wisdom of W. E. B. Du Bois by . Aberjhani In his many novels, poetry, histories, editorials, plays, and letters, W. E. B. Du Bois poured so much of his blindingly incandescent soul into his writings that no single volume could ever contain all of his words or works. In fact, had not the historian David Levering Lewis taken it upon himself to pen his Pulitzer Prize-winning double-volume biography of Du Bois, it is quite possible (sadly) t... Amazon.comAmazon.co.ukBarnes & Noble.comCitadel Press
I Made My Boy Out of Poetry by . Aberjhani I Made My Boy Out of Poetry is a powerful literary vision of rare scope, beauty and emotional intensity composed of stories and poems that flow in and out of each other like the most lucid and articulate of dreams. These are portraits and studies of individual souls attempting to make peace with an awareness of themselves as beings more spiritual than material in a world given largely to the latt... Amazon.comAmazon.co.ukBarnes & Noble.comiUniverse.com
Short Stories This Mother's Son by . Aberjhani “A man is not as much as he feels he is, but he is as much as he feels.”
––Jean Toomer, Essentials. (photo of Aberjhani by Barron Claiborne)
... Twenty-nine Birds On A Wire by . Aberjhani I am frequently surprised and delighted at the various forms that inspiration takes in our lives and at the diverse messages it brings. In the case of "Twenty-nine Birds On A Wire," the messages had t... Eyes Like Oceans of Infinite Love by . Aberjhani Before writing this story I had to live it. After living it, I had to convince myself that it really had happened. ... Keepers of Their People's Spirit by . Aberjhani A rare and powerful kind of story that one cannot make up.... A Lost Angel Singing Poetry: Excerpt 1 by . Aberjhani This excerpt from my novel, Christmas When Music Almost Killed the World, was the first in a series posted while completing revisions on the novel. (Cover art by Luther E. Vann) ... Uncut Goodies Part 4: the Current Conclusion by . Aberjhani In which Devoshona listens as Nicholas Hawthorn reviews new and mysterious music by Jimmy Redfyre and Ruzahn. ... Uncut Goodies Part 3 by . Aberjhani Prophecy and history revealed during a mass escape from an approaching killer hurricane. ... Uncut Goodies Part 2 by . Aberjhani Live from the editorial board room conference for the novel Christmas When Music Almost Killed the World (ISBN 0966235673) (Original cover art by Luther E. Vann)... Uncut Goodies Part 1 by . Aberjhani Notes from the editorial conference on Christmas When Music Almost Killed the World (ISBN 0966235673)... Is Your Life Still Your Friend: Excerpt 2 by . Aberjhani This is the second excerpt from my novel, Christmas When Music Almost Killed the World, which every day grows fatter, more demanding, and, I hope, more beautiful. ... The Whips and Hammers of Memory Unkind by . Aberjhani On the road that leads to memory, identity and destiny sometimes prove to be the same thing. Sometimes not. ... Born of Tears and a Midnight Train by . Aberjhani Who knows what miracles might be wrought by the steam from a good cup of tea and the power of a foot-stomping song?... Introducing Uncut Goodies by . Aberjhani Secrets and jewels from the editors' lounge. ... The Hero in the Wheelchair by . Aberjhani A salute to veterans. artwork courtesy of fotosearch.com)... Shadows and Prayers and Light by . Aberjhani But if only you could pause and remember as the shadows come closer that they cannot obscure the real light which is the light of the spirit... It is a hard lesson to learn.–– From The Philosophy of S... The Story of Nordette Adams' Un-Posted Birthday Poem by . Aberjhani Special is as special does.... Astonishing Tale of the Goddess and the Skylark: Part 1 of 4 by . Aberjhani What would make a gentle goddess leave her garden in the sky for a planned sojourn on earth?... Astonishing Tale of the Goddess and the Skylark: Part 2 of 4 by . Aberjhani What becomes of a goddess who trades a garden in the sky for one on earth?... Astonishing Tale of the Goddess and the Skylark: Part 3 of 4 by . Aberjhani Does a goddess suffer when scorned by man? ... Astonishing Tale of the Goddess and the Skylark: Part 4 of 4 by . Aberjhani Such are the ways of goddessess and skylarks on earth and above it....
Sunday Gospel Brunch Book Signing 7/27/2008 Author Aberjhani will sign copies of ELEMENTAL, The Power of Illuminated Love, following the popular Sunday Gospel Brunch held at the Telfair Museum Jepson Center for the Arts in Savannah, Georgia....
Elemental Paintings on Exhibit 5/16/2008 Paintings from Elemental: The Power of Illuminated Love on exhibit in Savannah, Georgia, at Jepson Center for the Arts....
Listening Party for The Goddess and The Skylark CD 11/10/2006 A listening party held in support of The Daughters of Destiny Dedication Ceremony. A percentage of the sales of THE GODDESS AND THE SKYLARK, DANCING IN THE WORD LABYRINTH, will go towards funding for New Orleans recovery efforts....
Paintings and Poems from Elemental Go on Exhibit 4/1/2005 Paintings and poetry from the forthcoming book Elemental, featuring the art of Luther E. Vann and the poetry of Aberjhani, will go on display at the new Daughters of Destiny Center in Savannah, April 1, 2005....
Links
CREATIVE THINKERS INTERNATIONAL
The purpose of Creative Thinkers International, also known as The CTI Initiative, is to help inspire positive creative responses to the challenges and the joys of twenty-first century life through all forms of writing, the visual arts, music, the social sciences, spiritual awareness, and philosophical inquiry. The online community is a growing one. Membership is free and site guidelines are posted on the main page.
KEEPERS OF THE SPIRIT
Gifted photographer John Zeuli has won international recognition for his portrayal of people captured in illuminated moments of playfulness, quiet peace, and deep reflection. I am happy to acknowledge that his photo of me was used to help create the cover for THE GODDESS AND THE SKYLARK, DANCING THROUGH THE WORD LABYRINTH CD. With his highly acclaimed KEEPERS OF THE SPIRIT exhibit, Zeuli's talents revealed him to be a shining spiritual presence in his own right. In addition to people in typical everyday scenes, the series (one of several) contains a gallery of renowned authors and I am honored to be featured among them. They include: Coleman Barks (famed for his translations of Rumi as well for his own poetry) Orson Scott Card, Harry Crews, Dr. Larry Dossey, Peter Straub, Maxine Swann, and Andrew Vachss.
Aberjhani Exposed on EXPOSE'D
The combination of highly appealing visual art and exceptional literature has always proven an irresistible one for me. Consequently, I was properly floored when I witnessed the stylish display of talent on the EXPOSE’D website edited by Mike Green and I was thrilled when he invited me to submit some material to it. I used the opportunity to publish on the site several poems, stories, and an article on poets and peace previously unpublished elsewhere. EXPOSE'D first caught my attention while I was enjoying Peter S. Gardner’s poetry and prose posted here at AD. I actually hopped over to EXPOSE’D with hopes of viewing more of Gardner’s art. Once there, I discovered I was in the midst of an international community of gifted literary and visual souls, many of them, like Gardner, possessing both talents.
CREATIVE SPIRIT OF THE HARLEM RENAISSANCE
The determined spirit of creativity, inspiration, and belief in the higher ideals of humanity that characterized the Harlem Renaissance not only continues to endure in the twenty-first century, but to flourish in numerous beautiful ways. It is to define, document, and honor this Second Harlem Renaissance and all it has to offer that CREATIVE SPIRIT OF THE HARLEM RENAISSANCE has been established. These pages will include both general and scholarly reflections on the movement as well as book reviews, poetry, mini-essays, art, and other inspired musings. Enjoy.
Additional information
A CHRONOLOGY OF MY LITERARY WORKS:
May 2008--Book of poetry with art by Luther E. Vann: ELEMENTAL, The Power of Illuminated Love.
December 2007--Book of poetry: THE BRIDGE OF SILVER WINGS (Black Skylark Singing Press, ISBN 9780966235609)
Nov. 12, 2007--Novel: CHRISTMAS WHEN MUSIC ALMOST KILLED THE WORLD (Black Skylark Singing Press)
3 November, 2006: THE GODDESS AND THE SKYLARK, DANCING THROUGH THE WORD LABYRINTH, PRESENTED BY RAHKTY, CD released: http://www.lulu.com/skylarkshine
19 October, 2006: VISIONS OF A SKYLARK DRESSED IN BLACK published by BPS E-Publishing.
August 17, 2005, cover story "The Artist Known as Pleasant," published in Connect Savannah News Magazine.
August 2005 poem "Fulton Street/The Series" published in ESSENCE Magazine.
July 2005 published one article, three stories, and six poems in the online literary magazine
EXPOSE’D.The article is: February 15, 2003, The History That Peace Made. The
stories are: The Us That Never Was, Angels & Shakespeare, and Birth as Prologue. The poems are: Christ Listening to Stereo, Coffee Morning Rhapsody, DarkMagusMilesAhead #7, In Regard to a Poet’s Birthday, Koo 12, and Poets Everywhere and Always.
May 2005 two poems, "Botanical Gardens #2" and "In a Quiet Place on a Quiet Street" published in
ESSENCE Magazine.
April 2005 poem "Star People" published in ESSENCE Magazine.
January 5, 2005, launched The Black Skylark Z-Ped Music Player web site on AuthorsDen.
January 2005, essay "The Light and the Way of Luther E. Vann" published in PERSISTENCE OF
DREAMS anthology.
September 2004 essay "Strength to Carry On" published in REDBRIDGE REVIEW online literary
magazine.
February 2004 poem "Coffee Morning Rhapsody" published in ESSENCE Magazine.
September 2003 book ENCYCLOPEDIA OF THE HARLEM RENAISSANCE (co-authored by
Sandra L. West) published by Facts On File.
August 2003 book THE WISDOM OF W. E. B. DU BOIS published by Kensington Books as part
of the Citadel Press imprint Philosophical Library Series.
January 2003 poem "DarkMagusMilesAhead #7" published in ESSENCE Magazine.
December 2001 poem "The Light That Never Dies" published in ESSENCE Magazine.
November 2001 poem "In a Quiet Place on a Quiet Street" published in anthology SONS OF LOVERS.
April 2001 correspondence with Bruce Reilly "Last Night Was Einstein’s Face" published in 2001 SAVANNAH LITERARY JOURNAL.
November 2000 second edition book of short stories and poetry, I MADE MY BOY OUT OF
POETRY, published by iUniverse.Com.
April 2000 poem "Sweet Brother Beat-Bop Daddy K (3/12/22-10/21/69)" published in 2000 SAVANNAH LITERARY JOURNAL. Winner of Irene Tromble McAlister Literary Prize for 2000.
December 1999 two poems "Every Hour Henceforth" and "Family Reunion: Remembering the
Ancestors" published in ESSENCE Magazine End-of-the-Century Collector’s Edition.
February 1998 first edition book of short fiction and poetry, I MADE MY BOY OUT OF POETRY,
published by Washington Press.
Spring 1998 poem "Return to Savannah" published in LITERARY SAVANNAH, an historical
anthology of Savannah, Georgia.
November 1997 cover story "This Mother’s Son" published in ESSENCE as part of “The Many Ways of Looking at a Black Man” feature. Photo of author included with profiles of: entrepreneur Sean Puffy Combs; singer Maxwell; writer Michel Marriott; political activist Geronimo Ji Jaga Pratt; and John Edgar Wideman; and golfer Tiger Woods.
November 1997 limited edition collection of poetry, BLOODBEATS, with illustrations by Christine Cummings published independently.
June 1997 poems "Washington Park #162," "blackman sitting on a rock," and "The Man That Poetry
Made" published in SMOG (Savannah-areA Mensa of Georgia) Magazine.
May 1997 short fiction "That Poem Is Not My Brother" and poem "An Open Letter to Poets
Everywhere and Always" published in The Dull Fly magazine.
December 1996 poems "Crossing the Bridge of Bones" and "The Unseen Companion" published in
The DULL FLY magazine.
November 1996 poem "Return to Savannah" published in 1997 SAVANNAH LITERARY
JOURNAL.
October 1996 essay "And Now for the Joy of Hunab Ku" and poem "Calligraphy of Intimacy"
published in OUT OF THE BLUE magazine.
September 26, 1996 literary review “Eye of the Eagle” published in CREATIVE LOAFING Weekly
Entertainment Magazine.
September 1996 filmed recording of reading for poem "Return to Savannah" published on
DISCOVER SAVANNAH CD-ROM.
September 1996 poem "Considerations: the Funky Thing About It" published in THE DUFF FLY.
September 1996 poem "Lost in My Father’s Room" published in OUT OF THE BLUE.
August 1996 poems "Sunrise" and "Jazzbabydoll" published in THE DULL FLY.
May 18 1996 special feature of column "Visionary Vibes: Savannah by the Numbers Part 2"
published in CREATIVE LOAFING.
May 4, 1996 special feature of column "Visionary Vibes: Savannah by the Numbers Part 1" published in CREATIVE LOAFING.
April 1996 editorial and poem "WillieMae Sketched in Years of Blue" published in HOMEGROWN
POETRY JOURNAL Commemorative Edition.
February 14, 1996 poem "A Letter Came Today" published with interview in SAVANNAH
TRIBUNE.
November 1995 creative nonfiction "Angels & Shakespeare" published in 1996 SAVANNAH
LITERARY JOURNAL.
September 1995 poem "Divine Morphology" published in POETS, ARTISTS, & MADMEN.
August 12, 1995 column "Visionary Vibes: Psychic Sleuthing" published in CREATIVE LOAFING.
February 24, 1995 poem "We Sang This for Shekhem" published in GEORGIA GUARDIAN.
December 22, 1994 literary review “Santa’s Autobiography”: Enchantment Spanning Centuries
published in GEORGIA GUARDIAN.
December 11, 1994 poem excerpt from "I Made My Boy Out of Poetry" published in SAVANNAH
NEWS-PRESS.
November 1994 short fiction "Shadows and Prayers and Light"; and poems "Miguel Upon the Sand
Dunes of Ecstasy and Hell", "I Made My Boy Out of Poetry", and "From the Life Between
Living" published in the 1994 SAVANNAH LITERARY JOURNAL.
November 5, 1994 column "Visionary Vibes: The Sexual Side of Spirituality" published in
CREATIVE LOAFING.
September 1994 poems "The Brother, The Keeper," and "In a Quiet Place on a Quiet Street"
published in GOT OUR OWN SOULS (Oyster Knife Publishing) anthology.
September 24, 1994 column "Visionary Vibes: Empowerment Through Creative Visualization"
published in CREATIVE LOAFING.
September 23, 1994 literary review “South of Haunted Dreams”: a Mixed Memoir published in
GEORGIA GUARDIAN.
September 10, 1994 column "Visionary Vibes: Getting to Know Your Psychic Self" published in
CREATIVE LOAFING.
August 12, 1994 literary essay "Lorde and Daniell: a Tale of Two Poets" published in GEORGIA
GUARDIAN.
August 8, 1994 column "Visionary Vibes: Seeking Guidance on the Path" published in CREATIVE
LOAFING.
August 6, 1994 "Visionary Vibes: The Power of the Aura" published in CREATIVE LOAFING.
July 16, 1994 column "Visionary Vibes: Touring the Astral Way" published in CREATIVE LOAFING.
July 9, 1994 column "Visionary Vibes: Dream a Little Dream" published in CREATIVE LOAFING.
July 7 1994 literary review Butler’s “Parable” a Powerful Tale of the Future published in
GEORGIA GUARDIAN.
June 18, 1994 column "Visionary Vibes: Art and Souls in the Painted Universe" published in
CREATIVE LOAFING.
June 4,1994 column "Visionary Vibes: Dealing With the Spook Factor" published in CREATIVE
LOAFING.
June 3, 1994 literary review “Dark of the Moon” Shines With Brilliance published in GEORGIA
GUARDIAN.
Spring 1994 literary review “Race Matters” Tackles Tough Issues published in SAVANNAH
HERALD.
May 21, 1994 column "Visionary Vibes: Through the Doors of Reincarnation" published in
CREATIVE LOAFING.
May 7, 1994 column "Visionary Vibes: the Angelic Presence" published in CREATIVE LOAFING.
April 23, 1994 column "Visionary Vibes: Sampling the New Age Buffet" debuts in CREATIVE
LOAFING Entertainment Weekly.
February 25, 1994 poem "Family Reunion: Remembering the Ancestors (In Addition to My
Blackness)" published in GEORGIA GUARDIAN.
February 14, 1994 short fiction "Kidnapped by Bliss" published in GEORGIA GUARDIAN.
1993 poems "Past, Present & Future are One (after a painting by Luther E. Vann)" and "The Light,
That Never Dies" published in GEORGIA GUARDIAN.
October 8, 1993 literary review "The Life & Grace of Arthur Ashe" published in GEORGIA
GUARDIAN.
September 24, 1993 short fiction "Me, Jason, the Beautiful One" published in GEORGIA
GUARDIAN.
August 6, 1993 literary review “The Famished Road”: Odyssey Through African Boyhood
published in GEORGIA GUARDIAN.
July 2, 1993 poem "Thoughts on the Future" and literary review “The Infinite Plan”: a Romantic
Survey of American Diversity published in GEORGIA GUARDIAN.
May 28, 1993 short fiction "Elijah’s Skin" published in GEORGIA GUARDIAN.
April 1993 literary essay “The Immoralist”: The Love and Evil of Andre Gide published in
GEORGIA GUARDIAN.
March 12, 1993 literary essay “The Subterraneans” Revisited: Checking Out Jack Kerouac in the
Age of Multiculturalism published in GEORGIA GUARDIAN weekly news.
Summer 1992 poem "blackman sitting on a rock" published in AFRICAN AMERICAN REVIEW.
Contact
Information
Bright Skylark Literary Productions EMAIL: Bridgeofsilverwings@yahoo.com P.O. Box 5493 Savannah
GA
31414-5493
USA