“Her poems are reflective of African American culture and at the same time underscore our universal humanity.”
—Dr. Kevin Starr, State Librarian of California
Best selling author Terry a O’Neal, whose poetry has been published in numerous magazines, journals and newspapers around the world has been named among the most popular African American female writers of our time, featured in a book entitled “Literary Divas: The Top 100+ Most Admired African American Women in Literature”–a list of women who’ve left a mark on the wider world through their writing.
Her previous publications include three volumes of poetry, Motion Sickness, The Poet Speaks in Black and Good Mornin’ Glory; two children’s books Ev’ry Little Soul and My Jazz Shoes; and the award-winning southern fiction novel Sweet Lavender.
Her works are world renowned, recognized in South Africa, Iran, Jamaica, Australia, Canada, Bermuda, and across America. In March 2004, her poetry was translated into the Persian language and featured in the Persian Magazine Golestaneh.
Her name in Lights: In 2008, O’Neal ventured into the world of screenwriting, focusing on inspirational feature films for family audiences. Recently, she has completed a screenplay of her novel Sweet Lavender, which is currently resting in the hands of Hollywood producers.
With her Bachelor’s of Arts in Communications, O’Neal is well-known for her dedication and time devoted toward reaching out to today’s youth, encouraging them to carry out their dream, no matter how unlikely it may seem.
In addition to her writing accomplishments, she is the VP and Executive Director of the non-profit organization, Lend Your Hand, Inc. Educating the World’s Children; and the Founder of the National Black History Bee, a program devised to test students’ knowledge on African-American history facts in the form of a trivia competition.
Today, O’Neal is a contributing writer for Black Heritage Today Magazine, a publication that has often been hailed ‘the BEST black history month magazine in London’. Some of her upcoming works include The Sparrows Plight: Woes of a 21st Century Black Poet, a collection of original poetry; Cotton Day, a southern fiction novel; and Sweet Lavender, a Stage Adaptation.
Furthermore, O’Neal is actively pursuing a Master’s of Arts in Education degree at Ashford University, moving ambitiously towards her aspiration of becoming an instructor of African-American Studies in higher education.