African-American Popular Fiction
African-American fiction has exploded onto the publishing scene as a huge market that was untapped until relatively recent years. Now, even new authors are finding their books in print each month. The library has classic books by African American authors, and also a growing number of books by younger authors with a fresh, modern outlook. This list will help you get started with some lesser-known modern African American authors. These are just a few of many titles. If you need help finding any of these books or would like other African American fiction, please ask at the Reference Desk.
| Ansa, Tina McElroy | fiction with humor and mysticism |
| Berry, Bertice | Redemption Song is a serious novel from comedy writer Berry |
| Bland, Eleanor Taylor | mystery series featuring Marti MacAllister, black, female police detective |
| Briscoe, Connie | romance and sista'hood |
| Cary, Lorene | fiction, sometimes issue-oriented |
| Channer, Colin | romance with beautiful imagery |
| Cleage, Pearl | Oprah book author |
| Coleman, Evelyn | mysteries |
| Copeland, Sheila | Chocolate Star - good storytelling |
| Datcher, Michael | Raising Fences: a Black Man's Love Story |
| DeBerry, Virginia | Tryin' to Sleep in the Bed You Made and other satisfying fiction |
| Dickey, Eric Jerome | popular male author of Friends and Lovers, Liar's Game, Cheaters and other titles |
| Due, Tananarive | science fiction |
| Elam, Patricia | Breathing Room |
| Files, Lolita | romance and sista'hood |
| Foster, Sharon Ewell | fiction with a spiritual side |
| Gunn, Gay | sensuous love stories |
| Harris, E.Lynn | popular male writer with a different twist |
| Hayes, Hunter | Shoes on the Otha' Foot - novel about choices in love |
| Haynes, David | gentle comedies about middle-class Black life |
| Hill, Donna | light romance, mostly shelved in paperback |
| Jackson, Sheneska | believable characters, real-life stories |
| Jackson-Opoku, Sandra | absorbing characters |
| James, Breggie | Sister Secrets |
| Jenkins, Beverly | historical romance |
| Joe, Yolanda | modern romance with lots of comedy |
| Johnson-Hodge, Margaret | inspiring, real-life novels where characters deal with self-acceptance |
| Lamar, Jake | mystery |
| Little, Benilde | Good Hair |
| Major, Marcus | stories about friendship from a young, black male perspective |
| Mallette, Gloria | Shades of Jade - a novel about letting your friends know too much |
| McCann, Timmothy | Forever- a novel about a newly married couple whose love is challenged |
| McFadden, Bernice | touching stories, realistic situations |
| Mitchell, Sharon | Sheer Necessity |
| Neely, Barbara | Blanche on the Lam - Blanche is an unlikely sleuth in a quirky mystery series |
| Peterson, Brian | Move Over Girl - coming of age for a young, Black college man |
| Rice, Patty | vibrant novels about love and letting go of the past |
| Schunk, Laurel | mystery combined with spirituality |
| Souljah, Sister | Coldest Winter Ever - a novel about family life |
| Spencer, Camika | fun, light novels |
| Thomas, Trisha | Nappily Ever After - novel of self-discovery and Black beauty myths |
| Tramble, Nichelle | The Dying Ground - described as "hip hop noir" |
| Tyree, Omar | popular male writer |
| Weber, Carl | Lookin' For Luv - romantic comedy |
| Wesley, Valerie Wilson | mysteries featuring an ex-Newark cop - turned P.I., Tamara Hayle |
| Whitfield, Van | romantic comedy from the young, Black male point of view |
| Williams, Robyn | Twist of Fate - novel with drama, romance and suspense |
