Bright Skylark is also known as Aberjhani, an author of eight books and founder of the popular Creative Thinkers International website. His titles include: the celebrated art and poetry gift book ELEMENTAL, The Power of Illuminated Love; Encyclopedia of the Harlem Renaissance (Facts On File); Christmas When Music Almost Killed the World; and The American Poet Who Went Home Again.

A former editor for the U.S. Air Force, he served tours at Eielson AFB in Fairbanks, Alaska, and at RAF Lakenheath in England. He also served an additional two years as an EOE counselor with the USAF Reserves at Charleston AFB, South Carolina.

Washington Publications published the author’s first book, a compilation of fiction and poetry titled I Made My Boy Out of Poetry, in 1998. He wrote with Sandra L. West the world’s first comprehensive Encyclopedia of the Harlem Renaissance, published by Facts On File in 2003. Encyclopedia of the Harlem Renaissance won both the Choice Academic Title Award and a Best History Book Award. ESSENCE Magazine listed the title among its recommended gift items and Black Issues Book Review listed it among their “Recommended Titles for the Home Library.”

The Year 2003 also saw the publication of the author’s The Wisdom of W.E.B. Du Bois, produced by Kensington Books for its Philosophical Library Series in commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of the publication of Du Bois’ Souls of Black Folk. He published both a third collection of poetry titled The Bridge of Silver Wings and his first novel, the controversial Christmas When Music Almost Killed the World, through Black Skylark Singing Press in 2007.

In addition to the previously noted awards, Aberjhani is also the recipient of the Thomas Jefferson Journalism Award, the Creative Loafing Critic’s Pick Best Savannah Author Award, the Savannah Literary Journal Best of Publication/Irene Tromble Award, and the Connect Savannah 2006 Poet and Spoken Word Artist of the Year Award.