Lori Bryant-Woolridge facts for kids

Lori Anne Bryant-Woolridge, born on May 25, 1958, is an American author and speaker. She is known for her books in the chick-lit style. This style often features young women dealing with modern life. She has also worked in television.

Early Life and Education

Lori Bryant-Woolridge was born in the San Francisco Bay Area in California. Her father, Albert Bryant Sr., was a Brigadier General. Her mother, Mable Lun, was a nurse. Lori grew up in both California and Silver Spring, Maryland.

She went to Paint Branch High School in Maryland. Later, she studied at the University of Maryland, College Park. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism.

Lori Bryant-Woolridge is the sister of U.S. Army Brigadier General Albert Bryant Jr.. Her family has strong ties to the military. She has a niece and a nephew who are currently serving in the Army.

Her Books and Writing

Lori Bryant-Woolridge started her career as a novelist in 1999. Her first book was called Read Between the Lies. This book became a best-seller. In 2000, it was nominated for a Golden Pen Award.

Her second novel, Hitts & Mrs., came out in 2004. This book also became very popular. It made the Essence magazine bestseller list. Her most recent novel was published in April 2007.

In July 2011, she published a non-fiction self-help book. It is titled The Power of WOW. She has also written for several collections of stories. These include Gumbo: A Celebration of African-American Writing (2002) and Brown Sugar 3: Opposites Attract (2004).

In 2005, Lori Bryant-Woolridge helped start the Femme Fantastik Literary Tour. This tour helps showcase books by female authors of color.

Television Career

Before becoming a full-time author, Lori Bryant-Woolridge worked in television. She held different production and management jobs. She worked at the ABC Television Network, Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), and Black Entertainment Television (BET).

In 1983, she received a special honor. She won an Emmy Award for her writing. This award recognized her individual achievement in writing for television.

Personal Life and Other Work

Lori Bryant-Woolridge lives in Virginia. She has two children. Her son went to Wesleyan University and started his own company. Her daughter graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park and is a photographer.

She is also a co-founder of Mothers Off Duty. This is a non-profit group for women. It helps promote continued education and parental responsibility. Lori Bryant-Woolridge is also a certified spiritual and life coach. She founded Stiletto University, which offers workshops to build confidence. She also founded The SOL Innovations Group, LLC. This group provides coaching for confidence and spiritual growth.