Billie Montgomery/Cook is a proud Spelman graduate ('73) and retired University Administrator (Old Dominion Univ.). She is a freelance writer, author, local history researcher, playwright and dramaturg. Additionally, she has served as Coordinator of Drama Ministry for a number of years (Third Bapt. Church) and is Creative Director of The Not-Just-for- February Players, an African American Readers Theatre Troupe.

Cook's first book published by Judson Press, The Real Deal: A Spiritual Guide for Black Teen Girls, is a national best seller! Initially written to her daughter, Jeanina (deceased) who was facing the trials of puberty, countless "daughters/nieces/granddaughters, etc.," along with rites of passage groups, church youth groups, VBS programming, sororities, social/civic groups, etc., use this text in helping "their daughters" to understand the importance of building a spiritual connection with God, the Father.

Sisters of Scripture: Mentors in Womanhood, Cook's second book with Judson was honored by winning The Illumination Award for Devotionals (2015, The Jenkins Group). This text has proven to be effective and exciting Bible study/ discussion resource material for not only singles/women's church groups and prison ministries (Sunday School, VBS, etc.) across the country but teen groups as well.

Billie Cook's latest book, Rise Up and Pray: Sustenance for A Pandemic, The 2020 Presidential Election and Beyond, is a collection of prayers taken from her Facebook pages over the span of the year 2020 during the time of universal Covid 19/pandemic confinement. So many things happened that year - so many lives lost, the presidential election and it's ongoing aftermath, etc. Like so many others, prayer became Cook's "lifeline". She shares them within these pages.

Billie M/Cook resides in Portsmouth, VA with her husband, (retired) Rev. Keith S. Cook. Presently, they are members of Ebenezer Baptist Church, Portsmouth, VA.

Shayna Lear

Books by Shayna Lear