Creating character-driven, suspense-filled novels that combine non-stop drama with the backdrop of fast-paced, upscale urban lifestyle, has helped Tracie Howard redefine the boundaries of African American fiction, while positioning her as a rising star on the literary horizon.

A graduate of Georgia State University with a BA in Marketing, Tracie’s professional career began in her hometown of Atlanta, where she worked in executive capacities for three of corporate America's best-known companies: Xerox, Johnson & Johnson, and American Express. Her success and leadership abilities culminated in an appointment as an integral member of the Core Marketing team for the historic 1996 Atlanta Centennial Olympic Games.

The corporate fast track did little to nurture Tracie’s creative side, so she persuaded friend and future co-author, Danita Carter, to help develop a book idea concocted over cocktails one night. What started as a lark quickly turned into reality, and within a year they had signed a two-book publishing deal with Penguin Putnam. This deal led to the genre-breaking novels, ”Revenge Is Best Served Cold” and Talk Of The Town.” Aside from her co-authored work, Tracie published her first highly anticipated solo novel, “Why Sleeping Dogs Lie,” in November 2003, ‘Never Kiss and Tell’ in November, 2004, and her most recent, “Gold Diggers,” was released April, 2007.

“Along with the freedom I derive from working with a blank canvas, one of the main reasons I initially felt compelled to write was my desire to depict another aspect of African American life,” Tracie explains. “I’ve always felt that stories and characters depicting the lifestyles of mainstream African Americans who are doing well was underrepresented in popular fiction. Their stories provide another distinct texture that will only serve to enhance our rich cultural mosaic.”

“Gold Diggers” is a witty, provocative portrayal of the glitz, glamour and greed that results when women (and men!) do whatever it takes to catch Mr. or Mrs. Moneybags. “Gold diggers have always been a source of fascination in our society,” Tracie explains, “from depictions of Anna Nicole Smith to Heather Mills, we are riveted by the gumption of those who attract, hook and reel in the man and his money. I wanted to dispel some of the myths about gold diggers; they cross socio-economic, gender, class and racial lines. In fact,” Tracie adds, “some of the most successful gold diggers are on Park Avenue, not at the club!).

Tracie's profile as one of the best new talents in African American literature was confirmed by her selection as a Featured Author for Turner Broadcasting's 2003 Trumpet Awards, and co-hosted the event’s Meet The Author panel in 2004. In addition to her career as a novelist, Tracie also served as the Travel and Lifestyle editor for Savoy Magazine. Her monthly column, 'Tongue 'N Chic’,' was a cornerstone for the publication and solidified her reputation as an arbiter of 'what's hot' in upscale urban lifestyle and culture. She has recently been selected by the National Register’s Who’s Who in Executives and Professionals to be included in the 2006-2007 Edition, and was also named one of Atlanta’s 50 Most Beautiful People by Jezebel Magazine (Nov, 2005 issue). Having always merged the creative with the strategic, Tracie, along with her business partner, Karen Harper, have combined their love of fashion and travel in Ethos, a company that markets and designs exclusive wearable art. Her next, novel, a salacious tale called, "Gold Diggers", will be published by Random House/Broadway Books/Harlem Moon Spring of 2007.