Laban Carrick Hill is the author of more than thirty books, including Harlem Stomp!, which was a finalist for the National Book Award in 2004. He's taught writing at Columbia University, Baruch College, and St. John's University, among others. Michael's College and is now a professor at Pine Manor College in Massachusetts' Solstice Masters in Creative Writing Program. He's also the founding and codirector of the Writers Project of Ghana, which has offices in both the United States and Ghana.