Photo credit: Mark Roberts
Best known for being a trailblazing source of inspiration in the literary arts and for her consummate planning and organizational skill, editorial prowess, and technical versatility, Tia Ross has empowered thousands with the knowledge, skill and confidence to achieve their dreams of becoming published creative writers and freelance editors. Lauded for her ability to orchestrate top-notch educational programs that comprise impeccable blending of people and resources, Tia’s conference planning career began in 2000 with a writers’ association meeting she has since directed into the most acclaimed conference in the U.S. for Black creative and professional writers and literary entrepreneurs (Black Writers Reunion & Conference). As a planning consultant, moderator and speaker, Tia has been involved with more than two dozen conferences, including the Detroit Writers Conference, Brother 2 Brother Literary Symposium, Hip-Hop Journalism Conference, Words & Life Christian Conference, Gulf Coast Writers Retreat, STC Region 5 Conference, and Houston Writers Conference, assisting with program development, venue selection, contract negotiation, website strategy, and volunteer coordination.
While planning and orchestrating stellar events is considered by many to be her forté, it is her exceptional skill as a writer, editor, web programmer, information designer and content strategist that makes her the hotshot that she is. For more than 20 years Tia has been mastering her crafts, producing content-rich websites and polished documentation, presentations and manuscripts for authors, attorneys, entrepreneurs, consultants, businesses and government agencies. Tia has edited and designed dozens of fiction and nonfiction books and literally hundreds of thousands of pages of digital and print materials with a focus on complementing her clients’ branding efforts while supporting business objectives, working on projects for such companies as Fossil, Thanks-Giving Foundation, Dallas Zoo, Scenic Dallas, Arch Wireless, It’s Your Party TV, Westchester Homeowners Association, Grand Prairie United Charities, Dallas Bar Association and J.L. Turner Legal Association, among others. A webmaster since 1998, Tia’s experience comprises web project management, site development, information architecture, usability, content strategy and development, e-commerce, website editing, database programming, FAQ/online help systems development and publication conversions for the Web.
Platinum Page Award Recipient
Awards
The founder of the first and largest nonprofit literary arts association to organize online for Black writers, Tia received the Platinum Page Award for being most instrumental in contributing to the lives and careers of African-American writers and literary entrepreneurs. In 2010 she was chosen as a Woman of Influence in Publishing by Written Magazine and was nominated in 2008 for an Influential Black Women in Business Award for her contributions to the literary community.
As an accomplished editor and web content strategist, Tia was named one of “Top 37 Book Doctors” in Writer’s Digest’s WRITING BASICS magazine. She is the editor of the 2008 NAACP Image Award-winning “More Than Entertainers: An Inspirational Black Career Guide,” a youth/teen guide which profiles career paths, options, and issues relevant to African Americans entering the job market or seeking to expand their careers. From 1999 to 2003, her work with the Black Writers Alliance website was recognized by several “Best Website” awards from Writer’s Digest Magazine, BET.com, and others, twice winning the popular Writer’s Digest Best 101 Sites Award for Best Literary Arts Organization Website.
Activities
Tia is currently the Communications Director for Eternal Life Inc.; Website Administrator for Choices Leadership Academy and Child & Family Services, Inc. Her volunteer activities have involved chairing and serving on countless advisory boards and committees within numerous literary, civic and community organizations. Tia has served as Executive Director of the Houston African-American Writers Society; Secretary of the Board of Directors of the Houston Council of Writers; Secretary of the Convention & Tourism Committee of the Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce; and Coordinator of the African-American Read-In Writer’s Walk. She has also served as a Big Sister and special events volunteer with Big Brothers Big Sisters of North Texas as well as a recruiter of new Bigs to the program. Other organizations that have benefited from Tia’s time are the United Way, 100 Black Men of America, NAACP, National Urban League, Dallas Urban League Young Professionals, CAAPCO, Grand Prairie United Charities, and Truman Middle School, where she served as the PTA webmaster.
In her spare time, Tia studies Egyptian and Middle Eastern belly dance, which she aspires to someday teach to help boost self-esteem and enhance self-identity among young women. Her favorite pastimes—when she’s not writing, reading, editing, or spending time with her two sons—are indulging in “bass therapy” (a phrase which aptly embodies her undying passion for hi-fi car audio), rollerblading, cycling, snorkeling, and exploring tropical locales and beaches as often as possible.
