Born, raised and residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Brenda L. Thomas is the epitome of what it truly means to be a Philly Girl.
Growing up in the 70's, the youngest of 5, Brenda was the one among her siblings who often found herself challenged by the world around her and so became the one to test boundaries and live dangerously. Throughout her adolescence, Brenda's sister Gwennie, although 12 years her senior, became Brenda's early influence in fashion and beauty while the influence of her three older brothers' gave her a glimpse inside a man's world. However, it was her parents who kept her grounded by always telling her to "Be yourself."
Always a "reader", it was in 8th grade that she discovered while rooting through her parents closet, Drum, by Kyle Onstott, a graphic novel detailing slave/owner relationships which drove her deep into her culture. She began to dream about what she might become and instead of being a nurse or secretary; she told the high school counselor that she would grow up to someday be a writer of her own autobiography.
All grown up, after completing a stint at court reporting school, Brenda met a man, fell in love, produced two children, Kelisha and Kelvin and consequently fell into an abusive relationship that lasted for 15 years. While the tumultuous push and pull of her marriage almost literally tore her to pieces, it was her husband's forbiddance of her writing that was an oppression she could not bear. In reaching for a safe haven, she found it in, of all places, Corporate America, and worked her way up the ranks from Executive Assistant at IBM to Marketing Assistant at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius.
She excelled in the 9 to 5 grind and when she ran out of obstacles to conquer, founded her own company, Admin Ink. It was through Admin Ink that Brenda wound up as the Director of Marketing & Player Relations at AND 1 Basketball where she came face to face with now New York Knicks', Stephon X. Marbury. It was here that Brenda was launched into the world of personal assistance, entering into what she refers to as the underbelly of the NBA. With Stephon she mastered the world of NBA basketball and birthed the idea for her first novel, Threesome, where seduction, power and basketball collide.
Since self-publishing Threesome, Brenda has received coverage for her literary skills in many media outlets. Whether it's TV or print, Brenda isn't one to shy away from giving her opinion. She's become the expert on the culture surrounding athletes and appearing on shows such as CNN, Dateline, and Entertainment Tonight to name a few. Simon and Schuster's Pocket Books division caught wind of her talent and signed her to a two book deal. Since 2001 Brenda has penned two Essence bestselling novels, Fourplay and The Velvet Rope and two anthologies.
Her biggest accomplishment? The day cartons of her self-published book, Threesome, arrived in her living room. Her greatest hope for the future? Publishing her memoir--an account of her inner struggles and influences--a girl from Philly with many stories to tell.
Currently, Brenda spends her time working full time, managing her own marketing company and doing what she loves, writing. As for the personal side she surrounds herself with her family, friends and fans.
