Barbara Keaton was born in Chicago. She loves Chicago and cannot imagine living anywhere else.She attended Catholic schools up until the twelfth grade, it was in grammar school at the hands of the Oblate Sisters of Providence where she solidified her love and respect for the written word. Her maternal grandfather, the late Thomas Hill, instilled in her passion. As to the Oblate’s, this little-known order of black nuns taught with an iron hand and truly believed in the future and success of African American children. Outside of her mother, Ms. Keaton owes much of who she is to her grandfather and those incredible nuns. In 1987, she received a BA in Communications from Columbia College. After graduation, she worked as a bus operator for the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) for nearly 3 years. She found this period in her life as one of profound growth in that it allowed her to address and face her fear of success. She resigned in 1990 from CTA and went on to hold various professional positions, mostly in print news and public relations. Professionally, she has over 15 years experience in public, government and community relations. In addition, she had several articles and editorials published in various publications: Today’s Black Woman Magazine; The Chicago Crusader; The Chicago Defender; The Chicago Reader; Bronze Thrills and True Confessions.Her first book, All I Ask, was published by Genesis Press under its Indigo Imprint in 2000. Since then, Genesis has published six of her works, one anthology, and five single titles. Currently, Ms. Keaton is a Transportation Manager for the CTA.In May of 1999, she received her Master of Science in Journalism from Roosevelt University in Chicago. She belongs to several civic and professional organizations, namely the Masonic Order of the Eastern Star. In her spare time, she an avid reader, writer and bid whist player. Though she has no children, she does have “babies” her niece and nephew, Stephanie and Matthew.She is divorced and lives by a personal credo: “I answer to My God and to Myself.”9

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Barbara Keaton

Barbara Keaton was born in Chicago. She loves Chicago and cannot imagine living anywhere else.She attended Catholic schools up until the twelfth grade, it was in grammar school at the hands of the Oblate Sisters of Providence where she solidified her love and respect for the written word. Her maternal grandfather, the late Thomas Hill, instilled in her passion. As to the Oblate's, this little-known order of black nuns taught with an iron hand and truly believed in the future and success of African American children. Outside of her mother, Ms. Keaton owes much of who she is to her grandfather and those incredible nuns. In 1987, she received a BA in Communications from Columbia College. After graduation, she worked as a bus operator for the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) for nearly 3 years. She found this period in her life as one of profound growth in that it allowed her to address and face her fear of success. She resigned in 1990 from CTA and went on to hold various professional positions, mostly in print news and public relations. Professionally, she has over 15 years experience in public, government and community relations. In addition, she had several articles and editorials published in various publications: Today's Black Woman Magazine; The Chicago Crusader; The Chicago Defender; The Chicago Reader; Bronze Thrills and True Confessions.Her first book, All I Ask, was published by Genesis Press under its Indigo Imprint in 2000. Since then, Genesis has published six of her works, one anthology, and five single titles. Currently, Ms. Keaton is a Transportation Manager for the CTA.In May of 1999, she received her Master of Science in Journalism from Roosevelt University in Chicago. She belongs to several civic and professional organizations, namely the Masonic Order of the Eastern Star. In her spare time, she an avid reader, writer and bid whist player. Though she has no children, she does have "babies" her niece and nephew, Stephanie and Matthew.She is divorced and lives by a personal credo: "I answer to My God and to Myself."9