TITLE: Commending ReShonda Tate Billingsley for her success as a writer.

SUMMARY: Commending ReShonda Tate Billingsley for her success as a writer.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Bestselling author ReShonda Tate Billingsley has enjoyed remarkable success as a writer, and she is truly deserving of special recognition; and WHEREAS, Born in Kansas City, Missouri, Ms. Billingsley graduated from Madison High School in Houston in 1987, and after earning her bachelor's degree from The University of Texas at Austin in 1991, she began her career in broadcast journalism, working as a television anchor and reporter in Port Arthur, Oklahoma City, and Houston before becoming a full-time author; she has also worked as a reporter and editor at the Houston Defender and as a professor of broadcast journalism at Langston University; and WHEREAS, After receiving multiple rejections from publishers, Ms. Billingsley founded her own company to publish her first novel, My Brother's Keeper,in 2001; the book was subsequently republished by Simon and Schuster, and it received the Gold Pen Award for Best New Author from the Black Writer's Alliance and the Nova Lee Nation Award from the Greater Dallas Writing Association; since then, she has published dozens of books, including Say Amen, Again,which received the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literature; her national bestseller Let the Church Say Amen was cited in Library Journal's list of the best Christian fiction of 2004, and it was made into a film directed by Regina King; and WHEREAS, Ms. Billingsley is also the author of the Good Girlz series for teen readers and two nonfiction works, The Motherhood Diaries and The Motherhood Diaries 2,and she has written four successful books in collaboration with Victoria Christopher Murray, Sinners and Saints,Friends and Foes,A Blessing and a Curse,and Fortune and Fame;in addition, she is a sought-after motivational speaker, and she has appeared in minor roles in two of the films based on her books; and WHEREAS, In all her endeavors, Ms. Billingsley enjoys the love and support of her husband, Dr. Miron Billingsley, and her three children, Mya, Morgan, and Myles; and WHEREAS, For the past 20 years, ReShonda Tate Billingsley has delighted and inspired readers of all ages with her lively and engaging books, and she may indeed take great pride in her impressive record of literary achievement; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas Legislature hereby commend ReShonda Tate Billingsley on her many accomplishments as a writer and extend to her sincere best wishes for continued success; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for Ms. Billingsley as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Reynolds Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 1326 was adopted by the House on May 26, 2021, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House