Johnny Temple, Publisher & Editor

Johnny Temple is the publisher and editor in chief of Akashic Books, an award-winning Brooklyn-based independent company dedicated to publishing urban literary fiction and political nonfiction. He won the 2013 Ellery Queen Award and is the editor of the anthology USA Noir, which was selected as a New York Times Editors’ Choice. Temple has taught courses on the publishing business at Wilkes University, Wesleyan University, and Pratt Institute; and is the cochair of the Brooklyn Book Festival Literary Council, which organizes the annual Brooklyn Book Festival. He also plays bass guitar in the bands Girls Against Boys, Soulside, and Fake Names, which have toured extensively across the globe and released numerous albums on independent and major record companies. He has contributed articles and political essays to various publications, including The Nation, Publishers Weekly, AlterNet, Poets & Writers, and BookForum.

Michael Jefferson, Publisher & Editor

From an early age, Michael Jefferson fell in love with poetry. After reading his first Dr. Seuss book, he was in awe of how words could rhyme and still tell a story. He began writing his own rhymes for fun, but over time, those rhymes became much more— they became his escape. Writing gave him the opportunity to say what his mouth couldn’t. In 2023, Michael won the BVI Lit Fest’s Poetry Competition, an experience that reignited his creative spark and inspired him to keep writing and sharing his work.

Since then, he has been blessed with many opportunities to perform and connect through his words. Most recently, he was part of the British Virgin Islands’ delegation for CARIFESTA XV, where he proudly represented his country among some of the Caribbean’s finest artists.

Michael’s love for writing has also led him into other artistic expressions, such as filmmaking. He has written scripts and acted in several short films— some of which have gone on to win competitions.

Through it all, he remains a poet at heart. He views his life as a journey, and poetry as his way of documenting it.

As his journey continues, Michael will keep writing, sharing, and inspiring others with his words.

 

Travis ‘Travie Rozae’ Walters, Creative Director/Wardrobe Stylist

Travis Walters, better known as Travie Rozae, is a Caribbean-American creative director and wardrobe stylist, originally from the British Virgin Islands, now based in Los Angeles, CA. With a deep understanding of aesthetics and impeccable eye for detail, Travie has managed to infiltrate the entertainment industry using his creative expression to build and develop images for major record labels, brands, artists, and influencers.

 

 

Brent Hoyte, Musician

Brent Hoyte has spent his entire 32 years of life engulfed in music. Hoyte is a full-time musician; he has taken his passion and turned it into a career as a music teacher, engineer and producer. Hoyte currently has the biggest music school (Home Grown Music Academy ) 

In the British Virgin Islands that is catered to over hundreds of kids. For three consecutive years he has won ‘Producer of the Year’ at the Antigua and Barbuda Gospel Awards. He has also been presented the Pinnacle Award from the Atlanta Gospel Music Awards Association. In addition to these accolades, Hoyte’s productions have been critically-nominated by the Stellar Awards Gospel Music Academy. Hoyte’s music-directorship has taken him across the world; supporting gospel artists like DJekalyn Carr, Jonathon Nelson, Sinach, Jessica Reedy, Myron Butler, Positive, DeAnna Wattley, Sherwin Gardener and his sister Gabrielle Denae. Moreover, Hoyte has played alongside, Karlene Davis, Samuel Medas, Kim Burell, Donnie McClurkin and many other household names. Hoyte is popularly known for putting a VI spin on Gospel classics and redefining what it means to make gospel music. Brent Hoyte has produced over 21 albums and in June 2020 he released his own debut record, ‘Ear Food’. And now, just a year later, he has already released his sophomore masterpiece entitled ‘Island Praise’. With all that he’s accomplished in the industry, the name Brent Hoyte has almost become synonymous with the definition of music and he’s just getting started. Hoyte is also known for making clean funny content for families to watch and be entertained on social media and is known for his videos throughout the Caribbean.