J.L. Sapphire is the pen name and alter-ego of Joyce L. Blalock-Thomas. She was born and raised in southern Arkansas, and she still lives there with her two children. She is the self-published author of several books, short stories, and novellas including My Secret Life: Confessions of a Housewife, Two Can Play That Game, Masquerade: Nina’s Revenge, and Sweet Taboo (a BWWM romance) In 2016, she joined the Brown Girls Publishing family when her short story, The Ex Factor, was chosen to be included in an anthology titled The Ex Chronicles. Writing is Joyce’s version of Calgon. By locking herself in her room, she can get away from everything & everybody (at least for a little while) and lose herself in the lives of the characters she creates.