Shelia P. Moses is an American writer of books for adults and children. She is also a historian, director, producer, curator, and playwright. Born the ninth of ten children in Rich Square, North Carolina, the Shaw University graduate spent the last thirty years telling stories about the African American experience.
Shelia is best known for her National Book Award-Nominated novel, The Legend of Buddy Bush and Dick Gregory’s memoir, Callus on My Soul. Her novel, I, Dred Scott, was named Georgia Book of The Year and “Joseph” was nominated for the NAACP Image Award in 2009. Shelia has authored twenty-five books, including, The Baptism, The Sittin’ Up, The Return of Buddy Bush, Sallie Gal, Dark Girls, I’m A Grady Baby, A Price Was Paid: The History of W.S. Creecy School and Joseph’s Grace. Her most recent books are We Were the Fire: Birmingham,1963, Who is Ketanji Brown Jackson? and Who Is Stacey Abrams?
She is also a member of a small group of writers at Penguin Random House, called Persisterhood, who have authored books for Chelsea Clinton’s She Persisted series. Her first 2025 release for this series is She Persisted: Opal Lee.
As a playwright, Shelia’s work is equally powerful. Her two-act play, Ain’t No God in Hollywood was directed by Bill Duke and scheduled for a new reading in 2023. Her novel, I, Dred Scott, was adapted into a musical titled, I, Dred Scott and debuted at the Missouri History Museum in 2018. Her work as a producer extends from Los Angeles to the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. where she wrote, directed and executive produced the Dick Gregory Tribute in 2000 along with the release of Callus on My Soul the same year. It was a night to remember with guests ranging from Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, Cicely Tyson, Marion Barry, Sinbad,Sonia Sanchez, and a sold-out crowd of fans. She has a collection of all of Dick Gregory’s first edition books and his archives dated back to 1945.
Shelia is currently writing a screenplay adapted from her book, We Were the Fire: Birmingham, 1963 and curating an exhibit adapted from her upcoming book, Black and Beautiful. She lives in Old Town, Alexandria, Virginia.