Originally from Kansas City, Missouri, N.M. Shabazz showed a predilection for writing at an early age. An anomaly unto himself, while most first graders were outside playing Cowboys and Indians, he was busy penning 10 page short stories. The majority of his early works centered on Horror, with Stephen King quickly becoming his favorite author. Yet as he further enhanced his writing, Shabazz became more interested in Science Fiction and Fantasy. The genres unlocked the boundaries in his mind and seemingly allowed him to intertwine social themes and spirituality into his work. Attracted to like-minded souls, while still living in Kansas City he ran into an intimidating collective of spoken word artists who helped awaken the poet in him. They served as his mentors in the area. Years later—after penning several plays and books—Shabazz has finally settled into his element and found his voice as a fantasy romance writer. He uniquely blends poetry and prose into his plots to give readers an added artistic aesthetic. He also incorporates historical characters and events to in his writings to make the reading experience more palatable. Consuming his literature is a subtle history lesson that is both titillating and intellectually stimulating.
His latest work is a continuation of a supernatural series revolving around Lilith, the antagonist, who predates Eve in Jewish mythology and is known as the first feminist in history. Interestingly enough, while the story of Lilith is widely known in Jewish culture, those outside of it have only rudimentary knowledge of her. Because of this—and because Shabazz believes women make more interesting villains—he has created a world where even The Big Three of Hell—Lucifer, Satan, and The Devil—are intimidated by Lilith and have been engaged in a personal war with her since the beginning of time. Their interactions—and Lilith’s with the outside world—make for some of the more raucous moments in the books. By Day and By Night picks up where The Book of Lilith, the last in the sequence, left off. It’s fast paced, action packed, and laden with romantic elements.
Shabazz is currently resides in Dallas, Texas, where he has lived for the past 15 years. He has an undergraduate from the University of Arkansas Pine Bluff in Political Science, a Master’s Degree in Urban Education from Langston University, and has completed graduate work at the University of Kansas City Missouri in Higher Educational Administration. In addition to writing and performing spoken word, he also is an educational lecturer.