Human rights activist, film producer, author

Mike Farrell is best known for playing Captain B.J. Hunnicutt for eight years in the popular TV series M*A*S*H. Farrell wrote and directed several episodes of the memorable show, earning him nominations for Director’s Guild and Emmy Awards. After M*A*S*H, Farrell with partner Marvin Minoff formed ‘Farrell/Minoff productions, and produced many films including the company’s first, “Dominick and Eugene,” a film starring Tom Hulce and Ray Liotta. Beyond film, Farrell is a human rights activist and speaks out on his opposition of the death penalty, two of his prime concerns. His works include Of Mule and Men, and Just Call Me Mike: A Journey to Actor and Activist. Farrell is married to actress Shelley Fabares (star of ABC TV’s “Coach”).

Best-selling African-American fiction author

Carl Weber is a New York Times and #1 Essence Magazine bestselling novelist of African American fiction. Weber’s works, including The Preacher’s Son, So You Call Yourself A Man, and Married Men, are popular with fans for their identifiable characters who have crazy things happen in their lives. Weber’s first novel, Looking For Luv, a relationship story written from the rarely heard male perspective, was published in 2000. His pending books for 2010 feature female characters who are all plus-size. Weber is the founder and publisher of Urban Books and in 2005 he was named Blackboard’s Publisher of the Year. He is the owner of Urban Knowledge, a chain of bookstores.

Thriller, suspense writer

Lisa Scottoline is the New York Times bestselling author of 16 novels, including her current work, Why My Third Husband Will Be A Dog, a compilation of the columns she writes for the Philadelphia Inquirer titled "Chick Wit," her witty and fun take on life from a woman's perspective. In her spare time, she teaches a course she developed, "Justice and Fiction" at The University of Pennsylvania Law School, her alma mater. Scottoline has over 25 million copies of her books in print and is published in over 25 countries. She lives in the Philadelphia area with an array of pets, including cats, dogs, chicks and a horse.