Ask LaJoyce Brookshire who she is and quickly she will tell you she’s God’s Girl, a full-time wife and mother, and a part-time everything else. She is a licensed and ordained Pastor, Doctor of Naturopathy, Master Herbalist, New York Times Bestselling Author, Host of “ASK THE GOOD DOCTOR” Podcast, College Professor at New York University Clive Davis Institute, and the City University of New York City College campus where she was named the 2023 Adjunct Faculty of the Year.
As a graduate of Trinity College of Natural Health, Dr. Brookshire is a Naturopath treating many nationwide how to Attain, Maintain, and Reclaim ones Perfect Health with everything in nature. Affectionately called Affectionately called “The Good Doctor”, Brookshire teaches that you ARE what you eat. She held class weekly on-air at SiriusXM UrbanView for four years, with 101 “LIVE” Episodes on YouTube, and the show has transitioned to the podcast world.
Dr. LaJoyce Brookshire is a New York Times bestselling author of the novel based on the smash hit movie Soul Food making her the First African American to novelize a major motion picture. With 10 concurrent bestselling books, Faith Under Fire: Betrayed by a Thing Called Love, Web of Deception, The Last Listening Party of the Notorious B.I.G., and four books in the Ask The Good Doctor book series. RENEWING YOUR MIND INK is Brookshire’s publishing imprint of PEACE IN THE STORM PUBLISHING.
Dr. LaJoyce adapted the Faith Under Fire memoir about the man who married her knowing he had AIDS which sold over 250 thousand copies into an Off-Broadway smash hit stage play with Co-Writer Blake Roberts, in addition to the scripts for a feature film, and a 13-episode TV Series. As a result of this experience, Dr. Brookshire has become an HIV/AIDS Educator, and is an advocate for Abstinence and Health Literacy.
In her former career, LaJoyce was a high-powered entertainment publicist to the STARS. As Director of Publicity at Arista Records in the mid-90s, she represented music legends, multi-platinum, and Diamond Certified artists such as The Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin, Sean “Puffy” Combs, Carly Simon, Toni Braxton, Kenny G, OutKast, Monica, Deborah Cox, Craig Mack, Total, Faith Evans, 112, Usher, TLC, Whitney Houston, and The Notorious B.I.G. aka (Biggie Smalls) until his death.
Due to her efforts as Director of Publicity her artists sold over 100 million albums worldwide, such as The Preachers Wife soundtrack, one of the best-selling gospel albums of all time selling an estimated six million copies; The Waiting to Exhale soundtrack selling over 12 million copies and winning a Grammy for best R&B song; TLC’s Crazy, Sexy, Cool certified Diamond album sold over 23 million copies and spent over two years on the Billboard album charts making TLC the first and only girl group in history to be awarded Diamond status. LaJoyce also worked on both Toni Braxton’s certified Double Platinum album Secret selling over 15 million copies; and The Notorious B.I.G’s Ready To Die was certified four times Platinum and his last album Life After Death was Certified Diamond selling over 10 million copies and making it one of the best-selling Rap albums of all time; and Kenny G. earned the status as best-selling Instrumental Artist of all times selling over 75 million records. LaJoyce has worked with bona-fide R&B and Hip-Hop Royalty which firmly plants her on the throne amongst the Stars behind the Stars.
Brookshire’s current bestseller is co-created with Michelle Joyce, WOMEN BEHIND THE MIC: Curators of Pop Culture ~ Volume One “Word To The Wise and WOMEN BEHIND THE MIC: Curators of The Culture ~ Volume Two “The Hip-Hop Edition” featuring women who have worked behind the scenes in the entertainment industry, was inspired by more than two decades of experiences. Women Behind The Mic™ created the “Mic Check Curriculum” which provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the Entertainment Industry and the many career paths available. The book won The African American Literary Award for Best Anthology.
Dr. LaJoyce lives in the Poconos with husband Gus -also a Pastor- and together they have a daughter in college.
Peace In The Storm Publishing and Elissa Gabrielle have been nominated in over 30 literary awards and have won multiple awards individually and collectively for the publishing house, include the 2020 Independent Publisher of the Year Award for the 16th Annual African American Literary Awards. In 2015, Peace In The Storm Publishing expanded to include additional publishing imprints: After the Storm Publishing, Jessica A. Robinson Presents, Imani Faith Publishing, and the former, The Imprint Mass Media. The latest imprint is Renewing Your Mind Ink. Elissa Gabrielle is also the President of the former Real Life Real Faith Media. In that role, Elissa publishes five magazines: Real Life Real Faith, Men of Faith, Women Walking by Faith, Journey to Wellness and Wisdom for Everyday Life.
In 2020, Elissa Gabrielle turned pain into purpose by launching Elissa Gabrielle Naturals. Initially the brand will focus on hair care, and in following with Elissa’s experience as a certified life coach and certified natural health professional, Elissa Gabrielle Naturals will launch skin care, health and wellness seminars, life coaching and naturopathic services under the Dr. Elissa brand in the future.
An advocate for Black Men, Elissa Gabrielle often brings awareness to the positive influences that embodies the black men in society that deserve a spotlight. She vigorously and unapologetically celebrates the unsung hero. She has taken this mission to publishing with The Soul of a Man series which details and highlights the plights, trials and triumphs of black men in their own words and from their very unique perspective.
From the novelty of her writing and the successful culmination of her publishing and entertainment companies; Elissa Gabrielle remains an ingenious and creative force to be reckoned with in terms of delivering distinct, fulfilling and entertaining literature. By pushing herself to stay a cut above the rest, Elissa Gabrielle brilliantly and consistently delivers literary best.
