Saltwater Taffy and Red High Heels (www.lulu.com) is Mrs. Brown-Tatum’s fifth publication. She is the author of three poetry books (Watermark Press)  and a fictional novel Caramel and Cream (Publish America). Mrs. Brown-Tatum is a San Antonio, Texas native and graduated from Oliver Wendell Holmes High School.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Radio-Television from The University of Houston and graduated from the Honors College; the University’s highest academic standing. Mrs. Brown-Tatum completed a senior honors thesis on The Overlooked Effects of Rap Music in the Contemporary Women’s Movement and her scholastic work is often cited in media debate over gangsta rap music.

Mrs. Brown-Tatum is the President and Founder of Crystal Clear Communications (www.crystalcommunicates.com), an award-winning public relations firm based in Houston. She has appeared on several local and national television and radio shows as well as having editorial work published in People, Vogue, Shape, Today’s Christian Woman and Self magazines.


Mrs. Brown-Tatum has won several awards and honors including being named a 2006 Women on the Move from Texas Executive Women, 2005 Emerging-10 winner from the Houston Minority Business Council, a Texas Senate Commendation for her community work and Congressional acknowledgments and awards for her professional and personal contributions to society. She is also a recipient of an Earth Angel Award from the Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation.

Saltwater Taffy and Red High Heels: My Journey Through Breast Cancer grew out of the lack of readily available resources for young African American women diagnosed with the disease. Her goal in sharing her very personal journey is to uplift and encourage young women that they can get through their treatments and that if they allow the love and concern of others to lead the way, they will find the journey a beautiful one.

A former Ebony magazine top bachelorette, she is happily married to Sergeant First Class Philip Tatum and has a talented teenaged daughter named Jaclyn and a bichon frise named Cotton. In her spare time, she enjoys walking the red carpet, shopping at thrift stores and volunteering in the community. All in high heels of course.