Joan Steinau Lester

"The tenderness and truth of the book moved my heart. As well as the enormous love." - Alice Walker, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Color Purple

Order Mama's Child from Amazon

Now available in an epic recording. Two actors read alternating chapters, one from each main character's viewpoint.

Ms. Magazine Book Review by Joan Lester

San Francisco Chronicle Feature Interview re BLACK, WHITE, OTHER

"Thoughtful Reflections," Blog Interview With Sylvia Ramsey/Joan Lester

YouTube trailer for Black, White, Other

Publishers Weekly Black, White, Other Starred Review

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BLOG

What Keeps You From Writing?

May 7, 2019

Tags: writing, procrastination, women writing, writer's block

Did you plan to start on that new writing project yesterday, but then discover that your oven needed cleaning—urgently? You simply couldn’t stand the flaky grime one more day. Or the phone rang just as you sat down to begin and two hours later you realized you allowed yourself to get caught Read More

Selected Works

Fiction

MAMA'S CHILD

"A powerful story brilliantly capturing the complications of the mother-daughter relationship from both sides."
--Marissa Moss, author of the bestselling Amelia's Notebook series

BLACK, WHITE, OTHER: In Search of Nina Armstrong

Selected as Teen Read of the Year by "Coming Together in Skokie," 2015.
"In a fast-paced novel-within-a-novel, Nina's great-great-grandmother runs from slavery to freedom, her courage an inspiration to Nina. This multi-layered novel--part contemporary, part historical--is impossible to put down."
--Elizabeth Partridge, award winning author of Dogtag Summer

BIOGRAPHY

FIRE IN MY SOUL, BIOGRAPHY OF ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON, FOREWORD BY CORETTA SCOTT KING

Showcases the many facets of a woman--Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton--who remains an iconic torch-bearer for the Civil Rights and Women's Movements.

CONTEMPORARY AFFAIRS

THE FUTURE OF WHITE MEN AND OTHER DIVERSITY DILEMMAS

Diversity Classic Reissued, July, 2016
"This refreshing book captures what most miss--insightful lessons from personal encounters with diversity. Lester is a talented storyteller who shares her learning in an unpretentious way." Ann M. Morrison, author of The New Leaders.

"Lester's generous voice sheds keen insight, humor and practical advice on the polarizing dilemmas of living with diversity." Urvashi Vaid

SELF-HELP/WOMEN'S ISSUES

TAKING CHARGE: EVERY WOMAN'S ACTION GUIDE

Offers proven, effective strategies for every woman, whether secretary or CEO. Provides encouragement and goal-setting guidelines.
"Lucid...poignant."-- MS.