Joy Jordan-Lake Books in Order

Joy Jordan-Lake is a multifaceted author, educator, and advocate, whose diverse professional experience has spanned roles in academia, journalism, community service, and the arts. Born in Washington, D.C., she grew up in Signal Mountain, Tennessee, where she observed the complex responses of her community to issues of bigotry and violence. Jordan-Lake holds multiple degrees from esteemed institutions, including Furman University, a theological seminary, and Tufts University, where she earned a Ph.D. in English Literature with a focus on the role of race in 19th-century American fiction. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated a commitment to social justice and community engagement, founding a food pantry for low-income families, serving as a Baptist chaplain at Harvard, and working as a freelance journalist. Her first book, Grit and Grace: Portraits of a Woman's Life, was published in 1997 and received recognition from The Christian Century.