Jean Alicia Elster

Formerly an attorney, now writes fiction for children, middle graders, and young adults.

She is also an editor, grant writer, essayist, and writing instructor.

The Long Bio

Jean Alicia Elster, B.A., J.D., is the author of the middle grade novel, Who’s Jim Hines?, published by Wayne State University Press and released in August 2008. She is also the author of the children’s book series, “Joe Joe in the City,” published by Judson Press. The first volume in that series, Just Call Me Joe Joe, was released in October 2001 and is now in its second printing. The remaining volumes are: I Have A Dream, Too! (May, 2002), I’ll Fly My Own Plane (September, 2002), and I’ll Do the Right Thing (January, 2003). She was awarded the 2002 Governors’ Emerging Artist Award by ArtServe Michigan in recognition of the series. I’ll Do the Right Thing was awarded the 2004 Atlanta Daily World Atlanta Choice Award in the category of children’s books.

A professional writer, Elster has edited several books including The Death Penalty and The Outbreak of the Civil War (Greenhaven Press, an imprint of The Gale Group, Inc.), as well as Building Up Zion’s Walls: Ministry for Empowering the African American Family and Playbook for Christian Manhood: 12 Key Plays for Black Teen Boys (Judson Press). In addition, her essays have appeared in national publications including Ms., World Vision, Black Child, and Christian Science Sentinel magazines. She also collaborated in the preparation of the manuscript for Dear Mrs. Parks: A Dialog with Today’s Youth, by Rosa Parks (Lee and Low, 1996), which was honored with four awards including the NAACP Image Award and the Teachers’ Choice Award.

In 2001, 2003, and 2005, in recognition of outstanding work, Elster was awarded residencies at the internationally acclaimed Ragdale Foundation in Lake Forest, Illinois. With these awards, she became one of a select group of artists-in-residence chosen annually by the foundation from across the U.S. and many other countries.

Elster is the founder and president of Write Word, Inc. (incorporated in 1994). She lives in Detroit, Michigan with her husband, daughter, and son.