About the Author

J. Lynne Hinton is a native of North Carolina. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and her Masters of Divinity degree from Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California. She also studied at Wake Forest University and the NC School of the Arts, School of Filmmaking. She has served as a chaplain with hospice and as the pastor of Mount Hope United Church of Christ and First Congregational United Church of Christ, both in North Carolina.

Lynne began considering writing when she was in seminary. She enrolled in literature classes that broadened her understanding of story and inspired her to make her own attempt at storytelling. She was most influenced by Harlem Renaissance Literature, Third World American Literature, and a class taught by fellow North Carolinian, Dr. Katie Cannon, Black Women’s Literature, Toward A Constructive Ethic.

Lynne is a regular columnist with The Charlotte Observer and the author of fifteen books including a nonfiction piece, MEDITATIONS FOR WALKING, the NY Times Bestseller FRIENDSHIP CAKE, and PIE TOWN. She has a mystery series with St. Martin’s, written under the name Jackie Lynn which includes DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE, JACOB'S LADDER, and SWING LOW, SWEET CHARIOT.

Lynne and her husband, Bob Branard, presently live in Albuquerque, New Mexico.