Lalita Tademy is an African-American writer born in 1948 in Berkeley, California. She left the corporate world to immerse herself in tracing her family's history and writing her first historical novel, Cane River. Her debut was selected by Oprah Winfrey as her summer book group pick in 2001, marking a significant moment in her career. Tademy's work extends beyond the novel, as she has been a dynamic figure in literature and public speaking.

Her second novel, Red River, was published in 2006, exploring Reconstruction-era Louisiana—a time period and subject matter often summarily skimmed in our history books. The story of Red River begins in 1873, following the ramifications of an incident on Easter Sunday of that year on successive generations of two families involved. Tademy's third novel, Citizens Creek, published in 2014, brings us the evocative story of a once-enslaved man who buys his freedom after serving as a translator during the American Indian Wars, and his grandson, who carries on his legacy.

Tademy has appeared on People Magazine, O Magazine, More Magazine, Good Housekeeping, The Today Show, The Early Show, CNN, Oprah Winfrey Show, and has been featured as a keynote speaker for the National Book Festival, California Governor's Conference for Women, Black Caucus conference, and the Louisiana Library Association.