Christina McDowell is a literary fiction and memoir author, best known for her debut work "The Cave Dwellers" and the critically acclaimed memoir "After Perfect: A Daughter's Memoir." She was born in Washington D.C. and raised in an affluent suburb of Virginia called McLean. McDowell's childhood was marked by privilege, with summers spent in a mansion in Nantucket and a Georgian estate in her hometown. She often refers to her upbringing as being surrounded by "quiet power."
However, McDowell's life took a dramatic turn when her father was indicted for stock fraud and sent to prison, leading to a significant loss of wealth and a move to Los Angeles. There, she pursued small acting jobs and appeared on reality TV. Despite the challenges she faced, McDowell channeled her experiences into her writing, which has been published in numerous esteemed outlets such as The Washington Post, The New York Times, and The Los Angeles Times.
"The Cave Dwellers" is McDowell's first novel and was published in 2021. The book offers a compelling exploration of the elite world of Washington, D.C., shedding light on the intricate relationships between tradition, power, and money. As a writer and advocate for restorative justice and criminal justice reform, McDowell's work provides a unique perspective on the impact of these forces on society. She currently resides in Washington, D.C. and continues to be a prominent voice in the literary world.