Helen Elaine Lee is an accomplished author who grew up in Detroit, Michigan. She is a distinguished graduate of both Harvard College and Harvard Law School. Lee has made a significant impact in the literary world with her novels and short stories. Her first novel, "The Serpent's Gift," was published by Atheneum, and her second novel, "Water Marked," was published by Scribner. Her short stories have been featured in various prestigious literary magazines, including Ploughshares, Prairie Schooner, Callaloo, Hanging Loose, and Solstice Literary Magazine.
As a dedicated advocate for freedom of speech, Lee served on the board of PEN New England for ten years. During her tenure, she played an active role on the Freedom to Write Committee and volunteered with its Prison Creative Writing Program, which she helped establish. Her commitment to promoting literacy and creative expression extends beyond the page, as evidenced by her essay "Visible Men," published in the New York Times, where she shares her experiences leading creative writing workshops in prison.
Currently, Lee is a respected Professor of Comparative Media Studies/Writing at MIT. She continues to inspire and educate aspiring writers, while also working on her latest novel, "POMEGRANATE," which will be published by Simon & Schuster's Atria Books. Lee's contributions to literature and her dedication to promoting creative expression have left a lasting impact on the literary world.