Her career has included presenting at literary conferences, coaching individuals on their writing careers, and acting as a juror in literary contests, including the Northern California Book Award.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA, July 12, 2024 /24-7PressRelease/ — Joan Gelfand has been recognized for inclusion in Marquis Who’s Who. As in all Marquis Who’s Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Ms. Gelfand has established herself as a respected figure in literature and criticism over a career spanning more than 40 years. President Emeritus of the Women’s National Book Association, Joan is currently a freelance book reviewer and National Book Critics Circle member. Her career has included presenting at literary conferences, coaching individuals on their writing careers, and acting as a juror in literary contests, including the Northern California Book Award. Ms. Gelfand’s insightful critiques have both earned awards and significantly contributed to the literary community. In addition to her work as a poetry and fiction reviewer, she also has shared her expert perspective on various literary topics as a blogger for HuffPost (formerly The Huffington Post.)
Ms. Gelfand’s passion for poetry led her to serve as a poet teacher for Poetry Inside Out, Poetry Out Loud, and California Poets in the Schools. Her commitment to fostering creative expression among students highlights her dedication to education and the arts. Additionally, Ms. Gelfand was a fiction editor at Zeek Magazine and was a member of Wom-ba, an online group of local authors where she shared information about publishing. Her experience as a teacher in the business of writing workshops further underscores her commitment to nurturing emerging talents.
One of Ms. Gelfand’s most notable leadership roles was as president of the Women’s National Book Association, where she championed women’s voices in literature and founded a national writing contest. Other work included Admissions Counselor for Computer Learning Centers Inc. and Media Buyer at the advertising agency Chiat Day.
Ms. Gelfand’s expertise in creative writing is not only recognized through her professional endeavors but also through her academic achievements. She received a Bachelor of Arts in English from San Francisco State University in 1978. She went on to earn a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing from Mills College at Northeastern University in 1996. This academic foundation has been instrumental in Ms. Gelfand’s success. She attributes her success to her drive to pursue her dreams and the opportunities that arose from networking within her field. To date, Ms. Gelfand has over 175 national and international publishing credits including the LA Review of Books, Chicken Soup for the Soul, Voice and Verse and Levure Litteraire.
Ms. Gelfand’s many literary contributions include several acclaimed books, such as “Outside Voices: A Memoir of the Berkeley Revolution,” published in 2024, and “You Can Be A Winning Writer: The 4 C’s Approach of Successful Authors,” an Amazon bestseller published in 2018. Her work has been recognized with over two dozen awards, such as the Literary Titan Gold Award for “Outside Voices,” first place in the Effie Lee Morris Poetry Contest in 2020, and the Reviewer of the Week award from Red Room Writers.
In her personal life, Ms. Gelfand is a mother of three who finds joy in coaching writers, engaging in philanthropy, traveling, and yoga. She advocates for reproductive rights, democracy, and gun violence prevention. Ms. Gelfand harbors the dream of seeing one of her books adapted into a movie, reflecting her ongoing passion for storytelling and its impact on society.
About Marquis Who’s Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who’s Who in America®, Marquis Who’s Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who’s Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who’s Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.
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