Laura Pedersen

Laura Pedersen (born October 8, 1965, in Buffalo, New York) is an American author. After graduating high school in 1983 she moved to Manhattan and began an entry-level job at the American Stock Exchange. At age twenty, she was the youngest person to have a seat and became a partner in a trading firm, while earning a finance degree at New York University 1987.

Her first book, "Play Money" (1991), became a bestseller, and she appeared on "CNN", "Oprah", "Good Morning America", "Primetime Live", and David Letterman. In 1994 President Clinton honored Pedersen as one of Ten Outstanding Young Americans. She was a columnist for "The New York Times" (1995-2002). Her first novel, "Going Away Party", won the Three Oaks Prize for Fiction (2001). Other novels include The Hallie Palmer series ─ "Beginner’s Luck", "Heart’s Desire" and "The Big Shuffle".

"Beginner’s Luck" was chosen by Barnes & Noble for their “Discover Great New Writers” program and by Borders for “Original Voices.” Additional writing includes the novel "Last Call" and a collection of short stories "The Sweetest Hours". She teaches at the Booker T. Washington Learning Center in East Harlem and belongs to the national literary association P.E.N.

External links

* [http://www.laurapedersenbooks.com Laura Pedersen Books]