Authors
Deanna Pinns-Lawson
In my third year of college, I met someone who later became my friend and co-author of this book. Stella and I were in a women studies class together. I began talking to Stella because we were seated across from each other and I sensed that something was wrong just by looking in her face. Stella had just lost her father. A man and father, who provides her with unconditional love, friendship, wisdom and strength.
Stella and I became friends by supporting each other and soon learned that we enjoyed many of the same things such as writing, reading, movies, concerts, plays and attending women studies classes.
We would talk about love, relationships and what we were going through emotionally. Those conversations really inspired me to ask Stella to join me to co-author our first book together entitled, Independent Women.
In my last year of college, I too, had just experienced a part of my life gone. My husband, my friend, my hearing and listening tool, a provider of fourteen years of marriage, had just passed away.
Deanna Pinns-Lawson has professional experience in the Department of Human Services. She has assisted in churches, community development organizations, government agencies and scholarship foundations.
Ms. Pinns-Lawson was educated at Rider University where she completed a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Liberal Arts and Women Studies. She received the Dr. Mildred Rice Jordan Scholarship award at Rider University. She is a candidate for the MSW (Master's in Social Work) degree at Rutgers University.
She is the former Founder and CEO for the Single Parents Knowledge Scholarship Organization.
Stella L. Williams
Stella L. Williams was born and raised in Trenton, New Jersey. She holds both AA and BA degrees from Rider University located in Lawrenceville, New Jersey.
Ms. Williams was recognized by the Rider University Women's Studies Colloquium Committee first in 1996 for her student paper entitled, "Folk Magic in the Short Stories of Hurston and Walker" and again in 1999 for her student paper entitled, "A Brief Look into the History of Nursing in the United States With a Look at the Journey of a New Jersey Nursing Assitant."
She currently lives in Central New Jersey.
