JM Redmann

Keynote Speaker

J.M. (Jean M.) Redmann grew up in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, a small town on the Gulf of Mexico. At eighteen, determined to escape the South, she headed north to attend Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York.

The day after receiving her degree in drama, Redmann boarded a train for New York City. Determined not to become just another rich yuppie, she embarked on a career in theatrical lighting. Riches never once threatened her doorstep. To this day, they remain far afield. Her theatrical work even included a stint as lighting director of the New York Playboy Club. (No, she never wore a bunny costume.) While living in New York City, she began writing the book that became DEATH BY THE RIVERSIDE.

Due to circumstances beyond her control (following a partner who had decided to go to law school) Redmann moved to the City That Care Forgot, New Orleans. She is the first to admit that this isn’t exactly what she had planned. When pressed, she will admit that few things are as she had planned.

Redmann currently works as the Director of Prevention at NO/AIDS Task Force, the largest AIDS service organization in Louisiana. She also presents workshops on safer sex , which gives her a great excuse to watch dirty videos, talk about sex and ask questions such as, “What do you do with that pink thing?” during a normal work day.

One of the few lesbian authors to have crossed over to the so called mainstream, two of her books, LOST DAUGHTERS and THE INTERSECTION OF LAW AND DESIRE, were originally published by W.W. Norton. 

THE INTERSECTION OF LAW AND DESIRE won a Lambda Literary Award, and was also picked by the San Francisco Chronicle as an Editor’s Choice for the year and featured on NPR. Other titles include DEATH BY THE RIVERSIDE, and DEATHS OF JOCASTA. 

The most recent book, DEATH OF A DYING MAN, was released by Bold Strokes Books in April.  For more information or to read a sample chapter go to jmredmann.com.

Her books have been translated into German, Spanish, Norwegian and Dutch. 

Presently, J.M. Redmann lives, works and survives in the city devastated by Katrina-New Orleans. She lives just at the edge of where the waters stopped.

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