User:Authorlisawashington

Lisa Washington (born 1975, Detroit) is an American Christian Fiction author. Washington is the recipient of the 2020 Author Elite Award for her novel Love Lifted Me and the winner of the 2018 African-American Literary Award Show, Best Christian Fiction for her debut novel When You Least Expect It. Washington studied creative writing at Butler University were she received a Masters of Fine Arts degree. She currently resides in Georgia.

Early Life
Washington was born and raised on the westside of Detroit, MI, by a single mother. Her mother read lots of books, mostly romance, instilling a love for reading within Washington. Washington attended Detroit Redford High School and graduated in 1993. Her English teacher, Mrs. Delores McCrary saw a passion for writing within her that she had yet to see herself.

Career
Washington joined the United States Navy in 1995 and after school was stationed onboard the U.S.S. Simon Lake in LaMaddalena, Sardinia, Italy. After her service, she returned to school, graduating with a bachelors degree in public relations from Wayne State University, Detroit, MI. Not able to find a job in public relations, Washington went to work for the Norfolk Redevelopment & Housing Authority (NRHA). While working, she went to school at night to earn a masters degree in business administration from Averett University in 2008.

Awards

 * 2018 - African American Literary Award Show, Best Christian Fiction, Winner
 * 2019 - Author Elite Awards, Best Fiction, Top Ten Finalists
 * 2020 - Author Elite Awards, Best Clean Romance, Winner