Celeste O. Norfleet facts for kids

Celeste O. Norfleet is an amazing American writer. She was born on February 11, 1959, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Celeste Norfleet writes exciting romance stories and fun young adult novels. Her books are loved by many readers.

Growing Up and Early Career

Celeste Norfleet grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After finishing public school, she went to Moore College of Art and Design. There, she earned a special degree called a B.F.A. in fashion illustration. This means she learned how to draw pictures for fashion.

After college, she worked in advertising for several years. She started as a graphic artist, creating designs and images. Later, she became a creative art director, which meant she led teams to make advertisements.

Becoming a Writer

Starting Her Writing Journey

In 1991, Celeste Norfleet moved to Northern Virginia. A few years later, she started reading many romance novels. She enjoyed them so much that she decided to write her own.

Her first romance novel, Priceless Gift, was finished in 1999. It was sold to BET Books in 2001 and published in March 2002. This book was the start of a popular series called the Mamma Lou Matchmaker series. This series has 11 books! Since then, Celeste Norfleet has written more than twenty novels.

Writing for Teens

In 2007, a publisher called Harlequin Kimani TRU released her first young adult novel. This book was named Pushing Pause. It received many good reviews from readers and critics.

Pushing Pause became the first book in The Kenisha Lewis Series. This series was written for both teens and adults. The other books in this series are Fast Forward and Gettin’ Played.

Her Writing Style

Today, Celeste Norfleet writes romance novels full-time. She says her stories are realistic and often have humor. She likes to create strong and interesting characters who go on unexpected adventures.

She also writes dramatic stories for young adults. These books often talk about important issues that African-American teens face today. Celeste Norfleet has written for several different book lines, including Harlequin's Kimani Press Arabesque, Harlequin Kimani Romance, and Kimani Press TRU (for young adults).

Awards and Honors

Celeste Norfleet has received many awards for her writing. She has won six awards from Romance Slam Jam (RSJ). She also received a special lifetime achievement award from them. In 2016, she was honored with the BRAB Frances Ray Lifetime Literary Legacy Award.

Personal Life

Celeste Norfleet lives in Virginia with her family.

Recognized Works

Celeste Norfleet's books have been recognized many times:

• Since Forever was nominated for a Rose Award in 2003.
• She was nominated for the Romantic Times Book - Reviewer's Choice Award for Best African American Romance in 2004.
• She received a nomination for the Romantic Times Book - Career Achievement Award in 2009.
• She was nominated for Best Steamy Romance at Romance Slam Jam in 2009.
• She was nominated for Romantic Times Book - Author of The Year in 2009.
• Pushing Pause was a finalist for the YALSA - Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers List in 2009.