Naima Coster

Naima Coster is a New York Times bestselling author of two novels and a recipient of the National Book Foundation’s 5 Under 35 honor. Her most recent novel, What’s Mine and Yours, was a Read with Jenna Today Show Book Club pick, a Book of the Month Club pick, a statewide read for One Maryland One Book, and longlisted for the Mark Twain American Voice in Literature Award. It was named a best book of the year by Kirkus, Amazon, Esquire, Marie Claire, Ms. Magazine, The Millions, and Refinery29.

Naima’s first novel, Halsey Street, was a finalist for the Kirkus Prize for Fiction and a semifinalist for the VCU Cabell First Novelist Award.

Naima’s stories and essays have appeared in the New York Times, Elle, Time, Kweli, The Cut, The Sunday Times, and Catapult, among other publications, and in numerous anthologies. She earned her MFA at the Columbia University School of the Arts and has taught writing for over a decade in community settings, youth programs, and universities.

Naima is currently at work on her third novel. She lives in Brooklyn with her family.

Education

• Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) Columbia University in the City of New York (2012 — 2015)
• Master of Arts (M.A.) Fordham University (2010 — 2012)
• Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Yale University (2004 — 2008)

Companies

• Distinguished Visiting Lecturer University of Michigan (2020)
• Affiliate Faculty in Fiction Antioch University (2018)
• Creative Writing Instructor Catapult (2018)
• Kowald Guest Faculty in Fiction, MFA Program The City College of New York (2019 — 2019)
• Visiting Assistant Professor of English - Writing & Creative Writing Wake Forest University (2016 — 2018)
• Instructor Duke Young Writers' Camp (2016 — 2016)
• Aspects of Leadership Facilitator Prep for Prep (2012 — 2016)
• Undergraduate Writing Instructor Columbia University (2013 — 2015)
• Tutor in English Literature, Writing, and Test Preparation My Learning Springboard, Inc. (2012 — 2015)