Joasha (pronounced Yo-asha) Lemba is a Writer, Poet, Lover, Sister, Daughter, and Friend. Born in ’87 in communist Poland (her motherland), she describes her love for literature as ‘inherited’: "My mama always loved books. She used to write poems, and kept a journal." Joasha started writing 10 years ago. She says "My friends were going to the movies and to parks, and I was going to the library. I could spend an entire day, searching through the rows of books: reading and writing."

Of Polish and Congolese descent, she is presently living in Montreal, Canada, pursuing studies at the college level. She plans to study Communication-journalism in University, and one day, defend- those who cannot do so themselves because of where they live, the color of their skin or their gender- through the spirit of her pen. She wants to travel the world and write novels that "will describe particular historical events, but be populated with warm and diverse characters. They will be as much fictional as they will be historical."

Joasha wants to cover many subjects: the Rwandan genocide, Police brutality, closet racism, the death penalty and the situation in Congo (her fatherland). She appreciates the talent of many great writers, such as Sonia Sanchez, Maya Angelou, Alice Walker, Chimamanda Adichie Ngozi, Janet Fitch, Sylvia Plath, Nelly Arcan and Nii Parkes ("Beautiful brotha, he has talent that is so raw and compelling.") Her poems and stories have been published on www.literatenubian.org (Under Jeanne asia Lemba). She is presently working on a poetree book and shopping for a publisher.

You can contact Ms. Lemba via e-mail at delectable_asha@hotmail.com or by sending an e-mail to TimBookTu and it will be forwarded.