N.E. (Nancy) Lasater is a novelist who writes about ordinary people facing life-changing challenges and finding unexpected courage. Her debut novel, Farmer’s Son, follows a young man labeled “defective” in the 1970s as he struggles with shame, abuse, family secrets, and self-worth. Praised by prominent dyslexic voices for its honest, compassionate portrayal of learning differences, the audiobook narrated by the author herself will be released in February 2026.

Her second novel, Alternate Endings, explores caregiving, midlife reinvention, and what it means for a woman to choose herself while still loving the people who depend on her.

A former trial lawyer, Lasater is also a painter, long-distance hiker, and mom, bringing warmth, humor, and curiosity to conversations about creativity, resilience, caregiving and second acts.

N.E. (Nancy) Lasater is a novelist whose work explores the courage it takes to be human — especially when life demands more of us than we ever expected. Her fiction illuminates ordinary people confronting extraordinary emotional, familial, and cultural pressures with honesty and compassion.

Her debut novel Farmer’s Son tells the story of Bobby McAllister, a dyslexic young man labeled “defective” in 1971 whose struggle with shame, abuse, family secrets, and self-worth ripples across generations. The novel has resonated deeply with readers and communities affected by learning differences and has been celebrated for its powerful portrayal of identity, resilience, and redemption.

In Alternate Endings, Lasater explores the complexities of caregiving, self-sacrifice, and self-discovery through Calyce Tate, a middle-aged woman caught in the “sandwich generation” between aging parents and adult children. Based on Greek mythology, the novel speaks to anyone navigating competing responsibilities while seeking a life of meaning on their own terms.

A former litigator and trial lawyer and now a writer, painter, and long-distance hiker, Lasater brings both analytical depth and emotional insight to discussions about creativity, personal growth, resilience, and the art of storytelling.