Pamela Samuels-Young
Pamela's debut novel, Every Reasonable Doubt (February 2006), won the Black Expressions Book Club's Fiction Writing Contest, received an honorable mention in the SEAK Legal Fiction Writing Competition and was a finalist for USA Book News' Best Books of 2006 awards in the mystery, suspense and thriller category. Her second novel, In Firm Pursuit (January 2007) was honored by Romantic Times magazine as a finalist for Best African-American Novel of 2007. Murder on the Down Low (September 2008), Pamela's third release, was an "Editor's Pick" by Black Expressions magazine and a finalist for the 2009 African-American Literary Awards in the mystery category. Pamela then published her first stand-alone novel, Buying Time (November 2009). The Black Caucus of the American Library Association honored Buying Time with its 2010 Fiction Award, calling the book "a captivating, suspenseful thriller." Her short story, Setup, was selected for the 2006 Sisters in Crime anthology, LAndmarked for Murder.
Pamela has achieved a successful writing career while working as Managing Counsel for Labor and Employment Law for a major corporation in Southern California. Prior to that, she served as Employment Law Counsel for Raytheon Company and spent several years with the law firm of O'Melveny & Myers, LLP in Los Angeles. A former journalist, Pamela began her broadcasting career as a production assistant at WXYZ-TV in Detroit, where she was quickly promoted to news writer. To escape the brutal Detroit winters, she returned home to Los Angeles and worked at KCBS-TV as a news writer and associate producer..
A former Coro Foundation Fellow, Pamela has a bachelor's degree in journalism from USC and a master's degree in broadcasting from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism. She received her law degree from UC Berkeley's Boalt Hall School of Law and was formerly an adjunct professor at the University of Redlands' School of Business. Pamela currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Southern California Chapter of Mystery Writers of America and is the Fiction Expert for BizyMoms.com.
Pamela is a frequent speaker on the topics of discrimination law, writing and pursuing your passion. She is married and lives in the Los Angeles area.
Pamela’s most requested presentations include:
- Pursuing Your Passion Despite Your Day Job
- Having It All: A Blueprint for Work/Life Balance
- Banking On Our Differences: The Business Case For Diversity
- We All Fall Down: How Faith Can Pick You Back Up
- How to Write a Novel Despite Your Day Job
What People Are Saying!
“Pamela’s message is real — not contrived. She’s a living testimonial to how the can do attitude will win out over the I can’t. What’s more, she’s entertaining, amusing and fun to listen to.” Mike Rounds, Former President, L.A. Chapter National Speakers Association
“Pamela’s presentation, Pursuing Your Passion Despite Your Day Job, was both informative and motivational.” Leslie Sears, Board of Directors, Rotary Club of Torrance
“Pamela’s presentation left the audience energized and confident that they, too, could pursue their true passion despite their day jobs.” Syna Dennis, President, Black Women Lawyers Association of L.A.
“Pamela inspired our young people to work hard, have faith and believe that with God all things are possible.” Corine E. Raybon, Sunday School Director Community Baptist Church, Compton, CA
“Pamela is an up-and-coming phenomenal speaker who has the unique gift of motivating those around her. She is compelling, dazzling, and overall impressive.” Laurie Robinson, CEO, Corporate Counsel Women of Color
Pamela's debut novel, Every Reasonable Doubt (February 2006), won the Black Expressions Book Club's Fiction Writing Contest, received an honorable mention in the SEAK Legal Fiction Writing Competition and was a finalist for USA Book News' Best Books of 2006 awards in the mystery, suspense and thriller category. Her second novel, In Firm Pursuit (January 2007) was honored by Romantic Times magazine as a finalist for Best African-American Novel of 2007. Murder on the Down Low (September 2008), Pamela's third release, was an "Editor's Pick" by Black Expressions magazine and a finalist for the 2009 African-American Literary Awards in the mystery category. Pamela then published her first stand-alone novel, Buying Time (November 2009). The Black Caucus of the American Library Association honored Buying Time with its 2010 Fiction Award, calling the book "a captivating, suspenseful thriller." Her short story, Setup, was selected for the 2006 Sisters in Crime anthology, LAndmarked for Murder.
Pamela has achieved a successful writing career while working as Managing Counsel for Labor and Employment Law for a major corporation in Southern California. Prior to that, she served as Employment Law Counsel for Raytheon Company and spent several years with the law firm of O'Melveny & Myers, LLP in Los Angeles. A former journalist, Pamela began her broadcasting career as a production assistant at WXYZ-TV in Detroit, where she was quickly promoted to news writer. To escape the brutal Detroit winters, she returned home to Los Angeles and worked at KCBS-TV as a news writer and associate producer..
A former Coro Foundation Fellow, Pamela has a bachelor's degree in journalism from USC and a master's degree in broadcasting from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism. She received her law degree from UC Berkeley's Boalt Hall School of Law and was formerly an adjunct professor at the University of Redlands' School of Business. Pamela currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Southern California Chapter of Mystery Writers of America and is the Fiction Expert for BizyMoms.com.
Pamela is a frequent speaker on the topics of discrimination law, writing and pursuing your passion. She is married and lives in the Los Angeles area.
Pamela’s most requested presentations include:
- Pursuing Your Passion Despite Your Day Job
- Having It All: A Blueprint for Work/Life Balance
- Banking On Our Differences: The Business Case For Diversity
- We All Fall Down: How Faith Can Pick You Back Up
- How to Write a Novel Despite Your Day Job
What People Are Saying!
“Pamela’s message is real — not contrived. She’s a living testimonial to how the can do attitude will win out over the I can’t. What’s more, she’s entertaining, amusing and fun to listen to.” Mike Rounds, Former President, L.A. Chapter National Speakers Association
“Pamela’s presentation, Pursuing Your Passion Despite Your Day Job, was both informative and motivational.” Leslie Sears, Board of Directors, Rotary Club of Torrance
“Pamela’s presentation left the audience energized and confident that they, too, could pursue their true passion despite their day jobs.” Syna Dennis, President, Black Women Lawyers Association of L.A.
“Pamela inspired our young people to work hard, have faith and believe that with God all things are possible.” Corine E. Raybon, Sunday School Director Community Baptist Church, Compton, CA
“Pamela is an up-and-coming phenomenal speaker who has the unique gift of motivating those around her. She is compelling, dazzling, and overall impressive.” Laurie Robinson, CEO, Corporate Counsel Women of Color
