137 ratings | 4 reviews | avg rating:4.68

Jess Lederman’s Followers (76)

Jess’s Bookshelves

to-read (5)
currently-reading (89)
read (154)
did-not-finish (0)
audible (1)
gay-fiction (1)
historical-fiction (1)
lgbtq-fiction (1)
literary-fiction (1)
literary-western (1)
See all bookshelves »

Jess’s Friends (102)

Chip Tudor

13 books | 739 friends

Lora Offer

777 books | 554 friends

Heidi McGill

268 books | 1,322 friends

Kathleen Rouser

123 books | 568 friends

Laura-Lee

679 books | 81 friends

M.P. Gunderson

60 books | 701 friends

Tiffini Oporto

367 books | 40 friends

Emily Lo

185 books | 5 friends

More friends…

Jess Lederman

Goodreads Author

Born

in Tarrytown, The United States

Website

https://www.jesslederman.com

Genre

Historical Fiction, Religion, Gay and Lesbian

Influences

George MacDonald
C.S. Lewis

Member Since

October 2016

edit data

After I graduated with a degree in music from Columbia University, a lust for expensive pianos drew me into an unexpected career in finance. It turned out that I had a knack for business; I gained much that the world had to offer and became a hedonist, a gambler who haunted the poker rooms of Las Vegas, and an arrogant atheist. I’ve written fiction for most of my life, and at one point I quit work to devote myself to writing a novel. During that time, my late first wife and I lived in Paris, down the street from where Hemingway once lived, and later in the mountains of Idaho. But the novel was never published, for my soul had not yet awakened, and I did not yet have anything important to say. So I went back to the business world.

One day, w After I graduated with a degree in music from Columbia University, a lust for expensive pianos drew me into an unexpected career in finance. It turned out that I had a knack for business; I gained much that the world had to offer and became a hedonist, a gambler who haunted the poker rooms of Las Vegas, and an arrogant atheist. I’ve written fiction for most of my life, and at one point I quit work to devote myself to writing a novel. During that time, my late first wife and I lived in Paris, down the street from where Hemingway once lived, and later in the mountains of Idaho. But the novel was never published, for my soul had not yet awakened, and I did not yet have anything important to say. So I went back to the business world.

One day, when we were living in Dallas, my wife heard a radio interview with Francis Collins, an eminent scientist who wrote The Language of God, which tells the story of his journey from atheism to becoming a disciple of Christ. Collins’ book led us to the writings of C.S. Lewis and George MacDonald*, who became the midwives of our rebirth from above.

There’s no hiding from the Hound of Heaven, once He’s on your trail!

Several years later, she was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) and we left Dallas and the business world behind and moved to a small town in Alaska. There we looked out on the glory of God’s creation and read to our heart’s content during the last two years of her life. Faced with tragedy, we learned to trust utterly in Him, and He blessed us with the peace that surpasses all understanding.

It was after her death, while I was still living in the far north, that the idea for Hearts Set Free—which opens in the Alaska Territory in 1925—was born. People who know that the novel contains autobiographical elements (and several historical characters) sometimes ask me, “How much of the story is true?’ And I answer, “Perhaps twenty percent—and the rest is even more true!” What drives my writing is the desire to convey truths that transform lives. Truths of the heart.

Eventually, I met a wonderful woman, my current wife. We wanted to have a larger family, and when we talked to doctors about having more children, their response was: “Impossible! According to your test results, there’s no chance at all, even using the latest techniques.” Of course, within two months of that pronouncement, she was pregnant with our youngest son. With God all things are possible!

My second novel, The Ballad of Midnight and McRae, was published in 2025. Like my first, it’s historical fiction, this time starting in the last days of the Wild West and carrying through to the Korean War. It was inspired in part by my sympathy for the LGBTQ Christian community. I’m hoping to finish my latest—working title Miracle Man—in 2027. Unlike the first two, which largely take place in the American Southwest, the setting is the melting pot of lower Manhattan in 1904. All three novels explore how men and women deal with matters of doubt and faith, and the astonishing power of love, both earthly and divine.

***************************************************************

*MacDonald was a 19th century Scottish novelist, poet, and minister, of whom C.S. Lewis remarked, “I know hardly any other writer who seems to be closer, or more continually close, to the Spirit of Christ Himself.” He’s not nearly as well known as he should be, although MacDonald was not only a major influence on Lewis but on G.K. Chesterton, J.R.R. Tolkien, and Madeleine L'Engle, to name only a few. In gratitude for his influence, I manage a website, The Works of George MacDonald, which includes much that is by, about, or inspired by the Scotsman. ...more

Learn more
Ask the Author

To ask Jess Lederman questions, please sign up.

Combine Editions
Jess Lederman’s books

Average rating: 4.25 · 296 ratings · 56 reviews · 37 distinct works • Similar authors

	Hearts Set Free: An Epic Tale of Love, Faith, and the Glory of God's Grace 4.26 avg rating — 220 ratings — 9 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Ballad of Midnight and McRae 4.73 avg rating — 15 ratings — published 2025 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Mortgage Professional's Handbook: Succeeding in the New World of Mortgage Finance: Industry Overviews and Loan Production by Jess Lederman (Goodreads Author), mortgage banking 4.40 avg rating — 5 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Good Words for the Young: A Child's Devotional by Jess Lederman (Goodreads Author), Rebekah Choat (Editor) it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 4 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Handbook of Mortgage-Banking: Trends, Opportunities and Strategies 3.40 avg rating — 5 ratings — published 1993	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Hedge Funds: Investment and Portfolio Strategies for the Institutional Investor (Irwin Asset Allocation Series for Institutional Investors) by Jess Lederman (Goodreads Author), Robert Klein 2.80 avg rating — 5 ratings — published 1995	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Mortgage Professional's Handbook: Succeeding in the New World of Mortgage Finance: Operations, Technology, Servicing, and Compliance 4.67 avg rating — 3 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Mortgage Professional's Handbook: Succeeding in the New World of Mortgage Finance: Secondary Marketing and Financial Management by Jess Lederman (Goodreads Author), Tomasz Lasota really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 3 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Mortgage Professional's Handbook: Succeeding in the New World of Mortgage Finance: Secondary Marketing and Financial Management (Volume 3) by Jess Lederman, CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform 4.50 avg rating — 2 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Global Asset Allocation: Techniques for Optimizing Portfolio Management by Jess Lederman (Goodreads Author) (Editor), Robert A. Klein (Editor) 2.50 avg rating — 2 ratings — published 1994 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by Jess Lederman…

Jess is Currently Reading

Jess Lederman is currently reading

"All You Zombies..."

by Robert A. Heinlein

bookshelves: currently-reading

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Aug 07, 2024 10:02PM

Jess Lederman is currently reading

Irving Berlin: New York Genius (Jewish Lives)

by James Kaplan

bookshelves: currently-reading

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Aug 02, 2024 08:49PM

Jess Lederman is currently reading

The Little Friend

by Donna Tartt

bookshelves: currently-reading

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Jul 01, 2024 06:23PM

rss
Jess’s Recent Updates

Jess Lederman entered a giveaway Return to the Shack: A Journey into Redemption by Wm. Paul Young 20 copies available, ends on June 14, 2026 Enter to win »
May 27, 2026 08:42PM · like · see giveaway
Jess Lederman wants to read Return to the Shack: A Journey into Redemption by Wm. Paul Young	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
May 27, 2026 03:16PM · like
Jess Lederman rated a book it was amazing Matrix by Lauren Groff (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
One of the most beautifully written and inspiring books I've ever read! ...more
May 19, 2026 08:43AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Matrix by Lauren Groff. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Matrix by Lauren Groff <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Jess Lederman is now following Lauren Groff Author of Fates and Furies
May 19, 2026 08:43AM · like
Jess Lederman rated a book it was amazing The Ballad of Midnight and McRae: A Queer Literary Western of Love, Justice, and Faith by Jess Lederman (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
May 11, 2026 10:22AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Ballad of Midnight and McRae by Jess Lederman. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Ballad of Midnight and McRae by Jess Lederman <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Jess Lederman is now following Michael Doane and C. Gonzales
May 11, 2026 10:06AM
Jess Lederman rated a book it was amazing There There by Tommy Orange (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Sep 05, 2024 10:21PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of There There by Tommy Orange. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — There There by Tommy Orange <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Jess Lederman finished reading The Gangs of New York: Informal History of the Underworld by Herbert Asbury	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Sep 03, 2024 04:48PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Gangs of New York by Herbert Asbury. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Gangs of New York by Herbert Asbury <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Jess Lederman finished reading Astonish Me by Maggie Shipstead (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Sep 01, 2024 09:24PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Astonish Me by Maggie Shipstead. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Astonish Me by Maggie Shipstead <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">