Judy Pearson is a best-selling author, an accomplished presenter, and a graduate of Michigan State University. But her favorite title is “story teller.”
With expertise in cancer survivorship, women’s history, and the study of courage, Judy’s first books told of ordinary people who became extraordinary heroes during World War II: Belly of the Beast: A POW’s True Story of Faith, Courage and Survival and The Wolves at the Door: The True Story of America’s Greatest Female Spy. The latter is a best-seller, received a “Best of Phoenix Award,” and has been purchased for a movie.
A diagnosis of Triple Negative Breast Cancer briefly interrupted Judy’s career as an author. Believing there is always treasure in life’s wreckage, cancer inspired her to found A 2nd Act, a nonprofit that supports and celebrates women survivors of all cancers who are giving back to the greater good. (More about that HERE.)
A 2nd Act led to an accidental – and out of order – trilogy, beginning with From Shadows to Life: A Biography of the Cancer Survivorship Movement. In addition to receiving wonderful praise, it was a 2022 Nautilus Gold Award winner. During research for that book, Judy was introduced to the inimitable Mary Lasker.
Crusade to Heal America: The Remarkable Life of Mary Lasker is the never-before-told story of the woman who persuaded President Richard Nixon to allocate over $1 billion to cancer research, dramatically changing survival rates. The book was selected a 2023 Bronze Florida Book Award winner.
The third book in the trilogy is Radical Sisters: Shirley Temple Black, Rose Kushner, Evelyn Lauder, and the Dawn of the Breast Cancer Movement: three courageous women turned their darkest day into life-saving changes for all of the breast cancer survivors who came afterward. It is the recipient of a 2025 Gold Florida Book Award.
Judy is at work on her next project, continuing to be intrigued by stories of ordinary individuals who have exhibited extraordinary courage. None of her subjects needed to step out of their comfort zone; but the fact that they sought to forgo their lives in favor of aiding their human sisters and brothers … well that’s the stuff of a good story. The goal is always that their stories will inspire others to follow suit.
Judy is a founding board member of Arizona Women for the Arts. She is a member of numerous organizations including Biography International, Gulf Coast Writers Association, and Women Empowering Women. She was named one of Chicago’s Most Inspirational Women, selected as a finalist for the Arizona Healthcare Leadership Awards, and named a Phoenix Healthcare Hero.
She and her husband live on Florida’s beautiful gulf coast, where long beach walks ignite her creativity.
