THE SHORT VERSION:
Celeste is a Southern Californian who grew up in the world of activism and politics. When she's not yelling at CSPAN or obsessively following the Artemis mission, she's probably feeding the menagerie of animals in her backyard.
Celeste is a Southern Californian who grew up in the world of activism and politics. When she's not yelling at CSPAN or obsessively following the Artemis mission, she's probably feeding the menagerie of animals in her backyard.
THE SHINY PRESS KIT VERSION:
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Celeste Pewter is a political strategist, policy communicator, and nationally recognized writer whose work has shaped legislation, presidential campaigns, and public discourse on civic engagement and democratic resilience. She currently serves as the digital communications manager for a Washington D.C. think tank.
A former political staffer, Celeste has written speeches for elected officials at every level of government. Her writing and commentary have appeared in CNN, Teen Vogue, The Los Angeles Times, and USA Today. NPR’s Cognoscenti once named her a prospective “Joan Didion of Our Times,” and she was featured on the Asian American Journalists Association’s inaugural list of 100 influential voices.
During the 2024 presidential campaign, Celeste organized a high-profile author sign-on letter supporting the Harris-Walz ticket and advised the campaign on AAPI outreach and coalition strategy. She has previously advised multiple candidates on national security communications and voter mobilization. As a legislative advocate, Celeste led successful efforts to expand internship access at the state and federal levels and has been a key voice in equity-driven education and labor policy reform. In 2025, following her wrongful arrest, she launched a statewide campaign to reform California Penal Code §13701 — a bill now moving toward legislative sponsorship.
Her essays — including “I Didn’t Expect to Make Friends in Jail” (Harper’s Bazaar, 2025) and “Vincent Chin’s Death Changed Asian American History” (Teen Vogue, 2020) — have gone viral, sparked academic case studies, and helped elevate survivor narratives across the country.
Celeste holds degrees from the University of California, Irvine, King’s College London, and Johns Hopkins University. She is the author of multiple forthcoming books from Bloomsbury and Henry Holt.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Celeste Pewter is a political strategist, policy communicator, and nationally recognized writer whose work has shaped legislation, presidential campaigns, and public discourse on civic engagement and democratic resilience. She currently serves as the digital communications manager for a Washington D.C. think tank.
A former political staffer, Celeste has written speeches for elected officials at every level of government. Her writing and commentary have appeared in CNN, Teen Vogue, The Los Angeles Times, and USA Today. NPR’s Cognoscenti once named her a prospective “Joan Didion of Our Times,” and she was featured on the Asian American Journalists Association’s inaugural list of 100 influential voices.
During the 2024 presidential campaign, Celeste organized a high-profile author sign-on letter supporting the Harris-Walz ticket and advised the campaign on AAPI outreach and coalition strategy. She has previously advised multiple candidates on national security communications and voter mobilization. As a legislative advocate, Celeste led successful efforts to expand internship access at the state and federal levels and has been a key voice in equity-driven education and labor policy reform. In 2025, following her wrongful arrest, she launched a statewide campaign to reform California Penal Code §13701 — a bill now moving toward legislative sponsorship.
Her essays — including “I Didn’t Expect to Make Friends in Jail” (Harper’s Bazaar, 2025) and “Vincent Chin’s Death Changed Asian American History” (Teen Vogue, 2020) — have gone viral, sparked academic case studies, and helped elevate survivor narratives across the country.
Celeste holds degrees from the University of California, Irvine, King’s College London, and Johns Hopkins University. She is the author of multiple forthcoming books from Bloomsbury and Henry Holt.