With an academic background in Animal Science and Agronomy, Juris Plēsums earned an MS in Agriculture and Applied Economics. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, he was invited to establish aid programs for the EU. For his role as teaching consultant and extension work he was awarded a Dr. h.c. and the status of An Officer of the Order of the Three Stars. In 2011, the title of Wisconsin Distinguished Agriculturist was bestowed upon him by the UWRF.

Juris doesn’t just write stories, he resurrects histories, untangles mysteries and asks questions that linger long after the last page. A Latvian-born writer with deep ties to the Baltic region, Juris carries the memory of his homeland’s turbulent past and transforms it into vivid storytelling that bridges centuries. Juris Plēsums writes from a place where history, culture and humanity intersect. Born into the Latvian diaspora, he carries with him a deep sense of heritage, identity and resilience, threads that run through all his work.

With Check Mate, Juris delivers a novel that’s both intimate and sweeping, folding love, loss, survival and destiny into one unforgettable journey.

His writing isn’t about easy answers. It’s about people wrestling with grief, love, tradition and survival. With Morning Dew, Juris has created a work that is both deeply personal and universally resonant.

Outside of writing, Juris is fascinated by the way history and personal identity overlap the small choices that ripple across generations. That passion infuses his work, giving his novels a haunting resonance.