Biography:

            When I was a child, my favorite game was Authors. Even before I could read, I memorized the portraits of the authors on the playing card so that I could identify Louisa May Alcott and Charles Dickens by their picture. One day I hoped to be an author and would see my name in gold print beneath the title of my books.

            As soon as I could from letters with my big red pencil, I wrote a poem, and by the fourth grade I bound my stories and poems between two pieces of silver cardboard and "published" my first book. When I speak in classrooms, I show the students my first effort to become an author.

            My school was located across the street from the library where I became good friends with the children's librarian, Mrs. Borosco who suggested that I submit my work to the Hunt Club, a section for young writers in the Horn Book Magazine. Soon, I received my first rejection slips that I saved along with several encouraging notes from one editor. Mrs. Borosco also filled my arms with newly arrived books that educated me about how to create characters, plots, setting and high drama.

            By the time I reached high school, writing, a love for languages and playing music formed my identity. I wrote for my school's newspaper and edited the literary magazine published by the creative writing club, while studying German and Spanish. A mission trip to Buckhorn, Kentucky introduced me to the riches of Appalachian culture, and I read the works of Jesse Stuart and Janet Holt Giles.

            After graduating from Hope College with a degree in Geology, I married a blueberry farmer and the land became my muse. Step by step, God has led me to experiences that shaped by beliefs about social justice, caring for His creation, and formed me as a writer.

            In addition to writing for children, my personal essays about farm and home life have appeared in The Christian Science Monitor, Ideals Magazine, Rosebud Magazine, Michigan History, A Simple Life, and in several anthologies: The Best of the Best of the Mayborn Literary Nonfiction Conference 2006 and 2007, At Home in the Garden, Home for Christmas, and Christmas is a Season 2008. One of my essays, Saint George and the Dragon, received the Hearst Award for Excellence in Literary Nonfiction at the Mayborn 2007 conference. Some of my essays, such as When the Bees Came Looking for Carlos, have been republished on state diagnostic reading exams. And our local NPR affiliate, WMUK features my "audio postcards from the farm".

            I earned my Master in Fine Arts from Spalding University with a major in creative nonfiction and a minor in writing for children.

           When not writing, I make quilts, work in my garden and play music on my harp.

            For latest information, please visit Joan on Facebook at Fans of Joan Donalson.