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When New
York Times bestselling author JoAnn Ross was seven-years-old, she had
no doubt whatsoever that she'd grow up to play center field for the New
York Yankees. Writing would be her backup occupation, something she
planned to do after retiring from baseball. Those were, in her mind,
her only options. While waiting for the Yankees management to call, she
wrote her first novella -- a tragic romance about two star-crossed
mallard ducks -- for a second grade writing assignment.
The paper earned a gold star. And JoAnn kept writing.
She's now written ninety-nine novels and has been published in twenty-six countries. Two of her titles have been excerpted in Cosmopolitan magazine and her books have also been published by the Doubleday, Rhapsody, Literary Guild, and Mystery Guild book clubs. A member of the Romance Writers of America's Honor Roll of best-selling authors, she's won several awards, including Romantic Times's Career Achievement Awards in both category and contemporary single title. In addition, she received RWA's national service award and was named RWA Pro-Mentor of the Year.
Although
the Yankees have yet to call her to New York to platoon center field,
JoAnn figures making one out of two life goals isn't bad.
Currently
writing for NAL Signet, JoAnn lives with her
husband and three rescued dogs (who pretty much rule the
house) in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains.
A NOTE FROM JOANN
Dear Reader,
My
grandfather McLaughlin (who kidnapped -- with her consent -- my
grandmother, when her wealthier Cavanaugh family wouldn't permit them
to marry) was a seanachie -- an Irish teller of tales. My earliest
memories are listening to the music of his lyrical brogue spinning
grand stories of kings and castles, battles and banishments, magic and
miracles.
Inheriting
his love of storytelling, I wrote my first novella when I was
seven-years-old and immediately decided to become a writer when I grew
up. Taught by Grandda to think big, my youthful fantasies invariably
involved me dashing off the great American novel in some Greenwich
Village garret, hand carrying it to a New York publisher who would
proclaim it brilliant and launch my career to both critical acclaim and
commercial success, after which I'd move to Cape Cod and live among all
the other rich and famous novelists.
Well,
it didn't quite work out that way. I've written advertising copy
extolling the wonders of everything from household appliances to
diamonds to tires. For a few years, I wrote for a large metropolitan
newspaper, only to feel more and more constrained by the rigid
parameters of fact. It was then I reminded myself what I really wanted
to do - what I'd always wanted to do: make up stories I could share
with others.
Hardly
a day goes by that I don't realize that by exploring my favorite themes
of love, loyalty, family, and, of course, my favorite, redemption, I'm
still following in my grandfather's footsteps. In all his tales, heroes
and heroines ventured forth on perilous quests against seemingly
impossible odds, slaying myriad dragons along the way. Tyrants were
toppled, lovers united, the wicked were punished, justice prevailed in
the end and the good always lived happily ever after. And isn’t that
what the best stories are all about?
xoxo,
JoAnn
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