A Nebraska native, who raised her three daughters in New Hampshire before moving to Connecticut seven years ago, Joan was an English major, with additional course work in writing for young people and in communications. After writing for Cobblestone Publications’ monthly periodicals, which included history and anthropology magazines, and working in house on features and book projects, she began writing for her local bi-weekly newspaper.

With 13 years of experience as a journalist and editor of weekly newspapers in New Hampshire and Connecticut, Joan also helped launch, edited and wrote for a health and fitness magazine also published by ReminderMedia, Inc. called "Living Healthy." Joan is a former winner of New England Press Association awards for her editorials, articles and for an eclectic weekly newspaper column called “Life Matters.”