About JoAnne
JoAnne Check was born near Philadelphia, PA and lived in the Rochester, NY area for many years before moving to North Carolina. After graduating from Kutztown University, she was a school teacher, a grant writer, and a copywriter. JoAnne writes contemporary fiction as well as historical fiction and real life stories.
She has a passion for history, especially American history and enjoys searching out answers to the following questions: How did people live differently years ago than we do today? What challenges did they face? How did they view their world, and what values did they pass on to us today?
In addition to raising three children, JoAnne enjoys art, reading, gardening, and camping in the great outdoors. Over the years, she has ridden an elephant in the rainforest, sank in quicksand, skied in a blizzard, and hiked the Great Wall of China, as well as other experiences. She loves to share her adventures with her readers.
How did you become interested in writing?
Getting a creative short story published in the school newspaper in fourth grade peaked my interest in writing. I dreamed of becoming a writer one day, but instead I received a degree in secondary education(English major) and became a school teacher. My desire to weave a good story continued, however, but I set it aside to pursue other passions. A few years ago, I developed a serious illness, one that forced me to stop my favorite activities for several months while I recovered. During that time I took up writing, using the research I had done years earlier. Once I started writing, I was hooked! I love nothing better than to create a world where anything is possible, where characters can be far better or worse than in real life, and where adventures are always exciting.
Tell us some things about yourself.
- Interior decorating always fascinated me since I like to rearrange furniture, look at things from a new angle, and combine the unusual. You never know what you’re going to see on my walls!
- My father was an avid fisherman. Therefore, I learned to love rainbow trout. On occasion, I have been known to have a cold trout sandwich for breakfast.
- I have decided to give up telling jokes My face becomes so solemn when I tell them that people believe I’m serious. I have alarmed a few too many friends by doing that.
- My husband and I like to go exploring. We love to discover new historical sites, out-of-the-way places, and trails to hike, especially if they lead to waterfalls.
- For a number of years I sailed a racing sailboat called a Snipe. I am still amazed that a gentle breeze has the power to glide me across the water.
What are your plans for the future?
I plan to write contemporary fiction and some short stories. Although I enjoyed doing the research for historical novels, I like modern-day stories where I can develop characters and plot without having to totally immerse myself into a former time frame. I’ll continue writing as long as I have a spark of inspiration. In fact, even if I wanted to, I’m not sure I could stop. I enjoy writing so much!
Q & A with JoAnneGet to know the author.
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