Joan wrote the poems
BAKU, and EARTHQUAKE!
Gnome & UnGnome Facts About Joan:
Joannie is a retired psych nurse. She enjoys exploring our world and the world of imagination, never knowing what everyday wonders she might discover right outside her door.
Her philosophy: Go slow, so you don’t miss the good stuff.
She grew up in Japan, and her poems in this anthology are inspired by the emotional connection she still feels to the creatures of her childhood.
Joannie lives in central MA with her husband and spoiled cats, where she occasionally chases black bears away from her birdfeeders.
A member of SCBWI, 12 x 12, and the Writers’ Loft, she enjoys writing funny picture books and early chapter books with quirky, often anthropomorphic characters.
Absol’s Q&A with Joannie:
Greetings, Joannie! Thanks for being our LEGEND of the WEEK!
If you could be any legendary creature who or what would you be and why?
Wow, this is a tough choice. I love the many myths behind the Phoenix, Dragons, and Fairies. Those wonderful creatures all fly and possess magic. My final choice would be a fairy. Being able to fly and live in a world of magic! How cool is that? And being a small magical creature, I’d be able to explore hidden nooks and crannies that the larger beasts can’t reach. Besides, it’s fun to imagine during my walks through the woods that fairies and other magical sprites are hiding just around the next tree or behind that mossy boulder.
Fairy is a great choice (2nd only to a gnome, of course). Can you tell us a little about how you came to be a part of this unbelievable anthology?
I’ve been a member of the Loft for years, and probably first heard about it through Josh Funk when we worked together at a New England SCBWI Conference. I have poems in the previous anthology, Friends & Anemones, and when I received the email about this project, I shared the information with my local critique group. Several members are also Loft members, so we had our own mini-critique group to polish our poems before submitting them for consideration. (Shout out to Jeanne Bracken, Helen Kampion, and Joy Wieder! Check out their poems, too!)
What inspired you to write about my legendary Japanese friends?
I grew up in Japan, and my poems in this anthology were inspired by the emotional connection I still feel to the creatures of my childhood.
Baku are holy beasts that watch over mankind. They protect us by devouring evil spirits that can cause nightmares, illness, and bad luck. Even today, children in Japan will call on the Baku to eat their bad dreams. Baku are strange-looking beasts. Legend notes that they were created from leftover parts after all the other animals were made by the gods.
Many legends explain the frequent earthquakes that rock Japan. I knew I wanted to write a poem for two voices about the dragon-headed beetle (Jinshin-Mushi) and the giant catfish (Jinshin-Namazu)—both blamed for the quakes. Earthquakes rattled our house on a regular basis. My brothers and I even played “Earthquake!” We’d rescue all our stuffed animals, toss them in my doll buggy, and dive under the dining room table. Safe!
Well, even gnomes could use a Baku now and again.
What’s great in your life right now that you want to share, personal or professional? Some wins?
My book, B is for Berkshires, allowed me to explore many personal interests. It has a layered text, with poetry and secondary text offering a blend of history, culture, and science. However, since I retired from nursing 4 years ago, I’ve given myself permission to focus on what I really love—writing humorous stories featuring anthropomorphic objects. And no matter how far I stretch the silly, I know the psych nurse in me will also mix in a touch of social-emotional learning. Throughout my career, I helped patients discover ways to improve their communication skills and identify ways to create more balance in their lives. I strongly believe that our greatest strength at any age is the ability to play and to find joy and humor in everyday moments.
Wonderful, I have a lot of friends who live in the Berkshires! Thank you for your time!
writersloftpress.com 