Meet Joan

I’ve always loved a good story. Some of my earliest memories are of the times when I listened to my mother tell me true stories about herself or her family. Although I enjoyed all of her stories, the ones that involved suspense or mystery fascinated me the most. Even as a child, I would think about the “what ifs” and was intrigued by inexplicable happenings.

I became an avid reader, and this developed into a desire to write. At the age of ten, I scribbled little short stories. I dabbled in poetry in my early teens, as did many of my friends. At age seventeen, I wrote a short YA novel by hand, but it was a long time before I wrote another piece of fiction.

I write mystery and suspense. I also delved a little into science fiction for my time travel story, Gold Wings, which is included in the anthology Quantum Wanderlust.  My Legends of Madeira series contains elements of legends and folklore. For information about my novels and short stories, check out my book pages.

I’m not superstitious. I’ll purposely walk under a ladder or cross a black cat’s path. In fact, one of my cats is black, and he found his way to our home. I like solving mysteries, and once thought being a private detective would be an exciting job.

And now, since I’m not superstitious, here are thirteen random things about me.

  1. My favorite color changes, depending on my mood. Sometimes it’s red, other times blue or green.
  2. I enjoy taking ghost walks because I like to hear the folklore and stories behind the “sightings.”
  3. I like American history, mainly from the Civil War and WWII eras, and enjoy visiting historical towns, places, and museums. I also love trivia and enjoy playing the game Trivial Pursuit.
  4. I think it would be cool to travel back in time. If I could choose a period, it would be the 1860s or the 1940s. (Wonder why?) I wouldn’t want to move into the future—I’d rather discover it as it happens.
  5. I like to explore old cemeteries and have dabbled in genealogy research. When I visit a grave, I try to imagine what people’s lives were like in times past.
  6. I’m not fond of chick flicks. I’d rather watch a drama or movie based on real stories, such as Bridge of Spies or The Post. I also like war movies, especially those set during the Civil War or World War II.
  7. I don’t watch a lot of television these days, but my two all-time favorite shows, MASH and JAG, are based on the military. I have the complete set of both shows on DVD. I once met G. W. Bailey, who played a small part as Sgt. Rizzo in later episodes of MASH. When I told him I loved the reruns, he signed his autograph, “Sgt. Rizzo, MASH.”
  8. I love looking at the night skies and especially the moon. Full moons have inspired me to write several stories.
  9. Unless they are too violent, I like thunderstorms. I used to think it would be cool to go out with storm chasers until my brother and I were caught on the road during a tornado a few years back. (We made it through unscathed.) However, there is something relaxing about the sound of rain and thunder. It’s a great time to write or to snuggle up with a good book.
  10. I love animals and am crazy about my two cats, Tucker and Little Bit.
  11. I don’t drink coffee. Iced tea is my caffeine of choice. I drink it in both winter and summer, morning and evening.
  12. Because I’m not superstitious, I released a book of thirteen short stories on a Friday the thirteenth.
  13. And last, but certainly not least. I enjoy listening to music, especially classic rock from the sixties and seventies. I’ve been a Beatles fan since I was six years old and was able to see Ringo Starr in concert in 2015.

Official Bio

Joan Hall has always enjoyed reading or listening to stories about inexplicable events, so it’s not surprising she writes mystery and suspense. A fan of classic rock music, songs often serve as the inspiration for her books and stories.

She likes full moons, exploring old cemeteries, taking ghost walks, and learning about legends and folklore.

Now retired, Joan spends her time writing, listening to music, watching classic movies, and enjoying life with her husband and two cats.