Joan Upton Hall

Joan Upton Hall began freelance writing full time in 1992 after retiring from a twenty-eight year career as a high school English teacher. At that time, she also resigned as editor and cartoonist of The RRAFT Report, a professional newsletter for teachers, for which she received state and national awards. With teaching in her blood, she now conducts creative writing classes and workshops as well as speaking events at writers’ conferences and to libraries, civic groups, etc.

On entering first chapter novel contests, Joan has won 1st place awards from two large organizations: Writers’ League of Texas (at Austin) for Arturo el Rey, and Houston Writers’ Guild for Dream Shifters.

Joan was especially honored to have won the 2012 award from the Barbara Burnett Smith Mentoring Authors Foundation. Each year this award goes to a “writer who has demonstrated excellence and inspired others to perform at their best.”

After she brings a piece to the best stage she can, she turns it over to a trusted critique group. To find out more about her and to get a peek at her published work (including free sample first chapters and book trailers), visit her website: www.JoanUptonHall.com .

Books by Joan Upton Hall (in addition to this self-help manual)

Excalibur Regained (futuristic fantasy-suspense trilogy) Arturo el Rey (2003), The Shadow of Excalibur (2007), and Arturo’s Grail (2013)

Grand Old Texas Theaters That Won’t Quit (nonfiction, 2002)

Just Visitin’ Old Texas Jails (nonfiction, 2007)

Ghostly Tales from America’s Jails (nonfiction anthology, 2007)

Dream Shifters (futuristic mystery novel, 2012) –first of series (Dream Hunter coming soon)

100+ Tips: Demystifying Writers’ Demons (reference manual, coming soon)