Joanne Bodin Ph.D., is an award-winning author, poet, and retired educator. Her new novel, Orchid of the Night, a dark psychological thriller, is a 2017 New York City Big Book Award winner as "distinguished favorite" in LGBT fiction and a New Mexico/Arizona Book Award winner in LGBT fiction. It also placed finalist  three other categories. It also placed as FINALIST in the 2018 New Mexico Press Women Communication Contest in the adult novel category.  Her book of poetry, Piggybacked:poetry was a finalist in the New Mexico Book Awards. Her novel, Walking Fish, won the  New Mexico Book Award and the International Book Award in gay/lesbian fiction.  She is past vice president of the New Mexico State Poetry Society, and is on the boards of Southwest Writers and  the New Mexico Orchid Guild.  Her poetry has appeared in numerous publications including: The Rag, La Llorona Poetry Anthology, Fixed and Free Poetry Anthology I & II, Desert Sun Runner, Voices of New Mexico Too, More Voices of New Mexico, JB Stillwater Magazine, NMSPS Albuquerque Chapter Poetry Anthology, Zingara Poetry Pics,  New Mexico Mercury, Malpais Review Vol. 5, and Vol. 6, The Storyteller's Anthology, The Yes Book- Exult Road, Glitterwolf Magazine. Watermelon Isotope, Hers: a poets speak anthology, Value: Essays, Stories and Poems by Women of a Certain Age, Jesbian, and Adobe Walls 5.

Joanne is a water color hobbyist and plays classical and jazz piano.  

Jug Band Enterprises is my private business in which I contract with writers, publishers, musicians, and artists, for community outreach events, performances of poetry and music, lectures on current publishing and writing trends, poetry workshops, private writing coaching, and collaborations on publications.

After I retired from a 34 year teaching career for special needs students, I was able to develop my writing career.  I write poetry, fiction, and nonfiction.  I write about marginalized populations and my books reflect composite characters of real people and real events to shed light on today's world and the struggles people have who do not fit in with mainstream culture.

I have taken numerous writing classes, workshops, poetry classes, and have studied with the Taos (New Mexico) writers.  I found that I had a talent for writing fiction and poetry so I immersed myself in the writing and poetry community in New Mexico and my writing career took off.

I have had many challenges in life.  I feel that my biggest challenge was when I decided to relocate to New Mexico from California. 

I have always been an organizer and a leader. I have managed large-scale writing conferences, poetry panels with New Mexico poet laureates, as well as my film company in the 80's in California.  I am also a very successful networker. 

My greatest accomplishment to date is my writing career.  I am an award-winning author and poet.  See my website at www.joannebodin.com

I will continue to develop my writing and publishing career as long as I can.

I have always been inspired by people throughout history who have used the written word as a tool for social justice and social change. That is what I am doing in my own writing and poetry.

I want to be remembered as woman who survived life-- the good and bad times, with my integrity in tact - as a fighter, advocate for social justice.

Board Member of SouthWest Writers for over 12 years,  past vice president and current honorary member of New Mexico Orchid Guild, past vice president of The New Mexico State Poetry Society, member of The New Mexico Book Co-op, member of The New Mexico Book Association, member of the New Mexico Press Women, member of the New Mexico Art League, member of New Mexico Outpost Jazz Workshop.

Walking Fish: a Novel - International Book Award in LGBT Fiction. New Mexico Book Award in LGBT fiction and Finalist in three other categories.

Piggy Backed:Poetry - Finalist, New Mexico-Arizona Book Award

Orchid of the Night - 2017 New York City Big Big Book Award as "Distinguished Favorite" in LGBT fiction, New Mexico/Arizona Book Award in LGBT fiction, finalist in three other categories. 2018 New Mexico Press Women Commodification Contest Finalist: Second place in the category of Adult Novel.

Road Runner food bank, Barrett House for abused women, Animal Friends adoption, IEARN International Education and Resource Network, ACLU, Goodwill, Equity New Mexico, SAGE for LGBT seniors, Reading in the Schools tutors, University of New Mexico honors programs, ONE Archives at USC, Lambda Literary.

Water color painting, playing the piano and orchids.