Author Archives: Joanne Guidoccio

About Joanne Guidoccio

In 2008, Joanne retired from a 31-year teaching career and launched a second act that tapped into her creative side. Slowly, a writing practice emerged. Her articles and book reviews were published in newspapers, magazines, and online. When she tried her hand at fiction, she made reinvention a recurring theme in her novels and short stories. A member of Crime Writers of Canada, Sisters in Crime, and Romance Writers of America, Joanne writes paranormal romance, cozy mysteries, and inspirational literature from her home base of Guelph, Ontario.

Ending on the Right Note

Posted on June 28, 2020

This past year,  I  have read several books with unsatisfying endings. In one case, I wondered if the novel had been worth my time and attention. The author had started with a compelling opening, the characters were well-developed, and each … Continue reading →

Posted in What's Up With Joanne! | 8 Comments

Eight More Second Acts

Posted on May 17, 2020

Since July of 2013, I have shared the reinvention stories of over 100 women from across three continents. The eight women featured today have launched second acts as writers. Here are their pearls of wisdom. Click on their names to … Continue reading →

Posted in What's Up With Joanne! | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

My Yoga Practice…Then and Now

Posted on April 5, 2020

In late June of 2009, the following newspaper advertisement caught my attention: Unlimited yoga during the months of July and August for $160 I planned to attend three classes a week and see how I felt by the end of … Continue reading →

Posted in Soul Mate Publishing, What's Up With Joanne! | Tagged , | 6 Comments

De-Stress with Humor

Posted on December 8, 2019

According to one study, adults laugh—on average—seventeen times a day. Pre-school children, on the other hand, can laugh up to 300 times a day. That discrepancy becomes even more pronounced at this time of the year. With less than three … Continue reading →

Posted in What's Up With Joanne! | Tagged | 7 Comments

Chia Seed Power!

Posted on October 20, 2019

From the start, I loved the sound of the Mayan word “chia” and its meaning: strength. Originally grown in Mexico, these seeds were valued for their nutritional and medicinal properties. Runners and warriors used chia seeds as fuel while running … Continue reading →

Posted in Recipe, Soul Mate Publishing, What's Up With Joanne! | 2 Comments

Loving Those Oxymorons

Posted on July 14, 2019

Technically they’re oxymora, but according to the wordsmiths, oxymorons can be used as the plural form. Whatever form you choose to use, one thing is certain: Oxymorons attract attention. And people who like to pepper their conversations with these literary … Continue reading →

Posted in What's Up With Joanne! | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Replenishing My Inner Well

Posted on May 26, 2019

In 1992, I picked up a copy of The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. Hoping to inspire and motivate myself to write, I spent an entire weekend devouring the book and then decided to incorporate morning pages and artist dates … Continue reading →

Posted in What's Up With Joanne! | Tagged , , , | 12 Comments

Happy National Humor Month!

Posted on April 7, 2019

In 1976, comedian and author Larry Wilde founded National Humor Month. His intention: Share the therapeutic benefits of humor with the world. Humor plays an essential role in our overall health. Everything from a giggle to a deep-rooted belly laugh … Continue reading →

Posted in What's Up With Joanne! | 2 Comments

In Praise of Quotes

Posted on February 17, 2019

In my late teens, I started a quote collection. I would underline sentences (and sometimes entire paragraphs) in books and jot down inspiring thoughts from other print media. I would then copy these words of wisdom into a journal. When … Continue reading →

Posted in What's Up With Joanne! | 10 Comments

13 Inspiring Second Acts

Posted on December 30, 2018

Originally, I had planned to devote six months, possibly a year to the Second Acts Series. This was the plan concocted during the summer of 2013: Use the second acts of real-life women to launch an ex-mermaid’s reinvention story in … Continue reading →

Posted in What's Up With Joanne! | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments