About the Author

This is me at the
Houston Writer's Conference
book signing holding my
award winning book,
The Administrator

This is my husband, Joe, and our dog, Dip sh**. (The dog is the one with all the hair.)
He ran away--the dog--not the husband.
Sure do miss him--the dog--not the husband.

What you might not know

I have been a waitress, clerk, small business owner, teacher, handyman (okay--handywoman), administrator/counselor in adult education and a bartender. I acquired most of her training in psychology behind the bar and attended college later, just to make it legal. I am currently an instructor in The Customized Training Program at Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell Branch. I am currently a tutor at The Creative Writing Institute helping people learn to write short stories.

I have conducted writer's workshops at writers’ meetings and conventions. My expertise lies in short stories, and I am especially fond of flash fiction. Most of my personal work is science fiction, fantasy, and psychological horror. I am currently writing a non fiction guide to help writers understand flash fiction, and I publisheed a book about the concepts of writing for electronic publishing.

I have a lot more good things I can think of to say about me, but, you are probably thinking, "Good Heavens! Does this woman every shut up?"

The answer is, "Nope."

And to prove it, here is some of my advice for new writers.

WRITER'S MOTTO

Write & Submit--Write & Submit--Write & Submit

My motto is: Mind your "P"s, and your "Q"s will follow: Perseverance (The good "P" word) and Procrastinate (The bad "P" word).

Born and raised in New Mexico, I still live here with my husband, Joe. I wrote my first poem when I was six years old and my first story when I was eight, but I was 49 years old, before I was published for the first time. Now that's perseverance! Unfortunately, it is also procrastination.

My advice to new writers is to write and submit. Write and submit until the Post Office has to hire new personnel to carry it all. Embrace the good "P" word--Perseverance! Being the procrastinating (that's the bad "P" word) creature that I am, I never submitted any of my work for publication until 1993.

A good writer is always a good reader first. My true love is science fiction. I like "twist" endings, and many of my endings are tragic. Once a story gets going, the characters tend to take over and do whatever they please with little regard for what I (the author) think they should do. Many times, I am as surprised by what paths my characters choose as the audience may be.
Thanks for stopping by and I hope to see you again soon.
S. Joan Popek

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