Jo-Ann Mapson is a bestselling author, known for her compelling works of general fiction. She has written numerous novels, many of which have become national bestsellers. In addition to her novels, Mapson has also penned many national book reviews, freelance articles, and has been included in several short story anthologies.
Mapson, a third generation Californian, grew up in Fullerton as a middle child with four siblings. She dropped out of college to get married but later returned to academia, earning a creative writing degree from California State University, Long Beach. Following the birth of her son in 1978, Mapson worked a variety of odd jobs, including teaching horseback riding, cleaning houses, typing resumes, and working retail. After earning a graduate degree from Vermont College's low residency program, she taught at Orange Coast College for six years before turning to full-time writing in 1996.
Mapson is the author of several acclaimed novels, including "Shadow Ranch," "Blue Rodeo," "Hank Chloe," and "Loving Chloe." She is known for her rich and evocative settings, with the land serving as a central character in many of her works. Mapson's fiction is set in the Southwest, a region that she knows well, having grown up in California and lived in Arizona and New Mexico. She currently resides in Costa Mesa, California. Mapson's love of horses and the outdoors has greatly influenced her writing, and she has said that she learned about writing from learning to jump her horse. In addition to her fiction, Mapson has also taught writing at the University of Alaska Anchorage and has had her papers collected by Boston University's Twentieth Century Collection. She is married and has a grown son, as well as several rescue Italian greyhounds. Mapson is currently at work on a new novel.