Today we’d like to introduce you to Joan Wilking.
Joan, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I was the creative director of my own design firm for many years and then for a Boston area ad agency. During that time I always wrote and made art. Seven years ago I left to concentrate on writing and art full time. Since then my short fiction has been published in The Atlantic, The Bellevue Literary Review, The Barcelona Review, Other Voices, The Mississippi Review, Ascent, Hobart, Clackamas, The MacGuffin, Elm Leaves, and others. I was a finalist for the 2010 Nelson Algren Short Story Competition of the Chicago Tribune, and received special mention in the 2016 Pushcart Prize XL Anthology. In 2016 my novella, Mycology, won the Wild Onion Novella Prize. It was published by Curbside Splendor at the end of 2017.
I also make ceramic sculpture which is exhibited at the Estey Gallery in Newburyport, MA.
I live out on Great Neck in Ipswich where I get to enjoy a sweeping view of Plum Island Point, Ipswich Bay and Crane and Steep Hill beaches.
Has it been a smooth road?
Overall I’d say I’ve had a pretty easy time of it professionally in my years as a designer.
My one disappointment since I left that world is how little support I’ve had from the publisher of my book. Publishing with a small press was tough. They had little to no budget for promotion and the press underwent a big shake up in personnel right after my book won the prize, which was disconcerting. The book has gotten great reviews but it’s been hard to get the word out. Articles like this are a big help so I’m grateful to you for asking me to participate.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.joanwilking.com/ https://www.joanwilkingsculpture.com/
- Phone: 9782898155
- Email: joanwilking@comcast.net
- Other: https://www.amazon.com/Mycology-Joan-Wilking/dp/1945883189/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1524913927&sr=1-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=Joan+Wilking&dpPl=1&dpID=51HdzfN60yL&ref=plSrch#featureBulletsAndDetailBullets_secondary_view_div_1527341042494
Image Credit:
Cynthia August
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