Jo-Ann Mapson

Jo-Ann Mapson, a third generation Californian, grew up in FuJo-Ann Mapson, a third generation Californian, grew up in Fullerton as a middle child with four siblings. She dropped oullerton as a middle child with four siblings. She dropped out of college to marry, but later finished a creative writingt of college to marry, but later finished a creative writing degree at California State University, Long Beach. Followin degree at California State University, Long Beach. Following her son's birth...See more

Jo-Ann Mapson, a third generation Californian, grew up in FuJo-Ann Mapson, a third generation Californian, grew up in Fullerton as a middle child with four siblings. She dropped oullerton as a middle child with four siblings. She dropped out of college to marry, but later finished a creative writingt of college to marry, but later finished a creative writing degree at California State University, Long Beach. Followin degree at California State University, Long Beach. Following her son's birth in 1978, Mapson worked an assortment of odg her son's birth in 1978, Mapson worked an assortment of odd jobs teaching horseback riding, cleaning houses, typing red jobs teaching horseback riding, cleaning houses, typing resumes, and working retail. After earning a graduate degree fsumes, and working retail. After earning a graduate degree from Vermont College's low residency program, she taught at Orom Vermont College's low residency program, she taught at Orange Coast College for six years before turning to full-timrange Coast College for six years before turning to full-time writing in 1996. Mapson is the author of the acclaimed nove writing in 1996. Mapson is the author of the acclaimed novels Shadow Ranch, Blue Rodeo, Hank Chloe, and Loving Chloe. els Shadow Ranch, Blue Rodeo, Hank Chloe, and Loving Chloe. "The land is as much a character as the people," Mapson has "The land is as much a character as the people," Mapson has said. Whether writing about the stark beauty of a Californiasaid. Whether writing about the stark beauty of a California canyon or the poverty of an Arizona reservation, Mapson's l canyon or the poverty of an Arizona reservation, Mapson's landscapes are imbued with life. Setting her fiction in the Sandscapes are imbued with life. Setting her fiction in the Southwest, Mapson writes about a region that she knows well; outhwest, Mapson writes about a region that she knows well; after growing up in California and living for a time in Arizafter growing up in California and living for a time in Arizona and New Mexico, Mapson lives today in Cosa Mesa, Califorona and New Mexico, Mapson lives today in Cosa Mesa, California. She attributes her focus on setting to the influence ofnia. She attributes her focus on setting to the influence of Wallace Stegner. Like many of her characters, Mapson has ri Wallace Stegner. Like many of her characters, Mapson has ridden horses since she was a child. She owns a 35-year-old Apdden horses since she was a child. She owns a 35-year-old Appaloosa and has said that she learned about writing from leapaloosa and has said that she learned about writing from learning to jump her horse, Tonto. "I realized," she said, "tharning to jump her horse, Tonto. "I realized," she said, "that the same thing that had been wrong with my riding was the t the same thing that had been wrong with my riding was the same thing that had been wrong with my writing. In riding thsame thing that had been wrong with my writing. In riding there is a term called the moment of suspension, ' when you'reere is a term called the moment of suspension, ' when you're over the fence, just hanging in the air. I had to give myse over the fence, just hanging in the air. I had to give myself up to it, let go, trust the motion. Once I got that rightlf up to it, let go, trust the motion. Once I got that right, everything fell into place." , everything fell into place." See less