Joan Penn has a background in theater, public relations and photography. Reading and writing poetry became her lifeline during the pandemic, with work having since been published online and in print journals, and in several anthologies. She won 3rd place for the Wingless Dreamer 2022 "Evening, Wine and Poetry," contest, a poem and interview are included in "Nature's Embrace," published by Written Tales in August 2023, a poem is included in the Summer 2024 Glacial Hills Review, and a poem is forthcoming in the Jan/Feb 2025 issue of Cathexis Northwest Press.