"I STAND CORRECTED." Joanne Moore, the seventh of eight children, was raised on the East Coast in Pennsylvania. The three major influences in her life were her mother, Lois Simonds, and her friends and mentors of many years, John Leming, III and Judge Gay Leigh Elwell. Joanne's mother, a Penn State Journalism major and career investigative crime reporter taught her children in many ways that writing is a powerful form of expression. Joanne spent her childhood years learning the disciplines of proper speech and communication by heeding her mother's repeated corrections to Joanne's grammar. Lois made it clear to all of her children that one who is able to write and speak effectively will gain both respect and recognition. In the family home, it was a forbidden act to ask the meaning of a word. Joanne's mother would simply hand her a dictionary.  One of Joanne's most vivid memories was at the age of six when she was diagnosed with Leukemia. Lois created a make-shift office in Joanne's bedroom so that she could write at night while keeping an eye on her sick child. Joanne would fall alseep to the comforting sound of the continuous tapping of an old fashioned typewriter. Obviously the condition was misdiagnosed and turned out to be some form of anemia. However, that experience sparked a love of writing and English in Joanne as a young girl, which became intrinsic through school and college.  John, a freelance writer and editor, taught Joanne that writing can be an effective problem-solving tool, which can expose and shed different perspectives on the complex issues Americans deal with in the Millennium.  Judge Elwell, was a crime reporter in Allentown, Pa. After many years working as a journalist, in 1996 she took the position of a District Judge in Easton, Pa. Gay Leigh found humor in finding grammatical errors in the newspapers, then calling the reporters to advise them of their mistakes.  With the philosophy that learning is growth and writing is a form of art, Joanne listened and gained many keen insights about both writing and life in general from these three wonderful people. Sadly, over the past thirteen years, they have all passed away. Although they are greatly missed by Joanne, she has never forgotten the lessons they have taught her. She is forever grateful to have had the blessing of knowing such wonderful and wise people.  Joanne Moore has a degree in Computer Sciences and works as a freelance writer. Her previous novel, They're Getting Even/I' m Getting Odd was published by Awe-Struck E-Books from 2000-2002. It was about the effects of divorce, custody battles and blended families on children living in those situations.  Joanne lives in a river cottage along the Delaware River. It is near the river in the wooded area of Upper Bucks County Pa. where she finds solace and the ability to find the creative centers of her work.  Joanne has loved to write every since she learned her ABCs. As a child, when upset by something, her first line of action was to take pen in hand and write. It was and is her best artistic outlet for emotions and creativity.  Live, love, learn, laugh, sing and dance. Life Is too short for anything else...... Joanne Moore