Joanna Campbell Slan

Joanna Ward Campbell Slan (born June 21, 1953 in Jacksonville, Florida) is a writer of both fiction and nonfiction, and an internationally recognized expert in family stories. Slan grew up in the small town of Vincennes, Indiana. Her mother was a professional ballerina who danced with the New York Civic Ballet, and her father was a civil engineer. She has two younger sisters. Her early influences in Vincennes included a popular romantic legend (Alice of Old Vincennes) and native son Red Skelton. Slan is a descendent of four prominent Carolinians: Joshua Ward, owner of Brookgreen and developer of long-grain rice; Henry Middleton, owner of Middleton Place, a National Historic Landmark; Henry’s son Arthur Middleton, a signer of the Declaration of Independence; and Gabriel Manigault, who advanced $220,000 to the dollars to the government of what would become the United States. Slan grew up hearing family stories of patriotism, the Old South and the Civil War.

While a student at Ball State University (Muncie, Indiana), Slan began a career in journalism by writing a column for the Muncie (Indiana) Star as well as editing and contributing to various campus publications. After her father abandoned the family, Slan, her mother and sisters went on welfare. Thereafter, she found part-time and full-time jobs to pay for her college education, including working at a pet shop finding homes for unwanted animals. After graduating cum laude, she began working in all aspects of the media, including doing public relations work for FarmAid for which she won a Silver Anvil. Slan also wrote speeches for the corporate executives of Diamond Star Motors and hosted her own television program while teaching public relations at Illinois State University (Bloomington, Illinois).

After writing speeches for others, Slan honed her own platform skills, delivery and sense of humor. She traveled the globe as a motivational speaker and was named by Sharing Ideas Magazine “one of the top 25 speakers in the world.”

She then combined her work as a presenter with writing non-fiction books. Her first book Using Stories and Humor: Grab Your Audience has been endorsed by Toastmasters International. Slan was one of the early and frequent contributors to Chicken Soup for the Soul books and the Chocolate for a Woman’s Soul anthology. Reflecting her love of family stories, her book on the nascent industry of scrapbooking, Scrapbook Storytelling, established that the craft was more than a passing trend. Six more books on scrapbooking and journaling followed.

In 2001, Slan, her husband David, and son Michael moved to Sunningdale, a town outside of London, England. There she was introduced to British scrapbooking. In 2003, she founded “The Best of British Scrapbooking,” a contest designed to spotlight new talent in the UK. The contest continues today with the help of ScrapBook inspirations Magazine. In 2006, Midnight Ink (a division of Llewellyn Worldwide) contracted with her to publish a mystery series featuring scrapbooker Kiki Lowenstein and set in St. Louis. Slan’s novel Paper, Scissors, Death: A Scrapbooking Mystery will debut in 2008. In 2007, Slan along with Michelle A. Becker, co-founded and organized Forensic University of St. Louis, the first all-forensic conference for writers and fans of crime fiction.

Considering herself a citizen of the world, Slan has traveled to Egypt, China, Korea, Japan, Australia, Austria, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, France, Spain, England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Canada, Aruba, St. Thomas, Belize, Mexico, the Cayman Islands, and Bermuda.

Her husband David is a semi-professional poker player who goes by the moniker “Piano Man,” a reference to the fact he owns the Steinway Piano Gallery of St. Louis. Joanna and David have one son, Michael. http://www.joannacampbellslan.com

Books and Articles

2008

Article, Memory Makers magazine, January issueAuthor, Paper, Scissors, Death, Midnight Ink (fall release)

2007

Regular blogger, Inkspot, midnightwriters.blogspot.comRegular blogger, Killer Hobbies, killerhobbies.blogspot.comRegular blogger, Sisters in Crime's Forensic University of St. Louis, forustl.blogspot.comRegular blogger, Greater St. Louis Sisters in Crime, http://stlsinc.blogspot.com/

2005

Contributor, Stories to Live By, Solas House

2004

Author and publisher, The Best of British Scrapbooking and Cardmaking, Spot On PublishingAuthor, Getting Started (Quickly in Scrapbook Journaling), course for Writers Online Workshops, Writers Digest

2003

Author, The Scrapbooker's Journaling Companion, scrapbook.com

2002

Author, Adventures in Journaling, EFG, Inc.Author, Bless This Mess, EFG, Inc.

2001

Author, One Minute Journaling, EFG, Inc.Author, Storytelling with Rubber Stamps, EFG, Inc.Author Quick & Easy Pages, EFG, Inc.

2000

Contributor, Chicken Soup for an Expectant Mother's Soul, Health Communications, Inc.

1999

Author, Scrapbook Storytelling, EFG, Inc. Crafter's Choice Book of the Month Club selection, reviewed by Library Journal. Sold 45,000 copies.Contributor, Chicken Soup for the Couples' Soul, Health Communications, Inc.Contributor, Chicken Soup for the Women's Soul, Vol. II, Health Communications, Inc.Contributor, Chocolate for a Woman's Spirit, Simon & Schuster.

1998

Author, I'm Too Blessed to be Depressed, Wildhorse Creek Publications. (Re-released in 2003 by Adams Media.)Contributor, Chocolate for a Woman's Heart, Simon & Schuster.Author, Using Stories and Humor: Grab Your Audience, Allyn & Bacon.Contributor Chocolate for a Woman's Soul, Simon & Schuster.Contributor, Where the Heart Is: Stories of Home & Family, Personal Power Press.Contributor, Speaking as an Audience-Centered Sport, Brody Communications.

1997

Contributor, A Fourth Helping of Chicken Soup for the Soul, Health Communications, Inc.Contributor, Chicken Soup for the Soul at Work, Health Communications, Inc.