Discover Joyce Crawford: Author, Storyteller,
and Faithful Creator

I am a fourth-generation Floridian. Many characters in my books are reflections of my family. Growing up in a quaint southern town, I was a child with an expansive imagination. Our home was nestled in a rural setting, where cows grazed beyond the fence, and birdsong echoed through ancient magnolia trees. 

Sadly, though, unlike many authors, I can't claim to have written my first short story in elementary school. In fact, reading posed a significant challenge for me. The mere thought of the school library filled me with dread; it seemed more like a sentence than a sanctuary. While my classmates eagerly browsed for books, I hesitated, feeling like a deer caught in headlights. 

This struggle persisted throughout my school years, intensifying with every timed reading and comprehensive test. When college entrance exam scores were announced, my peers boasted about prestigious colleges, while I grappled with a sense of inadequacy. 

Even Sunday School, a place of spiritual solace for many, became a source of anxiety. When I stumbled over words, my peers' snickers amplified my self-doubt. 

Despite these challenges, I graduated from Junior College with a 3.8 GPA, earning a coveted spot on the dean's list a pivotal moment that marked my first breakthrough. 

Another turning point came years later when my church entrusted me with teaching Bible stories to children. Drawing from childhood memories of playing "church" in my bedroom, I embarked on a journey to engage young minds with the timeless tales of faith that I knew so well. 

Attending a seminar on effective teaching techniques proved transformative, as I learned to spark children's imaginations by engaging all five senses. This newfound approach not only enriched my teaching but also laid the foundation for my writing style. 

Throughout my career at the University of Florida, where I worked in office support, reading remained a challenge. Despite achieving impressive typing speeds, I grappled with errors due to cognitive overload. Yet, amidst the frustration, I found solace in the wisdom of a compassionate supervisor who reminded me that we all have our ways of compensating.