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c/o Writers' Federation of Nova Scotia
Joanne Taylor wrote occasionally for radio and newspaper before turning to her "heart's desire," writing for children. Her first children's novel, There You Are, was nominated for Children's Book of the Year by the Canadian Library Assoc., the Red Cedar Children's Choice Award, the Hackmatack Children's Choice Award, and the Ann Conner Brimer Award. Maclean's magazine named her first picture book, Full Moon Rising, one of 2002's Best Picture Books in Canada. It won the Lillian Shepherd Memorial Award for illustration (Susan Tooke, illus.) and was nominated for the Ann Conner Brimer Award. Making Room, her second picture book, also won the Lillian Shepherd Memorial Award for Illustration (Peter Rankin, illus.). Joanne grew up in Cape Breton in a huge family and lived in Halifax for many years with her husband Robin. Joanne passed away in May of 2010.
Joanne Taylor's passing left a void in the lives of those lucky enough to know her. Fortunately, she left behind a repository of cherished memories and a legacy of accomplishments as a gift for family, friends, and colleagues.
Whether Joanne was serving on the Board of Directors of the Writers' Federation, teaching in the schools, or serving with Cuso in Africa, she made a difference. For many years, Joanne was a respected member of the Steering Committee of the Nova Scotia Children's Literature Roundtable. She contributed innumerable sandwiches and other treats for various functions, hosted visiting authors, planned upcoming events and enthusiastically supported Canadian children's literature at every opportunity.
Her efforts as a director for the Writers' Federation earned her a lifetime membership on the Board. Joanne also worked tirelessly for literary events such as Word on the Street. When she wasn't a participant she was behind the scenes helping to make the event a success.
In addition to all her professional activities, she somehow managed to find time to volunteer for VoicePrint, Canada's Broadcast Reading Services for visually and print impaired Canadians, and to help out at the Food Bank.
Joanne was a valued member of an active writing group, and for six years, until her illness, the group met once a week at the Writers' Federation. Members exchanged manuscripts for critique and soon became known as the "Red Pen of Terror" named for the symbolic red pen used by teachers for correcting papers. Those meetings were characterized by intense editing, passionate arguments, laughter, excitement, revising and more editing, review of new books, discussions on many topics related to children's literature and camaraderie that filled the room to overflowing.
During those 6 years, three of Joanne's books were published and met with great success. Her first children's novel, There You Are, was nominated for Children's book of the Year Award by the Canadian Library Association, the Red Cedar Children's Choice Award, the Hackmatack Children's Choice Award, and the Ann Conner Brimer Award. Her first picture book, Full Moon Rising (illustrated by Susan Tooke) was named one of the best picture books in Canada by Maclean's Magazine and was nominated for the Ann conner Brimer Award. It won the Lillian Shepherd Memorial Award for Illustration. She launched this book in Halifax to a crowd of friends and family that filled the space to overflowing. Her second picture book, Making Room (illustrated by Peter Rankin) was launched in Mabou to a festive and very enthusiastic crowd. It, too, was awarded the Lillian Shepard Memorial Award.
Joanne was also the recipient of a Nova Scotia Talent Trust Award and won the Joyce Barkhouse Writing for Children Literary Award Joanne had a fierce loyalty to family and friends. Her husband Robin and their two daughters Jeannie and Anna were the light of her life. She took enormous pleasure in their lives and was always deeply grateful for their love and support. She was one of ten children born in Cape Breton, and her siblings were a mainstay in her life. To her friends, she was a woman of great generosity and fidelity. She constantly reached out to help others and took great delight in their accomplishments. Whether Joanne was attending a children's literature conference in Newfoundland or gathering with a group of like minded literary enthusiasts at Mersey River, she joined in with a joy and enthusiasm that helped to make any gathering a success.
Joanne faced her illness with the same determination and courage that characterized her life. She maintained her interest in writing and in her family and friends until her death. She will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered.
I first met Joanne at a Read by the Sea open mike night. At that time she had her first picture book, Full Moon Rising accepted for publication. At the open mike she read the manuscript of the picture book she was working on then--"Old Johnny, Young Johnny, Big Johnny, Little Johnny..."--I can't recreate the entire title. It was funny and smart, witty and down-to-earth, just like Joanne herself. I was enchanted by the story and became fast friends with Joanne. Both of us had just begun to publish and had great times comparing our experiences in the book business--editors, agents, manuscripts, publicists. I always envied Joanne her illustrators, her opportunity to see her stories alive in colour on the page. One evening, near the publication date for Making Room, I had a reading in the city and Joanne came with her brand new, just-arrived F&Gs (the unbound pages with illustration and text as they will appear in the final book.) That stands for "fold and gathers" she told me: just in case I ever hear a children's editor bustling around looking for the eff'ng gees. Joanne was dedicated and resourceful, exacting but cooperative. She managed the ins and outs of children's publishing with strength and humour. She was a huge supporter of other writers and was always ready to offer encouragement and the benefit of her experience. Over the years I got to know her husband Robin and their two daughters, several of her wonderful Circle of Sisters, hear stories of Joanne's adventures in Africa, England, and here at home in Nova Scotia. I will miss all the stories that will never be. Most of all I will miss a warm, generous, smart and funny friend.
Writing for children is more difficult than you can imagine. It takes a combination of respect for children, a love of words, the discipline to be concise, and a great deal of hard work. Joanne took her writing seriously: her talent provided her with stories and ideas, but more important, she was willing to put in the hard work that's required to express those ideas within the demanding parameters of children's books.
Tundra was lucky enough to publish three very different books by Joanne. Full Moon Rising is a lyrical picture book, beautifully illustrated by Susan Tooke, about the phases of the moon. Making Room is the delightful story of a house that grew, and the growing, changing family that it sheltered, perfectly matched with Peter Rankin's paintings. And There You Are, a graceful, honest novel that richly deserved its nomination for the CLA Best Book of the Year and the many other accolades it received. While Joanne always listened carefully to feedback and never shirked hard work, she also knew the story she wanted to tell. She never wavered from wanting to share her love of nature, of family, and of the Cape Breton that meant so much to her.
Joanne had many more stories to tell, and she should have had a long and distinguished career. As a reader, I feel cheated.
- Kathy Lowinger
I met Joanne and the Taylors, Robin, Anna and Jeannie, when we moved to Elm Street. Her girls were there to see what child might be moving in, and watched with huge eyes as my daughter, Beth, appeared.
The Taylors lived just a few doors down, and as Beth and Anna became best friends, so did Joanne and I. Through all the troubles and triumphs that one could have in almost 20 years of friendship, Joanne was there to council and advise. It was in 1998 that Joanne came up with the idea of submitting my illustrations and her story "Nothing to Do" to Tundra. We worried over the text, planned the progression of the story, sought out locations, finally mailing it off into the unknown. As a result, I became an illustrator, and Joanne became a writer (if she wasn't already), with both of us working with Kathy Lowinger at Tundra Books. Joanne was my tour guide to Cape Breton for A Fiddle for Angus. Joanne wrote and helped me orchestrate Full Moon Rising, condensing her manuscript down to the beautiful prose that so well describes the cycle of life. It is Joanne's wedding dress that Lisa Doucet so lithely models in the illustration for the Honey Moon. And didn't we have fun that day, staging a fake wedding for the illustration, with so many friends taking part and Jane Buss and Alf our gracious hosts. What a glorious party!
I got so used to Joanne as a part of my daily life. The screech of the closeline would let me know that she was up and working. Walking by her house, she would inevitably be sitting in the Adirondack chair just inside the porch, her writing in her lap, working on the next story idea. She would look up and smile with a little wave. I might continue on my way, or perhaps she would wave me in for a discussion about our work, our girls, the Fed. Two years ago she told me the news. I wish she was once again writing on her porch. I can see her there so clearly.
Joanne was one of the most focussed, tenacious, determined people I have ever met. When she set her sights on becoming a published writer, she did everything in her power to make that happen. She took workshops, volunteered to drive visiting writers, cultivated friendships with like-minded people, diligently becoming an informed and skilled writer. Aspiring writers take note: Joanne's drive to succeed helped her reach her goals. There are many people out there who dream of being a writer but fail to push past rejection or tire quickly in the face of years of hard work. Not Joanne. She never gave up. This vivacious, big-hearted, bright spark of a woman, enriched Canadian children's literature and our Nova Scotia writing community. She will be deeply missed.
