I've been a voracious lover of books all my life. I grew up performing in a family bluegrass/gospel band, reading constantly as we traveled hither and yon playing state fairs, high school auditoriums, and music festivals. I majored in theater in college and spent my 20s busking on street corners, working as an old-school late-night DJ, and doing voiceovers. Between 1980 and 1994, my voice was heard on over 3,000 radio and television commercials. My only consistent occupation was book nerd.

In 1994, when my kids were 5 and 7, I was diagnosed with blood cancer. Treatment was brutal. Writing was my life raft. I used the chemo downtime to write my first two novels, Crazy for Trying (about an old-school late-night DJ) and Sugarland (a modern retelling of the Psyche/Eros myth). Both were published by small, prestigious literary presses and got decent reviews. I followed up with my first bestseller Bald in the Land of Big Hair (HarperCollins, 2001), a memoir about my experience as a young mom with cancer. (Spoiler Alert: I lived!)

The success of Bald in the Land of Big Hair sparked a syndicated newspaper column, major magazine pieces, and invitations to participate in high-profile book projects. The collaborative magic of ghostwriting took me back to my creative roots in theater and music, and I loved it. I still do. At it for twenty+ years, I've collaborated on thirty+ memoirs and novels. Ghost life is complicated and not for everyone, but I find it endlessly fascinating. I love sharing my knowledge and supporting fellow writers via my Ghostwriting Masterclass and AMA Office Hours.

I live on the beach in Washington State with artist Gary Rodgers, my husband of 40+ years. I'm still a giant book nerd; reading and writing are my compulsion and privilege. Life is beautiful, and I'm grateful.

If you'd like to reach out to me about a book project, contact the fabulous Agent C: Cindi Davis-Andress at PB Talent in Houston. 

Hope all is well and groovy in your world ~
Joni Rodgers