JoAnn Verderese writes about modern-day women solving mysteries from the past.
Can uncovering history’s secrets help them to rediscover themselves?
TAKE A PEEK INSIDE JOANN’S WORLD…
My writing is contemporary fiction with a historical twist.
You’ll meet women beginning their next chapter, driven by an unexpected event that compels them to move forward.
And the historical twist?
Characters are confronted with mysteries from the past, based on historic events from the Brandywine Valley in Southeastern Pennsylvania.
Steeped in history and charm, this area boasts plenty of prospects for future stories. I’m already at work on new ideas!
The Brandywine Valley in Southeastern Pennsylvania has so many stories to be told. As a former resident and frequent visitor, I’m very familiar with its history and charm:
The site of the American Revolution’s Brandywine Battlefield
Home to an early 20th century style of painting called the Brandywine School
Longwood Gardens, one of America’s most pre-eminent botanical gardens and
The Brandywine Museum of Art, which exhibits paintings by renowned artists, including the area’s most famous—Andrew Wyeth
My first novel focuses on the Battle of Brandywine. In addition to reading everything I could about the battle and life in America at that time, I visited Brandywine Battlefield Park, including George Washington’s Headquarters for the battle.
My road to this story…
I spent more than 25 years as a human resources executive with large companies. In my job as an expert in pay and benefits, I was faced with the questions:
What motivates people?
How will they grow to become the best versions of themselves?
These are the same questions I ask myself as a novelist. But now I control the answers!
I completed my first novel in 2025. On the way, I joined the Rehoboth Beach Writers Guild, where I was mentored by talented writers and polished a piece published in Delaware Beach Life.
To contribute to building a writers’ community, I started a Novel Writers’ Discussion Group, which brings new and established authors together to discuss writing and publishing. I also led a team that created a Beta Reader Matching Program, which matches writers with readers so they can receive valuable feedback on the road to publication.
My formal education includes a bachelor’s degree in Humanities from Johns Hopkins University and an MBA from The Johnson School of Management at Cornell University.
Even though my work is centered in the Brandywine Valley, I now live in Southern Delaware. When I’m not writing, you’ll find me with my husband and two small, bossy dogs. I love baseball, travel, mahjong—and, of course, reading and supporting the work of other writers.
