Welcome
Welcome to the official website of author Joan Long. Joan’s mystery novel, The Finalist, will be published by Level Best Books in March 2022.
Florida is her favorite setting for her novels and short stories, with tropical islands running a close second. She transports her readers to white-sand beaches where they can bask in the sunshine, sway in wide hammocks, and enjoy warm breezes. She takes them to Southern coffee shops and grand estates, to wonderlands where dreams come true and dreams end.
But even in the most beautiful places, crimes are committed. Villains are at large, and heroes are needed.
Keep your eyes open. Not everyone is good in paradise.
About Joan
Joan is a third-generation Floridian who has been a finalist for several writing awards, including the Minotaur/Malice Domestic Award for Best First Traditional Mystery Novel. She was also a short-listed finalist for best novel-in-progress in a William Faulkner-William Wisdom Creative Writing Competition. In addition, she was a finalist for the Freddie Award for Writing Excellence, presented by the Florida Chapter of Mystery Writers of America.
Joan earned her bachelor’s degree in English/Creative Writing from Florida State University and a master’s degree in Journalism and Communications from The University of Florida. She is a member of Sisters in Crime, the Guppy Chapter of Sisters in Crime, The Florida Chapter of Mystery Writers of America, and The Authors Guild.
She’s written for universities, healthcare institutions, a magazine, a public television station, anthologies, and more. Joan’s debut mystery novel, The Finalist, is coming from Level Best Books in March 2022. Her short story “The Extra Ingredient” appears in the Anthony Award-winning anthology Malice Domestic 14: Mystery Most Edible.
On a personal note, Joan once swam in a water-filled sinkhole in Florida. She doesn’t recommend it. At least twice she swam with alligators—accidentally. She doesn’t recommend that either.
Joan lives with her husband in Florida. You can find her on Facebook and occasionally on Twitter and Pinterest.
Author photo credit: Jay Nolan
Writing
The Malice Domestic anthology series returns with a new take on mysteries in the Agatha Christie tradition—36 original tales with a culinary bent! Joan’s contribution to this Anthony Award winner is “The Extra Ingredient.” The food may be tasty, but all is not well when a teenage hostess and a fair-minded cook match wits in a rural Florida diner.
Buy the 2019 anthology:
Recent and Upcoming Appearances
2021
March 19-21
SleuthFest in your PJs (online)
July 14-17
More Than Malice (online)
August 25-29
Bouchercon
New Orleans
2020
May 1-3
Malice Domestic (cancelled due to pandemic)
Bethesda, MD
2019
May 3-5
Malice Domestic
Bethesda, MD
July 11-14
ThrillerFest
New York City
October 31-November 3
Bouchercon
Dallas, TX
Media Downloads
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