Introducing Joan Leotta
Joan Leotta, a Pittsburgh native, is an author and story performer. Her books include, Giulia Goes to War, Book One of the Legacy of Honor Series, Tales Through Time: Women of the South, The Complete Guide to the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia, Massachusetts, and others for chldren and adults. She writes fiction, non-fiction (food, travel, profiles) and poetry and enjoys life with her husband in Calabash , NC. with occasional forays to her home of more than 40 years, the Northern VA area,where her daughter still lives. Common threads in all of her writing are food and love of family. Her performances include one woman shows of women in the Civil War and colonial times and folktale stagings that stress understanding among diverse cultures. She loves to teach writing and performing.Check out my blog at www.joanleotta.wordpress.com
Book Spotlight
Giulia Goes to War by Joan Leotta (Book One in the Legacy of Honor series by Desert Breeze Publishing)
Wartime work draws Giulia DeBartolo out of her close Western Pennsylvania family into a world of intrigue, spies and new friends in Wilmington NC's shipyard building Liberty ships. Giulia soon discovers that supporting the war effort can include fun evenings of dancing with young servicemen at the local USO where she meets John O'Shea an unsuitable suitor according to her old-fashioned parents.
As they grappling with the problems of their own budding relationship, John and Giulia encounter a Nazi spy tasked with blowing up part of the Wilmington shipyard. Saving the shipyard from the spy may prove easier than convincing her parents to let her marry John. Giulia must decide what it means to be a good daughter while still following her own heart.
Interview
1 What fictional place would you most like to go?
Narnia. Its closest to heaven. Second choice, Rivendell—same reason
2 What are some small things that make your day better?
Hearing from our daughter; my husband randomly telling me something sweet
3 What’s your favorite genre of book or movie?
For books--Mystery!!!!!!!n Movies, hmmmmm, more difficult. Romantic comedy.
4 What was the best book or series that you’ve ever read?
Best????? Hard to say. Right now, one of my faves is the Louise Penny series featuring Inspector Gamache. Good mysteries, great writing
5 What do you want your epitaph to be?
Loved and served God, family, and others
6 What’s the title of the current chapter of your life?
Winding Down
7 What’s the best / worst thing about being an author?
Sharing and encouraging others through writing is the best. Hardest is marketing.
8 What book is overrated?
Faulkner. Any of his
9 Are there any books you would really recommend your fans read besides yours ( because your’s is a given) ?
Ha! Louise Penny's books are wonderful—I aspire to her level of writing.
10 Is there anything else you want to tell us about Joan Leotta?
I am a performer as well as a writer. My four book series that starts with Giulia Goes to War is historical fiction. My love of research and history leads me to write historical.
You can reach Joan Leotta at
You can download a mini-chapbook of my poems at
3 comments:
Thank you, Debbie! I was trying to also thank you on FB but could not leave a comment
Wonderful interview and the book sounds like a good one.
Great interview, Joan. Love the questions. Love the answers. Congratulations!
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