Uncorking A Story

“Don’t be your own no—if the answer is no, let someone else say it. Don’t take yourself out of the race because of your own insecurities.” – Joanne Howard In this episode of Uncorking a Story, we sit down with debut novelist Joanne Howard, author of Sleeping in the Sun, a historical fiction novel inspired by her grandfather’s childhood in India at the end of British rule. Joanne shares her journey from copywriter to published author, the emotional and creative process of writing her first novel, and how a pandemic pup named Kash became part of her storytelling. With humility, humor, and insight, Joanne offers writers at every stage the kind of inspiration that sticks. Key Themes: Writing historical fiction from family stories and primary sources Navigating the MFA experience and learning to “kill your darlings” The reality of pitching agents and choosing hybrid publishing Bringing personal passion (like pets!) into storytelling The evolving role of copywriters in the digital age Why local bookstores m