Today, it's our pleasure to throw a virtual parade for a pillar of our writing community:
Jo-Anne Teal
With the help of a super secret squirrel, we've rustled up some extremely talented confetti throwers to shower Jo-Anne with particles of appreciation, support and best wishes.
And now, let the festivities begin!!
K. D. RUSH: Jo has been a wonderful inspiration, providing encouragement and support at every turn. Her genuine enthusiasm and positive energy make life brighter, and her writing talent touches emotional places that I didn't even know existed. I consider myself lucky to have met her, and luckier still to call her a friend.
MEG MCNULTY: Jo-Anne is incredibly generous in her support for other authors, always sparing time to give feedback on work and constant encouragement. She is an important part of the writing community on Twitter and helps to make it a great place to be!
STEVEN PAUL WATSON: Jo Anne is a wonderful writer whose work always has a sense of true heart and realness attached to each and every word. She always comes with a nice word for her fellow writers of both support and encouragement.
DAVID ANTROBUS: Jo-Anne Teal is one of the most encouraging writers around. She not only comprehends the words of her fellow scribes, she hears them like sound and delights in their music. More than once I've felt that familiar discouragement only to find solace in a kind thought Jo has taken the trouble to impart.
ANGELA GOFF: Tapping into the network of writers online has been a goldmine of sorts, but finding JoAnne is akin to discovering a blue diamond – so rare and genuine, and not another one like her anywhere. Her writing is richly textured, often gritty, but full of a palpable soulfulness that pulls you in and layers emotions into your heart. As I've gone out on a limb and posted more and more of my own writing, her comments – always so sincere and uplifting – have been a source of immense encouragement to me. I have become a better writer because of her.
LILLIE McFERRIN: Jo-Anne is one of my blogging friends that I would be overjoyed to sit and have a leisurely conversation with over coffee. She’s the champion of encouragement, always passing out smiles and wordmongering cheers. Whenever I think of amazing writers, who never fail to create a piece of imagination, beauty, and heart, Jo-Anne tops the list!!!
ANGIE RICHMOND: What can I say about Jo-Anne? Well for starters she's one of the loveliest ladies I know! She continues to encourage and inspire me – even giving me the wonderful name of Ms. Creative. She is genuine and loving and a talented writer to boot! My world is a whole lot happier with Jo-Anne in it and for that I thank her.
ANNA MEADE: Twitter is a very telling medium, in that you can't fool everyone all the time. Sincere people come across as sincere and there is no one more sincere or kind than Jo-Anne Teal. She is constantly there with a supportive compliment, a reassurance, a positive encouragement. Jo-Anne and I have many inside jokes, which range from the Snoopy Dance to #faeriesdammit and it's an honor to be her friend. Everyone should be so lucky.
DANIEL SWENSEN : When starting a new blog, there's often this point where you begin to wonder if you should bother — where you ask yourself: "does anyone really care?" Jo-Anne Teal was one of the first people I met (on Twitter and through my blog) who really did seem to care. She is always ready with a kind word, an encouraging remark, or a quiet but powerful insight. She is one of those few who gives back without asking anything in return, a candle around which other souls gather to find warmth and illumination. It's a privilege to know her.
DONNA B. McNICOL: During my first weeks of fiction dabbling [in public], Jo-Anne was my first commenter on my blog. She praised and encouraged, convincing me that I really could DO this [wrting]. I'll never forget how good that felt, thank you Jo-Anne.
CHRIS JAMES: Jo is a vitally important pillar of the Indie writing community. She gives so much of herself unstintingly and is always there with kind and funny words to get me through my bad days. Not only does she selflessly offer her support, she is also a remarkably talented writer in her own right. I am and will always be grateful that I had the fortune to bump into her through social networking, and know that I'll never let go.Jo: thank you so much for your ongoing support and have a great day!
JD MADER: Jo is so supportive. Honestly, sometimes when I am writing something new, I think about the fact that she will read it (cause she will) and smile.
EDWARD LORN: "Jo-Anne has that effervescent personality that just brightens a dreary day. She's always up for a joke, funny or not, and quick with a quip when she's been tagged. I love an intelligent woman with a sense of humor, so I fell for Jo-Anne right off the bat.
HONORE DUPUIS: Jo-Anne is my Muse: as I took my first hesitant steps as a blogger and writer in learning, she was appreciative of these modest efforts, offering ideas and a constant encouragement in the wilderness. Her blog is a haven of style, humanity and writing talent. Jo-Anne is great. I am learning a lot from my Muse.
KERN WINDWRAITH: My dear friend Jo is always thanking me for encouraging her to chase after the writing dream, but the truth of the matter is, it's Jo who is the writing enabler. As anyone who follows Jo-Anne on Twitter knows, she is without a doubt one of the kindest, biggest-hearted, most unselfish supporters of writers new and experienced to grace the Twitosphere. And, you know what? She's even more fabulous in person. Without her support and hand-holding, her willingness to listen to my creative wobbles and woes, her nudging and poking and questioning and cheerleading, my writing life would be a much bleaker, lonelier place. It has been a gift to watch Jo grow as a writer and to be able to share the highs and lows of our writing journeys, but above all, it is her friendship that I cherish and treasure. You're one in a bazillion, dear Jo! (It's true, I counted!)
Please join in the parade by adding your confetti (comments) below!!
If you'd like to connect wiht Jo-Anne, you can catch her on her Blog or on Twitter.
Yay – Jo! You're the best and it's high time we all said it OUT LOUD! *Pops champagne cork, shakes bottle and sprays everyone in the room in highly annoying manner*
*holds out colorful plastic glass and catches champagne sprinkles* Yes, this is an occasion to celebrate madly!!
Three cheers for Jo-Anne, who is wonderfully supportive, funny and a terrific writer to boot!!
Agree with all of the above comments, couldn't have gone to a nicer person. Congrats Jo xxx
WOOOOOT for JO-ANNE!
Jo-Anne's skill at both writing and being an amazing human-being is inspiring! I am yet another who has learned so much through her encouragement and the connections I have made both with her and through her…she was one of my first contacts on Twitter and Blogging and I have met many more wonderful people because I trusted her view of people.
Her writing inspires me to try different things and to keep at it!
Jo is Wonderful!
I agree with all of the above! Jo-Anne is a lovely person, a talented writer and supportive friend….& I am so happy to call her one of my friends
I heartily concur with all of the above comments AND Jo also has an impeccable taste in music, don't forget. It has indeed been a pleasure to watch her work grow and evolve, and to be the recipient of her endless support and optimism.
Dearest Jo, all of the good that you put out in the world will come back to you a thousand-fold, and it will be well deserved. xo
*a recipient, because I know there are many!
What can I add that hasn't already been said? It's all true. Jo is wonderfully talented and generously shares her thoughts and support with all of us. She is one of the reasons I love this Twitter group so much. She is an model example of what I aspire to achieve as a person: caring , supportive, creative. She's got it all.
Congratulations, Jo!! you deserve all of it.
*throws glittery rainbow confetti***
I’m very late to the parade as I only read Jo’s blog rarely – so as to savour every moment and not let it become “just part of my day.” How wonderful to read my own reactions to both Jo-Anne and to her writing, and written so much more eloquently than I could have said. Jo-Anne, you really are a blue diamond and I’m so thrilled that so many others are lucky enough to have you in their lives too. You are a gift to us all and I feel incredibly fortunate to have you in my life.