ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jo Anne Meekins has worked as a Procedure Writer for one of New York City's leading health care plans since 2003. She is also a member of the National Writers Union and the Fellowship of Christian Poets, and currently resides in the Bronx, NY.
Jo Anne's talent for writing poetry was first revealed in Junior High School 231, where she discovered her ability to write poetic narratives about her friends. After a long season of an emotional writing block, Jo Anne's gift was prayerfully resurrected while attending New York Institute of Technology, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Community Mental Health (1983).
Her creativity flourished as a new Christian in her first church, where she was requested to write and read poems for various events throughout her membership. Encouraged by the recognition of her gift, Jo Anne obtained a certificate in Basic Journalism and Poetry from the Writers Institute (1993).
Supported by her church and armed with a certificate from the "Be Your Own Boss Entrepreneurship Program," Jo Anne started a home-based business (Express Yourself Creations, 1993) that provided Desktop Publishing Services and specialized in framed Personalized Poetry. To enhance her skills and increase marketability, Jo Anne later received certificates in Communication Skills from the NYU School of Continuing and Professional Studies (2002), and Computerized Office Technology from the Queens Adult Learning Center (2003).
Spanning a period from 1990 through the present, Jo Anne has had articles, poems and announcements printed in the following publications and websites:
Magazines - The Shining Light, Vital Christianity, and Punctuations; Newsletters - SHARE, Between The Lines, The Triple E, and Intercession; Newspapers - The WAVE and The New York Christian Times; Poetry Anthology - A Time To Be Free, Vol. XII (Quill Books); and Websites - www.crossroadstabernacle.com and www.christianpoets.com.