Joan LeottaIncluding essays, poetry, short stories and young adult fiction, Joan Leotta is a versatile and award-winning author and journalist. "WHOOSH!" is her debut children's picture book. She crafted this tale from her own memories of sledding in a local Pitsburgh park with her hard working dad on the few days he was home from work (often due to snow!) Leotta has been playing with words on paper and on stage from the first time she could hold a pen and climb onto a stage. Her motto is "encouraging others through pen and performance." She gathers inspiration for writing and performing from everyday incidents and objects. She has been a story performer, mostly for children, for more than thirty years. She was a Tupelo 30/30 poet in February of 2015. Joan also performs historic character and folklore shows. Leotta now lives, and spends a lot of time walking the beach, with her husband Joe. Read More Read Less