Joanna Traynor facts for kids
Joanna Traynor is a British writer. She has written several novels like Sister Josephine, Divine, and ... Money. These books were published by Bloomsbury. She also works as a producer and writer for educational television.
About Joanna Traynor
Her Early Life
Joanna Traynor was born in London, England. She grew up in foster care in Chester. Foster care is when children live with a different family when their own parents cannot care for them. Joanna is of mixed race. Her mother's family came from Ireland, and her father was from Nigeria.
Her Books and Awards
Joanna Traynor's first novel was called Sister Josephine. This book won the Saga Prize in 1996. The Saga Prize was an award given to new writers from the Caribbean or Africa, or those of Caribbean or African descent living in the UK.
Joanna said that Sister Josephine was partly based on her own life. It tells the story of a foster child living on a working-class housing estate in northern England. It also shares her experiences as a nurse in Liverpool. She used her own childhood memories to help create the story.
Teaching and Research
By 2007, Joanna created a special presentation for schools in Devon, UK. This presentation helped students learn about Devon's part in the trans-Atlantic slave trade. This was a sad time in history when millions of African people were taken across the Atlantic Ocean and forced into slavery.
Because of her work, Joanna won a Churchill fellowship. This allowed her to travel to the American South to do more research on the topic.
Even though her characters often face tough situations, Joanna is very good at showing their humor and strength through their conversations. She is very passionate about writing, communicating with others, using technology, and helping people with their relationships.
