Born in Roswell, New Mexico, Jo Ann grew up in a military family. It was on a brief layover in Hawai¿i on the way to Japan that she fell in love with Hawai¿i. Years later, she found her way back to Hawai¿i. She married, became a nurse and worked in the neonatal unit Kapi¿olani Medical Center. As a coach and referee for AYSO soccer, she enjoyed helping children develop positively and gain confidence in themselves. She has taken Hawaiian language and culture classes. Volunteering at a local Punana Leo preschool, (a Hawaiian medium education preschool) helps her further her learning of Hawaiian. Her writing focuses on events in Hawaii as well as other stories that have ties to Hawaii.