Joan Conning Afman grew up in central New York State and Western Massachusetts and attended schools in both regions. She has an AA degree from SUNY, Farmingdale, a BFA from the Hartford Art School, University of Hartford, and an M.A.Ed. degree from CCSU in New Britain, Connecticut. For sixteen years she taught art in the Hartford Public School System before retiring to Florida, where she taught as an adjunct for Northwood University. Joan now divides her time between painting and writing, enjoying the Sunshine State's balmy weather and various social activities.