Joan Schoettler on Writing Books that Celebrate Books (E41)

Joan Schoettler grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, a place she often returns to for inspiration and research in museums and gardens.Time with her grandchildren, hikes in the Sierra, shared dinners with friends, as well as reading, gardening, and travel fill her days, weaving ideas and creativity for her writing.

After teaching in elementary schools, Schoettler earned a Masters in Arts in Reading and Language at Fresno Pacific University. At the Education Department at the University of California, Fresno, she taught children’s literature, storytelling, and reading and writing. 

An award-winning author, Schoettler has written four picture books: Good Fortune in a Wrapping Cloth, Ruth Asawa: A Sculpting Life, A Home for George, Books Travel theWorld. Her debut middle grade verse novel, The Honey Jar: An Armenian’s Escape to Freedom, received the Commonwealth California Book of the Year, Gold Medal Award for Juvenile Books, 2024. 

Schoettler’s upcoming picture book is Doctor of the Heart: The Groundbreaking Story of Scientist, and Educator, Vivien Thomas (May 12, 2026).  Joan’s focus of interest is inspired by true people, intriguing actual events, and lived experiences of people from diverse backgrounds. Creativity and art are illuminated in her stories about nature, artists, and imaginative picture books. Her writing demonstrates a global view as her stories traverse the world. Joan believes stories come to life when we paying attention to what we love, to those who touch our lives, and to cherished moments and experiences.