Joan Marie Verba earned a bachelor of physics degree from the University of Minnesota Institute of Technology and attended the graduate school of astronomy at Indiana University, where she was an associate instructor of astronomy for one year. Her first occupation, as a computer programmer, lasted ten years. After being laid off twice from computer programming jobs, she retrained as an editor. An experienced writer, she is the author of the nonfiction books Voyager: Exploring the Outer Planets and Boldly Writing, as well as the novels Countdown to Action! and Action Alert!, plus numerous short stories and articles. She is a member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, and the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. She has served on the board of directors of both the Minnesota Science Fiction Society and the Mythopoeic Society. 

Countdown to Action!, a Thunderbirds^TM  novel, is a National Best Books Award finalist and a Mom's Choice Awards® Silver Recipient.


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Action Alert!, a Thunderbirds^TM  novel, was published in November 2008.





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Joan is a proud member of the National Weight Control Registry. This is a registry of people who have lost at least 30 pounds and have kept it off for at least a year. Read My Weight Loss Story.

Deadly Danger, a Thunderbirds^TM  novel, has just been published!




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Upcoming appearances:

• Marscon, March 5-7, 2010

Darkover short stories:
available through Fictionwise (click on the title).

"Safe Passage," Snows of Darkover, 1994
"The Madwoman of the Kilghard Hills," Towers of Darkover, 1993
"An Invitation to Chaos," Leroni of Darkover, 1991
"The Honor of the Guild," Renunciates of Darkover, 1991
"Mind-eater," Domains of Darkover, 1990
"Death's Scepter," Four Moons of Darkover, 1988
"This One Time," Free Amazons of Darkover, 1985

Boldly Writing, a Trekker Fan and Zine History, 1967-1987, is a chronicle of Star Trek fan and fanzine activity.


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Other published works:
"Working Together in a Novel Way," The Writing Group Book, Sept. 2003
"Post-It Software Notes," ComputerUser magazine, July 1996
"Coda Music Technology,"ComputerUser magazine, December 1995
"Computer Manuscript Formatting," SCBWI Bulletin, April/May 1995
"The Three Great Myths of Writing," SCBWI Bulletin, Dec. 1994/Jan. 1995
"The Sum of the Parts," Science Fiction Review, Summer 1991
"She Dunit," Mpls./St. Paul Magazine, October 1984, p. 147

Autumn World, a science fiction novel, was written by Joan Marie Verba, Tess Meara, Deborah K. Jones, and Ruth Berman.



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Professional Memberships:

• Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America
• Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators
  and Member of the Minnesota Chapter of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators

Other interests:
Member of The Mythopoeic Society, which studies the writings of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and other fantasy authors.
Member of the Doctor's Exchange (Far Beyond the Stars), the official Siddig El Fadil/Alexander Siddig fan club.
Produced a public access TV interview show for genre authors, TV Bookshelf

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Voyager: Exploring the Outer Planets, is currently available as an eBook.


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