Joanna Beckman, the author of Kugs, Hisses and Ickles, was born in New York but, due to her father’s military career, the family moved to Virginia, and eventually transferred to the West Coast, where she lived, and still lives, in Southern California. From early school days until now, creative writing has been a passion and, over the years, Joanna has used her sense of humor and imagination to create everything from greeting cards, interesting, thought-provoking editorials and newsletters, and short stories she has contributed to several publications. As most mothers will tell you, their children, grand-and-greatgrandchildren can be the inspiration for so many things. In Joanna’s case, she says she’s a very lucky woman because, so far, every single project and book she has put together has been the direct result of having feisty, fun-loving and hysterically funny grand-and-great-grandchildren. They have inspired her to do what she loves most…write children’s books. And there are several more coming!