AUTHOR
”Jo Taylor’s Margaret of Thibodaux is a masterclass in quality fiction writing. At once humorous and deeply touching, elegantly plotted and rich in its construction of the characters, Taylor’s novel is a stunning read by an author at the top of her craft.“
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—Stephen Dudas, PhD in Literature, Reedsy Discovery
Self-focused and emotional 14-year-old Margaret can't imagine her deceased mama being erased from their home for good―or how her daddy could replace her with another woman. It will take coming to terms with her own humility and accountability as surprising truths come to light, and as unexpected events show her that life, and what she holds dear, can change in an instant.
Silver Medalist: IPPY Award
South – Best Regional Fiction
Hello! I’m Jo!
I write intimate, lyrical novels about women whose quiet lives hold extraordinary emotional truths—stories that honor memory, private courage, and the sacredness of ordinary moments.
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While growing up, my family moved when the Army said move, which gave me permission to be obstreperous, and I developed a lifelong habit of finding home in stories when geography kept shifting.
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My mother died when I was two, which gave me something else entirely—a relationship with the unseen that has never quite resolved itself, and probably shouldn't.
I spent twenty-five years as an ER nurse, mostly nights, before finishing a degree in English and discovering that I loved to write. I’ve lived aboard a boat in Santa Barbara Harbor, traced my genealogy to the year 310, and married a man whose character I have been stealing for my fiction ever since.
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I currently lives in Daphne, Alabama, on the Gulf Coast, where the light is particular and the past is close.
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My poetry and short stories appear in various literary journals. Postcards: Collected Poems and Short Stories was published in 2024. My debut novel, Margaret of Thibodaux, was released in March 2025. My second novel, Mimi and Maurice, is forthcoming in September 2026. Road Clothes, my third novel, is expected in 2027.
I’m also a psychic medium, which is less unusual than it sounds, and more useful to a novelist than you might expect.
IN THE PRESS
" “. . . an intelligent and emotionally gratifying novel. . . . Author Jo Taylor has written a wonderful book with broad appeal.”
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—BOOK REVIEW DIRECTORY
"The plot is so artfully conceived that it calls into comparison some of the great coming-of-age novels of the twentieth century."
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—STEPHEN DUDAS,
Phd in Literature,
REEDSY DISCOVERY
". . . its blend of Southern Gothic elements and evocative prose makes for a haunting yet deeply human coming-of-age story."
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—BOOKLIFE
MARGARET OF THIBODAUX
POSTCARDS
" . . . one of those rare collections that will appeal to a broad spectrum of readers from pretty much any background. I recommend you not miss out on this one!"
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—PIKASHU DEKA
READERS' FAVORITE
"A literary collage of thoughts and memories that will have readers thinking more deeply about their own postcard moments. . . . . a book that needs to be savored over time."
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EMILY-JANE HILLS ORFORD
READERS' FAVORITE
"Appreciating the beautiful things around us we take for granted is one theme that runs through the entire anthology . . . which showcases a lovely harmony between poetry and prose."
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ESSIEN ASIAN
READERS' FAVORITE
" . . . a must-read for anyone looking for a thought-provoking and emotionally resonant literary experience."
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DOREEN CHOMBU
READERS' FAVORITE
"Equally adept at free verse, rhyming, and metered poetic forms, as well as the short story, Taylor moves seamlessly from one to the next in adroit and often surprising ways."
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GOLDER HAZELTON
READERS' FAVORITE
"an author at the top of her craft . . . . who imbues each piece of writing with precise use of technique and powerfully emotional narratives."
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STEPHEN DUDAS
REEDSY DISCOVERY
REACH OUT
I love hearing from my readers.
If you'd like to send me a message, please email me at:
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