ABOUT ME
Joan Barrett is the founder of ZigDot Productions Inc., an author, screenwriter, and content creator whose stories celebrate resilience, reinvention, and the extraordinary possibilities that can emerge at every stage of life.
She is the author of the international bestseller Candyland S.I.N.S. – Mature Online Dating: Your Insider’s Guide, which became a trusted resource for mature adults navigating the world of online dating. Her latest novel, FORGET ME NOT ~ Hamptons, introduces readers to an intelligent mystery set against the glamorous backdrop of the Hamptons, where wealth, privilege, and long-buried secrets collide.
As a screenwriter, Joan has created an extensive catalogue of more than thirty scripted and unscripted television projects spanning crime, dramedy, comedy, cooking, property, children’s programming, dating, and lifestyle entertainment. Her original series—including CANDYLAND, FORGET ME NOT ~ Hamptons (working title, UNTOUCHABLES ~ Hamptons), ESTATES, TRANSPLANTED, and MISCONDUCT—have received recognition at international film festivals and screenwriting competitions.
Much of Joan’s work is inspired by real-life experience. Her background as an entrepreneur, property designer and retailer, cooking school developer, and mature dater has shaped stories that blend authenticity with compelling entertainment. She has shared her expertise through appearances on Canadian television, HuffPost Live, Sirius Radio, and numerous radio programs throughout Canada and the United States.
Committed to continually refining her craft, Joan studied at the Jacob Krueger Studio under the mentorship of Emmy Award-winning sitcom writer Jerry Perzigian and has further developed her storytelling through advanced workshops, writers’ groups, and retreats with Max Timm of Story Farm and the International Screenwriters’ Association.
At the heart of Joan’s work is a simple belief: life doesn’t become smaller with age—it becomes richer in experience, possibility, and unexpected adventures. Whether writing novels, developing television series, or connecting with readers around the world, she hopes her stories inspire people to embrace new beginnings, remain curious, and discover that the next chapter can be the most rewarding of all.
JOAN AS A STORYTELLER
Joan writes stories in various media about flawed people for those who love a good dramedy or where characters confront their flaws and discover their worth, who believe that hurdles are placed in their lives to overcome and inspire growth, expanding their worlds beyond what they had ever imagined.
Joan is a writer who creates provocative stories about struggle, often exploring the rise from misfortunes and setbacks and focusing on character building. Joan’s characters work to overcome their physical and emotional insecurities and disabling flaws in entertaining plots and storylines. Insights from Joan’s own life experiences helped her gain a deep understanding of the characters she has created. She has a gift for conjuring engaging stories with complex characters facing unique challenges.
Joan writes her stories not only from her life experiences but also from her emotional connection to their common theme of rising from life’s ashes. She not only observed such transformations but lived them. She has the scars to prove it.
For all inquiries, please use the website contact form below to send a message to Joan.
JOAN'S NEWSLETTER
Welcome to my world … one of sophisticated sleuths, beautiful locations, dangerous secrets, and ordinary people making extraordinary choices. You’re invited to join my newsletter to become privy to book character analyses and backgrounds, alternate plot endings, my personal writing history, and future story reveals.
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