Joan Bochmann Biography

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Joan Bochmann was born in Steamboat Springs, Colorado and grew up in the country, attending a one-room school-house for most of her elementary school years. Horses were always a big part of her life, and she was blessed with a father who patiently taught her to ride and to love these noble creatures. Her mother nurtured her other passion - the love for books and took the time to see that Joan had access to the library and any other source she could find. Joan grew up in a world of reality (horses, hard work and some hard times) and a world of the imagination - from sharing Heidi's mountaintop in Switzerland; solving mysteries with Nancy Drew; exploring Bambi's forest to rafting down the Mississippi with Huck Finn.

She graduated as valedictorian of her high school class, but her college education was delayed when she married, had children and moved to Boulder, Colorado. While pursuing an education and a career as a paralegal, she attended the University of Colorado at night, taking every writing course she could. Many of her summer vacations consisted of packing up her two kids, a typewriter, and renting a cabin at a small resort in the Colorado mountains. While the kids enjoyed the amenities of the resort, she typed out stories.

Recently retiring from 42 years as a paralegal, Joan now lives with her husband, Carl, on a small acreage that accommodates her two Arabian horses and Sheltie dog. In addition to writing, her hobbies are camping with her family, managing a church bookstore, riding and reading.

E-mail: Joan Bochmann!

Read what others have said about Absaroka!

"'Absaroka' by Joan Bochmann. What an absolutely wonderful book this is. It was a delightful reading pleasure from beginning to end. Set in Wyoming, we meet Matt Reed as he is returning from Vietnam. He desperately needs the peace and security his family's ranch will bring to him, but soon that is shattered and Matt is left with another war to fight.

Jake, Matt's father, dies shortly after his return and Matt learns that their beloved ranch has been mortgaged and the deed is held by none other than Matt's arch rival from years ago, Paul Pringle. Why is it so important for Paul to own Matt's ranch? Is it just revenge against Matt or is there a more sinister plot beneath it all? You'll be surprised. Now Matt has six months to come up with $100,000 plus in order to save his homestead. The odds of winning this war are totally stacked against him. However, miracles do happen I am happy to say.

A plan forms in Matt's mind, a plan filled with wild horses, the help of a Indian named Joe Little Hawk, a family friend named Hank, and a woman who will be more than a friend to Matt, Jill King. You are in for a treat as this story unfolds.

This book is extremely well written, keeps your attention, has characters that wrap around your heart, and a storyline that resembles the great movie, "Rocky." I had to smile as I put the book down, sometimes the good do win. Don't miss this one. Highly recommended."

--Reviewed by Shirley Johnson--in.song@funport.net from Book Review Cafe.

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"Absaroka is Joan Bochmann's home and heartland. It is also the setting for playing out the challenges of life and love between the seeming simplicity of rural ranching and the complexities of real people's current-day choices. Joan masterfully unfolds subtleties of human experieance--of conflict, confusion, and will--against the Western backdrop of nature's raw elements and the people who learn to harmonize with that nature or be destroyed by opposing her. Absaroka captures your mind's eye, your spirit's vibrations, and your heart's emotions.

--Steve Prentice, Former staff writer and editor for The Western Horseman Magazine, Author, freelance writer, and former public relations director for Cowtown Coliseum, Fort Worth, Texas.