BOOKS
Animal Vignettes: True Stories of Friendship
Animal Vignettes will inspire readers to reflect on their own transformational moments with animals—furry, feathered or finned.
Nonfiction: Animal Stories; Narrative Essays; Memoir
Any Good Thing
None of us deserves any good thing. So, when one does come—it’s a gift.
Southern Literary Fiction, novel
This Good Thing
Even on the darker days, we can be thankful for this good thing—LIFE.
Christian Southern Fiction, novella
Every Good Thing
Every Good Thing comes from God—look for them. Embrace them. Give thanks for them. Live them.
Christian Southern Fiction, short story collection
One Good Thing
Every day—no matter how bleak it seems—find one good thing for which to be thankful.
Christian Southern Fiction, epistolary
Finders Keepers
The writer’s life is solitary … only if you want it to be.
Writing Craft, nonfiction
The Crux Anthology
Adventure Fantasy & SciFi Short Stories, including 2nd place winner, “Ealiverel Awakened”
Fantasy & SciFi
WHERE TO BUY
Slidell, LA
Covington, LA
Hammond, LA
Vicksburg, MS
Mobile, AL
New Orleans, LA
Denham Springs, LA
Hattiesburg, MS
WORKS IN PROGRESS
Animal Vignettes: True Stories of Friendship
Status: Formatting
Genre: Nonfiction
Expected Release: Autumn 2025
In Animal Vignettes: True Stories of Friendship, award-winning indie author Joy E. Rancatore honors the pets that have made her a better human. This collection of animal tales celebrates the bond between animals and people with candor, humor, soul and heart.
From her earliest maybe-memory of a kitten in a stroller to the pets flanking her as she drafted these vignettes, the author acknowledges the role animals have played in her emotional development. Reminiscent of Reader’s Digest essays and James Herriot’s country vet books, each narrative showcases the power of faith and the empathy produced from bonds with pets.
Animal Vignettes is founded on gratitude for friendship. The loss of one of the author’s dearest friends led to this book’s creation as a catalyst for comfort during grief and of connection with others. Because of their heart-core foundation, these tales are best shared with friends—human and animal.
Quiet Cowboy Novel (Official Title Forthcoming)
Status: Drafting
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Expected Release: 2026
Luke Bantham speaks less than he laughs, and he’s rarely had reason for mirth in his twenty-two years. When his long-time girlfriend gets thrown from the horse he trained and she chooses to get rid of the animal rather than get back on him, Luke leaves his hometown and homecoming queen behind to rescue the discarded stallion.
His search leads him into the atrocities of the slaughter pipeline, an inhumane system of trafficking livestock that lines pockets, breaks animals and endangers humans who try to intervene.
When Luke meets Cheyenne, a girl more quiet than him, he finds his voice, and together with a sage stranger they learn to speak for those who can’t. Can they find their courage in time to save a battered horse? If they do, will they survive the repercussions?
Title: Ready for the Red Pen
Status: Outlining
Genre: Nonfiction for Writers
Expected Release: 2026
Edit doesn’t have to be a four-letter word for writers. Through this succinct and clearly written book, writers will learn to embrace the red pen. Professional writer, author and editor Joy E. Rancatore dispels the myths and misunderstandings behind revisions, self-editing, alpha and beta readers, critique partners and professional editors, while showing the beauty of the polished word. Each chapter concludes with practical tips and next steps.
Title: Elspeth’s Tale (Official Title Forthcoming)
Status: World-building
Genre: Fantasy
Expected Release: 2028 and following
Elspeth chooses to accept her calling as Shepherdess of the Fae, but is she prepared to sacrifice all in order to fulfill the destiny prophesied before her birth? Can she unleash the power within, without allowing it to consume her? And how will her journey affect her sister-friend, Arabel—the one human who accepts her for who she is and what power she wields?
SHORT STORIES
Title: “Ealiverel Awakened”
Status: Published in The Crux Anthology
Genre: Fantasy
Elspeth has accepted her calling—Faerie Shepherdess. She journeys to Temple Taepaeum where she must pass several Trials to awaken all her power within in order to begin her Training.
This short story won second place in Rachael Ritchey’s Adventure SciFi and Fantasy competition and features with other stories in The Crux Anthology, released November 26, 2018. All profits from this book go to Compassion International.
“Ealiverel Awakened” is a small part of what will one day be a full fantasy series by Joy. Read more stories from this world in the Tales of Faerie Shepherds series.
Title: “Our Good Thing”
Status: Available for FREE
Genre: Southern Fiction with Christian Roots
Who knew Baptist preachers shouldn’t dance? Not Rachael Burns—Baptist preacher’s daughter and dance aficionado.
Rachael and her best friend, Jack Calhoun, overhear Bellum’s primary gossips condemning their families for everything from dancing to playing cards.
Where will Rachael turn for comfort and guidance after the cruel words settle? Can she follow her mom’s written advice about “our good thing”? How many lessons and revelations will the wind whip her way on a blustery February afternoon?
Fans of Southern fiction with Christian roots will love “Our Good Thing,” a taste of all the books in Carolina’s Legacy Collection: Any Good Thing, This Good Thing, Every Good Thing and One Good Thing.
Title: “Dream Debris”
Status: Resting (potential transformation to a full novel)
Genre: Historical Fiction
Murdoch and Osla love one another with passion that transcends separations, but will the Sea’s rage rend their feelings and cast the remnants to the waves as floating dream debris?
Title: “Walking the Parade Route”
Status: Available for Joy’s Newsletter Subscribers
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Laura wants to understand the culture of her new home near New Orleans. What better time to experience that than while “Walking the Parade Route”? She embraces the culture … and so much more … while waiting for the floats to pass and the beads to fly.
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Finders Keepers: A Practical Approach To Find And Keep Your Writing Critique Partner
