Meet… Joan Tepper-Neal
written by Megin Potter
Photos provided
Written correspondence is a bridge connecting people to one another.
Joan Tepper-Neal adds authenticity and emotion to her thoughtful greeting cards – at the holidays – and during other special occasions. It’s part of a writing practice that has recently blossomed into something larger.
When Words Mean More
As a girl, Joan’s mother discovered her daughter’s artistry and believed in her abilities, said Joan, “She always told me that I could do anything I wanted, and if I didn’t, I didn’t want it badly enough!”
While studying as an undergrad at the University of Miami, Joan sat on the bathroom floor and journaled as a form of catharsis. “I’m a very, very sensitive person. My feelings go down to the tips of my toes.”
Joan graduated from the New York Academy of Theatrical Arts and maintained the habit of heartfelt handwritten correspondence throughout her life. Now a widow with two adult children, Joan’s writing has taken on a life of its own.
“It just falls out of my head. The words come and I have to write them down because I’m so afraid I’m going to forget what I was thinking. The words just pour out of me.”
Joan and her husband, Ronald Neal, were together for 30 years. He used to love her writing, and she received loads of praise for the handwritten notes she sent out, all filled with meaningful messages (she collects blank cards if you have any!).
After Ronald’s passing, she sat in her bedroom looking through all the musings she had saved. She said aloud, “Honey, I know what I’m going to do. I’m going to write.”
Rich and Engaging
Joan’s writing is a snapshot of a moment in time, her emotions, and a shared experience.
It’s all part of her artistry. A self-described fashionista and a greeter at Saratoga Saddlery, Joan said she receives elaborate compliments on her style and personality. Her writing is about fun, laughter, dancing, singing, drinking, (and everything else possible!). Her poetry is distributed on Fridays to an email list of 100+ (because Fridays are days meant for rejoicing, she said).
To grow her writing practice, Joan has performed at Caffe Lena’s 2024 Open Mic Nights (where she also volunteers); it’s read aloud during the Well-Noted Writing Club meetings hosted by Asheley Cruz, founder of Coral and Blue, a children’s stationary company; and has worked with mentor, renowned poet Suzanne Rancourt. Her work has also been shared by Pat McBride McFriesen, the host of regular literary and musical salons in Saratoga.
“I’m like a drummer starting out in a garage band trying to get bigger and bigger,” she laughs.
A Legacy of Love
Joan photographs the cards she writes to chronicle these handwritten keepsakes. Looking back through them, she is given a glimpse of the past, reminded of the relationships she values, and discovers a legacy of love (a word she believes is used much too nonchalantly these days).
“When you get to know me, you will love me,” she said. Also a hostess at The Wine Bar, where she makes friends easily, Joan said she has a fan club full of people rooting for her writing success.
“My writing has SOUL,” said Joan. “I love words but I’m not a good reader,” she added, “When I’m writing, words come into my head, and I’m not sure where they come from or if I’m using them correctly, so I have to look them up, but still, there they are.”
To receive a new piece of Joan Tepper-Neal’s poetry in your inbox each week, email her at joantepperneal@gmail.com