Joy Coutts worked in financial services in the UK until she decided to leave that world behind and become a writer, freelance copy editor, and facilitator of a group for women who want to learn what it means to write

That's the kind of brave choice her characters make in her first novel, A Missing Mother

Among other things, we talked about finding one's voice, creating safe spaces for others, and the value of sharing what we create

Be sure to check out her profile on instagram @thejoyfuljotter