Donna Woolfolk Cross - sylwetka autora

The author began her writing career with humor-infused books focused on language, such as "Word Abuse" and "Mediaspeak." Although these works were well-received, they captured the interest of a relatively small audience. This realization led her to aim for a wider readership by writing a book she herself would find enjoyable. Inspired by her favorite authors, Mary Renault and Gore Vidal, she opted to craft an engaging historical novel enriched by accurate details of the era.

The choice of subject matter came about serendipitously. While reading a French book, she stumbled upon a reference to "Pope Jeanne." Initially, she assumed this was a typographical error, confusing the French "Jean" for John and "Jeanne" for Joan. Upon discovering that it was intentional, her curiosity was piqued, sparking a seven-year research journey into this enigmatic and controversial figure, which culminated in the creation of "Pope Joan."

"I have always been intrigued by women who dared to defy cultural norms," states Donna Woolfolk Cross. "In my book, I gave a voice to one such woman..." In her novel's accompanying notes, she highlights a host of other women who, like Joan, boldly donned male attire for the sake of education, public roles, or simply leading more adventurous lives.

The overwhelmingly positive reception of her debut novel from both readers and critics brought her immense joy. Translated into fifteen languages, it enjoyed a prolonged presence on bestseller lists. Donna Woolfolk Cross had experience working at a small publishing house in London and studied literature in Los Angeles before moving to Syracuse with her husband in 1973. There, she is currently working on her second novel set in seventeenth-century France.