Jo Watson Hackl

Jo Watson Hackl was born in Biloxi, Mississippi, not far from Ocean Springs, where her favorite artist, Walter Anderson, lived and once painted a secret room. When Jo was eleven, she moved to a real-life ghost town, Electric Mills, Mississippi, and spent the rest of her childhood exploring the woods and encountering signs of the former inhabitants. Mr. Anderson's secret room and the ghost town were Jo's inspiration for her debut novel, Smack Dab in the Middle of Maybe. Jo lives with her family in Greenville, South Carolina, where she raises fruits, vegetables, and many, many weeds.