Author Jo Elizabeth Pinto
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The Heart and Story Behind Author Jo Elizabeth Pinto
Stories have been an important part of my life for years. They give me a way to explore people, relationships, challenges, humor, hope, and the experiences that connect us. As Jo Elizabeth Pinto, I have built my writing career around creating stories that entertain readers while also giving them something meaningful to think about.
I am the author of six books spanning fiction, young adult literature, memoir, and poetry. Each book represents a different part of my writing journey, but they share my belief that hope is always an action away.
My debut novel, The Bright Side of Darkness, became an important milestone in that journey. Since then, I have continued writing, publishing, sharing my experiences, and connecting with readers through books, interviews, podcasts, features, and speaking opportunities.
Bright Side Author brings those different parts of my work together in one place.
The Story Behind My Writing
Long before a finished book reaches readers, it usually begins with an idea, experience, question, or character that refuses to go away.
My own life has given me plenty of experiences to draw from.
I was among the first blind students to integrate public schools in the 1970s when federal laws allowed children with disabilities to be educated with their peers. I went on to earn two college degrees, one in Human Services from the University of Northern Colorado and another in Nonprofit Management from the Metropolitan State College of Denver.
My life experiences have influenced the way I see people, obstacles, relationships, and possibilities. They have also helped shape the perspective I bring to my writing.
Whether I am working with fiction, nonfiction, or poetry, I draw on personal experience to create writing that is approachable and thought provoking.
The Bright Side of Darkness
My first novel, The Bright Side of Darkness, grew from experiences early in my married life, when my home became a gathering place for troubled neighborhood kids.
Those experiences helped ignite the idea that eventually became the novel.
The Bright Side of Darkness introduces readers to characters navigating difficult circumstances while moving through a story filled with adventure, discovery, relationships, and important choices.
The novel received a First Place Indie Book Award for Inspirational Fiction.
It also received an endorsement from best selling author Jim Stovall, who wrote that the book “...introduces us to characters that take us on a rollercoaster ride of adventure and discovery.”
The response to the book became an important part of my development as an author and opened the door for the writing that followed.
Six Books and Different Ways to Tell a Story
One of the things I enjoy about writing is that there is no single way to tell a meaningful story.
My six books allow me to work across several literary forms. Fiction creates room to develop characters and imagine situations that can reveal something about real life. Young adult literature provides opportunities to explore relationships and the challenges of growing up. Memoir lets me draw directly from lived experiences, while poetry gives me a completely different way to capture an image, season, emotion, or moment.
My books include The Bright Side of Darkness as well as young adult novels such as Braided Love and Unbroken Love.
Braided Love was released on December 31, 2023. I later discussed the novel during an appearance on the Blind Chick podcast, where the conversation also explored the books and experiences that led me to that stage in my writing journey.
My latest novel, Unbroken Love, is a young adult romance. In February 2026, Annie Chiappetta interviewed me about the book during a Behind Our Eyes Book Launch.
Writing From Life
Some of my work moves away from fictional characters and draws more directly from my own experiences.
Daddy Won’t Let Mom Drive the Car: True Tales of Parenting in the Dark explores parenting through stories and observations from family life.
Parenting can be funny, unpredictable, challenging, and rewarding, sometimes all within the same afternoon. Writing about those experiences allows me to share moments from my life while inviting readers to recognize some of the universal surprises that come with raising a family.
An excerpt from the memoir was featured through Sally Cronin’s Smorgasbord Book Promotions. The selected piece included a tribute to schoolteachers.
Personal experiences have also found their way into interviews and features where I have discussed education, disability, family traditions, caregiving, writing, and other parts of my life.
Finding Poetry in the Seasons
My writing also includes Dancing with the Seasons: A Year in Simple Verse, a collection of nature poetry released in January 2022.
The collection uses short, vivid poems to capture images from nature and the changing seasons. The poems are designed to be accessible to people who may not usually consider themselves poetry readers while still offering imagery that more experienced poetry readers can appreciate.
Writing poetry requires me to approach words differently. A novel gives a story room to unfold over many pages. A short poem has to capture its moment much more quickly.
That difference is part of what makes working across multiple forms of writing so rewarding.
An Author Who Understands the Writing Process
Being a published author has taught me that writing involves much more than inspiration.
There are drafts to reconsider, sentences to reshape, characters to understand, ideas to clarify, and decisions to make. Sometimes the right words arrive quickly. At other times, a writer has to keep returning to the page until the work begins to say what it was meant to say.
That experience also influences the professional services I offer through Bright Side Author.
In addition to writing my own books, I work as an editor and Braille proofreader and offer ghostwriting services. These roles allow me to use my experience with words to support other people and their projects.
When I work with another writer, I understand how personal a manuscript can be. My goal is to respect the writer’s voice while providing thoughtful support appropriate to the project.
Sharing Stories Beyond the Page
My work as an author has also created opportunities to connect with audiences beyond my books.
Over the years, I have participated in interviews, podcasts, online conversations, book features, and community events. These appearances have given me opportunities to discuss my writing as well as experiences involving education, blindness, parenting, accessibility, resilience, and everyday life.
I am also available for speaking engagements.
Public speaking provides another form of storytelling. Instead of communicating with readers through a printed page, I can share experiences directly with an audience and explore ideas through personal stories.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many books have you written?
I am the author of six books spanning fiction, young adult literature, memoir, and poetry.
What is your best known book?
I am particularly known for my debut novel, The Bright Side of Darkness, which received a First Place Indie Book Award for Inspirational Fiction.
What genres do you write?
My writing includes fiction, young adult literature, memoir, and poetry. This variety gives me different ways to explore stories, experiences, relationships, and ideas.
Do you offer services for other writers?
Yes. In addition to my own writing, I offer editing and ghostwriting services. I also provide specialized Braille proofreading and am available for speaking engagements.
Where can I learn more about your books?
Visit the Books page to explore the six books featured by Bright Side Author. Book purchases are handled through Amazon rather than directly through this website.
Explore My Books and Author Services
Every book begins somewhere. Sometimes it starts with a character. Sometimes it grows from a personal experience. Sometimes it is simply an idea that keeps returning until there is no choice but to put it into words.
Writing has allowed me to turn those beginnings into six published books and to connect with readers through stories, poetry, memoir, interviews, and conversations.
