JoAnn Catania is a former freelance journalist for the Toronto Star and Maclean's Magazine. She was born in Sicily and her works of fiction often focus on themes involving average Sicilians from humble backgrounds struggling to assimilate into their adopted country. She has a Modern Languages degree from the University of Toronto and a Journalism degree from Ryerson University. She is a linguist, an avid gardener, a nature-lover and an award-winning baker who loves to bake with her grandchildren. A Scarcity of Virgins, her debut women's fiction novel, touches on many relevant women’s issues, including love, marriage, family, fidelity, infidelity, sexuality, and self-fulfillment. She is currently working on her second novel, Island of the Vespers, a historical work of fiction that takes place in 1860 Sicily during the unification wars.