Johanna Peyton is a proudly neurodivergent writer who believes we live in a world filled with powerful stories -- the ones we tell others, but maybe most importantly, the ones we tell ourselves. Johanna writes to tell stories that illuminate the truth about the big, wonderful, and hard things in life, but also the powerful true stories that already live within readers.
Johanna holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Texas Christian University and a Master of Public Health from the University of Texas Health Science Center in Austin. With a deep-seated passion for children, especially those in vulnerable positions, Johanna was a founding donor of Friends of the Children Austin, where she served a seven year board term and where she continues to serve on the program committee. Johanna also sits on the board of the Dyslexia Center of Austin.
She is a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, 12x12, The Writing Barn’s Empowered Author program and Courage to Create Community.
Johanna is represented by agent Taylor Martindale Kean of Full Circle Literary.
In her free time, she shares her writing journey and reviews of books that inspire her on Instagram @JohannaPeytonAuthor.
PAST CREDITS
2025: Selected to attend SCBWI Eastern NY Falling Leaves Retreat for middle grade novel.
2024: Accepted into the Writing Barn's Verge program for annual mentorship working with editor Melissa Manlove of Sourcebooks and author Rajani LaRocca.
2023: Selected for one-on-one writing mentorship program with author Bethany Hegedus.
2022: Won an Honorable Mention in the 2022 PBParty.
2022: Selected as a Mentee for the Rutgers University Council on Children's Literature One-On-One Plus Conference for picture books.
2021: Award finalist for Austin SCBWI’s Cynthia Leitch Smith Writing Mentor Award.
2021: Selected for 6-month mentorship program with author Hannah Barnaby.
Johanna Peyton, writer, mother & literacy advocate
