Alum Pens Memoir, Dedicates it to Former GMercyU Professor
Johanna Billings’ path to Gwynedd Mercy University wasn’t an easy one, to say the least. At her mother's insistence, she began her college career at a large state school, where she enrolled as a business major.
The real reason she went to the Division I school, however, was to run varsity track and cross country. Despite success as an athlete, earning an NCAA medal in the 10,000 meter run, she didn’t have much success in the classroom. Couple that with lack of support – both emotionally and financially from home – and it was a recipe for disaster.
“Suffice it to say I went to college for all the wrong reasons — because it was expected of me and because I didn't know what else to do. I dropped out after three years,” Johanna said.
After her mother’s death, Johanna was willing to consider college again – but on her own terms. She would choose the school, select her major, and set her own goals. At the time, Johanna was working as a reporter for The Reporter in Lansdale, Pa, which had a tuition reimbursement program.
It was at a college fair at the Montgomery Mall where she discovered then-Gwynedd Mercy College at a booth.
“I enrolled at Gwynedd in what I dubbed the ‘One Class a Semester for the Rest of My Life track’. When my daughter was born in 1993, it changed my financial aid status and I was able to finish in a whirlwind 18-credit semester, thanks in part to GMercyU's generosity. I don't remember the exact details but I was awarded a scholarship,” Johanna said.
Finding Her Passion
Johanna quickly found her home in the English department at GMercyU. From the start, it was a completely different experience from her time at her previous institution.
“I looked at classes differently. Every class was a chance to learn something, whether or not it related to my major or career plans. I jumped in enthusiastically,” Johanna said.
Johanna became involved in the newspaper on campus and even received life experience credit for journalism. Dr. Carol Breslin and Dr. Anne Kaler soon became mentors to Johanna, encouraging her creativity and supporting her writing goals.
“Dr. Kaler was the one who helped me get published outside of newspapers. I always wanted to write books and even magazine articles but I had no idea how to go about it. She taught me the process,” Johanna said. “She had a formula that I have used successfully in my professional career.”
Johanna launched her freelance writing career when her daughter was born, which allowed her to be home and still work. She used Dr. Kaler's query formula to land assignments with publications such as The Writer, Cat Fancy and Redbook, among others.
After graduation, Johanna went on to have a storied journalism and writing career, including working for Lehigh Valley Press as editor of the Northampton Press, Whitehall-Coplay Press and Catasauqua Press for several years. She won a first-place Pennsylvania journalism award for a series she wrote on Vietnamese immigrants in the area in 1992, while at The Reporter. She also published what is now her first book, Collectible Glass Rose Bowls, in 1999.
Bringing Life to a Hobby
Like many during this COVID-19 pandemic, Johanna and her husband Sean took a chance on their hobby and bought an antique shop in 2020. Long-time collectors, the pair were passionate about the hobby, with Johanna even writing for publications such as AntiqueWeek and serving as a price guide advisor. But opening up a shop of their own was never part of the plan.
“When we moved to our current house in 2020, we kept driving past this shuttered shop. A couple times, we stopped, got out of the car and peeked in the windows,” Johanna said. “Finally one day, we noticed a real estate for sale sign in front of the building. Sean turned to me and said, ‘So, you want to run an antique shop?’”
“I thought he was kidding,” Johanna said. “But, two months later, we owned the place.”
Combining her expertise in storytelling and her passion for antiquing, Johanna has built a strong following on the shop’s Facebook page. And the shop quickly became a meeting ground for the community.
“I met my current circle of friends through the shop. What's funny is most of them didn't even know each other. The shop brought us all together,” Johanna said. “They are all wonderful multimedia artists. We call ourselves the ‘Junk Angels’ because we find things we know the others will like and use in their projects.”
Johanna also works part-time for a couple auctioneers as either a runner or as the recorder.
Making of a Memoir
From the time she was a teenager, Johanna knew she had a “helluva” story to tell - from a traumatic childhood filled with abuse, a severely disabled sibling, and parental loss to a storied career with many twists and turns.
She began developing her story at the encouragement of Dr. Kaler. Over the years, the story had many versions, each being refined to tell not just Johanna’s story, but also a story that can serve others.
After meeting her now agent and publisher Maryann Karinch on vacation and taking her suggestions, Johanna’s memoir has become a story of healing.
“I tell my story chronologically, as I'm relating it to a therapist, telling a lot of it in flashbacks. I break up the really crushing sadness of my story with chapters on cats who have helped me heal, the antique shop and all the people who were instrumental in helping me heal,” Johanna said.
When the reader opens the book, they will see it’s dedicated to the person who not only encouraged Johanna to explore her passion for writing, but gave her the practical skills to achieve her goals.
“I chose to dedicate it to Dr. Kaler because she taught me how to write queries and get published outside of newspapers. It all led to my being able to interest a literary agent in my book and to eventually get it published,” Johanna said.
“The Meaning of Love” was published in July 2025, and was more 30 years in the making from those first query letters Dr. Kaler helped Johanna write.
“I hope that my story can help and inspire others to continue reaching out, even when it feels like everyone has turned away. Keep trying. You can heal,” Johanna said.
Learn more about “The Meaning of Love” here.
Autographed copies can also be purchased from the author, who can be reached at russophile64@gmail.com.