Jan Norton

Not for the Faint of Heart

The true story of an American family caught in the struggle between an American President and a Central American dictator. As the Panamanian dictator and drug lord, Manual Noriega, fights to keep his hold on the country with his Panamanian Defense Forces, the peaceful country of Panama is torn apart. Innocent legal residents of all countries are at risk.

Amid this chaos, an American couple flee back to the United States with their small children and what they can carry. They are not welcome there either due to the tax and legal structure of the company Jan is running. They and their children must board yet another flight to Switzerland. Now the company is legally safe, but they are undocumented workers in a country with tight immigration controls.

Relief finally comes in the form of landed immigrancy in Canada, but can they actually create a life for themselves there or will they have to leave again? This is a story of love and fear, anxiety and adventure as they try to keep their family and livelihood together.

Meet Jan Norton

Jan Norton is a writer whose work is shaped by a global career in finance, a lifelong curiosity about people and places, and a passion for uncovering the stories behind how organizations and individuals work and grow. Before turning her focus to writing, she served in executive financial roles across France, Switzerland, Panama, Canada, and the United States, ultimately overseeing operations and internal controls in 35 countries for Galderma, a Swiss pharmaceutical company.

Her international experience, combined with years of advising entrepreneurs and executives, gives her writing a distinctive lens—one that blends international business acumen with human insight. Jan has also been an angel investor and a frequent speaker on leadership, organizational dynamics, and startup funding.

She holds a BBA from Texas Christian University and retired CPA and CGMA licenses. Jan serves on the Board of Clayton Youth Achievement and is an active member of several civic and professional organizations, including the AICPA, TSCPA, Christ Chapel Bible Church, and the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Jan lives in Fort Worth, Texas, with her family, and delights in the intellectual curiosity of travel with her two children and two grandchildren.