Joyce has enjoyed a varied career as a novelist, television executive, and series television writer. Her first novel, The Cracker Factory, was a national best seller before becoming an ABC-TV movie starring Natalie Wood and Shelley Long. Since then, Joyce has written and published three novels, including Buck Naked and Triplets. Joyce has worked at NBC as Vice President of Comedy Development, written and produced Matlock starring Andy Griffith, Perry Mason starring Raymond Burr, and Father Dowling Mysteries starring Tom Bosley and Tracy Nelson. She created Diagnosis Murder starring Dick Van Dyke. Joyce is currently working on a pilot for the Lifetime television network.