Interview With Author Jo Ballantyne
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m an artist & writer and I’ve self published on Amazon the first two novels of an epic western trilogy, Alias Jeannie Delaney, Books 1 & 2. I also had many anecdotal articles published over the years in the UK, but then I concentrated on the novels.
The idea for this story started over 40 years ago. I’d watched 60s and 70s westerns as a teenager and was utterly disappointed with the lack of decent roles for women, much less the fastest gun! I had a fascination for the wild west developing, particularly the roles played by gritty cheroot chompin’, gun slingin’ gals. So I began to daydream about my heroine and began illustrating her. Eventually my husband told me to write the story, so I began doing that after our daughter was born in 1985. I wrote it sporadically until recent years when we decided it was time to finish it and self publish Book 1, which we did over a year ago. The second novel was published a year later. Alias Jeannie Delaney – Book 1 – Go West, Girl! and Book 2 – The Outlaw’s Return, have been exceptionally successful, I have over 820 readers and many 5* reviews and ratings. I’m delighted, particularly because I suffer from mental health issues.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The latest title is Alias Jeannie Delaney – Book 2 – The Outlaw’s Return, and it’s a continuation of the first book.
A devastating cowgirl comes of age on the wild frontier. Her gun is snake strike fast & her sexuality is as fluid as a miner’s whiskey.
Jeannie Morgan, the fastest gun west of the Mississippi, is a devastating and charismatic pants-wearing cowgirl who is also a magnificent lover to both men and women. As she navigates the unforgiving frontier, she must confront her own identity and desires, all while facing down deadly confrontations and personal tragedies. Will she find happiness or will her her tomboy beauty, her powerful persona and her lethal gun finally be the death of her?
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not that I’m aware of!
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I read Daphne Du Maurier, Alan Tichmarsh, The Time Traveller’s Wife, Girl on the Landing, and Mills & Boon novelettes.
What are you working on now?
I’m editing Book 3. The working title is Unfinished Business and it’s the final book in the series, although I will be writing about Jeannie, my protagonist, as an offshoot of this.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I share posts on my Jo B. Creative blog to Facebook and most social media platforms. As an artist, I create promotional graphic designs on Canva.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep writing and join writing groups wherever you can for constructive feedback.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Keep reading and writing.
What are you reading now?
I read art and interior magazines and blog posts.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I wrote an anthology of anecdotal articles in the past, but felt that they weren’t good enough to self-publish. I intend to illustrate it with cartoons, polish and publish it eventually.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
My trilogy for one. I haven’t read it in full for a long time and I understand that it’s very good! It’s the book I wanted to read when I was a teenager, but no-one had written it so I had to.
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