Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have written eighteen books, seventeen of which I hope to publish. I’ve written way more than that – probably more in the twenty to thirty range, but most of those are books I wrote when I was much younger. Hunter is my first published book and the first book I wrote when I was serious about being a writer – I started it way back in high school.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is unpublished but it’s called Barbarian Minds. What inspired it was a show called Barbarians or something like that, which was a history TV show about the barbarian tribes that brought down ancient Rome. I had already decided to make a galaxy-wide Empire like from Star Wars, now I decided to make it more like Rome, conquering planet after planet. That’s where I started my book, on a planet and from a race that would be considered “Barbaric” hence the title: Barbarian Mind.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
My husband would say that it’s unual how fast I write sometimes. I wrote a 200+ page book in under 24 hours. When he read it through to edit it – he’s my editor – there weren’t too many mistakes, so I didn’t rush it like I had thought. When I’m determined, I can finish books in an unusually fast rate.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Cassandra Clare and all of her books are a huge inspiration. She does fantasy elements that are thrown into the real world, except for the country Idris that she invented. So I decided to take it a step further and set all of my books in a galaxy of my choice. My biggest inspiration isn’t books, though… It’s Star Wars. I’m horrible at writing Sci-Fi (I don’t understand the technical stuff enough to write it), so I decided to invent a galaxy of my own but tweak it to be fantasy instead of Sci-Fi.
What are you working on now?
I’m planning the next book in my Dragon Empire Series. Barbarian Mind is the first book of the series and the one I just finished writing last week. The next book I think I’m going to call it Broken Time and it’s going to be a sort of flashback book to give insight on a minor character. Some chapters are going to jump back into the present since I ended Barbarian Mind on such a horrible cliff hanger (if I don’t continue it at least a little, my readers on wattpad.com are going to go crazy).
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m actually still trying to figure this out. I know absolutely nothing about marketing so getting my book Hunter out there has been the hardest part for me. What I hope is a game changer for me is going through Best Seller Publishing. So far, it seems to be working and promoting Hunter very well.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write, write, write! Write when you don’t want to and write even when you hit writer’s block. If you’re stuck, just sit at a keyboard and write whatever comes to mind, even if it’s random or doesn’t make sense. When you’re writing, usually you’re get naturally inspired. Even if you don’t use any of what you wrote, keep writing. Also, don’t get discouraged when it feels like no one is reading your book. You’ll be tempted to think that no one ever will. But hang in there. It will happen – I promise you! A great way to build a fanbase is to start on Wattpad.com. It may be a site to read your books for free, but I’m telling you, it will build you a solid fanbase.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t give up.
What are you reading now?
I’m actually not currently reading anything, although I should be.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Keep on writing more books and work on making Hunter a best seller!
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?
Cassandra’s Clares books!
Author Websites and Profiles
Joanna White Website