Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is Joanna White and I have two published novels (one soon to be released on July 1st) but I’ve written over 50 of them – 54 last I counted. I have a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Creative Writing for Entertainment and have been passionate for writing ever since I wrote my first book at ten years old.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Hunter was released on April 30th of this year and it was inspired by a mixture of Mulan (yes, the Disney movie) and the Hunger Games. I loved the idea of a woman disguising herself as a man and the concept of an arena like the Hunger Games, but didn’t want the aspect from the Hunger Games like the entertaining side of it with the parade and interviews and stuff. So I created a prison that takes/arrests only men and the main protagonist is female so to save her brother, she has to disguise herself as a man (the Mulan aspect).
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Either listening to instrumental music when I write, playing out the action scenes sometimes when I have to, or making a daily writing goal I try to meet every day but it’s different for each book.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
The Bible is first and foremost because without God, I wouldn’t have this talent at all. Cassandra Clare’s novels have inspired me and some of my more modern fantasy books. She’s very descriptive and I love how she writes. Some of my best online friends are authors with amazing books including Ariel Paiement’s On Twilight Wings, Allen Steadham’s Mindfire, and James Quinlin Meservy’s The United, which have all inspired me as well.
What are you working on now?
Right now, while I’m working on publishing Hunter and Shifter, the first two books in my debut series, The Valiant Series, I’m writing a modern fantasy vampire/werewolf/supernatural creature novel that’s the fourth in its series called the Mystics Series, which I began October of 2018. So far, the fourth book, Lethal Hearts, is coming along nicely! In fact, I just wrote a wedding scene earlier tonight between two of my favorite characters in it!
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
So far, Facebook. There are so many author promotion groups and readers groups and places to share your books. They also have a lot of author takeover events which has geared a lot of interest in my books and myself as an author and the takeover events have allowed me to meet some amazing authors who have supported me and been an invaluable source to me.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Never stop writing and never give up on your dreams, especially if writing is your dream. You will face rejection but it’s what you do in the face of that rejection that counts – do you give up or keep going? I say, keep going!
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Trust in God. He has given me everything, including my talent for writing and the passion for it. It’s because of Him that Hunter and Shifter were accepted by a publisher at all and it was in His perfect timing too!
What are you reading now?
The United by James Quinlin Meservy. It’s inspired me by how creative his world and race building is!
What’s next for you as a writer?
Hopefully publishing the rest of the Valiant Series after Shifter comes out July 1st!
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?
Haha, that’s not enough for all of Cassandra Clare’s books. She’s got six in her Mortal Instrument Series, so I guess I would have to pick between them. No, in all honesty, I would pick the Bible because it is all I need.
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