Welcome to Fellow Author Joanna Aislinn as she tells us about her novel, No Matter Why.
What is it about the romance genre that appeals to you?
I just finished reading a suspense novel, a take on ‘Thelma and Louise’ (and no gorgeous younger Brad Pitt, lol). Occurred to me, somewhere along the ride, I missed the emotion that drives romantic literature.
Have you always wanted to be a writer? If not, why not?
Had no clue I was headed this way, PL! I’d been mentally re-writing TV shows to incorporate my characters since I was a kid. Not until I met an author who was the keynote speaker at a women’s retreat I attended, did I realize I wasn’t some weirdo whose mind was always preoccupied with heroes, situations, conflict, etc. When I accidentally discovered fan-fiction, I realized I am really NOT alone. My writing took off from there.
I know the feeling. I carry on conversations with myself all the time. I tell people I have split personalities. What do you hope readers will take from your writing?
I think I’d like them to understand judging others’ choices is an easy thing to do, but one really needs to live someone else’s life before s/he does that.
Exactly my thoughts! What is the toughest part about being a writer and how do you get past it?
Time and organization, especially since I get to bring so much work home. I never feel organized b/c I’m never sure exactly what’s coming, and my work flies in from all directions. I’m not a terribly structured person to begin with (hence, I’m a pantser) so that doesn’t help.
I'm a pantser as well. Is there anything in your story based upon a real life event? If so, tell me about it.
I wove a couple situations in here and there and tied them together with others to make it mine for the story. That’s all I’ll share.
LOL! What inspired you to write No Matter Why?
No Matter Why started out as flashbacks from another story. The sequel, a direct continuation, was supposed to be Part 2 and the bridge between Parts 1 and 3. Didn’t quite work out that way, but I’m very happy with the way things did.
Are the love scenes in your books made up or are they from personal experience?
Probably a mix of the two. How does one not incorporate what one knows into one’s stories?
I find I draw from personal experience all the time. What was your favorite part of the book?
I love the magic of watching the main characters’ relationship grow and change.
It is exciting. What did you wish you might have done differently in your book?
Wish I had the editing knowledge I gained along the way so that I could apply it to that book, lol. Though the emotion that runs through my stories tends to be the same, I hope I took the writing to another level in my next work(s).
Who/what are your favorite authors/books?
Laura Ingalls Wilder: The Little House Series (Little Town on the Prairie is probably my favorite of the collection);
Lynn Austin: Hidden Places
Kathleen Woodiwiss: Ashes in the Wind and The Wolf and the Dove
Wolf and the Dove is one of my all time favorites. How do you juggle a full-time job and write on the side?
I’m having a very hard time with this one this school year. Bringing work home is really getting in my alter-ego’s way. On the bright side, think the time crunch is finally teaching me to edit my reports a little. (What was consistently five pages recently has been trimmed to four); my interviews, too, or so I like to think. (Y’all feel free to tell me: NOT!)
Can you give us a sneak peek of your next book?
Sorry. Not yet. But I will say it’s been finished for quite some time now.
What draws you to a story?
I’m very open to storylines. As long as a blurb sounds good or I happened across a good review, I’ll check it out. I’ll even read a poorly written account if the story keeps me interested. I am appalled, however, at how many authors out there are making a living off of—or at least selling enough books to make bestseller lists—with mediocre writing. We won’t mention those well-established wordsmiths who break all the rules and get away with it because their names sell. (I guess one of the hardest things I’ve had to accept as a writer is that I’ll never read ANY book without automatically editing it as I turn the pages. Even in the best-written story, sometimes I have to consciously tell the inner-editor to ‘get over it.’)
If you could have dinner with one person, dead or alive, who would it be and why?
Hmm. Part of me has a slew of questions for my Maker, whom I choose to call God. Laura Ingalls Wilder comes to mind; there is so much more I’d like to know about her life on the day-to-day, as TOLD to me firsthand by the lady herself. And how about cappuccino with Rafa Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Aaron Rodgers and maybe even Tom Brady, lol?
When you begin a story, do you know how your book is going to end and/or the fate of all your characters or are you surprised as you write the story and in as much suspense as the reader?
My most recently completed novel surprised me. This particular pair wasn’t supposed to wind up together (or they were supposed to wind up ‘on the offs’ at the beginning of Part 3). Not only did I truly fall in love with this hero (and the ending), I realized the heroine’s character arc was really done and anything else would be a re-do at her end. Finally, this story could easily reflect real life, so I wound up embracing the story as it worked out. That’s part of the fun of being a pantster: I’m as much a reader as a writer while the story unfolds.
Where can people learn more about you and your work?
My website. http://www.joannaaislinn.com/
My blog. http://joannaaislinn.wordpress.com/
Facebook. (Always looking for new friends there!)
Twitter (I go by FancyWriterLady and am working on getting a little more established with this particular hub of social media!)
No Matter Why: blurb
Trust and stability became empty words the day motherless, sixteen-year-old Carrie Norwell came home to find her brothers murdered. Within moments, her father arrived and his heart gave out at the scene. Five years later, is it any wonder the walls with which she’s barricaded her heart are virtually impenetrable to anyone looking to get close and offer what she wants more than anything? The security only a loving family can give? Or someone with whom to build her own?
Billy Jay Eldridge wants to offer exactly that to the right girl. He’s two years out of college and managing a store at the assistant level. He didn’t count on not synching with the corporate/retail atmosphere and toys daily with the idea of a major career move that promises to make nobler use of his God-given talents. Then shy, quiet Carrie joins his crew. Intrigued and charmed by the girl’s haunted eyes and withdrawn ways he sets out to know her better, clueless that his life’s calling will be the biggest setback to getting her to accept from him what she wants and needs most.
Read an excerpt or two (or three or more)
http://joannaaislinn.wordpress.com/read-an-excerpt/
Thank you Joanna for taking time out from your busy schedule to visit.
What is it about the romance genre that appeals to you?
I just finished reading a suspense novel, a take on ‘Thelma and Louise’ (and no gorgeous younger Brad Pitt, lol). Occurred to me, somewhere along the ride, I missed the emotion that drives romantic literature.
Have you always wanted to be a writer? If not, why not?
Had no clue I was headed this way, PL! I’d been mentally re-writing TV shows to incorporate my characters since I was a kid. Not until I met an author who was the keynote speaker at a women’s retreat I attended, did I realize I wasn’t some weirdo whose mind was always preoccupied with heroes, situations, conflict, etc. When I accidentally discovered fan-fiction, I realized I am really NOT alone. My writing took off from there.
I know the feeling. I carry on conversations with myself all the time. I tell people I have split personalities. What do you hope readers will take from your writing?
I think I’d like them to understand judging others’ choices is an easy thing to do, but one really needs to live someone else’s life before s/he does that.
Exactly my thoughts! What is the toughest part about being a writer and how do you get past it?
Time and organization, especially since I get to bring so much work home. I never feel organized b/c I’m never sure exactly what’s coming, and my work flies in from all directions. I’m not a terribly structured person to begin with (hence, I’m a pantser) so that doesn’t help.
I'm a pantser as well. Is there anything in your story based upon a real life event? If so, tell me about it.
I wove a couple situations in here and there and tied them together with others to make it mine for the story. That’s all I’ll share.
LOL! What inspired you to write No Matter Why?
No Matter Why started out as flashbacks from another story. The sequel, a direct continuation, was supposed to be Part 2 and the bridge between Parts 1 and 3. Didn’t quite work out that way, but I’m very happy with the way things did.
Are the love scenes in your books made up or are they from personal experience?
Probably a mix of the two. How does one not incorporate what one knows into one’s stories?
I find I draw from personal experience all the time. What was your favorite part of the book?
I love the magic of watching the main characters’ relationship grow and change.
It is exciting. What did you wish you might have done differently in your book?
Wish I had the editing knowledge I gained along the way so that I could apply it to that book, lol. Though the emotion that runs through my stories tends to be the same, I hope I took the writing to another level in my next work(s).
Who/what are your favorite authors/books?
Laura Ingalls Wilder: The Little House Series (Little Town on the Prairie is probably my favorite of the collection);
Lynn Austin: Hidden Places
Kathleen Woodiwiss: Ashes in the Wind and The Wolf and the Dove
Wolf and the Dove is one of my all time favorites. How do you juggle a full-time job and write on the side?
I’m having a very hard time with this one this school year. Bringing work home is really getting in my alter-ego’s way. On the bright side, think the time crunch is finally teaching me to edit my reports a little. (What was consistently five pages recently has been trimmed to four); my interviews, too, or so I like to think. (Y’all feel free to tell me: NOT!)
Can you give us a sneak peek of your next book?
Sorry. Not yet. But I will say it’s been finished for quite some time now.
What draws you to a story?
I’m very open to storylines. As long as a blurb sounds good or I happened across a good review, I’ll check it out. I’ll even read a poorly written account if the story keeps me interested. I am appalled, however, at how many authors out there are making a living off of—or at least selling enough books to make bestseller lists—with mediocre writing. We won’t mention those well-established wordsmiths who break all the rules and get away with it because their names sell. (I guess one of the hardest things I’ve had to accept as a writer is that I’ll never read ANY book without automatically editing it as I turn the pages. Even in the best-written story, sometimes I have to consciously tell the inner-editor to ‘get over it.’)
If you could have dinner with one person, dead or alive, who would it be and why?
Hmm. Part of me has a slew of questions for my Maker, whom I choose to call God. Laura Ingalls Wilder comes to mind; there is so much more I’d like to know about her life on the day-to-day, as TOLD to me firsthand by the lady herself. And how about cappuccino with Rafa Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Aaron Rodgers and maybe even Tom Brady, lol?
When you begin a story, do you know how your book is going to end and/or the fate of all your characters or are you surprised as you write the story and in as much suspense as the reader?
My most recently completed novel surprised me. This particular pair wasn’t supposed to wind up together (or they were supposed to wind up ‘on the offs’ at the beginning of Part 3). Not only did I truly fall in love with this hero (and the ending), I realized the heroine’s character arc was really done and anything else would be a re-do at her end. Finally, this story could easily reflect real life, so I wound up embracing the story as it worked out. That’s part of the fun of being a pantster: I’m as much a reader as a writer while the story unfolds.
Where can people learn more about you and your work?
My website. http://www.joannaaislinn.com/
My blog. http://joannaaislinn.wordpress.com/
Facebook. (Always looking for new friends there!)
Twitter (I go by FancyWriterLady and am working on getting a little more established with this particular hub of social media!)
No Matter Why: blurb
Trust and stability became empty words the day motherless, sixteen-year-old Carrie Norwell came home to find her brothers murdered. Within moments, her father arrived and his heart gave out at the scene. Five years later, is it any wonder the walls with which she’s barricaded her heart are virtually impenetrable to anyone looking to get close and offer what she wants more than anything? The security only a loving family can give? Or someone with whom to build her own?
Billy Jay Eldridge wants to offer exactly that to the right girl. He’s two years out of college and managing a store at the assistant level. He didn’t count on not synching with the corporate/retail atmosphere and toys daily with the idea of a major career move that promises to make nobler use of his God-given talents. Then shy, quiet Carrie joins his crew. Intrigued and charmed by the girl’s haunted eyes and withdrawn ways he sets out to know her better, clueless that his life’s calling will be the biggest setback to getting her to accept from him what she wants and needs most.
Read an excerpt or two (or three or more)
http://joannaaislinn.wordpress.com/read-an-excerpt/
Thank you Joanna for taking time out from your busy schedule to visit.
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