​Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic' Author's Blog
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​1. Who or what inspired you to become an author?
I have loved books, reading, and writing since I was very young. I was the type of child who read in my spare time whenever possible after chores, homework, and other activities were completed. I used to enjoy writing short poems when I was a middle-grade student. I remember in fifth grade I loved to write book reports for extra credit. I've been a letter writer my whole life, too, since my grandmother and favorite aunts lived in Louisiana and I only saw them every other summer or so. I have some of the letters I originally wrote to my grandma as they were passed along to me when she died in 1992. It is so interesting to read my writings from my elementary school and teen years! It's like being introduced to my younger self as a friend.
 
Many friends and relatives have complimented me over the years on the messages I've written in greetings cards for all occasions. I began writing non-fiction articles for sewing and crafting magazines about ten years ago. I enjoyed writing these articles about sewing events I had attended, sewing trends in the United States, charity sewing organizations, etc.
 
In 2011, I took the leap and began writing in my favorite genre—fiction. I feel like my love of written language naturally led me to want to write my own stories and books.
 
2. When you are not writing, what other "hats" do you wear?
I launched my 'Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic' blog in late January, 2018. I enjoy reading and reviewing middle-grade fiction and non-fiction for my weekly 'Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday' blogging group post. I also enjoy posting about Christian and clean fiction for various publicity companies such as your Singing Librarian Books and JustRead Publicity Tours.
 
I enjoy sewing and quilting. I belong to a quilting group which makes scripture comfort quilts for the church members and their friends and family who are in need of comfort due to health concerns, grief, or other tragic life events. I also sew a lot at home making clothes for myself and my family and making charity quilts for the shelter in county which houses women and children who are fleeing domestic violence.

3. What top 5 books do you currently have on your TBR pile?
As of late December when I am writing this, I have these three books checked out of our local library:

•  'Louisiana's Way Home' by Kate DiCamillo, a middle-grade sequel to a book I read in mid-2018, 'Raymie Nightingale';
  
• 'Her Fear' by Shelley Shepard Gray, Amish fiction
  
• 'Ways of the Heart' by Kathleen Fuller, Amish fiction.
  
• I'm looking forward to reading 'A Christmas Prayer : A Cross-Country Journey in 1850 Leads to High Mountain Danger and Romance' by Wanda E. Brunstetter; 'The Tinderbox' by Beverly Lewis; and several new middle-grade historical novels which will be coming out very soon!
  
• In December, I always reread my favorite Christmas stories such as 'The Story of Holly & Ivy', 'A Christmas Carol', 'Twas the Night Before Christmas', and several other Amish stories I enjoy reading over and over again.

4. What inspired the idea for Handmade Hearts?
My love for my uncle inspired this story . . . My uncle was an interesting, humorous, kind man. He lived in Mississippi, and with me in California, we spent hours on the telephone talking about his military career, wife, and hobbies. He openly adored my aunt, and was still 'crazy nuts' about her after 59-plus years of marriage. One day I asked him how they met. 'Handmade Hearts' is a fictionalized version of the sweet story he shared with me.
 
5. What did you as an author take away from writing Handmade Hearts?
I have always believed in and have been fortunate enough to witness the power of love, but putting it down on paper for others to read was a joy and a challenge. I hope readers can sense even a fraction of the love these two people shared during their life together.
 
I also learned how much fun it can be to write historical fiction! I truly enjoyed my research into the customs and moirés of the World War II era in New Orleans. I interviewed one of my friends who was a child during World War II, and I read as much about it as I could find in books and on the internet. I have always been a history buff since I was a kid, but in the past few years I have discovered that I love to write historical fiction.
 
6. What is your current WIP?  What can you share with us about it?
My current work-in-progress is my debut middle-grade novel. It is an historical novel set in Northern California in the summer of 1968. The title is, 'RES-Q Tyler Stop'. The writing is completed and is now in the hands of my talented editor, Author Cindy C. Bennett. I am planning on releasing it in the spring of 2019, probably in early April. I'm so excited about this book because when I was writing it the words just flowed onto the pages {on my computer, of course}.
 
This book required a lot of research because one of the main themes involves a situation where one student is outspoken and unkind about his racial prejudice against a tribal nation in the Sonoma County area of California. I read many non-fiction books about the Pomo people because I wanted my story to be as accurate, authentic, and sensitive to their plight as possible. Early readers have mentioned that I accomplished my goals.
 
As I have time, I'm working on Book Two in my 'Bonita Creek' trilogy. 'Robin's Reward' was released in spring of 2015. Book Two, 'Penny's Promise', is about Robin's best friend and cousin, Penny. I hope to release this book in late 2019 or early 2020.
 
Penny is a gifted seamstress and designer who has to deal with her own share of grief and challenges in life because of how one of her family members has treated her since she was a teen. This book is fun to write because I love the fictional town of Bonita Creek located in the Mendocino County coastal region of Northern California and I have loved to sew since I was eight years old. Penny and I have the passion for sewing in common! It's exciting to see this story come together.
 
Thank you for having me as your guest today on Singing Librarian Books, Sydney. I appreciate your time! Best wishes to you and your readers for a happy, healthy 2019!

1. What is the inspiration behind your orphan train series?
I have long been fascinated by the era of the Orphan Trains and the heart-wrenching stories of the homeless and helpless young orphans that were taken from eastern cities and shipped west by the dozens. I was familiar with stories of those scared orphans who were placed out in what was thought to be a more wholesome, healthy environment of the newly settled Mid-Western states. Some of the orphans found happy endings and were adopted into loving families. Others experienced great abuse and heartache in their new homes.

While stories of the orphans who rode the trains have been told—and rightly so—the stories of the women who were involved in the movement are not as well known. One of the things I particularly like to do when telling my stories, is focus on women who have been overlooked by the pages of history. I consider it a great privilege to be able to bring forgotten women to life for our modern generation. Thus, throughout this series, I’ll be focusing each book on a different aspect of the Orphan Train movement, particularly from the perspective of women who experienced riding the trains in one form or another.

2. How did you come up with the idea for the third book in the series, Searching For You?
With You Always, the first book in the series, centers around adult women who rode the orphan trains in a special limited placement for homeless and jobless women. The second book, Together Forever, depicts the orphan train experience through the eyes of placing agents who worked for the Children’s Aid Society.

Since the first two books view the orphan train movement from the lenses of grown women, in the third book I wanted to find a way to give the perspective directly from an orphan. However, in my initial planning, I wasn’t quite sure how to pull off an orphan’s view since my heroines are always adults.

As I wrestled through how to accomplish this third perspective, I crafted a young woman who was coming of age and could pose as one of the older orphan train children who were in high demand because of their ability to help contribute to the heavy workloads of families struggling to survive in the farming communities of the Mid-West.

3. Is Searching For You a stand-alone or does it tie in with the other books in the series?
Each of the three books involves one of the Neumann sisters introduced in the free ebook novella, An Awakened Heart. While the novella and the full length novels can be read as a stand-alones, I suggest reading them in order, especially to have a greater appreciation for each sister’s journey as well as to make the third book more meaningful.

4. What special research did you do in writing Searching For You?
I gleaned a great deal of valuable information from a well-researched book, Orphan Trains, by Stephen O’Connor. He paints a vivid picture of what life was like for orphans in the nineteenth century in the immigrant slums of New York City. He says that between twenty to thirty percent of children became orphans before the age of fifteen. That’s roughly one in four children.

A large number of children were considered “half-orphans” because they’d lost one parent and the other wasn’t capable of providing for them adequately. If other relatives couldn’t help, the orphans ended up in asylums or living out on the street taking care of themselves. Asylums, like the Infant’s Hospital on Randall’s Island, typically lost around seventy percent of the children who went to live there due to unsanitary and overcrowded conditions.
Overall, O’Connor’s book with its many stories of orphans and their experiences allowed me to ride the orphan trains with them and feel their fear, anxiety, excitement, and even sorrow.

5. What was the goal of the orphan train movement?
The Children’s Aid Society hoped to make a difference in the lives of children through what was called its “Emigration Plan” which is now known as the orphan train movement. Similar to the indenture system that had been used since the founding of the nation, the Emigration Plan sought to reform poor children by placing them in respectable homes where they would be influenced by godly Christian parents.

In exchange for a home and basic necessities, the children were expected to contribute to the family. Charles Loring Brace, the founder of the Children’s Aid Society, idealized country families, believing that the best homes were found in rural areas. He said, “The cultivators of the soil are in America our most solid and intelligent class.” Thus, the Emigration Plan worked relentlessly to take children away from the “evil” vices of the city and place them in the more wholesome influences of the country.

6. What challenges did you face in writing this particular story?
The placements weren’t always as ideal as the Children’s Aid Society hoped. I attempted to portray a variety of types of placement, giving light to both the positive and negative situations the children faced. During my research, I found numerous stories of real children who rode the trains, were adopted into loving families, and grew up to appreciate their new homes and lives. I also read just as many tragic stories of children who didn’t fare well, were placed in multiple homes, were abused, and struggled to find fulfillment for the rest of their lives.
​
7. What do you hope readers take away from Searching For You?
I hope that readers gain a greater awareness of just how difficult a time the nineteenth century was for so many of our nation’s children. I also hope readers gain an appreciation for the many families who opened their homes and hearts to homeless children. May their example inspire us to do likewise.

1. What essential ingredients do you strive for in your novels to ensure an authentic love story emerges?
I always try to incorporate the elements that I like to see in the romances I read. That includes deep emotions that are birthed out of a character's past. I also like to have a relationship that evolves organically throughout the book. I try not to have my characters being antagonistic to one another the whole book and then finally falling in love in the last chapter at the last minute. I want the couple to move from friendship to falling in love gradually and to have a growing attraction (with the sparks flying!) throughout the book.

At the same time, however, I don't like to have the love relationship resolve too early in the book. Readers don't want the "happily-ever-after" moment to come until the end. So while the relationship is developing, it's important to find ways to keep the couple from being fully together until the end.

2. What advice would you give to writing moms who are have their hearts set on publication?
It is possible to juggle being a mom and writing. It’s NOT easy, but it is possible! If we set aside a little bit of time to write every day and make ourselves just sit down and do it, then before we know it we’ll have completed the first chapter, then the first half of the book, and finally we’ll have a finished book in front of us.

My encouragement is to keep writing (and learning about writing!). Don’t stop with the first book. Move on to the next one. And the next one after that. It takes time to not only develop our writing skill but to also find our break-in book.

3. What do you think is the most important quality it takes to be a successful author?
One of the key qualities in becoming a successful author is learning to be an enthralling and captivating storyteller. Writers can (and should!) work on improving their techniques—how to write good dialog, how to write tightly, how to develop their characters, etc.
 
But first and foremost, I think readers are looking for stories that blow them away. At least as a reader, that’s what I long for!

4. Is there something you tell yourself before writing?
Usually I tell myself to sit down, put my hands to the keyboard, and get to work. I don't wait for inspiration or magical fairy dust to hit me before writing. I just do it. Every day.

But I also always ask myself, what could make this story better? How can I increase the tension? How can add more excitement? What can I do to make my characters more likeable? I'm constantly challenging myself to make my story more vibrant and alive.

5.  Searching For You is the fourth book you’ve released in 2018. How do you find time to write so many books?
Yes this year I’ve released FOUR books: two medieval young adult novels, A Loyal Heart and A Worthy Rebel, AND two orphan train novels, Together Forever and Searching For You.

In order to write four books a year, I plot out my writing schedule at the beginning of the year so that I know how much time I need to budget in for each book (including the first draft as well as editing). Once I have the overall schedule, then I figure out how many words to write every week in order to stay on track.

6. If you had a whole day to relax (and anything is possible!) what would you do?
READ!! I absolutely love reading! When I find a really good book, I have a hard time tearing myself away from it to get to sleep.

7.  What are you working on next?
I’m in the editing phase of the first book of a brand new series, A Reluctant Bride, which releases in June of 2019 (next summer). The series is inspired by several bride-ships that left England in the early 1860s and sailed to British Columbia in Canada where there was a shortage of women. When the first bride-ship arrived in Vancouver, hundreds of men lined the shores to greet them and be the first to find a bride.

As I was researching this fascinating era, questions kept surfacing. What kind of woman would join a bride-ship? Why would these women leave everything they knew to sail halfway around the world for the purpose of becoming brides to men they didn’t know? I hope you’ll join me in exploring the answers to these question as I delve into my new series.

 8. Do you have any parting words?
I love hearing from readers! Make sure you stop by one of these places and say hello!
I hang out on Facebook here: Author Jody Hedlund
I also love to chat on Twitter: @JodyHedlund
My home base is at my website: jodyhedlund.com
Find me on Instagram: instagram.com/jodyhedlund/
Come pin with me on Pinterest: pinterest.com/jodyhedlund/pins/

1. What is your favorite dessert?
Uh, can I just say dessert? Because I could live off them, I think. No? Okay, probably ice cream—really good ice cream. I’m pretty obsessed right now with making homemade ice cream in really great flavors—circus animal, mint cookie…mmmm. I also love pie. And cheesecake. Okay, this could go on forever.

2. What is your beverage of choice?
Dr. Pepper with a splash of cream and cherry. I’m a mixed (non-alcoholic) drink kinda girl! Love.

3. What is your favorite movie and/or TV show?
The first few seasons of Castle were AMAZING. Love Bones too. Right now, This Is Us. Movie: I could watch Leap Year over and over and over.

4. Where is your favorite place to go on holiday?
Anywhere with a beach and warm weather.

1. Who or what inspired you to become an author?
I don’t know that I could say. I’ve been writing since I was little. In high school, I used to keep these long files of ridiculous serial stories. I had always dreamed of being published. When my second child was a baby, I decided if I wanted to get published, I’d better get serious about it. He was six when “Playing For Keeps” was published.

2. What did you want to be when you grew up? Did becoming an author ever cross your mind?
See above. ;)

3. Who are some of your favorite authors?  Do these authors inspire your own writing?
I loved Nancy Drew and Mary Higgins Clark growing up and thought I was a mystery writer. But I’m not. I love Melanie Jacobson, Jenny Proctor, and Sarah M. Eden, and am lucky enough to know them in real life too, so they definitely inspire my writing and have gotten fantastic advice from them. I also love Kasie West, and—oh my goodness—so many. 

4. When you are not writing, what other "hats" do you wear?
I do the mom and wife thing. I also own a small, online boutique that sells women’s clothing (which is because I have an addiction to buying clothes). I’m also the 2019 Co-Chair for the Storymakers Conference.

1. What inspired the idea for Meant for You?
I was listening to a Brad Paisley song, and I’m not even sure of the title now, but the gist of it was that the most important thing the man had done in his life was to love his wife. It made sense to spin that into DJ’s story. He had these friends who did amazing things—pro football and baseball—and it would make sense for him to feel a bit lost as to what he should do. That led to figuring out who Chelsea was and what she needed and why she’d need DJ.

2. What did you as an author take away from writing Meant for You?
When DJ and Chelsea are struggling the most, they find out that helping each other is what lifts them both up. I love that thought and that motivation of together we both rise.

3. What is your current WIP?  What can you tell us about this project?
I just submitted a historical romance, working title “An Independent Heiress,” so I’ll be waiting to hear about that. I just finished two short drafts (I always write super short and fast, but then spend months editing and adding words. Not sure it’s efficient but…that’s how my brain works.)—one about a country singer determined to win back the girl he left behind to follow his dreams; the other is about a girl who’s cancer relapses and she struggles to accept the budding relationship she has when an old friend comes back into her life. That one is super close to my heart—my brother had cancer, and I wanted to explore the family emotions behind that. BUT I also wanted to keep the humor in it so it’s not too heavy because that’s not really what I do. It was a challenge, and I have some scenes that definitely need help, lol. Those among a bunch of other projects. I like to collect them.​

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​1. Who are some of your favorite Regency authors? Do these authors inspire your own writing?
I love Jen Geigle Johnson, Sarah Eden, Jennifer Moore, Elizabeth Johns… And I am constantly meeting more lovely writers who love the same ears I do! I am inspired by so many authors, but in my time period and outside of it! The best inspiration of all, though, has to be Jane Austen.

2. If you could go to tea with one of your characters, who would you go with and why?
Oh, I think I would want to go to tea with Charlotte Wright. She doesn’t hold anything back, and I bet she has some fantastic stories!

3. What inspired the idea for The Spinster and I?
I had created a group of spinsters that had gotten to that point in their lives for different reasons. This particular story starred a girl who was painfully shy and wanted nothing more than to remain unnoticed by the world, and I wanted someone to notice her in a way that would actually work for her. He just so happens to be the most unlikely candidate, which makes it so deliciously fun!

4. What did you as an author take away from writing The Spinster and I?
I think the biggest thing I took away was that we need to look beneath the surface in everyone. There is so much more to a person than what we can see.
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5. What is your current WIP?  What can you tell us about it?
My current WIP is part of the Spinster Chronicles series, and I can tell you that it is a VERY interesting pairing, and it is set at Christmas!

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1. What top 5 books do you currently have on your TBR pile?
I recently read Making Faces by Amy Harmon, and ALL of her books are now on my TBR pile.

2. If you could travel anywhere in the world for book research (expense covered for you by an anonymous donor), where would you go and why?
I would go to England! I've been dreaming of traveling there ever since I wrote my first book. To see the places I wrote about and to be inspired by new places would be so much fun. Ireland is another place I've always wanted to go to. I think it could definitely spark some book ideas. 

3. If you could go to tea from one of your characters from A Convenient Engagement, who would it be and why?
I would have to choose Aunt Margaret. She is my heroine's aunt that travels to Brighton with her. She was such a fun character to get to know. She's spunky, funny, and really kind-hearted. 

4. What inspired the idea for A Convenient Engagement?
I was researching online and came across a strange practice that took place in Brighton. The waters were believed to hold a cure for certain ailments. The town employed 'dippers,' people that would stand out in the ocean and repeatedly dunk visitors under the water to 'heal' them. I thought it was so interesting! In the book, one of the characters is drawn to Brighton with hopes of being healed by the waters. The rest of the story developed from that initial idea. 

5. What did you as an author take away from writing A Convenient Engagement?
My books always carry a similar theme: Love conquers all. This story taught me a lot about friendship and courage as well. 

6. What is your current WIP?  What can you share with us about it?
I'm working on the second book in my Brides of Brighton series. You will see characters from A Convenient Engagement, but each story in the series will stand alone. Book 2 is titled Marrying Miss Milton and will release at the end of November!

Pepper Basham is an award-winning author who writes historical and contemporary romance novels with grace, humor, and culture clashes. She’s a Blue Ridge Mountain native and an anglophile who enjoys combining her two loves to create memorable stories of hope. Pepper is also a mom of five, a speech-language pathologist, and a lover of Jesus and chocolate. She resides in Asheville, North Carolina with her family.

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1. What top 5 books do you currently have on your TBR pile?
It’s been VERY tough to read since the beginning of the school year starting in August, so I have the SAME books on my TBR pile that I’ve had for a few months. A Name Unknown by Roseanna White, Impossible Saints by Clarissa Harwood, The Lacemaker by Laura Frantz, The Last Castle by Denise Keirnan, and The Prodigal God by Timothy Keller.
 
2. If you could travel anywhere in the world for book research (expense covered for you by an anonymous donor), where would you go and why?
Always the UK! I have this fascination and heart-love for that part of the world, AND since I love placing my books there, I’d love to stay for a while and really absorb the culture.
 
3. What inspired the idea for When You Look at Me?
I wondered what it would take, what sort of love, to help a broken woman heal. And as I brainstormed the possibilities, the whole idea of including two introverts who connect and communicate through music came to mind. Hopefully that will come across. 😊
 
4. What did you as an author take away from writing When you look at Me?
I love this question! It seems that God always has me writing books at just the time I need to learn something myself. This book is about being brave and stepping out into your dreams. There are some transitions going on in our family right now, and in my writing world, so it’s been a reminder that God dreams bigger for us than we can dream on our own – that His love is MASSIVE and POURED out on us – so we can trust His plan for our lives. His dreams for us.
 
5. What did your writing process for When You Look at Me look like?
Frantic? 😊 I write out of order so my process is kind of wonky. I had a few scenes in the middle written before I even had chapter two – and…it’s really important (as weird as it sounds) for me to write the kissing scene pretty early on in the process to know that ‘connection’ between them.
 
6. What is your current WIP?  What can you tell us about it?
I’m diving into a wonderful novella that takes place in 1913 Asheville, NC, particularly the Biltmore Estate. It’s an upstairs-downstairs romance with a little Cinderella-touch. ​

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​1. Who or what inspired you to become an author?
I’ve always been a writer. It has just always been something I do. From my first short story at the age of 7, I’ve been writing stories. But it was my friend Kelly Blewett who convinced me I could be an author. We were co-workers about ten years ago, and one day I told her about this story idea I had. But then I said, “I’ll never finish it.” She said, “Yes, you will.” And so she proceeded to ask me every day if I’d written the night before. I got tired of telling her that I hadn’t, so I set up a calendar and set about writing my book. I finished that book in three months, and it became my first published novel, The Kidnapping of Kenzie Thorn, in 2009. I was so gratefully for Kelly’s support and help that I featured her puppy Henry in the book, and I’ll be forever grateful for her encouragement.

2. What top 5 books do you currently have on your TBR pile?
I want to read all the books! It’s so hard to narrow it down to only five, but the ones I’m most excited to pick up are:
The Story of With by Allen Arnold – A book about learning to create with the Creator
Sons of Blackbird Mountain by Joanne Bischoff – Because Joanne.
More Than Meets the Eye by Karen Witemeyer – Because I love her books. They’re so fun yet filled with deep truths.
Once Upon a Laugh – This might be cheating because there are 8 novellas in this contemporary rom com collection, but with so many great authors like Pepper Basham, Jessica Patch, and Betsy St. Amant, how could I not love it?
Matchmaking for Beginners by Maddie Dawson – I’ve heard wonderful things about this general market contemporary romance novel, so I’m so excited to get to dive into it.
 
3. What inspired the idea for A Sparkle of Silver?
A trip to Hearst Castle with my dad in 2010. It was his idea to tour the grand estate, but when we got there, my writer brain ate it up. It was such a fascinating place, and I immediately dreamed up an idea about a woman who played one of the period actors at a similar house.

4. What did you as an author take away from writing A Sparkle of Silver?
Every book I write is a reminder to myself that God is with me. I’d never get through a whole book without Him lifting me up and carrying me through, and He is so faithful. If I ever doubt, I need only look back at my writing seasons and to see that He is with me.

5. What is your current WIP?  What can you tell us about it?
I just finished writing A Glitter of Gold, book two in the Georgia Coast Romance series. It’ll release sometime next summer—probably August—and involves a shipwreck, a two hundred and fifty year old journal, and a woman who gives pirate tours in Savannah for a living. I adored writing it, especially the journal sections set in 1759, and soon I’ll get to work on the editing phases.

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1. What do you like to snack on when you write?
You mean what do I really want to snack on or what do I grab instead that I know is healthier? *grin* What I really like is caramel M&Ms. What I usually eat is nuts or string cheese.

2. What book have you read recently?  Would you recommend it?
I’m currently in the middle of the newest book in Tamara Leigh’s Age of Faith series. I would recommend all of her books. She has an expressive way with words and plots that keep you flipping pages. And who doesn’t love knights, ladies, and castles?

3. What did the writing process for Eternity Between Us look like?
This book ended up taking much longer than my books usually do, and I found myself not really knowing what the core of my heroine’s issues were until *gasp* I was doing final edits. That was pretty stressful. I’ve never done that much of a rewrite (deleting scenes and reworking others) so close to publication, but I think the story is stronger for it.

I started playing with the idea of this book back in April of 2017. I finished writing it that November. Then it got put aside as I finished up the two novellas I was trying to get out, and after a string of other little difficulties, was finally ready to turn in at the end of September. I’m thankful I had what I thought was a lot of extra time built into this schedule, because I ended up needing every day of it.

4. What inspired the idea for Eternity Between Us?
This story is heavily inspired by the first-hand Civil War accounts of Belle Boyd, Rose O’Neal Greenhow, and Louisa May Alcott. I took their tales and personal opinions and weaved them into my plot, drawing inspiration from the lives of women who lived in that era.

5. What did you as an author take away from writing Eternity Between Us?
Every book I feel like I learn something, and somehow, end up working through some of my own hang-ups in the process. In this book Evelyn really struggles with feeling like she doesn’t belong and goes lengths for people to like her. As I’ve often struggled with feeling out of place myself, I had to take the journey right along with her. But isn’t God great in that he uses the circumstances of our lives, or even made up characters, to teach us to continually rely on him more?

6. What is your current WIP?  What can you tell us about it?
I currently have two projects underway. The first is the third book in my Ironwood series, featuring the daughters of the two main characters in The Whistle Walk. The second is a turn of the century story set at a horse farm in Mississippi. 

Joanna Davidson Politano freelances for a small nonfiction publisher but spends much of her time spinning tales that capture the colorful, exquisite details in ordinary lives. Her manuscript for Lady Jayne Disappears was a finalist for several contests, including the 2016 Genesis Award from ACFW, and won the OCW Cascade Award and the Maggie Award for Excellence. She is always on the hunt for random acts of kindness, people willing to share their deepest secrets with a stranger, and hidden stashes of sweets. She lives with her husband and their two babies in a house in the woods near Lake Michigan and shares stories that move her at https://jdpstories.com/​. 

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1. If you could travel anywhere in the world for book research (expense covered for you by an anonymous donor), where would you go and why?
Italy! I've always wanted to set a book there and visit, too. My husband's family is from Italy and it seems so rich and beautiful there, full of family and life. Although, I definitely wouldn't turn down a trip to Scotland or England!

2. What does a "day in the life of Joanna Politano" look like?
Lots of little socks on the floor, smears on the table, and muddy footprints. My life is full--in a good way. I'm a stay-at-home mom with a writing hobby on the side, so most of my day is full of muddy, bug-filled, tree-climbing adventures with my kiddos. Before my kids are up I saturate myself in God's presence, and that's a necessary part of my day. Then the kids and I are up and singing songs, like "this is the day," and we have tons of fun together with interesting talks and inspired tea parties. After lunch comes naptime and when I tuck my babies in bed, I curl up on the couch and fall down my little rabbit hole into a story world. I pack as much writing as i can into naptimes, then I get sucked back up to reality when the kids wake up. We have family time when my husband comes home, then when the kids are tucked in bed again, it's back to writing, often while sitting beside my husband. 

3.How did you decide that you wanted to write historical/mystery novels?
I write the type of books I like to read, so when I was infatuated with Daphne Du Maurier, Martha Grimes, Wilkie Collins and others, I guess that's just naturally what came out of my brain! It's hard for me to write a book without a mystery thread, because I'm not sure what else will pull me back to the story every day. If I'm not pulled in, I certainly don't expect readers to be, either!

4. What did your writing process look like for A Rumored Fortune?
Honestly, this one was more frustrating and wheel-spinning than other books. I had to understand how to live well outside of writing in order to write well, and with a newborn and two year old on top of a contract, that was hard to do. Sleep wasn't happening, and creativity felt scarce. As I wrote about branches connecting to the vine as their source of life and a heroine connecting to her true vine, I found my way back to the life source I truly needed and quenched my heart. I started this book by researching vineyards, both in practical terms and in Scripture. I looked carefully at how it fit together and how the practical study peeled back the layers of the Biblical parables concerning vines. I based my story journey around that research, and wrote a (very bad) first draft. I then sent it off to my first reader who totally upended the plot and made me change direction and rewrite about 80% of it. This process felt like the necessary pruning vines undergo, removing useful and good things to make what's left more effective. It took a lot of work, but the story finally came together!

5. What inspired the idea for A Rumored Fortune?
This book is actually the combination of two true life stories--a family friend's missing treasure story, and my own personal love story. I wove them together because they had a connection in real life, too. 

6. What did you as an author take away from writing A Rumored Fortune?
This book brought me much precious time with God, untangling the truths concerning vines in Scripture, then battling to get this story to lay flat on the page and cooperate. It was a battle, but I ended up with more than a completed book. I gained intimacy with God that has rippled onto my entire life.

7. What is your curent WIP?  What can you tell us about it?
My next book coming up, which is just now turned into my editor, is about a rag girl who stands in as a replacement for a wealthy lady, and comes to find out the scary truth about the woman she's impersonating. There's a really fun book-based romance in there too, with a couple who leaves secret messages for each other through books. That was immensely fun to write--well, this whole story was--and I can't wait to share it with readers next summer!

Joanna Davidson Politano freelances for a small nonfiction publisher but spends much of her time spinning tales that capture the colorful, exquisite details in ordinary lives. Her manuscript for Lady Jayne Disappears was a finalist for several contests, including the 2016 Genesis Award from ACFW, and won the OCW Cascade Award and the Maggie Award for Excellence. She is always on the hunt for random acts of kindness, people willing to share their deepest secrets with a stranger, and hidden stashes of sweets. She lives with her husband and their two babies in a house in the woods near Lake Michigan and shares stories that move her at https://jdpstories.com/​. 

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1. What is your favorite dessert?
That's like asking me to pick a favorite book! Oh my, can I say all of them? Alllll the desserts! I have a terrible sweet tooth that I regularly indulge :)

2. What is your beverage of choice?
Ok now my oddities come out--Pink grapefruit juice! It's my guilty pleasure :) 

3. What is your favorite movie and/or TV show?
Ooh, Charade! I love, love, love how that movie constantly surprised me. I also loved several movies based on classic books--Our Mutual friend, A Good Woman (Lady Windemere's Fan), and Little Dorritt. I could watch those over and over!

4. Where is your favorite place to go on holiday?
Anywhere my husband is <3  We went to Scotland on our honeymoon, and I'd go there again in a heartbeat. Anywhere we can explore old ruins and beautiful countryside.

1. Who or what inspired you to become an author?
Actually, I think it was just my addiction to stories in general. Movies, books, personal anecdotes and backstories... it all drew me. I just love to sit down with someone I know (or THINK I know) and hear their story, seeing new layers open like flower petals. 

2. What did you want to be when you grew up? Did becoming an author ever cross your mind?
I think my childhood ambitions ran the gamut from lawyer to Biblical counselor. Now I get to write stories and stay home to play with my babies. Turns out that "growing up" looks a lot like childhood, so I'm not sure I ever really grew up :) 

3. Who are some of your favorite authors?  Do these authors inspire your own writing?
Oh so many! I love everything written by Kristy Cambron, Lori Benton, Joanne Bischof, and the Thoenes. Reading their stories make me so excited for books and imaginary tales and weaving word pictures. 

4. When you are not writing, what other activities do you enjoy?
I love playing with my kiddos more than anything, and they're my "day job" so I do a lot of that! We climb trees and play trucks on the floor and have long, involved games of pretend. I also love playing the piano and singing praise music at the top of my lungs with them. Outside of that, I have a great group of friends I love being around.

1. This is your debute novel and you are publishing with Revell.  Who helps represent you and your books and how did you become involved with Revell?
Yes, Revell has blown me away! I've loved writing for them and I'm proud to be one of their authors. They are gracious and talented and lots of fun. I'm represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube agency, and I owe my involvment with Revell to her. She made the connection and showed them my proposal and worked out all the details. 

2. What inspired the idea for Lady Jayne Disappears?
Well, a combination of things. First, I ran across a brief story about the three Bronte sisters approaching their publisher to inform him that they were the famous Bell brother writers (their pen names) and it took a while to convince him that these shy girls were those famous "male" authors. I loved that image! Second, I remembered writing stories anonymously as a kid and having them get passed around the class without anyone knowing who wrote them. I wrote about the people in my class and had a lot of fun giving the shy, overlooked kids superpowers and putting bullies in their place. So out of those things came a story about a girl who published stories about her family under a pen name and caused a lot of chaos in the household. 

3. What do you want readers to take away from reading Lady Jayne Disappears?
I want them to take an eternal perspective on their purpose, their life journey, and even their identity. My hope is also that people will start to shift their focus off of what people think of them and more onto what God is asking of them, and who God defined them to be. We will always notice what people think of us, but that should be in our peripheral vision, with God looming much larger in our sights than the opinions of others. God should be the "finish line" we're staring at as we work and serve and live, nothing else.