Author Interview with Joan Sowards

 

Today my guest author is Joan Sowards, author of Haunts Haven, Chocolate Roses, and her newest novel, The Star Prophecy.

Welcome, Joan. Please tell is a little about your new book.

Joan: The Star Prophecy is about Nephite young men who set sail to Jerusalem to find the Christ Child.

When my daughter Kristy gave me the premise for this novel, I felt electrifying tingles come over me, the ideas began to flow and I wrote the first draft in three months--an incredible experience!The main character, whose quest it is to find the infant Messiah, is named Enoch after my nephew, a beautiful, bright child, who passed away at the age of four.

Q: When did you start to write and how long did it take you get published?

I have been writing novels for over fifteen years. A friend invited me to ANWA (The American Night Writers Association.) I've learned so much about writing through ANWA.

Kerry Blair lived in my neighborhood back then. She'd edit my chapters and I tried to learn the rules behind her changes. I learned a lot from her, too. (During that time, she wrote her own first novel and sent it to Covenant Publishing. They excepted it within two weeks.) Gotta love her! 

Q: How did you break into publishing?

I admit it was luck. I was in the right place at the right time. An editor suggested I send Walnut Springs Press my novel The Star Prophecy--so I did. I pestered editor Linda Prince every few months asking if she had read it. After the eight month, she asked if I had an LDS romance and that she needed one right away. I sent Haunts Haven and she liked it! Chocolate Roses was published next. I was surprised when WSP came back and said they were ready to publish the Star Prophecy since it had been two years since I submitted it.

Q: What inspired you to write romance?

I think every story needs romance, if not just a touch of it. The Star Prophecy is not a romance, but it has just enough to keep me happy.

Q: What genre or sub-genre do you write? Why did you choose this genre?

The Star Prophecy begins its tale in the land of the Nephites. Haunts Haven is a paranormal mystery romance, Chocolate Roses is pure romance with a Jane Eyre parallel. I haven't been able to get away from the LDS genre, I guess, because it is so ingrained in me.

Q: What are you working on now?

I'm writing a story about a recent ASU college grad who takes a summer journalist job in a seaside village in Oregon. The working title is Clairvoyance.  I love the characters.

 

Q: Do you write with music playing? If so, is the music likely to be songs with lyrics or only instrumentals?

I have too much music going on in my head as it is, so I have to have it quiet so I can think above it.

Q: What has surprised you about being a published author?

As soon as Haunts Haven hit the stores, I was expected to promote it and myself. I've never felt comfortable with that.

Q: What do you like to do when you aren't writing?

I'm a family history addict. I love to sew, and write music (http://joansowards.com/) My adorable grandchildren take a lot of my time, and I love being with my husband.

Q: What one thing do you like most about writing? Least?

I love crafting the story, plotting, writing subplots.

Least? The final editing process can be exhausting, but I'm grateful for my editor!

Q: What was the most usual way you came up with a story idea? What made you to think, ‘hey, I could make that into a story?’

My daughter came home from Institute class with the premise for The Star Prophecy. I loved it! It is about Nephite young men setting sail to find the Christ Child.

Several years ago, Jeni Grossman taught a class at an ANWA conference and handed out feature newspaper articles with big photos and told us to ask ourselves "What if…" I got an article about haunted inns of Southern Arizona and asked myself, "What if a young woman inherited one of these inns, not knowing it was haunted?" Haunts Haven blossomed from there.

I wanted to write a modern Jane Eyre tale, and after a lot of thought, I wrote Chocolate Roses.

Q: I LOVE the story of Jane Eyre! so, tell me, what is your all time favorite book?

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier lit my fire in my teen years. 

Q: What advice would you give aspiring writers today?

Don't give up. Be ready for when you are "in the right place at the right time." Learn the craft of writing and be open for critiquing. There's a lot to be learned from other writers.

And the power round:

Favorite food? Mexican

Favorite dessert? Anything chocolate

Jeans and  T-shirt, or designer clothes? Jeans. But I believe in dressing up for church.

Guilty pleasure? Ice Cream.

Favorite flower? Roses

Q: Where can we purchase your novels?

At LDS bookstores and on Amazon.

Donna: You can also read my 4 star review of Joan's book on Amazon here.

The Star Prophecy

http://www.amazon.com/Star-Prophecy-Joan-Sowards/dp/1935217879?ie=UTF8&tag=notentibrit-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969

Chocolate Roses

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=Chocolate+Roses+Sowards&x=16&y=22

Haunts Haven

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=Haunts+Haven+Sowards&x=20&y=19

Q: Thank you for the Interview.

Thank you!

My blog is http://joansowards.blogspot.com/

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