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| Joanne Bischof and her adorable baby in front of the Waterbrook/Multnomah headquarters |
Proving author video blogs are an effective way to connect, I have to say the first time I saw Joanne Bischof’s vlog on how she researches her novels, I felt like I’d met her in person! Check out her vlog here: http://www.joannebischof.com/vlog-making-of-be-still-my-soul/.
Joanne’s Appalachian-set romance, Be Still My Soul, releases October 2nd, which happens to fall on her eighth wedding anniversary! How romantic is that? (The anniversary gift every author wants, eh?)
Before we plunge into this helpful and heartfelt interview with Joanne, let it be said that she’s planning to give away an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) of Be Still My Soul to one lucky commenter! So please comment below for a chance to win. And hey, if you like this interview, go ahead and sign up to follow Joanne’s blog: http://www.joannebischof.com/blog/, and hopefully mine, too!
I loved interviewing Joanne and getting the inside scoop on getting published. Here’s a little more info on Joanne:
Married to her first sweetheart, Joanne lives in the mountains of Southern California where she keeps busy making messes with their home schooled children. When she’s not weaving Appalachian romance, she’s blogging about faith, writing, and the adventures of country living that bring her stories to life.
Here we go!
HG: Joanne, you write Appalachian fiction. Why was the mountain setting important to the story in Be Still My Soul?
JB: When I first began writing historical fiction I started out with a prairie setting. It’s a wonderful place for a story to occur, but I think I had chosen it because that’s what I had often read. I wrote an entire manuscript and started a few others here. Nothing seemed to sink into my soul, though. It wasn’t until I had moved to the mountains, that it became the only place I could imagine Lonnie and Gideon’s story taking place. I chose Appalachia and it just stuck. There is something about the mountains that fits me like a glove. One of my favorite quotes is from Annie Dillard:
“Mountains are giant, restful, absorbent. You can heave your spirit into a mountain, and the mountain will keep it, folded…”
It’s a special bond. I know you share this same fondness. 🙂
HG: Was there a specific inspiration for your main characters, Lonnie and Gideon, both of whom had dysfunctional families to some degree? And by the way, is Lonnie a nickname? I kept wondering about that!
JB: Haha, Lonnie is actually her real name. For historical fiction, I always strive to find a name that would have been around in a particular time or place. For this series, I took it one step further and researched names specific to the Appalachian region. When I stumbled upon the name, Lonnie, I knew it was the perfect name for my heroine.
And this is a great question, Heather. I really wanted to bring forward a love story between two very mismatched people. I wanted to see if a love story could blossom from a relationship where all hope seemed lost. My favorite thing to write about is redemption. I love to take people like Gideon who are unlikely heroes and show their growth throughout the story. I hope readers will be reminded that hope is never lost, change can always happen, and that happy endings aren’t just for fairy tales.
HG: I love how candid you are about your writing journey. How did you land your agent (Sandra Bishop of McGregor Literary), querying or conference?
JB: I actually sent Sandra a dry query and it was a really funny story on how everything came about. At the time, I didn’t think it would be possible to get an agent. Here I had this story that was a little bit different from your usual inspirational romances (that’s code for saying I was just downright crazy to write a book about a scoundrel and hope that he could be redeemed) ;). I doubted that anyone would want to take a risk on a project like mine. Sandra showed interest and it was a doubly exciting thing because at the time, she was the ACFW agent of the year, so I was stunned. Pleasantly stunned! A while later, we were both looking at a three book contract from WaterBrook Multnomah. It was an absolute dream come true.
HG: Your publisher (Waterbrook/Multnomah) seems stellar. In fact, they just had a writers retreat for their authors! Here’s a pic of their staff:
What can authors do to maintain a great relationship with their publisher?
JB: Ooh, this is a good question. I hope I have a good relationship with my publisher! Shannon? Amy? Crickets chirping? Just kidding.
Honestly, it’s a unique feeling when a writer gets to this point–the point when a publishing house picks up their story–essentially their baby–and is ready to publish it. There is a lot of input at this point and the project becomes a bit of a collaboration. I absolutely love it. Whether it’s during edits, cover design, or marketing, I’m constantly floored by their attention to detail and how considerate they are of my vision and passion for this story. They send me a very detailed questionnaire so they can have a really thorough grasp of what I’ve put into this story and hope to accomplish. When I got to visit WaterBrook Multnomah last month, talking to the folks who work behind the scenes and hearing them talk about Be Still My Soul and these characters and how it impacted them and excites them, was so surreal. They really have their hearts in the fiction they publish. It’s a huge blessing.
The best thing I could say is to know your book and your story so that you can get it across to your publishing team-who REALLY want to know your story too! And at the same time, be fluid and open about aspects of the story that can be flexible. I’ve made changes during the editing process thanks to the advice of my fabulous editors and those ideas became some of my favorite moments in Be Still My Soul. Being open and realizing that it’s a collaboration has really made this a great experience.
HG: How long was the process of getting Be Still My Soul published, from rough draft to the final product?
JB: It was a loooong process. I’ve been working on this story for about 7 years now. The funny thing is that I pitched this same story to my editor at WaterBrook Multnomah about 5 or 6 years ago. The story wasn’t ready and I most definitely wasn’t ready. So while the “no” was a disappointment, it was also an opportunity to regroup, learn all I could about the craft and keep taking baby steps forward. It’s easy to get discouraged in this business when there are a lot of no’s. But stick with it. Learn and write like crazy. I never would have guessed that even though the door seemed closed at that conference, that all these years later it would end up being a wide open “yes”!
HG: I know you have small children. How do you make time for writing/editing and blogging?
JB: It’s not always easy. I have 3 kids which I homeschool so life is busy, busy. I write during nap time and my five year old sits on the floor playing quietly with legos. I get a lot done then and also I write when my family is asleep. Whether it’s midnight or four in the morning, I can be found on my couch, with my laptop, Pandora, and a cup of tea. It sounds rough but I actually love it. I would so much rather be up in the wee hours of the night working on a novel that I’m passionate about and that my publishing house is excited about, than doing just about anything else.
HG: Is there a book two coming out soon? If so, will Lonnie and Gideon still be our main characters?
JB: Yes! I am so excited to say that the second book in the Cadence of Grace series will be coming out in the spring of 2013. It’s called Though My Heart is Torn and follows Lonnie and Gideon on the next stage of their journey…which includes a surprise twist that’s going to have readers flipping back to the first pages of Be Still My Soul.
Thanks so much, Joanne! So glad we’ll get to know Lonnie and Gideon more! And thanks for the ARC giveaway! Here’s a little about BE STILL MY SOUL.
Pretty Lonnie Sawyer is shy and innocent, used to fading into the background within her family, and among the creeks and hollows of the Appalachian hills. Though her family is poor and her father abusive, she clings to a quiet faith. But when handsome ladies’ man and bluegrass musician Gideon O’Riley steals a kiss, that one action seals her fate.
Her father forces her into a hasty marriage with Gideon—a man she barely knows and does not love. Equally frustrated and confused by his new responsibilities, Gideon yearns for a fresh start, forcing Lonnie on an arduous journey away from her home in Rocky Knob.
Her distant groom can’t seem to surrender his rage at the injustice of the forced matrimony or give Lonnie any claim in his life. What will it take for Gideon to give up his past, embrace Lonnie’s God, and discover a hope that can heal their two fractured hearts?
****This interview was such an encouraging blessing to me, just like Joanne! Please comment below with any questions or comments for Joanne for a chance to win the ARC of BE STILL MY SOUL!****
AND once again, I forgot to say when I’ll pick the winner! This coming Monday, Sept. 25th! So tune in then. Thanks, all!
Yay! Loved getting to know you ahead of time, Joanne! (Heather – I get to attend Joanne's Book Release party next month!) I always appreciate hearing authors' stories about their path to publication – it is encouraging and motivating to others of us who are on that same road.Home-schooling. Yes. I wouldn't trade it in, but I struggle with that balance. I'm always up in the wee hours, too. In fact, it's 1 a.m. now and I'm just getting started. Which is why I'm the first to comment here today! Ha!Blessings to you both and friendly hugs, too!
Thank you Heather for such a fun interview! I loved your questions. I'm excited to see whats going to happen in the next step of your own writing journey.I'm so excited for Becky to come up for the launch party. It's going to be such a fun day and I've got all sorts of little things in the works to make it special for everyone taking the time to drop everything and while away with us.
Hi Heather,Nice to "meet" you. I always enjoy meeting other new authors in the process. Thanks for a fun interview with Joanne. I've had the joy of seeing bits of Be Still My Soul through our critique group and am so glad to hear some of the blanks filled in. 🙂 Been a long time waiting to see what turn Lonnie & Gideon's journey took. I'm also grateful to hear how Joanne's journey progressed. You asked many of the same questions I wanted to ask her at the book release party. We can all use the encouragement, inspiration, and new insights.May God bless you both as you write for Him.Mary Kay
Oooh, Appalachian romance–my cup of tea! Can't wait to read this.
Loves this interview. Been a reader all my life, but just now diving into romance. This one sounds like a must read!
Yes, I love Joanne's fresh new voice. We need more Appalachian settings in books! Thank you all for stopping by!
It might easiest just to give me the book now and save everyone the trouble and envy that will surely follow.This book looks good!!!!
And see? Not a single reference to Magua…oh…wellllll we blew that one, didn't we?
Jennifer–I have the book! I'll put that on my list of books to send to you! But I'll enter you in this contest as well.
Hi ladies! Such a pleasure reading your comments!Sarah, it sounds like we have a thing or two in common! ;)Jennifer, You are a hoot. I love it!Alyssa, welcome to the world of romance novels. Ok…that sounded weird, haha. Welcome to the world of romance that unites hearts and evokes a greater yearning for the most wonderful love story of all–that of the Savior. :)Thank you for joining in the giveaway, so great to connect with you ladies!
Great interview, Heather! Joanne, BSMS sounds like a wonderful story, and I can't wait to read it. Wow, a homeschooling mom of three! You're inspiring. 🙂
Wow, as a resident of Appalachia I am so excited to have found this author! I love books that deal with the area within which I live and can't wait to start following her work!Thanks for the amazing interview, I enjoyed every question and especially the part about how she manages writing with a family – kudos to you for homeschooling! It sounds as if you have worked hard to manage it all :)Thank your for posting this today, loved it!
Thanks, Lindsay, I know, I love that Joanne's a writer and homeschooler. So is my interviewee last week, Dani Pettrey. You might like that interview, too. You can also find homeschooling articles in my search box. I blog about it from time to time! Thanks for stopping by and entering to win! Can't wait to see who does!
I rarely read any interview from beginning to end, but I did read this one! What a fascinating journey, Joanne! I'm so glad things are working out with your books after all your hard work. I love your Annie Dillard quote — she is one of my favorite authors! I also write at nap time and into the wee hours — and I agree that there's nothing I would rather be doing, either! 😀