INTERVIEW: High Fantasy Author Joanna White

Joanna White

Eldon, MO, United States

Good morning, Joanna, and welcome to Vision and Verse, the site for art and books and the people who love them. What have you written?

Well, I’ve actually written well over 50 novels but Hunter is my first major one and it’s going to be published on April 30th which is a dream come true for me. It’s part of the Valiant Series, which is a 17-book series I spent 7 years of my life writing. The second book in the series, Shifter, will be released on July 1st.

What is your favorite genre to write?

Definitely high fantasy! I have been trying to write other genres to help me grow as a writer, but fantasy will always be my favorite.

Favorite food.

Is it bad to just say food? 
No. You are talking to an Italian, Kiddo.
Haha! I love pizza and chicken alfredo. The way I fix it thanks to food class in high school is amazing, if I do say so myself. That and there’s a restaraunt near where we live called Lil’ Rizzios, and it’s the best! I also love crab rangoon and sweet and sour chicken but without the sauce on it.

Tea or coffee?

Tea! By far!

Pizza or ice cream?

Okay this is insanely evil but I’m gonna have to go with chocolate ice cream! (Unless it’s chicken alfredo pizza we’re talking about in which case, that’s a tough one).

Wine or beer?

Neither; I don’t drink.

Where would you like to visit?

Japan! I love their history and culture and I’m a huge anime fan so it’s my dream to go to Japan someday!

Favorite musical artist.  
Do you listen to music when you write?  What?

I go through phases so I have a lot of different favorite musical artists. I love Skillet and Casting Crowns and For King and Country and Third Day. Jeremy Camp is amazing as well. Sometimes I do listen to music while I write but it has to be some sort of instrumental music. Usually it’s some type of soundtrack like Braveheart, The Last Samurai, The Last of the Mohicans, Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, Kingdom of Heaven, Star Wars, etc. Other times it’s epic fantasy instrumental or Japanese/Chinese instrumental I can find on Youtube. Sometimes orchestra music or piano and violin as well. Scottish and bagpipes is another I love to listen to.

What makes you laugh?

A lot of things, but mostly my sister, mother, and husband. My husband is hilarious and he makes me laugh all the time, especially when I need a good laugh. He always has something sarcastic and hilarious to say. My sister and I also can get into a fit of giggles together and my mom can be a huge goofball sometimes - well, we all can!

This is an art and author site, so I am obligated to ask: Favorite work of art or sculpture.

Yeah… I’m not a big art fan. I look at some things and really just don’t get it. Haha. I love my sister’s work though. She paints and does it really good.

How old were you when you started writing?

It was the summer before my sixth grade year so I was ten or eleven I think.

Do you plan out your book with outlines and notecards? Or just write?

First off, I never use notecards. All my notes are usually on the computer. Sometimes on my phone if I get an idea and I’m not at home at my computer. So it’s kind of scattered sometimes. And usually I try to have an overall idea or general outline. The more specific outline I have, the faster I can write something and still make it really good, so I try to have as much of an outline as I can but sometimes inspiration hits before I have an outline finished.

Describe your perfect evening.

Ooh, this is a good question. On a perfect evening, I’ve spent from about 7 pm to 11:30 pm doing priorities; promoting my book launch, working on my newsletter or blog article for the week. At 11:30 pm, my husband gets off work so we eat and watch whatever show we’re into at the time - currently, it’s Vampire Diaries. We watch an hour long episode then split off to have some time alone - what we call “me time.” So he usually plays a video game or two and that’s usually when I write. Usually between 1 am and 3 am. If it’s a perfect evening, I’ve written a lot of high quality stuff in whatever book I’m working on and still had time to do something fun, like watch YouTube or play a video game or something. At 3 am, we get back together, watch another episode, then we do our Bible study and go to bed around 4 am.

Where do you get your inspiration?

My husband and the great ideas he always has and God.

What do you do when you get a writer's block?

I don’t write. Haha! Usually, I’ll go straight to my husband and tell him where I’m stuck and why. Sometimes he can think of an idea that will re-spark my inspiration and I’ll be just fine. Other times, he’ll be stuck, too. At that point, I’ll pray about it, listen to music, get on YouTube or Pinterest, or find writing prompts or old notes to try to spark more ideas.

Who is your favorite author?

Cassandra Clare

Best book you ever read.

Any of Cassandra Clare’s books

Last book you read.

A New Dawn

What would you do for a living if you weren’t a writer?

I’d be an archaeologist.

Who is the one person who has influenced your personal life the most and why?

There have been a lot of influences on my life; my grandmother encouraged me to write and showed me to persevere no matter what. My mother taught me everything I know and she showed me my strength comes from God. My sister reminds me to live life and have fun and my husband always pushes me to be better than I am. But overall, the one who has influenced me the most is God. He’s saved me, led me, guided me, and my gift and passion for writing comes from Him.

If you could sit down and have a conversation with ONE person, living or dead, real or fictional, who would it be and why?

God. I read His Word and do have conversations with Him, but I’d love to sit down and talk with Jesus face to face. I want to know Him and I have so many questions and things I wanna know and learn.

What advice would you give someone who aspired to be a writer?

Never ever stop writing and never ever give up. Sometimes, it may seem like your dream won’t happen, like it isn’t worth it, or like it’s too difficult, but never quit. You’ll face hardships and rejections and it’ll break your heart but keep writing and keep submitting and never give up!

Do you have some links for us to follow you?

Facebook: www.facebook.com/joannamariewhite

Twitter: www.twitter.com/joannamwhite

Instagram: www.instagram.com/joannawhite316

I’m also doing a giveaway, so if you’d like the chance to win a DVD with exclusive, bonus content about Hunter, a poster, and a magnet, enter here: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/86b4d20b1/?