Mind
When Aurelie Harcourt's father dies in debtor's prison, he leaves her just two things: his wealthy family, whom she has never met, and his famous pen name, Nathaniel Droll. Her new family greets her with apathy and even resentment. Only the quiet house guest, Silas Rotherham, welcomes her company.
When Aurelie decides to complete her father's unfinished serial novel, writing the family into the story as unflattering characters, she must keep her identity as Nathaniel Droll hidden while searching for the truth about her mother's disappearance--and perhaps even her father's death.
Author Joanna Davidson Politano's stunning debut set in Victorian England will delight readers with its highly original plot, lush setting, vibrant characters, and reluctant romance.
Welcome!
Welcome to Bookworm Mama, Joanna! I am
so honored to have you here today!
Joanna: I’m so happy to be part of the
Bookworm Mama blog!
Where did your love of
books/storytelling/reading/writing/etc. come from?
Joanna: I can clearly remember sitting
with my dad and brother in a big comfy chair as he made up fabulous stories
about leprechauns, crabs, and interesting settings. I remember my mom reading
me books with animation and enthusiasm. So I suppose I’d say that stories were
always a part of me. I soaked up story lines from Scripture, from random
conversations, anywhere I could find them. My imagination took off from there.
Leprechauns and crabs! Ahhh I love it!
When did you KNOW that you
wanted to be an author?
Joanna: Birth? Ok, maybe not that
early. I think I was always informed I’d be an author, so it was in the back of
my head forever, even though I had other careers along the way. I still have a
little wallet-sized photo somewhere of my kindergarten teacher, who addressed
it to Joanna “the authoress.” I never saw myself as a novelist, though, until I
heard the story of my great grandparents and became enamored. I sat down one
day and just wrote out a scene in my head because I couldn’t not write it, and the entire story just
kept pouring out on page after page until it was done. After that book I
decided I liked writing fiction!
Story! Some of us just can't escape it. It is a part of our soul.
What literary character is
most like you? Why?
Joanna: Probably a combination of Alice
in Wonderland and Peter Pan. Alice had a tendency to depart from reality and
have wild adventures. Peter pan delighted in childhood and everything it
entailed. The character most like me in all of literature, though, is probably
L.M. Montgomery’s creation Emily of New Moon. I recognize in her the same
obsession with words and stories, the imagination that is able to coexist with
reality and common sense, making her a dreamer AND a doer.
Peter Pan is one of my favorites! I have yet to meet Emily. But she sounds fabulous!
Can you share a behind the scenes fact about Lady Jayne Disappears?
Joanna: I had zero intention of publishing this book. It was meant to be
my “practice” novel that would allow me to explore all the pieces of a book I
liked and pick and choose what I would use in the “real” books I wrote. I
allowed my imagination and heart free reign and used it as an open conversation
with God and a fun distraction as I started out as a stay-at-home mom.
Excuse me while I pick my jaw up off the floor...You WHAT?!?!?!?! Well, I am so glad God didn't let you follow through with that haha!
What type of research was involved for Lady Jayne Disappears?
Joanna: Most of my research on
the Victorian era came from simply reading loads of books that were written in
that time frame. The characters, their reactions, where they lived and worked
all came to life in the stories written by people who lived among them. I did
read a few nonfiction books by modern writers describing the time period, but I
found the novels written during the Victorian era itself more immersive in the
culture. I read a great deal of serial fiction, since that’s a theme in my
novel, and thoroughly enjoyed that aspect of research. I also soaked up lots of
modern nonfiction about the printing and consumption of serial novels, from
printing presses to audience reactions.
Oh that is an excellent perspective! I think this is fascinating!
Who are some of your
favorite authors that you feel were influential in your work? What impact have
they had on your writing?
Joanna: Daphne Du Maurier was a master
of shadowy, engrossing stories that keep your imagination working overtime long
after you finish a book. I loved that approach to mystery, and always attempt
to incorporate at least a small hint of that in mine. I enjoy the vibrant,
gritty characters Dickens created, turns of phrase from Martha Grimes and the
depth of the Bronte sisters. I also deeply love the lyrical writing that sweeps
me away by authors like Kristy Cambron, Joanne Bischof, and Lori Benton.
Ahhh! Some of my favorites! Contemporary and classic! 💜 Lady and the Lionheart is an ALL time favorite!!!
What hidden talents do you
have?
Joanna: Well I’m not sure if this is a
talent or a weakness, but I bake without measuring anything and play the piano
without music. I don’t know how to do either one any other way! I dearly love
to bake anything sweet, and I’ve come to know if things are right by its
consistency, taste, or appearance. Usually you have to be really specific with
baking, but I fail at that method so I just wing it. Same with the piano—I will
stumble along by reading music, but if I can just hear a song in my head, it’ll
flow out onto the keys much more naturally. I suppose that has informed the way
I write, too.
OK! Now THIS is definitely a talent! Both things...I am beyond impressed. I am too OCD to wing it with baking haha. And I am awful at reading music notes, but chords I can do just fine.
What are you reading right
now? What made you pick it up?
Joanna: I’m
currently reading The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck by Bethany Turner. What
made me pick it up? Well first, I met the author because we’re releasing our
debuts from the same publisher on the same day and became friends. Secondly, we
discovered our books have a lot in common, like author heroines and first
person writing. But mostly, this book just grabbed me. From the first witty
line this book pulled me along a hugely entertaining journey. I have laughed
out loud so many times and underlined more places than I can count. This book
has been a delight!
YAY! Bethany just visited me on the blog last week! I can't wait to start this one!!!
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Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Joanna: I’m very much a
write-as-you-go kind of girl, so I often find myself stuck. To unstick myself,
I wander down to my personal library, which my husband claims is far too large,
and begin reading snippets of different books. If I’m stuck on an opening line,
I’ll go down the row and read all the opening lines of all the books in sight.
If I’m stuck on a certain description or transition, I’ll grab a book that did
something similar very well and study how it was done. So my library sees a lot
of use. Not only do I read my books, but I study and return to them many times.
I also underline and take notes in the margins of all my novels. I love to dissect
writing and movies all the time.
OK...This is the second time you mentioned writing in books...I can NOT bring myself to mark up my books...dag ear, notes? No can do! I do have a dozen page markers and highlights (for Kindle) in almost every book I read though haha! And no library can be too large.
What writing advice do you
have for pre-published authors?
Joanna: Honestly, the best advice I
can offer you from my own experience is to stop trying. First, figure out how
to connect with God in your daily life, then you’ll have him joining you when
you write. Your book will take you on a journey with God in which he’s leading
you somewhere and growing you as a person… and that amazing journey will spill
onto the page without you even realizing it. Second, trying hard to write what
you’re “supposed” to write won’t get you very far. Write for fun—a few practice
scenes or a whole practice book. Think of every element you love in the most
delicious book and include all of that. Write as if no one will ever read it but
God. Forget about what’s trending, what’s expected, what makes good literature
and just have a blast writing. Then you will find readers who have a blast
reading it.
I LOVE THIS! Be who YOU are called to be and write what YOU are called to write. A million times YES!
Before we go can you tell
us about your current WIP?
Joanna: Next up is another Victorian era novel from Revell (releasing
summer of 2018) called A Rumored Fortune. It features a well-to-do heroine
whose father has hidden his vast fortune somewhere on his vineyard estate—and
then died suddenly without telling anyone where he put it. She and her mother
are suddenly the poorest wealthy family in all of England. The heroine works
together with their blunt and rugged vineyard manager to locate her father’s
money while debts pile up, unpaid workers strike, and family members show up to
“grieve” with the family in the house that contains the missing fortune. The
love story in this book is loosely based on my own with my husband, to whom I
refused a second date. Readers will also get a little inside view of
cultivating vineyards and the spiritual implications of this work.
Thank you so much for joining
us today Joanna! I ADORE Lady Jayne Disappears and I can not wait to get my hands on A Rumored Fortune!
Joanna: Thank
you so much for having me on your blog! It was a pleasure to be here.
About the Author
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 debut novel, Lady Jayne Disappears, released October 3 from Revell. She lives with her husband and their two babies in a house in the woods and shares stories that move her at www.jdpstories.com.
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Giveaway
Joanna has graciously provided a print copy of Lady Jayne Disappears. Please see Policies and Disclosures for full rules. US addresses only please. Giveaway will run 10/16-10/23 12:00am Pacific Time. Please enter via the Rafflecopter form below. Void where prohibited.
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Many thanks to Canva for providing an AMAZING program for me to design all these beautiful graphics. Book covers, publisher/tour logos, and author pictures not owned by me. All other graphics created by Bookworm Mama with public domain photos on Canva unless stated otherwise.
