Joanne Troppello

My guest today is Joanne Troppello, author of Mr. Shipley’s Governess.

Joanne is a mystery and inspirational romance author and freelance copywriter/editor located in Pennsylvania.

Welcome to my little corner of the blogosphere, Joanne. Let’s get down to business and talk writing!

Anne - Tell us about your most recent release.

Joanne – That would be Mr. Shipley’s Governess.

BLURB: Sophie Baird is looking for a way to escape the painful reality of her parents' deaths. Unable to live in their home any longer, she takes a job as a live-in tutor to Anastasia Shipley to remove herself from her painful memories and the feeling that God has abandoned her.

Anastasia has an illness that has prevented her from ever attending school and makes her father, Sebastian, over protective.

When Sophie first meets Sebastian, she cannot deny the intense attraction she feels toward him. When an unexpected romance begins between them, she starts to rebuild her relationship with God, with the help of a certain little girl.

Anne - Do you have a fear, phobia, or habit you’d rather no one knew about?

Joanne - I am the biggest chicken when it comes to heights. I’m very afraid of being high, and it’s kind of ironic and I think God has a sense of humor. I say that because the house He planned for us to buy (where we currently live) is a three story townhouse with an above-ground basement. So, our deck on the second floor is higher than I liked at first and we have an open foyer all the way up to the third floor. I still don’t like walking by the third floor balcony and hate looking down, but at least I like the deck and the second floor balcony. Just give me a few more years and maybe I’ll be bungee jumping down from the third floor. Or maybe not!

Anne - I often write while sitting in my car. Parked. In my driveway! I call it my “cone of silence”. My very own writer’s cocoon, if you will. Do you have a unique place to write? Tell us about it.

Joanne - I usually write when I’m sitting with my husband and he has the TV on. I’m a freelance writer and marketing consultant during the day and a novelist by night. So since I’d like to save my marriage and not spend 24 hours a day holed up in my home office, I bring my laptop downstairs while my husband is watching TV. At least we’re then in the same room and can still chat; I get writing done and he’s happy to actually see me.

Anne – Wow! I envy your ability to do that. I need complete silence. How many rejections did you acquire along the way? What kept you going?

Joanne - Since I started work on my first novel as a senior in high school, I have encountered many rejections along the way. However, deep in my heart I knew I was always supposed to be a writer; that God wanted me to write. That belief kept the dream alive in my heart and enabled me to persevere when I wanted to give up.

Anne - If you could just snap your fingers and go, where would you visit, return to, or move? Why?

Joanne - That would definitely be Hawaii. My husband and I went there for our honeymoon and it was so beautiful and I’d like to go back to visit some time. After we went there, I got inspired to write a romantic suspense book, which I completed but then put aside to work on my current published novel. I’m working on the edits now to Island Honeymoon and every time we watch the new Hawaii Five-O on TV, I love watching the scenery and pointing out to my husband, Oh, we were on that beach in Waikiki…remember?

Anne – Hawaii is certainly on my bucket list. What is the most surprising thing you’ve learned about yourself from your writing?

Joanne - That there is always something more to learn and improve in your writing skills--since I completed my second novel, I’ve learned how to better my craft and I can see improvement in my third and fourth manuscripts. I think a good writer is someone who realizes he or she is never done learning. If you think you know it all, there will always be someone out there who knows more than you do.

Anne – Wise words. I completely agree. Are you a glass half-empty or half-full kind of person?

Joanne - I’m a glass half-full kind of person. I’ve always been an optimist and I think it’s funny that God brought me and my husband together; he is more of a realist. He can pull me down from walking with my head in the clouds if I’m getting too out of this world and I can pull him up to dream a little.

Anne - Quick. Your five favorites – author, actor, movie, song, quote.

Joanne - Author: Karen Kingsbury. Actor: Sean Connery. Movie: The Cutting Edge. Song: The Prayer. Quote: C. S. Lewis ~ “You can't get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.”

Anne – Where can readers find you online?

Joanne – They can visit my blog, follow me on Twitter, or friend me on Facebook.

Anne – You’re offering a giveaway of an e-book copy of Mr. Shipley’s Governess to one lucky commenter. What question would you like them to ponder?

Joanne - In my book, Mr. Shipley’sGoverness, the characters Sophie, Sebastian and Anastasia go to Ireland and one of their excursions is on the C.S. Lewis Trail to visit places in Belfast and then Downpatrick and his childhood home—they tour places from Lewis’ life. I’m a big fan of Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia book series and figured if my characters were going to Ireland, why not include some facts about Lewis…that fit into the book because of Sophie’s affinity to his writings as well as to Jane Austen’s work.

So, what are your thoughts on the C.S. Lewis quote and do you have a favorite author of classic literature? I’d love to hear about it.

Anne – Super question, Joanne. Thank you so very much for dropping by today. It’s been such a pleasure. Mr. Shipley’s Governess is definitely on my TBR list.

 

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