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Interview With Joy Frawley
Susana: How long have you been writing?
Joy: I started writing about two and a half years ago. I remember enjoying creative writing classes in college, but until recently I never lifted a pen or ever wrote a book.
Susana: What advice would you give to writers just starting out?
Joy: You are the only person in your head 24/7 so it’s important to stay aware of what you are telling yourself and what your thoughts are. As a new writer it is easy to cave into negative self-talk; such as not being good enough or that writing the book is a waste of time since no one will ever read it etc. However, when we are aware of what we are thinking we can replace those thoughts with productive ones in order to encourage ourselves when it becomes difficult to keep writing or sending queries. Rejection and what may appear as brutal feedback on your work is all part of the process and that’s okay! It will make your manuscript and you better by improving your work and building persistence in you as a person.
Susana: Tell us something about your newest release that is NOT in the blurb.
Joy: Jocelyn is the main character in my book and while writing I occasionally noticed I was slipping bits and pieces of myself into her character. You’ll never get out of me which ones though because I want to keep you guessing!
Susana: What did you want to be when you grew up?
Joy: Veterinarian, nurse, airplane stewardess or teacher. Those are just the ones I remember. Apparently I thought the life span of a human was about 200 years old.
Susana: What is your favorite food? Least favorite? Why?
Joy: Nachos. But I consider myself a foodie so trying anything fresh and new is always high on my priority list, especially if it’s spicy. My least favorite is probably mincemeat pie simply because I’m forty years old and still have no idea what a mincemeat is. Kind of spooky if you ask me.
Susana: What is one thing your readers would be most surprised to learn about you?
Joy: I have somewhat twisted humor and if you spend any amount of time with me it will eventually spill out.
Susana: Is there a writer you idolize? If so, who?
Joy: Dr. Wayne Dyer is my all-time favorite. He is an inspirational writer and speaker who has influenced me tremendously in pursuing my goal of becoming published. His work has benefitted so many including myself.
Susana: What would we find under your bed?
Joy: Probably dust and toys for my two dogs, Piggs and Diggs. I think they like to see their mom get on the floor and have to scuffle around to retrieve their chew toys for them. Believe me, they are cleverer than they look.
Susana: Do you have a favorite quote or saying?
Joy: I came up with an affirmation that has helped me a great deal and that is: “You are a writer, so rewrite your thoughts to success.” It is a reminder that I have control of my thoughts and I only need to rewrite them to produce the positive results I want to achieve.
Susana: Do you write in multiple genres or just one? If just one, would you consider straying outside your genre?
Joy: Yes, I have written multiple genres. To date I have written a romance, crime fiction and a nonfiction book. I seem to get inspired out of the blue on a topic and I just write.
Susana: What is something you’d like to accomplish in your writing career next year?
Joy: I would like to do more speaking engagements to inspire others to pursue their dreams, especially those who are aspiring to finish their first book. I did a speaking engagement last night and was amazed at the wonderful attendees who were so grateful to soak up little tidbits I learned about becoming published. I have so much myself to learn, but most of them hadn’t been published yet so my speech allowed them to gather some pointers I learned along the way. It was beautiful to be part of that and know that we can help build each other up simply by sharing our own experiences.
About Two Worlds Two Men
Jocelyn and Neely are having a perfectly pleasant dinner at the Sheep Heid Inn when it happens: Jocelyn suddenly finds herself sitting across the table, not from Neely, but a strange man dressed in medieval garb. This man is no apparition. His eyes, the deepest brown, clearly look on her in intimacy; his touch causes her pulse to rise. Jocelyn realizes two things: from his clothes, he is clearly an aristocrat, and that she, Jocelyn Stewart, seems to be in some sort of romantic relationship with him! Minutes later Jocelyn returns to Neely, in the present day, weak and terrified. Together they begin to unravel the forgotten past and find themselves facing the reality of medieval Scotland. A strange world steeped in folklore and superstition; where life begins and often ends with the sword. As Jocelyn travels back to medieval times she learns that the man she keeps seeing is no other than Sir Colin Campbell of the powerful Campbell Clan. When Jocelyn is with Colin, she wants never to leave his side; then she returns to the present and cannot imagine herself with anyone but Neely. Jocelyn struggles with a choice. Which man will gain her heart when both offer such different love? She is in love with two different men in two different worlds.
Amazon • Resplendence Publishing
Excerpt
Jocelyn looked around for the driver who was supposed to be waiting for her arrival with a sign. She had hired someone to pick her up because, as an American and first-time visitor to Scotland, she had figured it would be less stressful.
She didn’t see the driver anywhere; then, just as she started feeling nervous, she saw a man holding a sign with her name on it. And what a man he was! He was broad shouldered, strong and had dark brown hair with reddish tints. He exuded masculinity like some cologne, and even across the airport, she thought she could smell it. Smoothing her unruly hair, she started to walk over to him.
The man, seeing her approach him, took a step toward her. “Are you, Jocelyn?”
When he spoke her name, she found herself frozen in place unable to respond. She’d heard this voice before; she knew this voice. This man spoke her name exactly like the dream she had had all those years ago! She had been stirred awake in bed by a voice of a man, who spoke her name with a Scottish accent. His voice was gentle and low; as if he wanted to gain her attention, but not cause her alarm. Jocelyn had clutched the sheets to her chest and stared out into the darkness of her bedroom almost feeling his intimate presence beside her. She lifted her hand up to her ear having sworn his warm breath had brushed her skin. Jocelyn remembered she had turned her head, anxiously, toward the pillow next to her and almost thought she would be looking into the eyes of a stranger; yet she had not been frightened. This man, his voice, somehow comforted her.
Now, she stood in the airport and caught her breath as she faced the man before her. Her eyes searched his face for something; though what it was she wasn’t sure. Jocelyn felt her heart beating so fast she was certain the man could hear it as memories flooded her mind of that night so long ago when he or someone spoke her name in the darkness. Was that the reason for her vacation to Scotland? Was she unconsciously trying to find the man?
About the Author
Joy Frawley is an author and writer of the upcoming romance novella; Two Worlds Two Men released in October 2014 by Resplendence Publishing. Joy lives in beautiful Traverse City, Michigan relishing in living the life of the classic “townie” with her two dogs Piggs and Diggs. You can reach her at joyfrawley@gmail.com or joyfrawley.com.
Susana's Morning Room 