Monday, February 13, 2012

Interview with Author and Artist JoAnn Arnold

JoAnn is the author of 5 books, plus 1 that she co-authored. She enjoys writing in different genres. JoAnn and her husband, Brent, live in Santa Clara, Utah. They have four sons, four daughters-in-law, and fifteen grandchildren. All of their sons live out-of-State. She explained that is what happens when you send sons on missions. They find there is life outside Utah. 

Hello JoAnn! Oh my gosh! You're from Santa Clara? I live in the same area. What a coincidence! Here we are, living just a few miles from each other and didn’t even know it, and we finally meet through an interview. What a small world! Okay, please tell us about your novel.

Hi Linda. Thank you for giving this interview. Journey of the Promise is a story of a young woman, Callie McAllister, who falls in love with the perfect man and moves into the perfect house, a beautiful mansion. But it isn’t long before she finds out that her husband is far from perfect.

In Callie’s search for answers, she finds herself in the part of the mansion that has been closed for several years. As she wanders through the rooms, she finds a journal written by her husband’s great-great-grandfather and her life suddenly takes on a new meaning. She sets out on a journey that leads her though secret rooms and hidden caves to those who have waited hundreds of years for her to fulfill a promise made in another time. 

I’m intrigued with the subject of this book. Where did you get your inspiration for this novel?

When I first started writing this book I had a totally different concept as to where it was going. Callie was a grandmother. When I finished the third chapter, Callie told me she didn’t want to be a grandmother, she wanted to be a young woman who was about to have an incredible experience.

“Okay,” I said and I went back to the first chapter and began changing Callie’s life. After I did that, Characters began introducing themselves and I decided to let them tell the story and I would do the writing. It was one fun experience. So far I haven’t used life experiences in writing my novels. I get an idea and let the imagination do the rest. 

You are also an artist. “Watching for Daddy” is an adorable painting. Does painting bring out a different side of you that is completely separate from writing? Tell us your thoughts about this.

I have found that writing and painting both use the same part of the brain. When you are doing a painting, you are telling a story on canvas. When you write a book, you are painting a picture in the reader’s mind. Sometimes when I have mind-block while writing, I’ll work on a painting and visa-versa. I have a passion for painting and that same passion for writing.

Your paintings are so beautiful. Visit JoAnn’s Website and see her beautiful artwork. What does your family think about your writing?

After reading my first two books, “Miracles for Michael,” and “Journey of the Promise,” Devin, my third son, called me and said, “Mom, while I’m reading your books, I have to keep reminding myself that this author is my mother. I didn’t know you had an imagination. I decided to do a little research on why some have an imagination and some don’t. I found that everyone has an imagination when they’re little, but most of them grow up. Mom, you have never grown up.”

My family is very supportive and my husband cleans the house while I write, then does the editing, making sure my punctuations are in the right place and all the words are spelled correctly.

What a wonderful husband! You are very blessed to have a man like that. Now it’s time to tell us something about the real you that we’ll never forget.

I have Meniere’s Disease which is a disease of the inner ear. Through acupuncture I can keep it under control but I can’t eat anything with sugar in it or I’ll have an attack. I have learned how to eat and what to eat. I make the best muffins with carrot pulp and pineapple pulp, multigrain flour and unsweetened chocolate chips. Dark chocolate is my best friend. Haven’t had a pop in over 15 years. 

Dark chocolate, eh? Thank you so much for this interview, JoAnn. My readers and I have gotten to know a very talented person. By the way, I love your son’s perspective of an author’s imagination…that we’ve never grown up. Hahaha!

18 comments:

Unknown said...

i wanted to read Miracles for Michael...but can't find it in the library. So will wait for Journey of Promise. Sounds great. Thanks Linda for a cool interview.

Marianne
marianne[dot]wanham[at]gmail[dot]com

Anonymous said...

Wow Linda what an incredible interview -Thank you.
JoAnn, it looks as if you have found the key to being an artist, your description of a painter is telling story in his art (Watching for Daddy does that!!) and a writer tells a story in their novel, is very true. The them of your book has me intrigued. I have always wanted to live in an unusual house, with butler hallways that inter through a wall mounted bookcase, or a hidden room. I an very much looking forward to what Callie finds. Very happy you listened to her and then to the others that had something to say. Congratulations on succedding in two beautiful forms of art.
jdovefamily at gmail dot com

Mutti said...

This sounds like my kind of book! I can't wait to read it. Will be looking for Miracles for Michael, too. We have a lot of things in common. ...dark chocolate being among them! Thanks for a great review of what sounds like a great book!

Mutti said...

When I wrote my comment a few minutes ago I wanted to say this... but, of course, it came to me later: We never really grow up, we only learn how to act in public.

Linda Weaver Clarke said...

Hahahaha! You are so right, Mutti!!!

Lisa And Randy said...

I enjoyed reading your interview with JoAnn. I enjoy her books and am looking forward to reading Journey of Promise. Thanks so much
leeben[at]bdawg[dot]net

Christina said...

What a fascinating interview. Would love to read and review this book!

christina.ahn@gmail.com

Katherine said...

Very interesting, I'd love to read it!

katsaddress AT gmail. DOT com

eyeballlucy said...

Whata wonderful interview with writer JoAnn Arnold I would luv to read her books......babyruthmac16@yahoo.com

Literary Chanteuse said...

Sounds like a good book. I'd love to read it thank you for the giveaway!

Margaret
singitm(at)hotmail(dot)com

JulieJ said...

First of all- great interview! I love to read interviews that make me feel like I've gotten to know an author a little bit.
What a fantastic concept for a book! I really enjoy the creativity and originality of the story line.
Julie
janney25@yahoo.com

Gayle said...

Your interviews are always so interesting -- and the book sounds very intriguing as well!
bgh(at)byu(dot)net

Ruth said...

To be multi-talented--author and artist! What a rare combination. Thanks so much for the chance to win!
ruthaw_1974@yahoo.com

IdentitySeeker said...

I love your son's perspective too! Ad your husband does sound truly wonderful and supportive:) Best wishes with your future writing endeavours!:)

Sarah

sarahDOTsetarATgmailDOTcom

Linda Kish said...

This sounds like a very interesting story. I'd love to read it.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

chirth7 said...

Hi Linda and Welcome JoAnn!

This book has me very curious, if everything seems to be perfect but it's not I have to know why and what is going on when things are not so perfect as she believed.

I LOVED your painting!!!!! That picture looks like me although I was waiting for my Mom to come home from work. My parents worked different shifts so I'd never need a babysitter, so I missed my mom lots of nights. That painting really struck me and brought me back to when I was that age. I just love it. Your very talented JoAnn!

Thanks for the giveaway. I'd Love to read your book. It sounds intriqing for sure.

Thanks, Christine chirth7@yahoo.com

karenk said...

a wonderful posting...thanks for the chance to read this beautiful story :)

karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com

Lauren said...

Thank you!! I love this interview.

kplp1111[at]yahoo[dot]com