1. What is your name and where do you call
home?
My name is Joanne Brothwell, and I live
in the country on the Canadian prairie, where my stories are inspired by the
dead things that appear at my doorstep on a daily basis!
2. Do you have plans for a new book? Is
this book part of a series?
Yes, Stealing
Breath is the first in a series. So far, the second book, called Silencing Breath, is currently with the
editorial department with my publisher. I will be starting on the third
shortly!
3. What or who inspired you to start
writing? And how long have you been writing?
I’ve
always had an overactive imagination, but three and a half years ago a story
started brewing in my mind, and I just couldn’t shake it. I allowed
these characters to speak to me, and as a result, their voices grew in volume.
Finally, their problems became so compelling they began to haunt my dreams at
night. I couldn’t escape the constant barrage of Sarah and Evan's voices, and
in February, 2008, I placed my hands on the keyboard for the first time, to
exorcise those voices from my head.
4. Do you gift books to readers for book
reviews?
Yes – ebooks only.
5. How did you come up with the cover? Who
designed the cover of your book?
The cover art was designed by Liliana
Sanches. I had some input into the cover art, basically offering ideas and
suggestions for things I’d hoped for. I wanted it to have an eerie feel, with a
moody forest to highlight the paranormal elements. I’m absolutely thrilled with
the cover, it’s so beautiful!
6. How did you come up with the title for
your book?
It was really hard. I’m a little
superstitious, and I find that I get “clues” from things in my environment,
almost like my intuition is telling me to notice things that will lead me to
answers. One day, the lyrics of a Duran Duran song stuck in my head, playing
over and over, like it was on repeat. The lyrics said, “Mine,
immaculate dream made breath and skin I've been waiting for you.” Isn’t it sexy? I
felt like that one line summed up the feel of my book – kind of creepy and sexy
all at once.
I kept the word “Breath” and then needed something to
highlight other aspects of the book. Like the fact that the heroine’s soul was
at risk of being devoured. Then something else weird happened, the movie
Stealing Beauty kept popping into my head. I started to look at it, thinking
about the way the two words looked so oddly enticing together.
And that’s when it hit me: Stealing Breath!
7. Have you ever read a book more than
once? And if so what was it?
Twilight. I read it before becoming a
writer and loved it, absolutely loved it. After I wrote my book, I got to know
some other writers who absolutely hated it, tearing it apart for the poor
writing. So I re-read it, with an eye on the writing. Guess what? I didn’t care
if the writing had problems. I still loved it!
8. Have you ever read a book just based on its
cover?
Cassandra Clare’s City of Bones. I don’t
know why, but that cover called to me.
9. What book are you reading at the moment?
And in what format?
Fifty
Shades Free on my Kobo. I really don’t like reading
on e-readers, but because of the content of this one, I didn’t want a physical
copy of it in my house!
10. Where can your readers follow you?
Website: www.joannebrothwell.com
Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/people/Joanne-Brothwell/577061211
Goodreads author page: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5769305.Joanne_Brothwell
Twitter: @JoanneBrothwell
Barnes and Noble:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/stealing-breath-joanne-brothwell/1109679498?ean=9781937254315
Thankyou so much for taking the time to do this interview and allowing us a glimpse into your writing world!
Thanks so much for having me, Rachel!
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