A Carol Award and two-time Christy Award-finalist, Joanne Bischof writes deeply layered fiction that tugs at the readerβs heartstrings. She was honored to receive the SDCWG Novel of the Year Award in 2014 and in 2015 was named Author of the Year by the Mount Hermon Writerβs conference. Her 2014 novellaΒ This Quiet Sky broke precedent as the first self-released title to final for the Christy Awards. She lives in the mountains of Southern California with her husband and their three children. Watch for her 2016 Victorian novel, The Lady and the Lionheart coming this summer!
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Welcome to the blog, Joanne. I’m so honored to have you here today. Congratulations on your latest release, To Get to You. And also for your upcoming novel, The Lady and The Lionheart. Both books look amazing!
Thank you so much for having me!
Since your latest story includes a road trip, can you tell us about a favorite road trip of yours?
What comes to mind is a trip that our family took last Thanksgiving up to Tahoe, NV. We all piled into the car and were going to stay in a tiny cabin right on the lake to have a quiet Thanksgiving with just the five of us. Something weβve never done! Itβs an absolute gorgeous drive so I soaked in the scenery like a sponge and the kids had a blast. We stopped by places like Schatβs Bakery for giant gingerbread men cookies and listened to My Side of the Mountain the whole way. The story made that trip extra special because we were all entranced. One of the reasons why I had the characters in To Get to You listen to the very same one! This was also the trip where I had my author photos taken by a dear friend. People always tell me I look so happy in those photos and now you all know why!
Oh, I love that. What a special time for your family. π
Which character from your upcoming circus novel are you most excited for readers to meet?
Definitely Charlie Lionheart. Heβs easily one of the most complex characters Iβve ever written. Heβs the hero of the story, an old-world Gypsy, a lion tamer, and the only parent to a baby girl. Each of his traits blend together in a way that really unites his personality. And it all sort of harkens back to his childhood and the fact that he grew up in the company of lions. Napping with them, wrestling with themβ¦even just talking to them.
As a boy they were his friends and heroes and as a man, his lions are now his brothers. He treats them with the utmost respect, but must also face them with a complete lack of fear. Because of this kind of conditioning, heβs very good with living thingsβseeing a personβs nature and needs. This makes him the perfect fit for the heroine, Ella, whoβs sort of a lost and hurting soul. He approaches her with the same humility that he would his lions and it brings trust, security and even playfulness back into her life.
I can’t wait to meet them both! π Which is easier for you to write β historical or contemporary? Can you tell us why?
Ooh, Iβm going to say contemporary. Only because the research is so much easier. Most details are a google search away and half of the details I needed for my contemporary novel I could find on Youtube or by asking my husband or another source. With historical, itβs about finding the facts that are true to the era which often means digging through historicalβand sometimes difficult to findβresources. I love both and itβs been fun to get to mix it up and write in both timeframes.
Can you share with us a special endorsement for one of your books? One of your favorites?
So hard to choose because each one is meaningful but if one comes to mind, it would probably be this one – βA tender story, told with loving care,Β My Hope Is FoundΒ takes many a twist and turn, as Lonnie must choose between two good men. Her struggle is genuine, and the outcome remains deliciously uncertain until the joy-filled ending.β βLiz Curtis Higgs, New York Times best-selling author of Mine Is the Night
Lizβs historical novels were some of my absolute favorite and sheβs been one of my writing heroes from the start. Having her endorsement on that book was a real pinch-me moment.
Wow! That’s awesome! I read on your website that you also offer manuscript critique services. That is so cool! What do you enjoy most about this part of your job?
I do! I absolutely love it because it allows me to completely shift gears. When I edit, Iβm no longer the creator, but Iβm the reader. The responder. I get to react to the story in a way that allows me to infuse encouragement and ideas into a manuscript. And itβs really fun to work with writers in a way that brings them one step farther down their writing journey. Itβs a real joy to be a part of.
Thank you so much for joining us today, Joanne! Is there anything else you’d like to add? Any upcoming projects you can share with us?
2016 is slated to be a fun and busy year. Iβm teaching at the Mount Hermon Christian Writerβs conference in the spring and have several books in the works, including The Lady and the Lionheart and the second book to the Wild Air series, A Boy and Wild Horses. There are a few other historical stories in the works, including a novel that Iβm working on with Sigmund Brouwerβall projects that Iβm really excited about and ultimately, hope will be a blessing to readers.
That’s wonderful! I’m so excited to read them. π Have a blessed spring!
GIVEAWAY!!
Joanne has graciously offered a copy of The Lady and the Lionheart to one lucky reader! Enter below and it could be YOU!
Thanks for entering!Β Contest ends April 12, 2016.Β The winner will be notified by email. Happy Reading, everybody!
Two of my favorite people. <3 SO love both of you and have been continually blessed by your writing, Joanne–so excited for Lady and the Lionheart
Hi Meghan!! So happy you stopped by, my friend. Doesn’t Joanne’s book sound amazing?! Can’t wait to read it. Have a great weekend and talk to you more soon. π
A Lady and the Lionheart and Flight of Arrows is certainly another one π
Thanks for joining us, Deanna. Yes, Flight of Arrows has been on my list for quite some time too. π Love Lori Benton too! Good luck in the giveaway!
Sounds like a good book.
Hope you get the chance to read it soon, Ola!
Savannah, thanks so much for the fun interview! It’s a joy to be a guest on your beautiful blog!
Hi Joanne! Thank you SO much for visiting us. It’s a joy to have you here. π
I look forward to reading, so many, but I’ll say Joshua’s Mission by Vanetta Chapman.
Thank you for the chance to win.
I haven’t heard of that one yet, Lucy. Thanks for the recommendation. π Good luck in the drawing!
Too many!!! The ones I’m planning to get to soon are Her One and Only by Becky Wade, Lady Helen Finds Her Song by Jennifer Moore, The Quieting by Suzanne Woods Fisher, and Love is Come by Heather B. Moore.
Hi Heidi! Yes, I know the list is long. π Love Becky Wade. The others you mentioned are new to me. I’ll have to check them out. Thanks!
I’ve been practically counting the hours to get my hands on A Flight of Arrows by Lori Benton.
The Cadence of Grace series was so heart-wrenching and wonderful, I can only imagine The Lady and the Lionheart will be just as good!
Yes, Lori’s book is one I plan on reading soon too. I can’t wait to read some of Joanne’s work as well. I’ve heard SO many wonderful things about her stories. Thanks for visiting, Rachael!
Definitely Her One and Only by Becky Wade and No Other Will Do by Karen Witemeyer. Thanks for the giveaway!!!
Love those authors! So glad you could stop by, Diana. Good luck in the giveaway!
I’m waiting to read Counted with the Stars by Connilyn Cossette, and I’m also super excited for The Reluctant Duchess by Roseanna White! Lovely giveaway, thank you!
Oh Yes!! I’ve heard great things about both of those books. I’m actually starting Counted with the Stars real soon myself to review. Can’t wait! We appreciate you joining us, Diana!
I have a list headed by two circus stories! Joanne’s sweet The Lady and the Lionheart, awaiting!, and Kristy Cambron’s The Ringmaster’s Wife. I am currently reading The Inheritance by Michael Phillips and book 2, The Cottage, releases this year too. I have not read his books before. In-depth of the Shetland Islands and the overseers. I am enjoying it as a historical fiction consumer! Here is my long list to continue:
The Cherished Quilt by Amy Clipston
A Portrait of Emily Price by Katherine Reay
The Magnolia Duchess by Beth White
The Quieting by Suzanne Woods Fisher
This Road We Traveled by Jane Kirkpatrick
Forever Safe by Jody Hedlund
A Tapestry of Secrets by Sarah Loudin Thomas
For the Record by Regina Jennings
Love’s Faithful Promise by Susan Anne Mason
Waves of Mercy by Lynn Austin
The Innkeeper of Ivy Hill by Julie Klassen
Anchor in the Storm by Sarah Sundin
Guide Me Home by Kim Vogel Sawyer
Dawn at Emberwilde by Sarah E. Ladd
That will keep me busy! Love to you all. Kathleen ~ Lane Hill House
Wow, Kathleen, you shared a GREAT list!! I’m anxiously waiting for Kristy Cambron’s and several of the others you mentioned. You also gave me some new ones to look up too. Thanks so much! Happy Reading!
I am anxious to read:
The Subsitute Bride by Carrie Fancett Pagels
The Steeplechase by Carrie
If I Run by Terrie Blackstock
The Cadence of Grace Series
A Flight of Arrows I already have these and so many more in my stack to read. Too many to name.
Hi Brenda! Sounds like you have a great reading list ahead of you. π Thanks for sharing. And good luck in the giveaway too!
A Flight of Arrows and too many to count.
Thereadmaster@me.com
Haha, I know the feeling, Virginia. Aren’t we lucky? π So many good books out there. Good luck in the giveaway and have a great weekend!
I’m really looking forward to reading Sarah Sundin’s newest and Dee Henderson’s. But there are so many other great ones out there!
Yes, Kathryn! I love the cover of Sarah’s latest one. I’ll have to look up Dee’s. π Happy Reading!
Counted with the Stars by Connilyn Cossette and Her One and Only by Becky Wade are two at the top of my list, but there are plenty of others I hope to read as well!
Both of those are on my list too, Lientjie! Thanks for sharing. Have a great day and good luck in the drawing!
This one!!!
I just finished Kristy Cambron’s The Ringmaster’s Wife and I’m excited to read Joanne’s spin on Big Top fiction. π
@AmandaGeaney
Me too, Amanda! π So glad you stopped by. Awww, I can’t wait to read Kristy’s book too. π I always enjoy your reviews on your blog, btw. Thanks for visiting!
There are so many wonderful books that I want to read. Among them are Kristy Cambronβs The Ringmasterβs Wife, Dawn Crandall’s The Captive Imposter and Counted with the Stars by Connilyn Cossette. π
We really have similar reading tastes, Caryl. I agree with every book you mentioned. π Thanks for stopping by and good luck in the giveaway!
I can’t remember the name but Laura Frantz has a book releasing soon. I love her books!
Oh me tooooooo! Yes, her books will always be on my reading list. π Thanks for visiting, Joan.
All the books listed in the review look great. I haven’t read any of Joanne Bischof’s work but that is definitely going to change!
Other than that, Julie Lessman’s A Heart Revealed and A Love Surrendered, and Julie Klassen’s The Painter’s Daughter are the next books on my “to read” list.
You mentioned some great ones, Katy! I’ve been a fan of Julie Lessman’s for a long time. π Hope you get to read some of Joanne’s books soon.
Looking forward to reading all the new books that come out this year.
Haha, right? I agree, Kim. π
I have such a long list, including Joanne’s The Lady and the Lionheart. Any books by Julie Lessman, Jen Turano, Karen Witemeyer, Pepper Basham, Ruth Logan Herne, Laura Frantz, Kate Breslin, Julie Klassen, Kristi Ann Hunter, Mary Weber, Katie Ganshert, Becky Wade…goodness! The list goes on and on… and on…
What a wonderful list you shared, Annie. Some of my very favorite authors! So many good stories await us! π
I am anxious to read Love in the Balance and Caught in the Middle, both by Retina Jennings. Thanks for the giveaway.
Hi Debbie! Yes, I have those on my list too. I always enjoy Regina’s stories!
Sounds interesting. Thanks for the chance to win.
Good luck to you, Kim!
I just finished Susan Anne Mason’s A Worthy Heart, which I LOVED, so I am anxiously awaiting the third book in that series. I really like the premise of Joanne’s new book so I am going to add that to my TBR list. Thanks for the preview and the giveaway!
So glad you could join us, Loraine. I LOVED A Worthy Heart too. π I’m sure the next one in the series will be just as good. Hope you get to read Joanne’s book this summer as well. Have a great weekend!
I’m most excited about Dressed For Death by Julianna Deering, Anchor In The Storm by Sarah Sundin, and Long Way Gone by Charles Martin.
You mentioned some new ones to me, Amanda. Thank you! π Happy Reading and good luck in the giveaway!
Dee Henderson’s latest suspense novel…and other Christian suspense, romance novels!
Christian suspense is really growing on me. You might check out Colleen Coble too, Barb. I bet you’d enjoy her stories!
I have several inspirational fiction books I am wanting to read and the newest book by Mary Higgins Clark is also on my list.
Connie
cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com
Wonderful, Connie. You can never have too many books! π Good luck in the drawing!
I’d REALLY love to get my hands on Live Never Before by Melissa Tagg! There are so many great books coming out in the near future it’s hard to choose!
Yes, definitely! Melissa Tagg’s stories are always so much fun and so romantic! π Thanks for sharing, Beth!
I have so many books on my list. Looking forward to Susan Ann Mason, Kristin Hunter, Melissa Tagg to name a few. I am part of many book club so I get to see what is coming. Trying to be patient for the releases.
This Quiet Sky is still on my list to read.
That’s awesome, Sonnetta. It’s such fun being a part of the writing/reading community. So many great books and authors out there. Hope you get to read Joanne’s books real soon. π
Terri Blackstock’s new book, Richard Paul Evans, and a bunch more!
Hmmm, sounds intriguing! I’ll have to look that up, Wenona. Thanks for stopping by!
I’m looking forward to reading Shauna Niequist’s new book “Present over perfect.” Thanks for hosting the giveaway!
I’ve not heard of that one, Alison. Thanks for mentioning it. Happy Reading and good luck in the giveaway!
The Lady and the Lionheart tops the list
Yay!! Good luck in the drawing, Jan. π
I’m looking forward to reading “The Forgotten Room” by Karen White.
I’ll have to look that one up as well, Dianne. Thanks for sharing! π
Well there you go….I’m already hooked with “deeply layered fiction that tugs at the readerβs heartstrings”. I LOVE authors who can entangle your heart so much in the story, it leaves you bereft after the last page π
I just finished reading Roseanna White’s “The Reluctant Duchess”, the second book in her Ladies of the Manor series. She can weave a tale so exquisitely. That one was my most anticipated read & now I’m in serious book mourning π HAHA! But I have several other’s I’m looking forward too….Beth Whites newest “The Magnolia Duchess” thrid of Gulf Coast Chronicles; Sarah Ladd’s “Dawn at Emberwilde” second one to the Treasures of Surrey series; Julie Klassen “The Painters Daughter”; Michelle Griep “Brentwood’s Ward” & teh October release of “The Captive Heart”….really too many more to name!! Lots of new releases coming out that I’m looking forward to. I LOVE being on authors street/launch teams!! I get to enjoy both reading the books and promoting their work…that’s the most fulfilling part for me!
Great author interview Joanne! Loved getting to know about you since you’re new to me. And your book sounds good too. Blessings to you!
Thanks Savanna!! π
Hi Trixi! Awww, you mentioned so many good books! Isn’t it FUN to work with authors on their street/launch teams? It’s such a blessing to be a part of supporting these great stories. I know you’d love Joanne’s books. Definitely add them to your long reading list. π Thanks for stopping by! Have a good weekend!
I’m looking forward to reading Austen in Austin Volume 1
Authors: Gina Welborn, Anita Mae Draper, Susanne Dietze, Debra E. Marvin, which came out in January and Jen Turano’s new book, Playing the Part. these are just 2 of the many.
Hi Kay! Thanks for sharing some of your favorites with us. I didn’t recognize all of those, so now I have my homework to do. π This is fun!
One book I have actually pre-ordered is A Flight of Arrows, another I am really looking forward to is A Tapestry of Secrets by Sarah Loudin Thomas. Both conclusions to series…
Awesome, Patty! I know, I’m always a little sad when my favorite series comes to an end. Happy Reading!
I want to read the latest by Lynn Austin and Sarah Sundin. I enjoy historical fiction!
LOVE historical fiction! π We’re so glad you could join us, Bonnie. Good luck in the drawing!
I am looking forward to reading The Lady and the Lionheart because I’ve read Joanne’s other books. I also want to read the last Christiansen family book by Susan May Warren, Becky Wade’s final Porter family book, and the latest books by Melanie Dickerson. I’m also really looking forward to A Flight of Arrows by Lori Benton since the first book, The Wood’s Edge, was fantastic.
Wonderful, Pam! Sounds like we like a lot of the same books. π Hope you get to read all the books on your list this year. There’s so many great ones to choose from!
There are so many I am looking forward to reading this year! A Flight of Arrows by Lori Benton; The Reluctant Duchess by Roseanna White are a couple.
Hi Nancy! Yes, both of those are on my list as well. I’ve heard nothing but great things about them! π