How did you discover you wanted to be a writer?
Always a voracious reader, I only started writing after my mum passed away. The couple of years after, I fell into a bit of a dark hole and a friend suggested I ‘write and get the sh*t out of my head’. Seven years later, my debut novel was released with Harlequin.
What did you do to actively pursue writing? (Joining RWAus, Mentorship etc)
I had to learn the craft of writing fiction and undertook Manuscript Incubator with Writers SA, where I met Victoria Purman. Victoria introduced me to RWA and convinced me to pitch at my first conference in Sydney. I’ve also done a gazillion other courses both in-person and online.
What do you find are the advantages of being part of RWAus?
RWAus has been instrumental in getting me to where I am today. The conferences are brilliant, full of learning, networking and building life-long friendships. RWAus’ courses have taught me many skills and industry nuances. It’s like having a massive cheersquad.
What is your favourite genre and why?
I have a strong affinity for small towns as I grew up in a small rural community and deeply appreciate the intricate details, colorful characters, and captivating conflicts that define them.
Share a little about your writing process?
Spasmodic 🙂 I’m a freelance editor, so most of my days are spent editing other stories. I’m also a deep thinker and ponder over ‘everything’, then when I’m ready, I write. It’s a slow process, but it works for me.
Tell us about your current work in progress…
Currently working on the next full-lengh manuscript in my Point Perry series – Let Me Love You in Point Perry. This story covers themes of body image, fractured families
And your latest book…
Light Up My Heart: A Point Perry Christmas is releasing 25 July 2024
Light Up My Heart: A Point Perry Christmas
Second chances can be a gift when you’re brave enough to risk your heart …
Scarlett Reynold’s life in the city may be in tatters, but that doesn’t mean anyone needs to know. Especially when Christmas is her favourite time of year and it’s her first visit home to the small town of Point Perry in forever.
Ryan Black would recognise Scarlett anywhere, although apparently, she doesn’t remember him or their teenage summer romance. He’s fine with that because he hates Christmas and anyone who loves it so much isn’t meant for him.
But then Scarlett and Ryan are thrown together amidst preparations for the town’s annual Christmas festivities. The longer Scarlett is in town, the more reasons she’s finding to stay, and the harder it is for Ryan to deny their growing attraction.
When admitting your feelings means facing past pains, sometimes even love can’t overcome doubt and fear. But never underestimate the power of a little Christmas magic …
Buy on: Amazon https://amzn.to/3ywVkMa
Author bio:
Joanne Speirs is an award winning author for her debut novel, Second Chance Love in Point Perry. She won Favourite Debut Author in the Australian Romance Readers Awards in 2023, was runner-up in the prestigious Romance Writers of Australia Valerie Parv Award in 2019 and was longlisted for the Romance Writers of Australia Emerald Award in 2020.
She grew on a farm in a small rural community on the Eyre Peninsula of South Australia. Scouring the school library shelves for Sweet Valley High novels and sneaking a read of her mum’s Mills & Boon books became a favourite pastime in her teens and fuelled her passion for reading and writing romance.
She lives in Adelaide with her two grown sons, husband and border collie named Zeb. When not writing, she works as an editor, specialising in editing manuscripts for other romance authors.
Connect on the web:
www.joannespeirs.com.au