Author Interview with Joanie Lunsford
- HS Matthews
- Jul 15
- 2 min read
I met Joanie through Instagram, and she has become one of my biggest supporters and a friend. We have quite a bit in common with work and writing. Have a read and get to know her a bit.
What inspired you to become an indie author instead of pursuing traditional publishing?
I completed writing The Gap when I was 54 or 55 years old and with my older age came the urgency to get the book published in a timely manner which is the indie author way rather than wasting time jumping through hoops with no success which is notable to traditional publishers.
Without spoilers, can you share the story behind your latest book? What sparked the idea?
The Gap is about the ways in which mental illness manifests itself through three generations. The idea was sparked by my experiencing and witnessing childhood emotional trauma from a toxic family environment and the resulting struggles from lingering effects when an adult.
How do you approach the writing process? Are you a planner or a panster?
I am predominantly a pantser. Meaning the inspiration for my stories is mental health and so the beginning and end I know and guess you could call both somewhat planned. But in between, I just let the creativity flow naturally and hopefully the story delivers the awareness I hope to convey.
What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced as an indie author, and how did you overcome it?
Self-promoting is the biggest obstacle and without a broad outreach of connections, I have not overcome the challenge. It is for this reason; I much prefer spending my time reading and reviewing stories from fellow indie authors.
What role does reader feedback play in shaping your writing or future projects?
Reader feedback is an excellent guide to connectivity in storytelling and therefore to my development as a writer. On that note, I appreciate all the feedback I have received from the IG Indie author community which has aided me on my second writing venture.
How do you balance writing with other responsibilities, like a day job or family life?
Obviously not very well since I have been working on my second book seemingly forever. However, I am currently plugging away at it with a determination to finally finish, regardless of the slow process.
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