Bookish friends, I am geeking out right now! I had the immense pleasure of getting to interview my favorite author, Joanna Ruth Meyer.
Let me give you a little background to start. At the beginning of 2020, I listened to the audiobook, Echo North, on a total whim. It floored me. I had never read anything like it and that shocked me. Fantasy is my favorite genre, but sometimes fantasy novels can all begin to sound the same at a certain point. This book was like a breath of fresh air!
I immediately took to Goodreads to research the author, Joanna Ruth Meyer. I wanted to see if she had any other books I could gobble up. It turned out that Echo North wasn’t her first. Beneath the Haunting Sea had been released in 2018 and the sequel, Beyond the Shadowed Earth, had just dropped! I was delighted! I made plans to read those two books as soon as possible and proceeded to follow her on Instagram.
Not only did I absolutely love the next two books that I read by Joanna, but I began to have bits of conversation with her here and there on social media.
Let it be known that the first time I got a response via DM, I cried. No joke. It was like a dream come true when I found out that she was writing another book. When I won an advanced reader copy in a giveaway, I screeched and then proceeded to dance around the house for the rest of the day.
Her newest book, Into the Heartless Wood, was not only my favorite read of 2020, but it is easily my favorite book of all time. There’s quite literally no comparison. It brought me to tears and… wait… why am I telling you all that here? I have a full review you can go read! This book is officially available for purchase today, and in celebration, I’m sharing an awesome interview I got to have with the author herself!
What part of this book-writing process made you the very happiest?
Joanna: I really enjoyed writing Seren’s viewpoint scenes! It was such an interesting exercise to get into the head of a non-human character, and I loved thinking through how a girl who was born a tree would perceive and interact with the world.
I know you live in a dry, hot state – so did you find yourself lacking inspiration at any point when writing about dark and chilly forests?
Joanna: Writing HEARTLESS was kind of a delicious escape from the desert—it was one of those books I got immersed in to the point where I truly felt I was in that world while writing it. I also managed to escape up north to cooler climes and pine trees a few times, which helped—I finished both the first and second drafts up there!
This book is described as a gender-swapped Beauty and the Beast retelling. Do you plan to write any more fairytale retellings in the future?
Joanna: I would love to, if the correct ideas present themselves! I have a pseudo-Rapunzel reimagining rattling around in my head—we’ll see if I can hash out a plot enough to write it!
What was something you edited out of this book?
Joanna: In the first draft, Owen goes to work as a cook for a team of people building the railroad track, and is the only person to survive an attack by tree sirens. It got changed for a number of logistical reasons, and also because the train crash scene is (hopefully!!) more compelling.
Will we see Owen and Seren again in the future?
Joanna: I started writing a post-epilogue short story, which I do want to finish at some point—no future novels planned, though!
Your Instagram seems to indicate that you love Lord of the Rings. Who is your favorite character and why?
Joanna: My faves are Eowyn and Sam! Sam is so loyal and brave and the best person to have ever existed. Eowyn is so awesome—she slays! the Nazgul! king! and she’s so fierce and strong and loves so deeply and her character totally got massacred in the movie ask me if I’m still upset about that. My screen name “gamwyn” is a mashup of Gamgee (Sam) and Eowyn.
Would you ever want your books turned into movies?
Joanna: Yes!!!! But I would want the power to veto changes I didn’t like. XD
What is it that you loved most about Into the Heartless Wood (could be anything from the characters to the setting to the actual style of writing to the cover design)?
Joanna: I love Owen and Seren so much! They gave me so many feels whilst writing, and even though I’ve been out of their story for awhile now, I still feel all the feels when I think about them! I really hope readers will love them as much as I do.
An enormous thank-you to Joanna for agreeing to this interview! Make sure to pick up your copy of Into the Heartless Wood today.
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Kayleigh Zara says
I just wanted to start with your blog looks absolutely gorgeous! I really love the layout and the colour scheme. I’ve not read the book but I love the answers the author gave x
Stephanie Whitman says
Thank you very much! This rebrand from She Saw Style to The Espresso Edition was really special to me 🙂 And I’m not surprised you haven’t read it, seeing as how it came out today 😉 But you certainly should read it! It’s phenomenal!
Reagan says
Great interview! Thanks for the book recommends.
Stephanie Whitman says
I hope you got a chance to check out the review itself since this is just the interview 🙂 I highly recommend all of Joanna’s books!
Anika says
It’s always nice to read about an author’s creative process, so much to admire! I haven’t heard of this book before, so definitely one to look into, the characters sound great 👍🏾
Anika | chaptersofmay.com
Stephanie Whitman says
It’s really fun to see how it all comes together. Learning a little more about her creative process with this book was such a great experience, especially since it’s my favorite book ever!
Annie says
I’ve never heard of this author or her books, but I’m so intrigued, plus I love your taste in books, so I’m going to check this out. Thanks for the fun interview too. I want to reread it after I’ve read her books, I’m sure it will make more sense to me then, but for now it’s made me so curious about this series.
Stephanie Whitman says
She’s an underrated author, for sure. I’m not sure why her books aren’t more hyped – specifically, Echo North and this new release, Into the Heartless Wood. I hope you do give her books a go and enjoy them as much as I do. They’re absolutely incredible and she deserves all the recognition!
Luke Slater says
What a fantastic post this is, and certainly a good book recommendation here. I’ll have to keep a good look out for it 😁
Stephanie Whitman says
Into the Heartless Wood is definitely my favorite book, but I highly recommend anything Joanna writes!
Malia Reed says
How exciting! This was such a phenomenal opportunity! If I’m being honest, I can’t remember the last time I read for pleasure, but I’m definitely making it a point to start reading more this year (outside of my college textbooks lol)! I’ll have to give Joanna’s books a look!
Stephanie Whitman says
That’s so sad to hear. Reading for pleasure is such an excellent form of self-care (specifically if it’s something you enjoy). I hope you’re able to make a little extra time for it this year. And YES! Definitely give her books a try. They’re really the best of the best!
Janzy says
Very cool! I’d love to look into these interesting books! I’m obsessed with Sam too & my social handle used to be @jangamgee haha.
Stephanie Whitman says
I think you’d really enjoy them (just based on knowing what kind of books you already like)! 🙂 I think that username is absolutely adorable!
Kelly Diane says
I really enjoyed reading this interview. I could feel the excitement radiating from you and it just really made me smile. I’m not usually a fan of this genre but I do really enjoy reading about what the author thinks. I’m so nosy, I just love getting to know people more.
Stephanie Whitman says
It was so much fun to just chat with her about all of this. I’ve already been geeking out over the book (and I’m getting ready to do a reread), so knowing what her process was like was extra special!
Sarah Lindner says
Very cool and great interview…what an awesome opportunity! xoxo, Sarah
Stephanie Whitman says
It really was so special to be able to talk with my favorite author about my favorite book – I mean, how surreal is that? Such a neat experience!
Tanvi Rastogi says
First time hearing of the author and I am intrigued. I will definitely check out her work. What a fabulous experience for you to be able to interview her.
❥ tanvii.com
Stephanie Whitman says
I don’t know why she isn’t super well known yet. It baffles me, considering how phenomenal her work is! I often wonder why the popular books are popular in the first place when I know so many that are *cough*better*cough* haha! I hope you get a chance to read some of her work!
Rach says
OMG this is incredible that you interviewed your favorite author! This is incredible! I’ll have to check out her books because I trust your book recommendations!
http://www.rdsobsessions.com
Stephanie Whitman says
It really was an amazing experience. I felt so honored to get the chance to chat with her like this. She’s not only a brilliant writer – but the sweetest person too! I hope you love her books as much as I do!
rebecca says
WOW steph! what an amazing experience! Now I need to put some of these books up next to read on my list, they sound really great and if they are your faves, I gotta check em out!
xx rebecca // thecrystalpress.com
Stephanie Whitman says
I’m glad you trust my judgment haha! That makes me smile 🙂 I definitely recommend all her books, but specifically Echo North and this new release, Into the Heartless Wood (my GOSH this book is SO GOOD).
Anna English says
I haven’t heard of this author or any of these books, but I’m going to check out now!
Stephanie Whitman says
I’m sure you’ve heard of Into the Heartless Wood because I wrote a review on it last August that you left a comment on 🙂 It’s my favorite book of all time. I hope you get a chance to read her work!
Lee says
Ah I love that you got to interview your favorite author, that is amazing!!
Stephanie Whitman says
It was a dream come true. She’s become such an inspiration to me over the past year. I’m so grateful that I got to “sit down with her” in this way!
Caitlin says
Wow this is such an amazing opportunity! I’ve never interviewed an author but I often imagine all of the questions I would ask him/her about their thought process when writing a book. So so cool!
Stephanie Whitman says
Because Into the Heartless Wood is my favorite book, it was an even more incredible opportunity to ask her all of my most pressing questions! Such a special experience, that’s for sure.
Greta says
How fun it must have been to interview one of your favorite authors! I’ll have to read this book for myself!
Stephanie Whitman says
It really was such a special experience! I’m so grateful that she agreed to chat with me!
Venus says
WOW! Just wow this must have been so exciting for you to be able to interview one of your favorite authors. The questions you created was so detailed and well noted. What a great interview.
Stephanie Whitman says
It really was an awesome experience! Definitely still pinching myself over the fact that I got to chat with my favorite author about my favorite book! Thanks so much for the encouragement on it 🙂
Cassidy Poe says
This is so fun! I love that you were able to sit and interview one of your favorite authors. The books sound so good!
Stephanie Whitman says
It was truly a special moment in my blogging career. I’m really hopeful that more people read the book because I can’t seem to shut up about it haha. It’s amazing!
Kelly Bolen says
Sounds like this was an amazing opportunity! I wil need to take a look at her books!!
Alice says
Wow! What a treat that you were able to interview your favorite author! I too love fantasy novels. Her book sounds great! I’m going to have to pick this one up!
Xo Alice
Jennifer Prince says
How AMAZING that you reached out to her and she answered your questions. I love it!! It’s so interesting to hear the author’s insights. Kudos to you for trying – what a win!
Linda says
How fun! I imagine I would be dancing around the house if I got a DM reply from one of my fav chefs. What a cool experience!
Genesis says
I always wonder if authors want their books to be movies. It was cool to hear some personal answers from an author. So cool that you could get in contact with her!
Jamaria Johnson says
I’m always fascinated by creatives and how they achieve such great works that we all treasure! This was so awesome, thanks for sharing! Now I have to read this book! xo
Em says
I am loving your rebrand! This author interview is so cool! 🥰