Today’s Spotlight is on JoAnn Smith Ainsworth, author of EXPECT TROUBLE, a romantic paranormal thriller.

Thank you, Shelley, for this invitation to be guest author today. I appreciate this opportunity to share my Work and my writing journey with your readers.

Why do you write?

Because it’s my passion.

As I approached retirement age, I needed a way to supplement my social security income. Since I have my B.A. and an M.A.T. in English and completed my MBA studies, I decided to become an author and write novels. It didn’t take me long to fall in love with my characters and with the craft. Now, I’d keep writing even if I never sold another novel.

What’s your favorite genre?

I write “coming of awareness” and “coming to self acceptance” stories in an historical setting where the heroine transforms into an “indomitable” woman as she struggles with plot elements. When she overcomes each challenge, she becomes empowered.

People struggle with relationships generation after generation. They grow into adulthood, marry and nurture children. They face the same types of emotional highs and lows as their ancestors. They are blocked while trying to reach their goals or make their lives better. They have aspirations. They endure despair. Since the heroine’s actions drive the story, all my writing has a similar tone, even though the plots, locations and personalities are different.

“Awareness” and “self acceptance” stories are timeless. My heroines, although living in historical times, can easily be transported to today’s world.

I like to test myself as a writer, so I blend genres. My medieval and western romances have a blend of suspense, paranormal, action and mystery. My novel, EXPECT TROUBLE, has only a hint of romance in this first book of the series because the romance arcs over three novels. The book is a paranormal embedded in suspense with the fast pace of a thriller.

To be successful as an author, what do you see as the main goal?

Knowledge of the craft to write a great book and the ability to run a successful business.

What advice can you give to aspiring authors?

Write the book of your heart because you’ll be passionate about marketing the manuscript to publishers and to readers.

This advice has its drawbacks. By the time you finish the novel, the market may be such that the manuscript will be a hard sell. Or you may be before your time and have to develop a market niche.

Nonetheless, from personal experience, I find that a better novel results when you write a story you care deeply about.

What advice would you give to the youth of today (not just authors)?

Never give up. Stay optimistic.

When I speak to readers, I often have people come up to me and say I’m an inspiration because I chose to change the direction of my life as I approached retirement. I started the business of “author” as a senior citizen. I stuck it out (despite being knocked down from time to time by rejection letters) until I succeeded by being published. I give others hope to follow through on their dreams and not to let age become a barrier or an excuse.

Out of this life journey, I learned to stay true to myself, stay focused, and be willing to walk baby-step by baby-step toward my goal.

What’s on your bucket list?

I’d like to speak about writing and my novels while visiting in foreign countries.

Tell us about your book (enter book blurb here):

Opening herself to ridicule by revealing she’s clairvoyant is the last thing U.S. WAVE Livvy Delacourt wants, but when Uncle Sam—in the guise of a skeptical, but handsome naval commander—needs her skill to track Nazi spies, she jumps in with both feet.

Join this emotional journey through paranormal realms of fast-paced suspense and supernatural battles as U.S. Navy psychics pit themselves against their Nazi counterparts.

Read an excerpt at http://joannsmithainsworth.com/paranormal-pg.shtml.

What would you like people to know about you (put your bio or anything else here):

When JoAnn Smith Ainsworth carried wood as a pre-teen so her Great Aunt Martha could stoke up the iron stove to prepare dinner, she wasn’t thinking, “I could use this in a novel someday.” Yet, the skills she learned from her horse-and-buggy ancestors translate into backdrops for her historical romance and paranormal suspense novels. JoAnn’s debut medieval romantic suspense novels received 4 stars from RT Book Reviews. Of her historical western romances released fall 2013, one reader said, “seamlessly, flawless writing.” Another said, “WOW, it was amazing! There was fun, excitement, adventure and so well put as a love story.” Her paranormal thriller, EXPECT TROUBLE, released May 2014. She is represented by Agent Dawn Dowdle of Blue Ridge Literary Agency.

JoANN’S BOOKS:

MATILDA’S SONG (ISBN:  978-1-60504-195-7)  / OUT OF THE DARK (ISBN:  978-1-60504-277-0)

POLITE ENEMIES (Book 1) (ebook ISBN:  978-1-61160-636-2; print:  978-1-61160-590-7) / THE FARMER AND THE WOOD NYMPH (Book 2) (ebook ISBN:  978-1-61160-660-7; print:  978-1-61160-898-4)

EXPECT TROUBLE(ebook ISBN:  978-161009-517-4; print: 978-1-61009-074-2)

JoANN’S LINKS:

For more, visit: http://www.joannsmithainsworth.com.

Twitter @JoAnnAinsworth or @JoAnnParanormal or Facebook’s JoAnn Smith Ainsworth Fan Page.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&query=joann+smith+ainsworth

Contact her at JoAnnParanormal@gmail.com.

BUY LINKS:

Amazon – http://amzn.to/Zgbls6

Barnes & Noble – http://bit.ly/HMX2KH

and an independent bookstore near you – http://www.indiebound.org/indie-bookstore-finder