Author Joanne Troppello Shares Their Story
Joanne Troppello is an author of inspirational and romantic suspense novels. She and her husband are Network Marketing Coaches and owners of Mustard Seed Marketing Group, LLC. They have several active blogs and readers are encouraged to visit their Author’s Corner Blog, a place for authors and readers to connect. They host various blog parties throughout the year and many guest authors stop by to meet with readers.
About the Author
Joanne Troppello is an author of inspirational and romantic suspense novels. She and her husband are Network Marketing Coaches and owners of Mustard Seed Marketing Group, LLC. They have several active blogs and readers are encouraged to visit their Author’s Corner Blog, a place for authors and readers to connect. They host various blog parties throughout the year and many guest authors stop by to meet with readers.
What inspires you to write romance books?
I began writing when I was 17 years old, but went on a long journey before I became published. In one of my high school English classes, my teacher brought a love for reading and writing to his students. I’ve always had a desire to start writing since I was younger, but didn’t try my hand at it until that year. I’ve learned so much about writing along the way and continue to desire to better my writing. Bella Lucia is a romantic suspense novel, but the themes of infertility and adoption play a part in the storyline. This was a personal story for me since my husband and I have dealt with similar issues. I also enjoy reading suspense novels so it was fun adding a suspense plotline as well. Mr. Shipley’s Governess was inspired by my love for Jane Austen’s work and the Regency period. I wanted to create a contemporary romance novel with a classic feel.
Tell us about how you write:
I begin with a general outline and then start writing. As the story line plays out, I “hear” what my characters are saying to me and let them tell the story. The outline almost always changes to some degree, but that’s fine by me. It’s their story after all!
Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
I “talk” to my characters, but also lean more heavily upon “listening” to them. I have the idea in mind and do some outlining, but then listen to where they’re leading the story.
What advice would you give other writers?
Following your heart is vital. Be true to yourself and write from your heart. Learn to accept constructive criticism and always work to become a better writer. Network with other authors, as critique partners, and learn to help promote each other. Accept the fact that self-promotion comes with the territory if you’re in this field. Whether you write articles or books, continue to write…even if you’re not seeing immediate success. Perseverance will win out in the long run.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
Bella Lucia is published with Astraea Press and my other two books are self-published. I am keeping my options open and am looking to publish future works with another publisher and also self-publish other books. I had a bad experience with my first publisher (name not mentioned) and then two of the publishers I signed a contract with went out of business. I found Astraea Press and have had a very good experience with them. I would advise aspiring authors to ascertain what they want. Think about what their marketing plan would be and consult other authors (if possible) before making a decision. They should do their research before they decide on signing with a publisher or going the self-published route. Going the self-publishing route with Amazon and Create Space, for example, will give you a higher royalty, but the down side is you need to do more marketing. Authors always need to self-promote, but if you’re not with a publisher you will need to do more marketing.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
I started writing in the 90’s but didn’t get published until the early 2000’s. I’ve seen a big change in book submissions. I remember having to submit to publishers through the mail and send in a SASE for a response. Things have changed. Now authors can submit online via email. With the advent of self-publishing, more doors of opportunities have opened up for authors. However, I also believe that some books get self-published that may not be as polished as if they’d have gone through a publishing house. As an author, I speak from experience and have learned my own lessons about making wrong decisions and going with a publisher who did not help polish my first book. Lessons learned and it’s about moving on and learning from your mistakes.
What genres do you write?
Romantic Suspense, Inspirational Romance, Fantasy, Police Procedural
What formats are your books in?
Both eBook and Print
Website(s)
Author Home Page Link
Link To Author Page On Amazon
Link to Author Page on other site
Your Social Media Links
https://www.goodreads.com/joannetroppello
https://www.facebook.com/joannetroppello
https://twitter.com/JoanneTroppello
http://www.pinterest.com/joannetroppello
