Author Interview with Gloria Joynt-Lang
Debut Author Gloria Joynt-Lang is joining us on the blog today. Have you seen her cover? We love it! Now, let's chat and learn more about Gloria!
Tell us a few things about yourself that our readers would like to know.
I was the weird kid who loved to write term papers. It thrilled me to pick topics I knew nothing about, and spend hours in the library researching them. As a college student, I’ve written topics ranging from crop insurance to S&M. Perhaps one day I’ll use that research in my writing, and it just might not be the obvious one.
My childhood dream was to be a National Hockey League goalie. Unfortunately, my parents put me into figure skating, misinterpreting my passion for gliding on ice. I was a complete disaster with neither an iota of grace nor skill. While the other kids were practicing twirls, I would practice the butterfly drop just in case a puck shot my way.
I love mac & cheese, but only in its purest form. Add anything to it, and you’ll find me picking it out. I’ve even been known to push ground pepper to the side.
Tell us what your books are about.
Beyond Circumstances is a contemporary romance novel about a damaged man with a violent past who’s hiding in rural Illinois. He ends up meeting a compassionate woman who’s haunted by her own guilt. It’s a suspenseful novel about transcending pain and how it takes a village to heal.
Escaping Circumstances follows NYPD detective Scorp Traversini, a tormented and inherently flawed man whose life is altered when he rescues his kid sister from their drug-addicted mother. Struggling with his own demons, and with no idea of how to raise a child, he turns to his adorkable neighbor for help.
What are your writing plans for the future?
In addition to Beyond Circumstances and Escaping Circumstance which are both coming out this year, I’ve just finished a third novel. It’s part of the same Out of the Darkness series. I have also started another series, entitled Storm Harbor which takes place in a small coastal town in Oregon. It centers around a man who owes a garage and hires this guarded woman as a mechanic. If you love sexy beta guys, then this one is for you.
What inspires you to write?
I love writing stories that challenge people’s assumptions and exposes injustices. My parents were always big on having a diverse group of friends; people of different cultures, different religions, and different ethnic backgrounds. Due to my father’s employment, our family moved every few years, making me the new kid in school. As an outsider, I learnt to empathize with how hard it is for kids that didn’t fit the mold. And it was far easier for me than a lot of others, as I didn’t have to learn a new language or culture. The day I began writing Beyond Circumstances, a particular event happened in the world. It wasn’t only the event, but also people’s reactions, that didn’t sit right with me. I knew I wanted to create a story that came from a different viewpoint. And being a romantic, a story that I hope would make my readers’ hearts flutter.
Any advice you would like to give to aspiring writers?
Write a story that resonates with you. Listen to feedback and make adjustments, but not to the extent where you end up writing something you don’t recognize anymore. When I wrote my first novel, I was told readers might not be receptive to my kind of hero. And perhaps I should look at making my protagonist a Caucasian American billionaire. But that’s not who I wanted this man to be, so I didn’t listen. Writing is about doing what you love, so write your heroes how you see them.
Do you reply back to your fans and admirers personally?
A big resounding YES! Along with sitting down and creating the story, connecting with readers is the best part of being an author. I love hearing from people who have read my work, and getting their feedback. The criticism makes me a better writer, and if you give me kudos, well…you just made my insides all warm and squishy.
What do you do in your free time?
I spend half the year living in this quaint lake community in Canada, so I spend a lot of time on or in the water. My favorite place to write is on our pontoon boat, in the middle of the lake. And kayaking on calm waters is the best. I have this crazy wild Yorkie named Smookie. And even though she’s the most high-strung dog I’ve ever encountered, she settles down when I take her out on the kayak. Something about floating on water soothes her soul. And if it’s a cooler day, then I love to head out on my motorcycle. Riding is my stress reliever.
Given the chance to live your life again, what would you change about yourself?
That’s an easy one. I’d would have been a better student when my mother tried to teach me French. It’s embarrassing to have been born in France to a French mother and a Canadian father and not be able to speak the beautiful romantic language. My mother spoke four languages, and most of my French cousins speak at least two languages, if not three. Multilingualism opens you up to so many new experiences and people.
How did you celebrate the publishing of your first book?
The night I signed the contract with Fiery Seas Publishing, my husband and I broke out the champagne. And not any champagne, but a bottle of Dom Perignon my sister had gifted me when I retired. It was a great way to celebrate, as both my husband and my sister are great supporters of my writing dreams.
What’s your favorite movie which was based on a book?
A lot of readers find the movie adaptation disappointing. I’m like this too. I love movies, but I find books provide better detail. That being said, I give props to the movie adaptation of JoJo Moyes’ You Before Me. I was absolutely crazy about the book, and it turned into such a wonderful textured heartwarming movie that I could watch over and over. The author wrote the screenplay and had a lot of input, and it definitely shows.
Beyond Circumstances
By Gloria Joynt-Lang
Series: Out of the Darkness
Fiery Seas Publishing
June 12, 2018
Contemporary Romance
Dr. Lexie Draden didn’t want to leave her successful career as a surgeon in Chicago, but she didn’t have a choice. Her family needed to heal, and as long as she was around, it wasn’t going to happen. While adapting to her new community, she meets ZAK TIFOUR, a man as intriguing as he is handsome.
Most of the small-town residents view Zak as a man who likes his privacy, but to a select few, something doesn’t seem right. Long-time resident Cicily McQuay believes she has the key to the man’s odd behavior – a link to terrorism. After all, he just isn’t the type of man who belongs in her community. But to belong, you need to be welcomed; something Cicily has never extended to Zak.
Zak knows plenty of terrorists and has even lived amongst them, but not like Cicily suspects. Escaping from a lifetime of bloodshed and regrets, he attempts to distance himself from the quirky townsfolk; people unable to comprehend boundaries. It appears to be working until he encounters the town’s new attractive doctor. Even though his secrets run deep, she ends up trusting him with her heart. But trust is fragile, and when Zak gets drawn back to his old life, Lexie must decide whether he’s a dangerous man or a broken hero.
About the Author:
Gloria Joynt-Lang was born in Ars-Laquenexy, France and spent her childhood experiencing the vast landscapes of Canada. A graduate of the University of Alberta with a degree in Criminology, she devoted her career to working in the criminal justice system. She now splits her time living in rural Alberta, Canada as well as Southern California with her husband and their two dogs, a Maltese named YaHoo and Yorkie named Smookie Bijoux. Why the Yorkie has a stripper name shall remain a tight guarded secret. A lifelong nerd, she is most comfortable with a book or laptop close by except when she transforms to cool biker chick, hopping on her motorcycle for a speed limit abiding ride to the nearest bookstore.
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