Author Interview: Joanna Holden

Do you love fairy tales? You know I do. Well, today, you're in for a treat, because my guest author, Joanna Holden, is here to talk about her fairytale retellings as well as her life as an author. Make sure you read all the way to the end to find out more about her books and how to find her online!

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Joanna, I know you're a homeschooling mom to your four children. How do you find time to write?
It’s definitely a challenge, especially in seasons with extra complications. (We’re in one of those right now.) For me, it’s a matter of routine. I plan our school days so that we do all our work in the mornings. Then the kids have the afternoons free for exploring and playing, and Mommy gets regular writing time. We’ve chosen a method and curriculum to match this routine. I also try to switch up writing times based on how I’m feeling physically. If I’m doing pretty good, afternoons are my time. If I need daily naps, I wait till the kids are in bed and write then. (And if I need to reach a deadline, I double up and do both.) And as often as I can, I schedule weekly library writing days. This makes sure that a) I can get out of the house, and b) I get in several solid uninterrupted hours of writing.
It’s not perfect by any means. There are plenty of days when writing still doesn’t happen. But at least it’s on my mind. And it’s a lot easier to slip into the routine when it’s been the same for eleven years.

Your books look like so much fun. What inspired you to do fairytale retellings?
I was actually inspired by not finding what I was looking for. I had seen a lot of retellings being launched that were all based on the same four or five fairy tales. And while I loved those, I wanted to see a wider variety of options. Especially since there is such a rich pool to choose from, and it felt like no one was even touching those. So, I pulled a selection of lesser-known fairy tales that I loved.
That also affected how I chose to retell them. Rather than taking an original concept and spinning it into something wildly different, I opted to write them as close to the originals as possible. I look at them more as extended editions of the originals – adding in details and fleshing out plotlines, and letting the surprises come from those additions rather than changing endings or subverting the original tropes.

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How hard was it to pick which fairy tales to use for your stories?
It actually wasn’t very hard to pick which ones I wanted to retell. There were stories or characters or magical elements that just spoke to me, that clicked, and I found myself passionate about the idea of retelling them.

Why middle grade? What is it about that age group that makes you want to write for them?
I’ve always loved middle grade fantasy. I grew up on Narnia, Peter Pan, and a myriad of other classics. When I first started writing Little Hood, though, I didn’t have a younger audience in mind. It wasn’t until after I had written a version of it (I ended up completely rewriting it) that I realized this book was meant to be middle grade. Once that clicked, I took a look at the other fairy tales and realized Snow Dust was meant to be, too. About that same time, I started hearing from several kids of friends who were bemoaning how difficult it was to find clean fantasy adventures for middle grade and young adult. That was when my writing really took off – now I had a specific audience in mind and a specific passion to drive me.

Can you give us a sneak peek into what you're working on next?
I’m currently working on continuing the fairy tale retelling, branching into Young Adult with a new series. The first fairy tale being retold is a blend of The Wild Swans and The Six Swans currently under the title Swan Song. It’s about a princess who must travel to a distant land to save herself and break a dark curse on her brothers. I’m in the middle of outlining and plan to start drafting this fall.

What is a fairy tale you could never see yourself using in a retelling? And why?
That would have to be The Little Mermaid. I know it’s a favorite for many fairy tale lovers, and I’ve actually enjoyed retellings of it. But I feel conflicted as to whether I like it or not. And writing a book takes a lot of work. So, I think I’ll save that for fairy tales I’m 100% in love with.

As a mom, what do you hope your children learn from watching you write your books?
I want them to see their mother persevering. I want them to learn that they, too, can pursue their God-given dreams, and that the things we’re passionate about are worth working hard to achieve. I also hope they see a balance – that work never comes before God or family, but that there are other sacrifices that sometimes it is worth it to make.

And last but not least, can you leave us with one fact about yourself that very few people know about you?
I know Irish Step dancing and can American Clog my way out of any situation.

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Snow Dust 

​Gerda has heard her grandmother’s stories of magic and adventure all her life. But neither she nor her best friend Kay believe in them . . . until Kay is infected with slivers of snow dust and the Snow Queen arrives to claim them. When Kay disappears, everyone believes he is dead. Except Gerda.

When an accident lands her on the road to the fabled Ice Palace, Gerda’s choice is simple: run back to the comfort of her home, or venture into the unknown to find Kay. And with the ice burrowing deeper into Kay’s heart, Gerda is running out of time.

New friends, new enemies, and constant danger await Gerda on the road north, and she will have plenty of chances to turn back. When all seems lost, will she persevere? Or will the Snow Queen win Kay’s loyalty—and his life?

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Little Hood

Blanche spends every day dreaming about adventure. But it won’t happen. Not in the miserable little farming county she lives in. Here all she can do is work, day in and day out, beside her worn and Blanche worried mother waiting for the day when she’ll be old enough to leave. Her only hope seems to be matchmaking her mother to the woodcutter who lives nearby. If she can get her mother to notice him.

Then the mysterious stranger shows up. And the animal attacks start. Soon, Blanche is caught up in a magical mystery that is everything she ever hoped for. But as the enemy grows more powerful, things start spiraling out of control. When Blanche’s family is threatened, will she be willing to stand up for them and risk all she has worked for? Or will she give way to the darkness that is coming for them all?

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Joanna G. Holden is a stay-at-home mom and book dragon living in the breathtaking Texas hill country with her husband, Micah, and their growing family. Her artistic passions span in many directions, from music and sketching to acting and dance. But writing faith-fueled fantasy novels is her one true obsession. She also runs a YouTube channel for authors of fantasy and series where she shares her journey and helpful tips for new authors. 


https://www.joannaholden.com/ (author website)
Instagram Handle - @authorjoannagholden