Wednesday, October 12, 2022

"Jophiel's Secret" by Johanna Frank -- Author Interview, Blog Tour, and Giveaway

About the Book


Book: Jophiel’s Secret

Author: Johanna Frank

Genre: Fiction Fantasy

Release date: December 1, 2022

When the powerful angelic escort, Jophiel, falls to earth and becomes a cherished son, Joppha, but then goes missing, a cosmic battle ensues over the young lad’s mortality. Kingdom Authoritarians conspire to outsmart the Rebel’s vengeful plan to destroy little Joppha and sabotage his eternity. While in small town Havensight, law enforcement clash with Joppha’s family as they scramble to find someone to blame.

Many wills are at play. But all Joppha wants is to go home.

A standalone read, Jophiel’s Secret is part of A Lifeline Fantasy Series by Johanna Frank, where an adopted line of descendants must survive perpetual rebel attacks on their character. The series begins with The Gatekeeper’s Descendants where this new world is introduced and carries on into Jophiel’s Secret with Pipiera, Matthew, Megalos and Kasartha among others coming with.

If you like stories that take place in a world beyond with everlasting connections, you will definitely enjoy Jophiel’s Secret!

Soulful, whimsical, and venturous.

 Author Interview

Do you set a plot or prefer going wherever an idea takes you?
This is such a great question because I have learned so much about myself during the creative
process of writing. I always considered myself a planner, mostly because the jobs I’ve held in my
past called for it and with much detail. As an author now, I have large whiteboards in my spare
room where I map out the next steps for each chapter. Then, as I sit inside each character’s head
and write, those plans often go straight out the window. Thank heavens for dry erase markers,
plans can be easily wiped away and refreshed with better ideas! To answer your question—I start
with an overall plot, but the characters take me through the climatic journey and toward the
ending. They seem to have their own ideas.
 
What is the hardest thing about writing?
Depends on when you ask me that question. Each year, it seems to be something different I
struggle with. Initially, when attempting book #1, I truly struggled at just how to go about it and
endured through many false starts. I nearly gave up. After I completed the first manuscript (and I
had about twenty edited versions), the toughest thing ever was to ask others—friends and
family—to actually read it. I learned a great deal researching the publishing industry to figure
out just what the next steps should be—I wouldn’t say that was the hardest, but it sure was
frustrating at times. Now, I’d say the marketing is the toughest, very time and energy consuming.
(And if you don’t know what you’re doing, as I am learning, it can be costly!) I feel a great deal
for so many authors, knowing now the hard work and personal dedication that goes into creating
a novel. Balancing all hats—it’s like juggling in a jungle. Thankfully, with writing associations
and blogs like this one, I can say that I, for one, at least don’t feel alone!

What would you say is the easiest aspects of writing?
Fresh mornings and a cleared schedule for writing, that’s when writing feels good. And when it
feels good, it feels easy. If I stay in the groove, writing regularly, it’s much simpler than if too
much time lapses between writing sessions and precious details for the thought or idea I was
running with become forgotten, lest I’ve jotted them down somewhere and not misplaced the
notes!

Do you need to be in a specific place or room to write, or can you just sit in the middle of a
café full of people and write?
Well, a good chunk of ideas was written while on a cruise ship sitting by the pool! My husband
flipped through magazines while I wrote furiously with pen and notepad. I think I can pretty
much write anywhere. In fact, I need to move around a bit to different corners and rooms in my
home, sometimes strolling to the local library for an hour or two so I don’t get stagnant. Must
admit, I need a beverage—usually hot water (yup, I drink hot water) or coffee close by and at
least some bit of support for my back.

When did it dawn upon you that you wanted to be a writer?
Well, it took me long enough! Through my career in business, on a bad day, I would say to myself while commuting home, I should just take a year off to write a novel. (As if one year is enough for a first novel ��). Then on a good day at my job, I may cheerfully think to myself, hey, I should take a year off to write a novel! Eventually, I retired early, feeling blessed to do that, and now, I am back at work, writing novels!


Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Author of The Gatekeeper’s Descendants and Jophiel’s Secret, Johanna writes fiction fantasy with deeper meanings—creating adventures in the world beyond, where everlasting connections exist alongside good old-fashioned battles of good versus evil.

She and hubby enjoy a life filled with the satisfaction coming from hard work and the love and grace captured from treasured family. The fresh greens and sky blues of Ontario summer months, the just out-of-the-oven aromas at European piazzas, and the tender grips of a grandchild’s hug are at the tip-top of Johanna’s most-loved list.

Her commitment to her readers—stories that are soulful, whimsical, and venturous. Because Johanna feels that even a little bit of heavenly imagination can loosen the chains of life.

 

More from Johanna

I invite you into a world beyond our understanding—one, I hazard to guess, we inevitably wonder about at least once in our lifetime. What exactly do those who have gone before us face after living out their days on earth? What could their watching over us really look like? Did they actually go through a gate? And ah, which one, we might joke.

I dare not suggest I can answer such questions. But take some theological renderings, a good dose of the whole heaven’s gate scene, bits of philosophical ideology about evil, and add in some lovable supernatural characters—the good versus nasty kind, and then? Well, suddenly there’s plenty of havoc to play out on the lives of unsuspecting earthlings, like us, simply trying to get through life as it comes.

A Lifeline Fantasy Series begins with The Gatekeeper’s Descendants where this new world is introduced and carries on into Jophiel’s Secret with all the main characters coming with, though, I must admit, they’ve matured somewhat between the two novels.

Jophiel’s Secret is written such that it can be read as a stand-alone novel. If you like page turning fantasy, celestial imagination, and a few good tugs at your heartstrings, I encourage you to check it out! And I’d love to hear your views.

Blog Stops

Vicky Sluiter, October 4 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 4

Texas Book-aholic, October 5

deb’s Book Review, October 6

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, October 7

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, October 8

Locks, Hooks and Books, October 9

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, October 10

Inklings and notions, October 11

Blossoms and Blessings, October 12 (Author Interview)

Lily’s Book Reviews, October 12

Through the Fire Blogs, October 13 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 14

Rebecca Tews, October 15

Blogging With Carol, October 16

For Him and My Family, October 17

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Johanna is giving away the grand prize package of a$50 Amazon Gift and a copy of The Gatekeeper’s Descendants and Jophiel’s Secret!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/21c39/jophiel-s-secret-celebration-tour-giveaway

1 comment:

slehan said...

Looks like an interesting book.
Thanks for the contest.