Q: What inspired you to write the sister duo thriller series?
I wanted my heroine to have a family, a full background which allows for family drama. There was The Hardy Boys series with brothers. I thought there should be a sister series. With my heroine Jade Thyme, she may not always agree with her sister’s action, her sister being Sage, but I believe that adds texture to these characters. It was also great to write about sisters being there for each other in times of crisis.
Q: Who are the main characters in both of your novels, Dealer’s Child and The Unraveling?
The main characters are Jade Thyme, my heroine, who is a defense lawyer and sometimes ad hoc prosecutor, and her sister, Sage, who is a personal trainer and has her own female motorcycle gang. Another surprise character in both books is Norman Bastine, who had drug issues he had to deal with in book one, The Unravelling. He is a prominent and important character in Dealer’s Child and the third book coming out in 2023.
Q: What themes can readers find in your books?
I don’t know if you can really call them themes, but I like writing novels that deal with the human condition, such as forgiveness, love, and most importantly, acceptance and understanding. Acceptance is an important aspect in all my books.
Q: How would you describe your writing style?
I like writing in the first person POV. I’m not afraid to break rules, and have a chapter, or a small part in another character’s first person POV, if I feel I will produce the best story. My writing is not formal. I like to include a little humor, and I enjoy showing both sides of a situation. I strive to write fast-paced and easy-to-read, hard-to-put down novels.
Q: What other projects are you working on that you can share with us, readers?
Well, I’m waiting on edits back from my editor for the third novel in the Jade & Sage Thriller series. I am writing the first draft of the fourth novel in the series. I have written a first draft of a time travel novel, which I hope to work on some time in 2023. When I’m not writing, reading or creating art, I’m interviewing authors for my podcast, JCVArtStudio.
Q: What advice would you give to aspiring writers in your genre?
Write. Get that first draft on paper, do not go back and try to make it perfect. If all you have in a day is 30 minutes to write, that’s fine. I used to cram my writing time in during my lunch breaks and in the evening after the kids went to bed. There will be times when you realize you have a problem in your story, and you’ll think weeks about fixing it, but one day, maybe when you’re walking your dog, a solution will come to you. Believe in yourself and do not, do not compare yourself to any other writer. You are unique, and you will write your own story that a reader will love.
Q: What inspired you to write the sister duo thriller series?
I wanted my heroine to have a family, a full background which allows for family drama. There was The Hardy Boys series with brothers. I thought there should be a sister series. With my heroine Jade Thyme, she may not always agree with her sister’s action, her sister being Sage, but I believe that adds texture to these characters. It was also great to write about sisters being there for each other in times of crisis.
Q: Who are the main characters in both of your novels, Dealer’s Child and The Unraveling?
The main characters are Jade Thyme, my heroine, who is a defence lawyer and sometimes ad hoc prosecutor, and her sister, Sage, who is a personal trainer and has her own female motorcycle gang. Another surprise character in both books is Norman Bastine, who had drug issues he had to deal with in book one, The Unravelling. He is a prominent and important character in Dealer’s Child and the third book coming out in 2023.
Q: What themes can readers find in your books?
I don’t know if you can really call them themes, but I like writing novels that deal with the human condition, such as forgiveness, love, and most importantly, acceptance and understanding. Acceptance is an important aspect in all my books.
Q: How would you describe your writing style?
I like writing in the first person POV. I’m not afraid to break rules, and have a chapter, or a small part in another character’s first person POV, if I feel I will produce the best story. My writing is not formal. I like to include a little humor, and I enjoy showing both sides of a situation. I strive to write fast-paced and easy-to-read, hard-to-put down novels.
Q: What other projects are you working on that you can share with us, readers?
Well, I’m waiting on edits back from my editor for the third novel in the Jade & Sage Thriller series. I am writing the first draft of the fourth novel in the series. I have written a first draft of a time travel novel, which I hope to work on some time in 2023. When I’m not writing, reading or creating art, I’m interviewing authors for my podcast, JCVArtStudio.
Q: What advice would you give to aspiring writers in your genre?
Write. Get that first draft on paper, do not go back and try to make it perfect. If all you have in a day is 30 minutes to write, that’s fine. I used to cram my writing time in during my lunch breaks and in the evening after the kids went to bed. There will be times when you realize you have a problem in your story, and you’ll think weeks about fixing it, but one day, maybe when you’re walking your dog, a solution will come to you. Believe in yourself and do not, do not compare yourself to any other writer. You are unique, and you will write your own story that a reader will love.
Biography
Joanna Vander Vlugt is an author and illustrator. As a teenager, she drew charcoal portraits and wrote mysteries. Her short mysteries Egyptian Queen and The Parrot and Wild Mushroom Stuffing were published in Crime Writers of Canada mystery anthologies. Her essay, No Beatles Reunion was published in the Dropped Threads 3: Beyond the Small Circle anthology. The Unravelling, her debut novel, featuring the sister duo, Jade and Sage, was a Canadian Book Club Awards finalist as well as its sequel, Dealer’s Child. She is currently working on book three in the series. Joanna is proud of her podcast JCVArtStudio and the many artists and authors she’s interviewed. Joanna’s novels, art and podcast can be found at jcvartstudio.net.
Urban Book Reviews 