About Jo Horne:
Jo Horne is an award-winning and multi-published author of fiction and non-fiction. Publisher's Weekly had high praise for her WWII series–THE PEACEMAKERS–(written under the pen name: Anna Schmidt) noting how she "seamlessly integrates…actual events, and the courageous real-life individuals who fought against Hitler’s regime, with her fictional characters and their story, to produce a strong tale of hope and love in the face of insurmountable obstacles."
Jo earned her Master of Arts degree in Theatre Arts. She has taught at the college level and is a popular presenter of hands-on workshops at writing seminars and conferences. She divides her time between Milwaukee WI and Sarasota FL–you can guess when she's at home in each place!
What inspires you to write?
For me writing is therapy–telling stories and/or keeping journals has always been a way for me to understand others and meet whatever challenges may come my way in life.
What authors do you read when you aren’t writing?
Jodi Picoult blows me away with the way she integrates research into her stories; William Styron's SOPHIE'S CHOICE was a huge inspiration to me early one; Jacqueline Woodson writes with such eloquence.
And I am missing a number of those who have touched and inspired me. I read widely across a broad landscape of cultures and styles.
Tell us about your writing process.
I am totally undisciplined when it comes to a process, and envy those who can stick to a routine. On the other hand, I 'write' all the time–not always at a keyboard or notebook. I write as I drive or listen to music or watch a film or read the newspaper. Everything is fodder for whatever story I am working on at that moment. And BTW, I hate labels like 'planner' or 'pantster'. The work dictates the method.
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
They definitely speak to me. Often a secondary character will take center stage, demanding a larger role. Also, my theater background and love of film means I often see my characters as if in a play or up on the big screen.
What advice would you give other writers?
The only reason to write is because you can't NOT write. If it results in fame, awards and/or $$, that's the cherry on top.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
For years I wrote genre fiction (romance. westerns, inspirationals) as Anna Schmidt for traditional publishers always hoping for the big break to move to the bigger book. When that didn't happen, I decided to self-publish those stories I had been carrying inside sometimes for years.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
I think the pandemic proved that reading is something that can carry us through even the darkest times. There is room for all sorts of publishing venues and each has its place and value.
What genres do you write?: Historical fiction
What formats are your books in?: Both eBook and Print
Website(s)
Jo Horne Home Page Link
Link To Jo Horne Page On Amazon
Your Social Media Links
Twitter
All information in this post is presented “as is” supplied by the author. We don’t edit to allow you the reader to hear the author in their own voice.
