Meet Romance Author Gloria Joynt-Lang
Romance author Gloria Joynt-Lang shares her inspirations, her tribulations, and what she has learned as an author.
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
I wrote my first novel at forty-nine and signed my first publishing contract at fifty. A person is never too old to pursue a dream unless you’re aiming to become a Mouseketeer. Before writing romance novels, I worked in the Criminal Justice System, so technically, I have spent time behind bars. I write romance because I’m a sucker for a great love story with a happy ending. Every book I write has a canine character. Eventually, I’ll sneak a cat into a novel, but I’ll need to talk to my readers about these mysterious little carnivores. I live in a lake community in rural Alberta, Canada, with my wonderful husband and our crazy Yorkie, who has an Instagram page. You can find her on @SmookieBijoux or go to my website https://gloriajoyntlang.com/ I ask that you don’t believe everything you read in her posts as she tends to embellish the truth.
Is writing something that comes easy to you or not?
Writing comes easy, but editing and marketing can be a struggle. The initial draft is relatively effortless, but it’s a mess and requires many revisions. I love making my characters complex, so I enjoy the second draft, but frustration and self-doubt creep in by the fifth or sixth draft. Thankfully I have a fantastic and patient editor.
Like a lot of writers, I find promoting my work challenging. Online retailers and stores are flooded with books. Social media can be effective, but it’s also time-consuming. I sometimes look at llamas in knitted sweaters instead of being productive. I just wish llamas weren’t so darn cute. I’m learning to control this aspect more, but it is a process. Some great companies and services help authors market, but finding the right one at your price point is difficult. Thankfully, my fellow authors have helped me weed through this.
What are some of your favorite things?
Other than writing, my other passion is hockey. My father gave me my first hockey stick when I was five years old, and ever since then, this exciting sport has been a part of my life. When I planned my wedding in 1991, I had no idea the date would conflict with the final game of the Stanley Cup finals. Not to miss a good game, I snuck off during the reception to watch Mario Lemieux lead the Pittsburgh Penguins to victory. Don’t worry. I brought the groom along. I once won a trip to game two of the Stanley Cup Finals in Boston. For me, this was like winning a Hawaiian vacation, and a trip to Disneyland all rolled into one. Attending an NHL game in all thirty-two arenas is on my bucket list. Canadians are known for being bilingual. This is true for me. Besides speaking English, I’m also fluent in hockey. As an introvert, I struggle to meet new people but talk hockey to me, and we’ll be friends for life.
What project are you working on now or what book will be next?
I’ve just signed a contract with my publisher for Escaping Circumstances, which is book two in the Out of the Darkness series. The main character Scorp appears in the second half of Beyond Circumstances. He’s a fast-living, hard-drinking guy with a tragic upbringing. Through unusual circumstances, he ends up caring for his five-year-old half-sister. Not knowing how to raise a child, he turns to his neighbor, an artist with a hidden past. Escaping Circumstances is a slow-burn friends-to-lovers romance. I’ve also completed the first draft of book three in this series. The main character is a genius who struggles with interpersonal skills. He’s a success in his field but a disaster in love. This opposite attracts story starts with a one-night stand. Though the character undergoes a physical transformation, it’s his emotional growth that makes him so appealing.
What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author? What has been the best compliment?
A person with a large following destroyed one of my earlier manuscripts on her social media account. Some of her criticisms were fair, but I felt humiliated even though she didn’t give out my name. I would have preferred at least a heads-up. On the other end of the spectrum, I had a wonderful blogger whose constructive criticisms resulted in revisions to my novel. Once the changes were made, she gave me a five-star review. Whether public or private, criticism is part of the business. I’m more thick-skinned about it now than I was at first. Reviewers and beta readers pointing out my shortcomings have made me a better writer, and for that, I am grateful. My best compliment is when readers tell me I write the kind of book they have been waiting to read. Knowing how many books there are on the market, this is the ultimate praise. I’ve also received kudos for how realistic my characters are. I did a lot of research when I wrote about PTSD and ADHD to get it right. Â
Beyond Circumstances
by Gloria Joynt-Lang
Zak Tifour loathes violence, and who could blame him? Two years ago, it destroyed him. It’s one thing to witness death, yet another to be responsible for the carnage. To survive, he hides in a small town, but when an attractive doctor veers off the road, his self-imposed exile is threatened. Though drawn to the woman’s generous heart, Zak is terrified his darkness will engulf her light.
Lexie Draden knows sacrifice. She has dedicated her life to medicine. But no matter how skillful she is, it’s impossible to save everyone. As a surgeon, she accepts this brutal truth—until it becomes personal. Relocating is tough, but when she stumbles into the arms of a handsome stranger who doesn’t pry into her history, life takes a turn for the better. The only downside, the man’s past may be worse than hers.
Will their secrets and broken promises destroy their budding romance, or will love heal their damaged souls?Â
