Indie Author Spotlight|Debbie Ioanna Q and A|Plus Book Review

Happy New Year! Wow a month has flown by already and for me that means a band new spotlight. For my first spolight of the year i am pleased to welcome Debbie Ioanna.

Debbie very kindly agreed to a Q and A, here it is. My book review for Blind Date will follow, enjoy!

Q and A Debbie Ioanna
Hi Debbie,
thank you for being on my blog today.
Firstly please can you introduce yourself.
Hello and thank you for having me! I’m Debbie and I am a multi-genre indie author from Bradford. I also have a blog and run a book review site. I’ve also recently started collecting old/vintage books. I try my hardest to live in a literary world 😊

1) When did you first start writing?
I was first published in 2016, with ‘The Runaway Girl’, but I actually wrote it in 2003/4 with no idea that I would someday have it published at all. I never thought it would happen, so anything I wrote between then remained private.

2)What do you enjoy most about being an indie author?
I love the control that I have. The only deadlines I have are the ones I set myself which means there’s no pressure from the outside world. Everything can be worked around my life which means I can enjoy writing without it being a chore. I am able to run my own social media, connect with my readers and attend events with other indie authors. It is a hobby which I get a lot of enjoyment out of.

3)Who influences your writing?
This is a tricky one to answer as I don’t write in one particular genre. I would say an influence for ‘Blind Date’ was Nick Spalding. I just love his style of writing and that I was laughing out loud reading his book, ‘Love… from both sides’, which is based around a man and a woman who eventually start dating each other, but it isn’t smooth sailing.

4)Where did the idea for Blind Date come from?
The opening chapter of ‘Blind Date’ was actually a short story from one of my Creative Writing (open university) assignments which I was able to grow into a novel, and I am so glad I could do that. I had wanted to write a dating blog, documenting a few of my own dating experiences, but I couldn’t do that without unintentionally giving away a few identities… but that is where fiction becomes magic. True stories can be disguised by writing, and I think/hope I’ve gotten away with it!

5)What is your writing process?
Write, write, write. I am that person keeping Paperchase in business by buying all their fancy notebooks. Ideas need to be scribbled down wherever you can. There are random notes in my phone where a chapter idea has suddenly come to mind in the middle of the night, but rather than trust myself to remember in the morning, I have painfully squinted at my bright phone screen in my pitch black room trusting my predictive text to understand what I am trying to write down. Each of my books have had a different process, it all just depends what works at the time. Generally though, before I start writing, I have to know what the end to my story is. It doesn’t matter how I work to get there, I just need to know where I am going. The bit in the middle doesn’t need to be rushed.

6)As a writer, what would you choose as your mascot/avatar/spirit animal?
Oh, this is a tricky one! My mascot absolutely has to be my two year old daughter. She’s just hilarious. I don’t get any work done with her around, but she is an absolute joy and loves ‘reading’ her books. She has quite a collection building up! Like mother like daughter lol

7)If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?
I’d tell myself to believe! When I was sixteen, becoming a published writer was something that only happened to the J K Rowlings and Brontes, the Tolkiens and the Austens. The authors who could create worlds of beautiful words. Knowing what I know now, I would tell myself to never stop writing.

8)What is your writing Kryptonite?
Definitely social media. Writing on my laptop or computer is risky as the internet is right there. If I’m in a writing lull (or fed up of editing), it is so easy to get distracted by Facebook and Twitter. Or even Netflix on my phone. If I’m in the zone then I’m generally alright, but every writer has moments where they can’t focus on their work.

9)What other authors are you friends with, and how do they help you become a better writer?
At my first indie author event in 2017, I met and became friends with another author, Meg Cowley. She welcomed me into her tribe and I’ve been part of that wonderful group ever since. We are a group of female writers, all at different levels of success, and we meet regularly to chat about the world of writing and publishing. Sharing experiences, giving words of encouragement and supporting each other through the ups and downs of being an indie author.
It is really through all of the events I have attended that I’ve made such wonderful friendships with other writers. I can’t name them all (we’d be here a while!) but indie authors are by far the nicest and friendliest group of people I’ve ever come across. There is no nastiness, no cliques, no negativity. If someone has success, we all celebrate. If someone is feeling down, we all bring them back up. I wouldn’t be where I am today without the indie community.

10)If you had to describe yourself in three words, what would they be?
Dreamer, Random, coffee-addict!

I think you will agree that they are some pretty fabulous answers and they speak volumes of Debbie as a person. Fantastic!

My Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Stars

I absolutely adored this book. I have read a fair few rom-coms and I have to say this is up there with the best, very reminiscent of Zara Stoneley’s style. In my opinion it is flawless. The characters are so loveable. Bing the cat is awesome, I love it when an author adds an animal character to a story and especially one as lively as Bing. A totally relatable story that keeps you interested and laughing the whole way through. Definitely a book that will seriously cheer you up and perfect for a cold damp day to snuggle up with. 1000% recommended this book. I can’t wait for the sequel.

About The Author

Debbie is a Bradford born indie author who now has two books published and available to buy in Kindle and Paperback.

‘The Runaway Girl’ was written when she was sixteen, followed by ‘Abberton House’ when she was in her late twenties. Thirdly is ‘Blind Date’, a romantic comedy which is guaranteed to have you laughing out loud.

She is a multi genre author who also writes a blog and the occasional bit of poetry. Find her contact information below. Social Media Links Facebook https://www.facebook.com/debbieioannaauthor/ Twitter https://twitter.com/Debbie_Cleo Website/Bloghttps://debbie-ioanna-author.blog/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/debbieioannaauthor/