Joanne Bischof Dewitt: Q&A with the Author of “The Heart of Bennet Hollow”
Tyndale: How have Jane Austen’s books impacted your writing?
Joanne Bischof Dewitt: There is something very profound about reading a novel that was written long before our current technology. To think that Jane sat there and handwrote her novels truly inspires me in the craft. She had to be witty and cunning, detailed and dedicated, all on paper, and her drafts would have been so precious and painstaking. When I think of that, it challenges me to be a better writer even in this modern era with computers and word processing. Beyond that, she infused love and humor into her stories that has set her apart for over two hundred years. Someone like Jane is a true inspiration as a romance writer and I’m so thankful we have her books today.
This book is a retelling of Pride and Prejudice. Why did you choose early 1900s Appalachia as the setting for your book?
I have been writing Appalachian romance from the start of my career and it’s one of my favorite settings. When I began to wonder what a new series could be about, it dawned on me to try and merge my love of this setting with my love of Jane Austen’s works and the series was born. It’s felt so natural to merge her world into 1900’s Appalachia and I’ve enjoyed finding the commonalities while getting to have a little bit of fun with the differences.
Austen’s approaching 250th birthday will be celebrated around the world this year.Why is Jane Austen still relevant today?
I think so many people can relate to her. She played by the rules of her society, but not perfectly so, and it’s an inspiration for the advancements she made in women’s fiction. She gave an emphasis and voice to what the lives of women were like nearly 250 years ago, and she shows their ups and downs, joys, and graces in a way that continues to resonate centuries later.
Which Pride and Prejudice character are you the most like?
I’d say I’m probably a split between Elizabeth and Jane. Elizabeth because we share some of the same personality traits of creativity and a love of reading and walking outdoors, and Jane because I’m an introvert and can sometimes be shy.
The romance industry is oversaturated with mature content. Why did you choose to write a clean romance?
I find clean romance to be sooo romantic because it forces us to read between the lines—to hear what is unsaid or unspoken and to see that the little nuances between man and woman, be it a look, a touch or a sweet gesture is incredibly romantic. It’s the material that all lasting love stories are based on and so there’s a richness to clean romance that really makes it special.
What is a “sweet romance”? What is your key advice to making a sweet romance believable?
Sweet romance is in the little things. It’s not an absence of passion but simply a precursor to it. It’s the slow development of love and admiration that really defines it. The believability comes down to showing that the hero and heroine truly want the best for one another, and when that happens, a tenderness unfolds in unexpected ways. It’s more than just following certain literary rules, it’s making the reader fall as much in love with the characters as they do themselves. If the reader is rooting for them to get together before they even realize it, then it’s the perfect sweet romance.
You are a writing professor at an online writing academy. What are the most common misconceptions novice writers have about entering the publishing industry?
The most common ones are that writing a full-length novel equates advanced skill. What I do as an instructor is to help break that process down through our curriculum so that they are learning the bones of a solid story. Another one is when young writers love their characters more than the reader does. This is a common pitfall and one that we have to slowly help with. It’s only by looking at a story and character group objectively and with a critical eye that they will take on the right shape for an audience. Sometimes students will find themselves too close to their story at this point, and we try and step in with a gentle, fresh perspective that will help them make their characters and novel even more poignant.
What do you find to be the most challenging part of writing? How do you advise your students when they are struggling with writing?
I find it to be different with each story. Sometimes it’s research issues that just won’t align. Sometimes it’s time management and finding the capacity to even write the novel. At other times, it’s a plot that strays off course. I advise my students when this happens to take careful stock of their process and what’s happening to see where they can micro-adjust. There’s lots of need for grace as well, and even after we’ve done our best to make changes to help the process flow, sometimes a little extra grace is all we need next.
On your YouTube channel, Joanne the Story Stitcher, you combine your love of books with embroidery. How do reading and writing inspire your crafts?
I have found stitching to be a wonderful way to unwind. It’s so satisfying to make tiny stitches and to see a beautiful piece unfold. I’m currently working on a few Jane Austen–inspired pieces to coincide with the release of The Heart of Bennet Hollow, so reading and writing definitely inspire some of the projects I create! I find that a lot of the people who stitch are readers too!
“The Heart of Bennet Hollow” novel releases on October 7th.
A Special Thanks to Tyndale House Publishers for the Q&A and images.
