Joanna is a feisty and independent woman. She was also the first of the strong women I began writing about. I like my heroines to have a vulnerability about them. Some damage that was done in the past that makes them who they are today.
This was my first ever novel and since then there has been Kerry, Sarah and. Aussie, who had fights of their own to contend with. Joanna has always been a little overshadowed by them in Behind Closed Doors, The Truth Will Out and The Ghost on the Stairs.
Joanna has come out fighting and her nemesis was her mam. To the outside world, Edna Glidden was a wonderful mother bringing up two little girls on her own. The reality was far different. Here Joanna tells her friend, Mike some of what she endured.
For a moment Joanna allowed her mind to go back. “I still get claustrophobia,” she said slowly, “because she used to lock me in a cupboard, sometimes all night. It was cold and dark and I could hear scratches and feel things touch me. I still hate being in small spaces, but I’m better than I used to be. You look and see an attractive woman, and you judge her accordingly.”
Sometimes you have to stand up for what you believe in. Relationships are what Joanna thrives on, but she doesn’t always get them right. And sometimes she is her own worst enemy.
One reviewer totally got the character when they said: “There are a couple of things I really enjoyed, the detail of the world created by the author, to the depth of the characters. It has it’s own unique and outstandingly natural storyline. Almost so believable that you’d mistake her for your flawed best friend, who can be both amazing and yet stupid and frustrating all at the same time. I found her just so relatable, that of course, I wanted the best for her in her love life, falling for two guys has to be the hardest thing to go through, not knowing if you’ll ever make the right decision or not.”
Joanna’s sister Sandie plays a big part in her life and when she gets together with someone Joanna doesn’t approve off, Joanna will tell her in no uncertain terms. Even when she knows she is doing exactly the same thing.
Here Joanna’s friend, Solly tells Joanna the truth about the man Sandie is seeing, “Tosser is what he’s called behind his back. Torrance is his real name. Torrance Murdock. He acts like the lord of the manor, and no one can get anything on him. He hides behind his connections. But he’s a dangerous man, especially if you get on the wrong side of him.”
Follow Joanna’s Journey as she makes mistakes and triumphs and most of all she tries to appear strong when inside she is really fighting to survive.
Available on Kindle, and paperback.
Karen J. Mossman 