Interview with author and illustrator Joanna Vander Vlugt

Novelist Joanna Vander Vlugt chats with me today about her new spy thriller, Spy Girls.

Bio:
Joanna Vander Vlugt is an author and illustrator. The Unravelling, her debut novel, featuring the sister duo, Jade and Sage, was a Canadian Book Club Awards finalist as well as its sequel, Dealer’s Child. Joanna draws upon her 13 years’ experience working in the prosecutor’s office and 10 years working in the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner for inspiration for her novels.

Joanna’s motorcycle illustrations have been purchased world-wide and her Woman Empowered motorcycle art series has been featured in on-line art and motorcycle magazines.

Welcome, Joanna. Please tell us about your current release.
Spy Girls involves a resigned CIA action officer being released from prison, and a Chief Justice, favoured to be Canada’s next prime minister, being murdered. The Law Society is scrutinizing heroine, Jade Thyme’s conduct in the prosecution of her latest case. Jade’s life can’t get much worse until she is coerced into finding an elusive double-agent. Submersed in lies, and political agendas, carrying out high speed chases and escaping sticky bombs, can Jade outplay a psychotic Russian assassin before her own life is terminated?

What inspired you to write this book?
I listen to spy podcasts, and I wondered how spies could carry on a normal relationship when their identities are based on a foundation of lies. Spy Girls is loaded with action and deceit, but it also dives into my two main characters, who are involved in an deadly assignment, trying to salvage their relationship and not get killed.

Excerpt from Spy Girls:
Brakes squealed. Horns blared. Tires screeched. Thunk, thunk, thunk, one car hit another. A car alarm wailed.

Pop.

People screamed.

Gunfire.

“Jade, get down!” Adam and Jan shouted, both running toward me. “Get down.”

Pop. Pop.

I dropped, taking cover behind the steam clock.

Rapid fire.

Peeking between the legs of people running, I caught sight of Sage, still running toward Gillian.

“Gillian, get down! Get down!” Sage shouted.

Gillian looked around, confused.

Pop.

“Gillian!” Sage screamed.

A dark-haired woman ran toward Gillian from the opposite direction. Her fists beat the air as she sprinted, shoving people out of her way. She launched herself, flattening Gillian to the ground.

Adam and Jan skidded beside me.

“Move,” Adam said, rushing me through the door of The Flying Pig. The window shattered.

“Where are the bastards?” Jan shouted. He inched up the wall, looking out the window, when the window in the door shattered. Jan dropped. “On them.” He scaled the stairs, leading to the restaurant’s second floor. Bullets ripped the wood at his heels.

Adam gripped my shoulders. “You okay?”

“Yes. Gillian, Sage, they’re out there.”

More squealing tires. More shots fired.

Adam huddled over me against the wall. Chairs overturned, customers lay face down, arms over their heads. A bottle exploded, spraying ketchup. Plates shattered; food splayed over the floor.

What exciting project are you working on next?
I have started writing an urban fantasy time travel that I have been wanting to write for the last three years. I have the very rough draft done of the fourth Jade Thyme thriller novel. I feel I can take a break from this series to finally work on this time travel.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I used to write mystery novels when I was a teenager. I used my mom’s manual typewriter after writing the book in hand first. I knew then I was a writer.

Do you write full-time? If so, what’s your workday like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?
Yes, I do write full-time. My best writing time is in the morning and during the evening. It’s weird how being rested and tired can be the best creative writing time. The afternoons I devote to illustrating art, or working on my magazine, SAM Magazine which promotes authors and artists.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I always must have my morning mocha at my desk. I make my own mochas at home. Also, my two mini-schauzers are in their dog beds by the desk. They are usually heading down the hallway before me.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A writer or a graphic artist working on magazines.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
Make sure you look after yourself. Do not compare your success with another individual’s success. Be open to change, and do what makes you happy. I couldn’t write full-time for 34 years because I needed to work full-time in a government job to support my family. However, I did find time during my lunch breaks and in the evening to do a little writing, even if it was only an hour a day.

Links:
Website | SAM Magazine | Instagram