Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a medical doctor in the field of sports medicine. I am absolutely passionate about my work, but to relax I travel, read, garden, read, hike, run (with an audio book if its >1hr), do photography, read while my photos process. I also teach post grad doctors in sports medicine and emergency field side care. I live in Cape Town, South Africa with my husband. Surf n Turf is my first work of fiction, a big change from academic writing in journals. From precise accuracy to imagination and poetic license!
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Surf n Turf. Luan (pronounced Loo-Ahn) is a surfer and Sarah meets him for the first time while she is learning to surf. He is also a sheep farmer in the karoo, hence the Turf. Sarah cycles from Cape Town (the coast) to the karoo. There is an endurance mountain bike race in South Africa called Karoo to Coast. Part of the plot inspiration. The cover photo was taken on location in the Hantam Karoo and is of a quiver tree (Kokerboom in Afrikaans). Sarah’s grandparents farm is the Goue Koker meaning golden quiver, the bark looks golden at sunrise and sunset. The San people used the leaves as quivers for their arrows, hence the name. To see more of my pics search for “Jo D” on SmugMug, there’s a special folder just with pics relevant to Surf n Turf.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I plot best when I’m in nature, running or hiking.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I love books with side kicks or family members who bring comic relief such as Bree Wolfe’s Grandma Edie or Julia Quinn’s Lady Danbury.
What are you working on now?
A medical romance, where I have given the leading lady my own job. Fire & Ice, How to Tame a Doc. It’s a character driven sweet second chances romance.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Goodreads
Pretty-hot.com
Awesomegang
BookGoodies
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Learn the craft of writing.
Join Authors Publish for their free weekly newsletter and monthly webinars. They are great.
Reedsy also has many free resources.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Your first sentence is the most important sentence in the book and you need to hook your readers and make them feel for your protagonist in the first page.
What are you reading now?
Audiobook in the car: 1001 Arabian nights, author unknown
Audio book on phone for chores: Work and Win by Oliver Optic
E-book for long queues: Trapped by the Duke by Anabelle Anders. In my husbands car: The leper of St Giles by Ellis Peters. Did I mention I read a lot? 🙂 Probably by the time this comes I will have finished a few more books. I keep a spreadsheet to avoid buying the same books twice.
What’s next for you as a writer?
A time travel romance. Imagine if a 17th century nobleman meets a 21st century paleontologist in the 5th century and neither entirely understand how they got there. Add conniving grandparents, a naughty lemur, a stowaway and some dino’s. What fun to write and research!
What is your favorite book of all time?
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. No idea how many times I’ve read it. It’s also my favourite movie, but the book is better as you can imagine any face to the characters.
Author Websites and Profiles
Jo-Anne Duffett Website
Jo-Anne Duffett Amazon Profile
Jo-Anne Duffett Author Profile Other Bookseller
Jo-Anne Duffett’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile