Interview JoEllen Conger

(Joyce A. Kennedy and Joan C. Powell)

by

Jo Burman

 Rite of Passage is your second title to be released by Wings, but I read it was actually the first novel you ever wrote together. How did the idea for this book come about? What inspired its conception?

Joyce: This answer is rather long since your first question is a series of questions. Joan and I had written (and continue to write) many short stories together. RITE was our first attempt at a full-length novel. In 1984 I was diagnosed with “terminal” cancer. But when one is used to going somewhere every weekday to accomplish responsible duties, idling at home is rather boring. The solution? To loose our imaginations. So collaborating storylines gave Joan and I something to plot and discuss during the three years of medical procedures. We knew nothing about writing manuscripts for publication when we started. RITE has been rewritten at least eight times and shows that with dedication to learning the craft and determination to stick to it, an acceptable manuscript can finally be created.

Joan: RITE was a learning experience for both of us. As Joyce stated, it started as a diversion to her illness. We each had the drive to write our fantasies, and during this particular time we spent many hours together. One of the things we learned early on was that we had entirely different writing voices. So, eventually one of us became the master writer, the other the critiquer and editor. We have successfully written together like this for twelve years.

2. Tell us more about the basic premise of the story. Just enough to entice us.

Joyce: As well as a romance, this story is a survival story. Corrine learns that life doesn’t end with the death of her beloved husband, but by struggling through adverse situations on her own, finds the inner strength and courage to love again.

Joan: I think what I like most about this story is the romantic sense of unquestionable loyalty between the heroine and the man she learns to love. This kind of love is deeper than simple infatuation. Although Corrine falls for the escaped convict, her dedication to her deceased husband and the sons she bore for him are never forgotten.

3. What makes Corrine, your protagonist, unique? What will readers find most appealing about her? Is there something about her we can all relate to?

Joyce: Having been married to an Indian husband, who made all family decisions, Corrine has been taught the Indian philosophy to honor all life and living things. I think many women will relate to Corrine’s dependent, inner conflict as she learns to make life decisions for herself. While she keeps stating, “I can’t do this.” She is. I think many women today find themselves mentally and emotionally stronger than they thought they were when faced with difficult situations.

Joan: Corrine has been trained to be dependant upon her male counterpart, but now that she must raise her family alone, in keeping with her husband’s Indian beliefs, she struggles to live what she has learned from him. She fights with her inner-conflict to live what she believes.

4. What about your other characters? What will readers either love or love to hate about them?

Joyce: Each sub character has a personality all their own--even the dog. From the three rascally young sons who torment her waking hours, their ragamuffin canine companion, to the self involved fugitive who kidnaps her at gun point, the elderly citizens of the mountain community, and the beloved Indian family on the reservation, each add a depth of realism to the plot.

5. Without giving too much away, can you share a little about one of your favorite scenes in the book and what makes it special to you?

Joyce: We’ve done our best to weave humor through the intrigue. One scene comes to mind where Corrine returns to the cabin after a day on the mountain filming eagles on the nest to discover the fugitive’s unconscious body lying on the cold, bare floor. Angry that he has legally jeopardized her family life, but fearful that she may be responsible for his death, she does her best to warm his still form. Suddenly, she realizes that he has become aroused by her attempts to revive him, but laid still not to discourage her administrations.

Joan: I think my favorite scene is when the she eagle challenges Corrine’s right to be there on the mountain. It’s the type of scene that if it happened in real life you would experience a profound spiritual moment.

6. What type of research was required for the book?

Joyce: Since I am married to a six foot seven Indian man (Tall Eagle) who collects books about Indian lore, historical Indian facts, eagle pictures and artifacts, most of my research was done right in our home library. Additional information was gleaned from the local library and Indian friends.

7. This book has a contemporary setting. Your last book was historical. Do you have a preference for one or the other? Which is easier?

Joyce: We write contemporary, historical, fantasy and intrigue. Each storyline requires research to complement its believability, so we use whichever genre best portrays the creative imagination and the storyline we’re working on.

Joan: The historical, Queen Of Candlore took every bit as much research as the eagle story. We both have what our family calls, “wild imaginations”. We write whatever comes to mind, regardless of its genre. We work together so well, it is just as easy to write in whichever genre we chose.

8. How would you each describe your writing style?

Joyce: Each genre has its own writing rules, but both Joan and I try to write in an informal, easy flow format that’s effortless to read, with enough attention to detail that the reader can visualize the scene and the action as it happens.

Joan: Although we have distinctive voices from each other, we have no problem writing together. We are both alike when it comes to using visual detail to enhance our works. We draw a great deal from our life experiences and emotional traumas to create the moods in our books.

9. I admit I am fascinated by the idea of twins collaborating on novels. Are you identical twins? Do most of your readers know you are twins? Do you sign books individually, or as JoEllen Conger?

Joyce: Again a series of questions. We are symmetrical identical twins. One egg-divided into two separate and individual halves known as “mirror twins.” We look alike, sound alike, and have the ability to mind-meld as one person, which is why we can collaborate so successfully. Other publishing houses have shown our twin-pic and bios. WINGS hasn’t opted to include this information in our books, so readers of Rite Of Passage and Queen of Candelore aren’t privy to this fact. When I have book signings, I sign, “Joyce Kennedy writing as JoEllen Conger.”

Joan: Technically speaking I’ve learned that we are “monozygotic” twins… mirrored. Even our voices are very much alike. Whenever I send out promotional material such as an autographed copy of our covers, I always sign as JoEllen Conger. Our handwriting is so similar most people would not be able to discern which one of us has signed.

10. What projects are each of you working on now?

Joyce: Working title: Yesterday’s Widow. A story of an amnesiac who returns home after being missing for ten years. Her husband has been killed in a plane crash. Strangers live in her mansion and she hasn’t any ID to prove her identity or ownership of the estate. Locating a strangers ID in her purse (her own during her absence) she’s forced to return to another life where she has no memory or recall. She finds murder, theft and intrigue. How can she learn the truth of what’s happened? How can she know whom to trust?

Joan: I’ve been up-dating a number of novellas, but my WIP is the sequel to Queen Of Candelore. The queen’s love child [from the first book] becomes the appointed companion of the young Prince Anthony II. It is a continuation of the Queen serving as regent of the King’s issue. The book includes the adventures of the maturing king-in-the-making, and his romance with a French princess.

11 Finally do you have any other finished works that are due to be released? Can you give us a preview?

Joyce: Just finished a rewrite of Cinderella And The Stripper. Sick to death of good twin-evil twin stories Joan and I wrote a romance where each twin is good in a different way. Heather falls in love with a golden haired Adonis who owns a male strip club and male modeling agency. She works for his twin in a large LA conglomerate. Not knowing she has fallen in love with a twin, she is completely baffled by his constant personality changes.

Joan. Return Of The Goddess will be published by Wings ePress in 2006. This is an otherworld fantasy, which has been e-published three times previously in 1999, 2000 & 2002. It has a very complex plot using two sets of heroines and heroes. Because of the talking pet monkey, the telepathic war stallion, and two enchanted swords it is a magical tale enjoyed by adults as well as youngsters. Iona discovers the alternate world where her opposite is a warrior princess. Magic is afoot when Iona slips and falls through a magical mirror into Otherworld. Here she must behave and think like a warrior, as she tries not to fall in love with Annor’s betrothed. The two girls must mind-meld to save both their worlds from the wicked wizard, Nickademus the Bold.