We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Joanna Mcspadden. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with JoAnna below.

JoAnna, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s jump to the end – what do you want to be remembered for?

I hope my legacy is one of stories that endure—tales that transport readers to worlds they never want to leave, filled with characters who feel like lifelong friends. I want to be remembered as a writer who made people dream boldly, embrace their authenticity, and believe in their own strength.

Beyond the books themselves, I hope people say I was someone who fought for creativity, lifted up other writers, and built a community that thrived on imagination and connection. That I encouraged readers to chase their own adventures—whether that means picking up a sword (figuratively or literally), writing their own stories, or simply finding magic in the everyday.

More than anything, I want my books to be a place of comfort, escape, and inspiration. If someone picks up one of my stories years from now and still feels that spark of wonder, still finds a piece of themselves in the journey—I’ll know I’ve left behind something truly meaningful.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Hi, I’m JoAnna, a fantasy author who loves weaving epic stories filled with adventure, rich worldbuilding, and slow-burn, closed-door romance. By day, I work as a software developer, but my true passion has always been storytelling—crafting immersive worlds where magic is real, monsters roam, and characters fight for their place in history.

My journey into writing started, like so many others, with a deep love of books. Growing up, I was the kid who carried a novel everywhere, who dreamed up adventures in my backyard, and who stayed up way too late imagining new worlds. Writing was always my escape, but it wasn’t until I truly committed to finishing and publishing my work that I realized how much I wanted to share these stories with others.

I write new adult epic fantasy that blends the grand, sweeping scope of classic fantasy with modern pacing and deeply personal character journeys. My books are for readers who love quest stories, found family, intense rivalries, fantastical creatures, and heroines who refuse to back down. While my stories include romance, it never overshadows the adventure—relationships develop alongside the action, adding emotional depth to the journey.

What sets me apart? I think it’s the blend of immersive worldbuilding and personal, character-driven storytelling. My worlds feel rich and lived-in, with cultures, histories, and magic systems that make them feel real, but at the heart of it all, my stories are about people—about their struggles, their resilience, and the choices that define them.

I’m most proud of building a community of fantasy readers who love discussing books as much as I do. Whether through my newsletter, social media, or in the pages of my novels, I want to create a space where people can come together, share in the magic of storytelling, and celebrate the power of imagination.

If you love fantasy books with deep lore, compelling characters, and a balance of action and emotion, I’d love for you to join me on this journey. My books are here to remind you that adventure is never far away—you just have to turn the page.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

One of the biggest tests of my resilience came when I was deep in the process of writing and revising Obsidian Tide. I had poured my heart into this book, but as I got closer to the finish line, self-doubt crept in. Was it good enough? Would anyone care? Should I even keep going?

Then, life threw an extra challenge my way—I was juggling a demanding job, personal obligations, and the weight of trying to carve out a writing career with no built-in audience, no connections, and no guarantees. It would have been easy to set the book aside and tell myself, “Maybe later.”

But I didn’t.

I reminded myself why I started—because storytelling is in my bones, because I wanted to bring something new into the world, and because no one else was going to fight for my dream except me. I pushed through those moments of doubt, finished the book, and released it into the world. And what happened? Readers connected with it. They fell in love with the world, the characters, and the story I had fought so hard to bring to life.

That experience taught me that resilience isn’t about never feeling doubt—it’s about choosing to move forward anyway. Every book, every creative journey, comes with obstacles. But if you keep showing up, keep doing the work, and keep believing in the story you’re telling, you’ll find the readers who are meant to walk that path with you.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

One thing I think non-creatives often struggle to understand is just how much work goes into making something “feel” effortless. There’s this illusion that creativity just flows naturally—like inspiration strikes, and suddenly, the work appears. But in reality? It’s a grind. It’s revision after revision, problem-solving, doubt, and discipline.

For me, writing isn’t just about coming up with a great idea—it’s about executing it, which means months (or years) of drafting, editing, rewriting, and making tough creative choices. Every book I write goes through multiple layers of refinement, often with the help of my incredible critique partners, beta readers, and my editors. It’s a team effort, even if the initial drafting is done alone.

Another thing non-creatives may not fully grasp is the emotional investment. Stories aren’t just words on a page to us—they’re pieces of who we are. Putting my work into the world means exposing parts of myself, and that can be both exhilarating and terrifying. When someone dismisses or critiques a book, it’s easy to say, “It’s just a story,” but to the writer, it’s so much more.

That said, I wouldn’t trade this journey for anything. Being creative is about resilience, passion, and the courage to keep making things, even when it’s hard. And for those who don’t quite understand it—just know that every book you love, every piece of art that moves you, was built on a foundation of unseen labor, dedication, and love.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.joannamcspadden.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/writerjoannamcspadden
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/writerjoannamcspadden

Image Credits

Carmen Seda