Today we’d like to introduce you to Joanna Nisbet.
Joanna, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I spent most of my years going through the mundane, work-home, repeat. Until 2020 came along. And what most people consider the worst year of their lives, I think it was one of my best. I found my faith in the Lord and with that it changed my perspective on life. I feel that the change in my focus was His will in my routines. I started with a few crafts, like drawing and painting. Then it expanded to crocheting, which I was horrible at in the beginning, now I’m not sure how to live without it. But the most surprising talent of all was the gift of writing, which I never knew existed. Suddenly, I had this story in my mind, and it kept consuming my thoughts. So, I opened the notes tab in my phone and figured I would jot down the summary and find an author willing to write it for me. However, as soon as I started my first line; the story flew out, like watching a movie in my mind. I just wrote what I saw, it was so vivid that I could see the characters and even hear their conversations. I finished ‘in the heritance’ within a few months, over half of it was created on my phone, until my daughter loaned me her Chromebook. Then I had to find a publisher to take a chance on a nobody, and settled on a hybrid deal. Since that first book came out I have published two more. ‘With Bated Breath’ released April 2026 and ‘Grief’s Gift’ will be available this December 2026. Within six years I have managed to publish three and complete three more manuscripts (which are not contracted.) I am still having a tough time finding ways to get my name out there, I have reached out to reviewers and even appeared on my local talk show ‘The Hampton Roads Show’ and I have another appearance this November 2nd, 2026.
It would be ever so helpful for my writing career to find a literary agent, unfortunately they are far and few between, and awfully hard to acquire. So if you know anyone that fits the bill, send them my way.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Smooth? The writing is the easy part, getting people to take a chance on you is not. Unless you already have a ‘name’ for yourself, I’m not exactly sure how to generate a platform. Perseverance is a strong suit of mine and I will continue to write, since the stories are literally shown to me. I write from my soul. Maybe one day Joanna Nisbet will be a familiar name too.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I have always loved crafts, since I was a little girl. Work and family life veered my direction for a while, however now with two grown kids and a quieter life I have rediscovered that joy. When I take a break from writing, I enjoy drawing, painting, and crocheting. I am building quite the inventory to sell at local craft fairs with my daughter in law this fall. Some days I don’t feel there’s enough time in the day to get done all I want to do, but I suppose I’m not the only one with that point of view. My biggest joy is my family and getting to watch with my husband, my son and daughter raise their families now.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
Perseverance, is a continuous (daily) lesson. There will constantly be challenges and struggles to overcome, but if I gave up after the first no, then I wouldn’t be holding three novels in my hands come this December 2026. When you feel compelled toward a project, it’s worth it to ‘keep on keepin’ on’ (as my grandmother used to say). There’s a reason we are driven to these things, everyone has gifts bestowed upon them from the Lord. It would be a real shame to bury your talent, or even quit looking for it altogether. So, most importantly, don’t give up.
Pricing:
- 17.95 for With Bated Breath on Amazon.com
- 18.99 for in the heritance on Amazon.com
Contact Info:
- Instagram: joanna.nisbet
- Facebook: joanna.nisbet
- Other: @joannanisbet on Substack.com
