If you haven't already done so, check out Joanna's award-winning story "The Case of the Cambridge Lad" and then return here for a chat with the author.
WOW: Congratulations on placing in the Fall 2025 Flash Fiction Contest! What excited you most about writing this story?
Joanna: I love being able to combine local research with writing. This story came to me after discovering there are two mermaid lakes in Derbyshire. Although I didn’t use all the information from my research, it provided a solid backdrop for the setting.
WOW: The research process can be so much fun, and it sounds like you have a great perspective on how much to use and when. What did you learn about yourself or your writing while crafting this piece?
Joanna: As a relatively new writer, I tend to fictionalise fact, drawing on my own personal experiences. This piece was different because it was entirely fictional, which allowed me to use my imagination without restraint. I found that liberating.
WOW: What a wonderful feeling! What do you enjoy when you’re not writing, and how does it inform or inspire what you write?
Joanna: I’m very lucky to live on the edge of the Peak District. Taking our three dogs out for walks in the area is a regular activity. I find lots of inspiration locally; we’re surrounded by wild moorlands, historic estates, etc. And then there’s the city. Sheffield is also full of inspiration with its industrial heritage.
WOW: That sounds lovely and full of potential stories. What are you reading right now, and why did you choose to read it?
Joanna: At the moment, I’m reading Kevin Barry’s Dark Lies the Island. It’s a collection of short stories that I can dip in and out of, rather than fully immersing myself in a novel. I’ll never tire of reading the Fjord of Killary; it always makes me laugh.
WOW: If you could give your younger self one piece of writing advice, what would it be and why?
Joanna: Don’t think a story’s finished just because it’s completed. Stories have a way of developing organically over time. Give them the space to do that—at least a few weeks, then revisit them and let the characters take over the storytelling.
WOW: That’s great advice! Anything else you’d like to add?
Joanna: I’m a solitary writer and procrastinator, but I find that competitions provide structure by having a deadline that gives me the impetus to finish a piece of work. And if I do miss a closing date, it’s ok; there are always other opportunities to submit. Receiving feedback from the judges / editorial team is invaluable.
WOW: Thank you for sharing your story and your responses with us. Happy writing!
Interviewed by Anne Greenawalt, founder and editor-in-chief of Sport Stories Press, which publishes sports books by, for, and about sportswomen and amateur athletes. Connect on social media @greenmachine459.
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