Joanne Bischof DeWitt Explores Faith, Fiction, and the Power of Redemptive Storytelling

A Beloved Voice in Historical Romance Bringing Heart and Healing to Every Story

Joanne Bischof shares insights on her acclaimed novels, creative process, and the personal experiences that shape her emotionally resonant stories across genres and time periods.

Joanne Bischof DeWitt is a literary force whose stories resonate with grace, heart, and a profound understanding of the human condition. Her ability to craft emotionally rich narratives—whether set against the backdrop of a Victorian-era circus, a mountain town, or the interior landscape of a single woman’s courage—has earned her a devoted readership and critical acclaim, including the rare 5-star TOP PICK! from Romantic Times Book Reviews for The Lady and the Lionheart.

At Mosaic Digest magazine, we celebrate storytellers who illuminate life’s complexities with authenticity, beauty, and soul—and Joanne Bischof DeWitt does just that. A Christy and Carol Award winner, she brings deep compassion to every page, seamlessly blending themes of faith, resilience, and personal growth into both historical and contemporary fiction. Her characters are unforgettable: lion tamers with gentle hearts, single mothers climbing both literal and metaphorical walls, and quiet dreamers confronting life’s hardest truths with quiet bravery.

DeWitt’s writing is tender, layered, and inspiring—offering readers heartfelt journeys of redemption, resilience, and hope in both historical and contemporary settings.

In this exclusive interview, Joanne opens up about the inspirations behind her novels, the turning points in her writing journey, and how her personal experiences—from motherhood to mountain living—have shaped the compelling worlds she creates. It’s a conversation rich with honesty and creative insight, and one we’re proud to share with our readers.

Your novel The Lady and the Lionheart received a rare 5-star TOP PICK! from Romantic Times Book Reviews and has been widely acclaimed. What inspired this particular story, and how did it shape your growth as a writer?

This was such a special novel to write as it whisked me—and readers—off to the Victorian-era circus. For me, it was a really magical time in my writing where inspiration flowed and I got to spend my days among beloved characters in such a delightful setting. The story is inspired by wanting to show a heroic character (in this instance a very kind lion tamer who treats his lions like brothers) in a way that no other setting would have allowed. Because of the larger-than-life nature, this story allowed me to tackle some rather large themes of redemption, love and good-versus-evil in a way that has made it a favorite of my readers and will continue to be a favorite in my heart as well.

In Writer on the Wall: A Suddenly Sadie Adventure, readers follow Sadie’s evolving journey. What drew you to continue Sadie’s story, and how does this sequel differ in tone or theme from the first installment?

During this time, I had recently learned to rock climb and so I wanted to translate that onto the page—showcasing a real-life adventure that would be tangible to many women who were intrigued to think outside of the box, just like Sadie. It also gave me a chance to write a story that focused on singleness in a way that showed the highs and lows, yes, but most importantly the victory that Sadie finds apart from love. Her success in the series isn’t a romantic one which makes her a character that many women have been able to relate to. I think that Sadie helps single women feel seen and supported which was my greatest hope with this series. The sequel was a fun opportunity to continue the story and for Sadie to face new fears—both as a single woman and on the wall. Now that she has entered her first climbing competition, she has a new twist in store . . . facing an unexpected fear of heights. Book 2 is all about new layers of perseverance and growth and giving oneself grace when it’s needed.

Your 2014 novella This Quiet Sky was groundbreaking as the first self-released title to become a Christy Award finalist. What motivated you to self-publish that work, and what did that recognition mean to you at the time?

At the time, I had just wrapped up a 3-book series with a major publisher and when that contract was at an end, I needed to pivot. When I had a lull in being able to find a new publisher for a different series, I decided to take the risk and try self-publishing. Since This Quiet Sky is a novella, it felt like a safe (and honestly, cost-effective) way to dabble in that side of the business. It went on to reach a level of success I had not anticipated and when it was a finalist for the Christy Award, it was a huge honor and a reminder that taking the risk was definitely worth it.

You’ve written both historical and contemporary fiction, often weaving in themes of faith and redemption. How do you approach balancing those elements across different genres and time periods? 

Great question! I have found that it’s a little easer to write about faith in a historical context since historically, faith was a relative constant in people’s lives and society. There is something very tender about historical characters and the lengths they went to in order to persevere through difficulties and it’s beautiful to get to weave faith into those instances in a way that can continue to bless and inspire a modern audience.

You’ve mentioned that your mountain home in Idyllwild and your family’s musical background have influenced your writing. Can you share how your personal life and surroundings have shaped the settings and characters in your novels? 

I find that with each novel I write, it connects deeply to the stage of life that I’m in. With The Gold In These Hills, I was going through an unexpected divorce and so it gave me the chance to write about that experience in a time-slip novel, in a way that infused grace and peace for readers who might be facing the same. With the Sadie books, I was then a single mom and writing about the courage of a single woman gave me hope and joy. Each book has been this to me and with my upcoming novel, The Heart of Bennet Hollow, I wrote it as a new wife who once again, got to celebrate a fresh beginning of unexpected romance—much like Elizabeth Bennet!

With over 100,000 copies sold and multiple awards under your belt, what do you consider the most defining moment of your career so far—and what are you most looking forward to with your upcoming 2025 release from Tyndale House Publishers?

The most defining moment would be when I got the news that The Lady and the Lionheart had surpassed what was assumed to be the highest rating from Romantic Times – 4 ½ gold stars. Me and many of my fellow authors hadn’t known that 5 stars was even possible until I got my review back and this circus story had been given a very rare 5 Gold Stars. It was one of the most incredible moments of my writing career, especially considering the novel’s humble origins. That moment went on to spark a series of awards and acclaim that still astound me to this day. I’m thankful for that moment and when I look back on it, I’m reminded that amazing things are possible . . . especially when we least expect it.