I get frustrated with romances where one spends so much time in the head space that nothing happens and where the same thoughts get said repeatedly in different words.

Jo-Anne Duffett – 3 March 2025

The Back Flap

If you adore single dads, sassy kids longing for a family, and sweet, heart-warming romance wrapped in medical drama, you’ll fall hard for this emotionally charged tale of love, healing, and second chances. A guaranteed happily ever after awaits the doctors!

About the book

What is the book about?

In Prescription for a Frozen Heart ,(P4F), a married to her career doctor (Charlie) thinks that by shutting kids out of her world, she can calm the longing in her heart for a child of her own. She doesn’t consider the combined power of a wily matchmaking colleague, and an eleven-year-old job-shadower with a smoking hot dad. It is a sweet medical romance.

When did you start writing the book?

2022

How long did it take you to write it?

Longer than it should have. I had a health disaster in the middle of it… I completely lost the function of my right (dominant) hand. During the 6 months I was on temporary disability from work, I did not write a word. It was only once I was back, not just in the office, but field-side as a team physician, that I came home and started writing again.

Where did you get the idea from?

My work is my muse. I gave Charlie my job. As life happened, I incorporated aspects into the manuscript.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

There was a point where I lost focus and needed a guiding theme. Luke 17 v 4 popped up on my phone as a daily verse to read. It was about forgiveness. As soon as I had the theme, I had a purpose, and the rest flowed.

What came easily?

Dialogue and all things medical.

Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?

“Patients” are entirely fictitious but other characters certainly have elements of people I know.

We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?

I wouldn’t say specific authors influence how I write, as my voice is my own. However, reading wider than just romance influences my pacing. I enjoy adventure, classic sci-fi, cozy mysteries and classic children’s books and I like the faster pace. I get frustrated with romances where one spends so much time in the head space that nothing happens and where the same thoughts get said repeatedly in different words. Except for the trope of forced proximity, most of the time you don’t get to see your love interest everyday. Life happens. You wrestle with your feelings while you’re busy at work and time passes.

Do you have a target reader?

Someone who enjoys medical dramas and gets a kick out of hearing medical jargon, but wants a happy ending. A person who is rooting for the kid to get a loving mom and for the dashing dad to get over his past and move forward.

About Writing

Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?

I work full time with overtime. Sometimes I get time to write one sentence, sometimes it’s a paragraph. If I’m lucky on a weekend, I will get to write a page. I get the most writing done when I’m visiting my in-laws. Weird, but true. They let me be.

Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?

My two novels were approached in polar opposite manners. Surf n Turf was a dare by my husband. I knew nothing about the craft of writing. It was lock-down and I wanted to write something light-hearted, which was a quick read, that left a smile on your face and a warm feeling in your heart. I began with character and physical appearance sketches, then plotted all my key elements that I wanted to cover. We took a road trip for location scouting and to get the cover images. I filled in the missing bits. Voila. Done.

P4F started with the character and appearance sketches, but I wrote it as it came to me. I had no need for any research as it’s my field of expertise, not just in clinical practice, but I also teach on the subject.

While I was in hospital and the months I couldn’t write, I listened to webinars on the craft of writing.

I dug deep into emotions. For example, when I wrote something sad, I pulled my memory to attending a funeral of a loved one. I also had a burning in my heart of things that needed to be said. The experiences of doctors balancing their lives with their work, the personal experience of having lost four babies and experiencing the stupid insensitive comments of parents of my patients.

Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?

There are multiple phases of editing, but I have learned that you first need to get the words on the page, otherwise you never make progress. If you edit too early, you never finish.

Did you hire a professional editor?

For my first book, I trusted the publisher…

For my second book, I had an amazing editor, with intricate knowledge of the romance world who helped me craft my manuscript into something I am proud of.

Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?

That depends on what my husband is listening to. He needs noise to concentrate and I need relative silence. Gospel worship is fine. But if it’s cricket with cheering crowds or the TV… Then its classical music through noise blocking headphones.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

No

What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?

I tired of waiting for the leisure of the publishers. They are worse than the academic journals! They sit on your book for 6- 9 months and you can do nothing in the meantime. Once I joined the Romance Writers of South Africa (ROSA) group and discovered that most of them self-publish, I took the plunge.

Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?

I hired a graphic designer

Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?

I’m trying a different strategy to the first one.

Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?

Join a local authors group in your genre. You learn so much from those who have gone before you.

About You

Where did you grow up?

South Africa and the Amazon in Brazil

Where do you live now?

The most beautiful city in the world. Cape Town.

What would you like readers to know about you?

Charlie is not me.

If you haven’t guessed by now, I am a medical doctor in the field of sports and exercise medicine.

My husband, who I met when I was 14, and have been married to for 19 years, is my soul mate and best friend.

What are you working on now?

A time travel romance 😊

End of Interview:

For more from Jo-Anne Duffett visit her website and follow her on Instagram.

Get your copy of Prescription for a Frozen Heart from Amazon US.