Welcome to mystery writer Susan Coryell

Welcome to Susan Coryell, author of A RED, RED ROSE! We met through our publisher, L&L Dreamspell, and I asked Susan to tell us a little about herself: 

 A career educator, I have taught students from 7^th grade to college level. I have a BA degree in English from Carson-Newman College and a Masters from George Mason University. I belong to Author’s Guild, Virginia Writers and Lake Writers.
I relish talking to budding writers at writing conferences and workshops. When not writing, I enjoy boating, kayaking, golf and yoga. My husband and I love to travel, especially when any of our six grandchildren are involved.

I have long been interested in culture and society in the South where hard-felt, long-held feelings battle with modern ideas. I live at Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia.

www.susancoryellauthor.com

Now on to the interview! The Writers’ Lens is about "Bringing fiction into focus"–what brings your writing into focus, the characters, the stories, the love of words? All of those, of course; however, I always start with a theme.  For A Red, Red Rose one theme is “Can deep cultural/regional clashes ever be overcome and if so how?”

How do you find time to write and do a demanding job? It’s somewhat easier now that I’ve retired from full-time teaching, but I still have to discipline myself to stay on task. I dedicate several hours every day to writing—usually in the a.m. when I’m more creative.

What inspired your latest book? A Revolutionary War estate rumored to house a ghost.

What do you think readers will like about your book? A Red, Red Rose is a “cozy mystery,” meaning it takes place in a small town or village and revolves around characters most readers could easily see as friends or neighbors. Cozies are big on mystery and short on gore. It’s also a Southern gothic, involving an old mansion, some quirky characters and the paranormal.  With all of this, what’s not to like?

Would you share a bit about your next project? My next book may also involve the paranormal. Twin teenaged boys—one a pitcher and one a catcher— can telepathize with each other. It, too, would be a cozy mystery.

What's your favorite way to interact with fans/readers? I enjoy signings and readings. I’ve done panel discussions (on school bullies for my YA novel Eaglebait), mini-writing workshops, and literary analyses of my own books.

How much fact is in your fiction? I wrote Eaglebait while I was teaching middle school, so my “research” was done in the laboratory of my own class room. The characters were fictional. For A Red, Red Rose, I did extensive research on the history of Southern Virginia (the setting), the Civil War, slave burials and graves and the construction of a hydroelectric dam which created the fictional Moore Mt. Lake.

What movie star would be perfect for (your main character) and why? For A Red, Red Rose I’d choose Emma Stone. She has just the right mix of “Gee Whiz!” and spunky resolve.

What makes your book/characters unique? Ashby Overton in A Red, Red Rose is able to adapt to a changed culture without losing sense of self—indeed-she gains insight into her own values as a result of change forced upon her and becomes a far more complex character as a result.

Miss Emma and Abe, the old retainers, are an integral part of the history of Overhome and a source of much Ashby yearns to know, but they are so reticent as to frustrate Ashby (and the reader!)

Luke Murley, the romantic interest, seems aloof, almost harboring a chip on his shoulder as he clashes again and again with Ashby. Yet, she realizes there are intriguing depths to Luke’s character which drive her determination to know him better.

What are your top three reasons for writing? Writers have to write. Curse?  Blessing? I know not, but I have no choice but to keep at it.

What's the highest compliment someone could make about your writing? My sister said, “I completely forgot my sister wrote this book as I was reading it.”

Is there a different genre or type of book you’d love to try to  write? Actually, I have written a non-fiction memoir for a fellow who was a sniper in two wars. Had a NY publisher ready to offer a contract and then the Marine refused to authenticate his service so it was never published. Some day when he is dead and can’t shoot me (I no longer trust him, obviously) I may bring it out as “based on a true story” or something. I found nonfiction exhausting.

 

Yikes! A sniper? Moving right along....what's your favorite writing/editing/query-reading snack? I NEVER eat or drink while writing! Once when I had been at the keyboard way too long, I heard an odd growling sound. It took a few seconds to realize it was my stomach—empty from hours of work.

Describe the best writer you know and something wonderful he or she has written. Ann Patchett’s  Bel Canto is a gem. I also admire everything Wallace Stegner has written—especially Crossing to Safety. Ian McEwan’s Atonement is awesome.

Fill in the blanks: Writing/Editing books is like ______.  You never know _____. Mining for gold. You never know what you will dig up.

 

Not every idea is a winner. Written or not, what’s the most ill-conceived story idea you’ve ever had? I tried writing a YA romance that was so ridiculous I laughed myself into hysteria just reading the draft.

If you could meet one of your characters, who would it be and where would you meet? I think I’d like to meet Rosasbelle, the spirit in A Red, Red Rose. Let me clarify: I’d like to meet Rosabelle on one of her GOOD days.

A whole summer to absorb two hundred years of Overton ancestry—their lives and loves and secrets.  Especially their secrets.

Twenty-year-old Ashby Overton, invited by her aunt and uncle to spend the summer at historic Overhome Estate as a companion to her young cousin, hopes to unearth her ancestral roots and the cause of a mysterious family rift involving the horseback riding death of her Grandmother Lenore many years ago.
Situated at Moore Mountain Lake, Virginia, the imposing mansion is an idyllic setting for Ashby, the aspiring romance writer. From the moment she enters her room, Ashby feels an invisible, enfolding presence. This was Rosabelle’s room the housekeeper tells Ashby. But who was Rosabelle?
As summer unfolds, so does the shroud of silence surrounding Overhome. Ever present is a force Ashby never sees, only feels. Candles light themselves, lullaby notes fall from the ceiling, the radio tunes itself daily. And roses meant for Ashby appear in the unlikeliest places. Are the roses a symbol of love or do they represent something dark, something deep and evil?

Full of heartbreak and adventure, fear and passion, the summer leads Ashby on a suspenseful, terrifying journey as she navigates centuries of family strife and cultural clashes alongside the puzzling parameters of the spirit world. Ultimately, she discovers that even the most fiercely guarded secrets are destined to be revealed.

A RED, RED ROSE can be found at:

Print books: Barnes & Noble and Amazon and with the publisher, www.LLDreamspell.com

E-books: Kindle, Nook, AllRomance/omniLit, Fictionwise and iBookstore!

EAGLEBAIT is now out in softback and available at all on-line bookstores. It won the NY Public Library’s “Books for the Teen Age” award as well as the International Reading Association’s “Young Adult Choice.”

6 North: Planning a St. Louis Wedding?

Meet authors Emily Ayala and Allison Hockett from 10 a.m. to noon, Saturday, March 31, at 6 North Cafe.

6 North Café

14438 Clayton Road

Ballwin, MO 63011

(directions)

THE ST. LOUIS WEDDING BOOK: Two Sisters' Guide to Your Ultimate Wedding includes 13 chapters of comprehensive lists of their favorite choices to make planning your St. Louis wedding a breeze.

"Through research and referrals, we've put together a grab-n-go book for all of our favorite (and not necessarily the most expensive) wedding choices in town. This is the first resource NOT powered by advertising. It's a friend-to-friend referral guide researched and collected into a handy resource for you."

Emily Ayala and Allison Hockett were raised right here in St. Louis where they attended Lindbergh High School. After high school, Allison enrolled in Truman State University, graduating with a B.A. in psychology, where she met her husband, Brian. Emily attended Missouri State University, graduating with a B.S. in finance, where she met her husband, Paulo. Allison resides in Eureka with her husband and three children. Emily resides in O'Fallon, Missouri, with her husband and little boy.

Books will be available for purchase at 6 North Café on March 31.
On line: http://stlweddingbook.com/pages/wheretobuy.htm

A Writer's Voice

A Writer’s Voice
By Brad R. Cook

Finding one’s voice is the toughest thing a writer has to do, but it's the most important thing a writer needs to master in order to become published.

So what is voice? It’s almost easier to talk about what voice isn’t than what it is. It isn’t your character’s voice, it isn’t beautiful prose, or just writing stuff down. Voice is about style, your style, and when it’s done right, people can read any page you’ve ever written and recognize your voice.

So how do I know about voice? Lots of hard work. In 2011, I headed off to the Writer’s Digest Conference in New York with a good book, compelling story, great characters, and it was even on trend. My pitches went great, but all the agents had one main criticism – my voice. One agent told me I needed to work on my middle grade voice and another agent described me as “Thick.” I wasn’t even certain what that meant. Not enough white space on the page? Was my diction wrong? Did I info-dump too much? But it wasn’t any of those things.

The problem was my voice. I sounded like a professor, not quite as bad as Ben Stein in Ferris Bueller, but it was overly wordy and lacked that edge-of-your-seat tension. I worked hard to improve my voice, but I have to admit I had no idea how to start. Voice was something I had never had issue with until I started writing novels, so I went back to my roots, where I began as a writer – the theater.

One thing I love about writing plays is that voice is already built in. There is a syncopated rhythm to the theater, to the dialogue, that lends itself very well to voice. A great play doesn’t drag. It creates a rhythm that takes the audience on a rollercoaster of emotions, from the heights of comedy to the depths of tragedy. So I learned to find that rhythm in my writing.

It took a couple of scripts, some short stories, and maybe one or two blog posts, but I rediscovered my voice. I even rewrote that novel, now it’s a young adult instead of a middle grade, but that’s where my voice was most comfortable. Writing for kids takes a unique voice.

So what did discover about voice? To sum up, it’s a mix of your character’s voice and your own. But there is so much more.

How does a writer find or improve their voice? Start by making certain you’re writing the right material:
The Right Genre – Trying to smash some mystery into an urban fantasy paranormal romance, maybe you should just focus on writing mysteries.
The Right Tense – Not certain if present or past is best – try them both!
The Right POV – If third person doesn’t feel right? Maybe attempt the same story in first person. Exploring different tenses and points of view allows a writer to discover what suits their voice best.
The Right Attitude – Make certain the tone fits with the character’s mood and that tone of the writing matches the scene. Think of music in a movie, how it helps to mold the emotion of the scene, the attitude in writer’s voice can do the same thing.

Here are a few more suggestions to help find your writing voice.
Write to connect with the reader – Most readers like voice, they might say it’s the way they write, but they mean voice.
Develop your style – it won’t happen overnight, but the more you write, the more you will define and explore your voice.
Don’t copy someone else’s voice – emulating is a good technique to explore – but every writer needs to find their own voice.
Read aloud – Can you hear the rhythm? Do the words flow together? If so, then you may have found your voice!

All the great writers found their voice and it’s what propelled them to super fame, none more so than William Shakespeare. So which author has your favorite voice – let me know in the comments.

And if you want to know author Cole Gibsen’s thoughts on voice, check out my interview with her http://www.thewriterslens.com/2012/03/sitting-down-with-ya-writer-cole-gibsen.html

Katana Giveaway!

Katana Giveaway!

By Brad R. Cook

This Monday, The Writers’ Lens has an exciting giveaway – KATANA by Cole Gibsen!

If you haven’t read the interview with Cole, here it is, http://www.thewriterslens.com/2012/03/sitting-down-with-ya-writer-cole-gibsen.html

This week The Writers’ Lens is giving away a copy of Katana.

It is easy to enter, just leave a comment on this post or any of the posts this week!

One note about the giveaway: Due to shipping limitations, you have to live within the continental United States to win. Apologies to the international readers, we also have giveaways are fully online so anyone can win.

To enter the contest, simply leave a comment or question on The Writers Lens Blog between March 26th, and midnight March 31st, 2012. Please include your email so we can reach you if you win. The more comments you leave, the greater YOUR chance of winning the contest. The winner will be chosen after midnight on Saturday and the announcement made on Sunday, April 1st.

KATANA
"This action-packed novel has a unique and compelling plot...Fans of Carrie Asai's Samurai Girl series will be particularly interested, but even readers who dislike supernatural story lines will enjoy this tale of modern samurais." ~School Library Journal~

"An action packed page-turner tempered with slow-burning romance." ~Booklist~

Kill Bill meets Buffy in this supernatural samurai tale

Rileigh Martin would love to believe that adrenaline gave her the uncanny courage and strength to fend off three muggers. But it doesn't explain her dreams of fifteenth century Japan, the incredible fighting skills she suddenly possesses, or the strange voice giving her battle tips and danger warnings. While worrying that she's going crazy (always a reputation ruiner), Rileigh gets a visit from Kim, a handsome martial arts instructor, who tells Rileigh she's harboring the spirit of a five-hundred-year-old samurai warrior.

Relentlessly attacked by ninjas, Rileigh has no choice but to master the katana--a deadly Japanese sword that's also the key to her past. As the spirit grows stronger and her feelings for Kim intensify, Rileigh is torn between continuing as the girl she's always been and embracing the warrior inside her.
(Flux ~ March 8th, 2012)

Don’t forget to pick up a copy of her second novel Breathless, available soon.

Thanks for entering, and good luck with the giveaway!

The winner of Ring of Fire is . . .

The winner of a free signed copy of Ring of Fire by Heather Huffman is Readmore! Congratulations! We will be sending you your book soon.

Thanks to everyone for entering and please keep the comments coming.

Thank you for reading and please visit www.davidalanlucas.com and www.thewriterslens.com. You can also follow me on twitter @Owlkenpowriter and the Writer’s Lens @TheWritersLens. Fiction is the world where the philosopher is the most free in our society to explore the human condition as he chooses.

Sitting Down With Y/A Writer Cole Gibsen

Sitting Down with Y/A Writer Cole Gibsen
By Brad R. Cook

If you don’t know her name yet, you soon will, Cole Gibsen, author of Katana (published by Flux Books) and Breathless (published by Crescent Moon Press) is represented by Chris Richman of Upstart Crow Literary and she is part of the Apocalypsies, a group of debut Y/A writers all of whom will be published in 2012.

From Cole’s bio, one learns that she is a chipped-nailed rebel, a drinker from cartons, but it won’t tell you that she is a writer willing to push her characters into impossible choices. Her quick wit and snarky personality are infused in every word. She has that unique mix that all writers strive for – a compelling voice that clearly defines her, and the ability to infuse lighthearted comedy into tense action. Her hair might change with each new novel, but don’t underestimate her, Cole touches on deep subject matters, but will always make you laugh by the end of the page.

Cole is a great writer for young adults, she gives Rileigh and Edith voices that young people can identify with, one they can recognize, and her books carry messages that Cole knows every young woman needs to hear. She is deeply connected, not only to the teens of today, but the teen within herself. It is that inner strength that allows her to connect with her readers so effectively.


I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Cole and picking her brain about writing,

You have a great voice that comes through Rileigh - do you have any advice for those writers trying to find their voice?

I like to make character bio sheets for my characters before I even write a word of my novel. This can be anything from what my character looks like to their favorite color and favorite food. Even though this information might not show up in your book, I think it’s essential for getting an idea of who your character is and making sure that voice shines through on your page.

What made you choose to write Katana in the first person?

I like first person because I like the flexibility and ease it allows when switching from internal and external thought. My characters have a lot of snarky thoughts.

Obviously you love the Japanese, but besides Samurai and Geisha, what else do you love about their culture?

Oh gosh, so many things! One of my favorite martial artists was Miyamoto Musashi. I wish I had a time machine so I could go back and watch him train and fight. At least his teachings survived—The Five Rings is one of my all time favorite books.

What's your favorite way to interact with fans/readers?

I love Twitter for chatting with, not only readers, but other authors that I admire. I love the casual feel of it—like you and your 2,000 closest friends are chatting it up at a café.

If you could meet one of your characters (beside the MC), who would it be and where would you meet?

I would love to meet Gimhae Kim (my once-samurai-now-martial-arts-instructor) who I picture looking like Rain from Ninja Assassin. But then again, my husband might not like that too much.

Which line do you struggle with more, the first or the last?

Definitely the last. Writing the last chapter has always been the hardest part of novel writing for me. I think it’s because the ending can make or break a novel and I want to make sure I get it just right.

Katana and Breathless both star 17 year old young women, what made you want to write for teens?

I love the raw emotions and drama that take place during the teen years. Er, at least I like writing about them—definitely not experiencing them.

Who is your favorite literary heroine?

Do comic books count as literary?

Definitely, especially around here at The Writers' Lens.

Because if they do, it’s always been a toss-up for me between Jean Grey as the Phoenix and Felicia Hardy as Black Cat. They’re both powerful, independent, and intelligent women. In the end, I think I’d have to pick Felicia Hardy because she has much better taste in men. Because if you read comics, you know that Spiderman is awesome and Cyclops is a tool. Thought Jean Grey does have that smoldering kiss with Wolverine…I might have to get back to you on this.

Do you have a process when you write? Do you write at the same time every day or whenever you can find time? Do you outline or let the words flow?

Yeah, this is a tough one for me. I have a little one who goes to preschool only two hours a day. So I only have two hours to get work done. I try to get as much writing as I can in those two hours, but sometimes blog posts, website maintenance, and emails chip into my time. Because of the little time I have, I definitely work better with an outline. It helps me stay focused.

Here at The Writers' Lens our motto is Bringing Fiction into Focus, so: What brings your writing into focus, the characters, the stories, or the love of crafting words?

Reading. I absolutely adore reading—which is why I got into writing in the first place. Every time I read a good book, it renews my passion to write all over again.

Those of us here at The Writers Lens’ couldn’t agree more. There, of course, is so much more to talk about, but Cole needs to keep some things still hidden away in her Kimono.

For more on Cole Gibsen check out,
http://www.colegibsen.com/
http://colegibsen.blogspot.com/
http://www.potsandpens.com/


KATANA
"This action-packed novel has a unique and compelling plot...Fans of Carrie Asai's Samurai Girl series will be particularly interested, but even readers who dislike supernatural story lines will enjoy this tale of modern samurais." ~School Library Journal~

"An action packed page-turner tempered with slow-burning romance." ~Booklist~

Kill Bill meets Buffy in this supernatural samurai tale

Rileigh Martin would love to believe that adrenaline gave her the uncanny courage and strength to fend off three muggers. But it doesn't explain her dreams of fifteenth century Japan, the incredible fighting skills she suddenly possesses, or the strange voice giving her battle tips and danger warnings. While worrying that she's going crazy (always a reputation ruiner), Rileigh gets a visit from Kim, a handsome martial arts instructor, who tells Rileigh she's harboring the spirit of a five-hundred-year-old samurai warrior.

Relentlessly attacked by ninjas, Rileigh has no choice but to master the katana--a deadly Japanese sword that's also the key to her past. As the spirit grows stronger and her feelings for Kim intensify, Rileigh is torn between continuing as the girl she's always been and embracing the warrior inside her.
(Flux ~ March 8th, 2012)

BREATHLESS
Obituary-reading emo girl Edith Small is broken - the end result of forcing herself inside a mold that doesn't fit. All she wants is to conform to her strict sergeant stepfather's rules long enough to make it to graduation day.

But a boat accident threatens to unravel the life Edith has worked so hard to keep. After waking up in a hospital with a lacerated shoulder, Edith fakes amnesia. Because admitting she received her injuries from a blue-haired girl who breathes underwater is all the reason Sir needs to send Edith on the first bus to military school.

Safe at home, Edith struggles to put the nightmare behind her. But the mysterious creatures that live in the ocean aren't about to let her forget.

After meeting Bastin - a strange boy with silver hair and black eyes - on a secluded dock, Edith learns about the war raging undersea to end human existence. A war that Edith, unwittingly, has become the key to winning.

In a world where death is an ever-present shadow and motives are as dark as the bottom of the ocean, Edith must decide if her life is worth risking for a love that can't survive past the shore. (Crescent Moon Press ~ 2012)

Check back on Monday for an exciting giveaway!

Meet writer Amanda Doyle 3/24 at 6 North

Finally, a locally produced GUIDEBOOK TO ST. LOUIS!

Meet with author Amanda E. Doyle from 10 a.m. to noon, Saturday, March 24, at: 

6 North Café

14438 Clayton Road

Ballwin, MO 63011

(directions) 

Amanda is an ardent St. Louis supporter and resident with more than a decade of experience in promoting the city to visitors. She lives with her family in Tower Grove Heights, and regularly plots her alternate lives in cool neighborhoods around the area.

"This book is a love letter to St. Louis, one I’ve been working on now for more than a decade."

You'll find a unique take on the elements that make many of the pockets of this metropolitan area such an appealing one in which to live. Neighborhoods and municipalities are grouped in ways that may be a bit different than you're used to seeing, in the hope of reflecting how we actually talk about them.

Have fun, and viva St. Louis!


Books will be available for purchase at 6 North on March 24th.
On line: http://stlguidebook.com/buy-it/

The Writers' Lens Presents--A Series on Writing Hitchcockian

The slap-squish click-ity click of brick smashed into mortar and moved against the others to fit it in place was followed by the scraping of the trowel removing the access. The scraping of the goo back on top of the next brick in the wall was accompanied by the clinking of chains and the stifled moans of a helpless man, his mouth duct tapped and his eyes wide as the last smells of the world he would know was the smell of the basement as I slowly walled him up.

"Oh, hello! Please ignore the redecorating I am doing to my little corner of The Writers' Lens. "

"Who is this man?" Your voice trembles.

"Nothing to worry about. He's my inner critic, just suffering from a bout of . . .  talking too much while I write."

Please do ignore the mess I am making as I prepare to launch a new series of blogs about a man, who has rightly been crowned the Master of Suspense, Alfred Hitchcock and what it means to be Hitchcockian. His name is synonymous with thrillers and mystery--and macabre humor (like the above ala Hitchcock Presents). His films spanned horror, suspense, romance and comedy, while he explored the dark side of our psyche. 

Alfred Hitchcock was a master of storytelling with the art of film. This series of blogs, which will be held over the next several months, will take the master's film techniques and see how they can be applied to our shared art of writing (even if you don't write mystery, suspense, or horror).

While preparing for this series, I have seen some posted articles and comments that too much has been read into what Hitchcock--reading meaning into something that had no meaning. I couldn't disagree more. Hitchcock controlled his films too much, not giving the film editors much of a choice when it came to cutting shots or the choice of the camera view.  In fact, to quote him, "The writer and I plan out the entire script down to the smallest detail, and when we're finished all that's left to do is to shoot the film."

Over the next several months, as we rotate blogs on the Writer's Wednesday, I will explore the following Hitchcock techniques and touch on some writers who use them (intentionally or not):

• The use of psychological theory in our writing and how to use it to affect our reader;
• The use of story description to set the mood and convey what dialogue can't;
• The use of symbolism to trigger a subconscious response;
• The use of themes;
•  The use of thrills and chills--what to show and what not to;
• The use of macabre humor;
• The use of big shockers;
• Teasing, playfulness, sexual tension, and undercurrents;
•  The explorations of the unsettling relationship between violence and sex;
• The signature

The Writers' Lens would like our readers to comment often and have a hand in the exploration of the Hitchcockian style and how it might help in all of our writing. For those who read this blog who are not writers, it is our hope to bring into focus how Hitchcock's techniques are used today in what you read and watch on TV or in the movies.

Thank you for reading and please visit www.davidalanlucas.com and www.thewriterslens.com. You can also follow me on twitter @Owlkenpowriter and the Writer’s Lens @TheWritersLens. Fiction is the world where the philosopher is the most free in our society to explore the human condition as he chooses.

Ring of Fire

This week, we are having a conversation with Heather Huffman's latest:  Ring of Fire.

Writer's Lens: Your latest novel, Ring of Fire, was recently released.  What was the idea behind this novel?

Heather Huffman: That novel began when I dreamt about a woman rescuing a princess. I spent several days thinking about those characters, wondering who they were and why they came together at that particular moment. When one piece of the puzzle came to me, I’d start researching it and that would lead to another. Eventually it led to Alexandra McAlister, a scientist on a remote Pacific Island researching alternative energy. When violet-gray diamonds are found at her jobsite, it turns her world upside down. Alexandra was passionate about using her talents to make the world a better place.  She took the tools she’d been given to leave her mark on this world.  That’s something I think we should all do.  I love to write, and I hope to use that to, in some small way, make this world a better place.  

WL: What was the hardest part of writing Ring of Fire?

HH: The research, without a doubt. Some days it felt like I could spend three hours on one paragraph just because I spent so many hours researching the science piece behind that paragraph. There were a lot of moving parts in that book – I wanted them to be as accurate as possible. 

WL: Why did you become a writer?  When did you know that is what you wanted to do?

HH: I’ve always loved to write, but it wasn’t until I turned 31 that I looked around at my life and thought, “Well this isn’t what I thought it would be.” I figured I had two choices, trudge through the next 50 years or do something to fix it. So I started writing again, and I got serious about trying to get something published. I have to be honest—I never would have believed things would be where they are today, though. It’s still surreal.

WL: What do you find to be the hardest part of writing for you in the writing process?

HH: The murky middle! I always start off so enthusiastic for a project; the first few chapters fly by. Then somewhere in the middle, I begin to question how I’ll ever be able to finish the book. I’m certain I’ve painted myself into a corner, and there is no way I’ll be able to pull it off. Then, somehow, things will start to slide into place and I pick up the pace again. It’s the same every book!

WL: What themes in your fiction writing seem to drive you the most?

HH: Nobody is a throwaway. Everyone’s life has a purpose. It’s never too late to make a change. There’s always hope. Those are themes that run throughout all of my novels – the characters may vary, but there stories intertwine, and there’s definitely a common thread to them.

WL: How easy was it to take the leap of faith to become a serious writer and chase this career? What did you find that you had to do to take the step?

HH: I first stuck my toe in the water while still working in Corporate America. I joined the St. Louis Writer’s Guild, worked hard to better my craft, attended conferences to network and learn, mastered my pitch – the works. When I first started getting rejection letters, I took the feedback from the agents and went back and re-worked my manuscripts, tried to learn from them to be a better writer. When an agent looked me in the eye and said “You write beautifully, but I don’t think there’s a market for your type of book – it doesn’t fit well into any one genre,” and that feedback was consistent with the letters I was getting, I decided to go indie and release the four I’d completed as e-books. The novels did very well on Smashwords; it was extremely gratifying to be able to interact with readers who enjoyed my style of writing. I started hearing from people all over the world – it was thrilling.

Then my son was in an accident last year – he’s fine now, but he needed a lot of rehabilitation to get that way. I made the decision to leave my job to be with him. One month after I left, the impossible happened: a small publisher out of Seattle called me and said they were interested in my books. I’ve been with Booktrope ever since, and it was one of the best decisions I’ve made!

What was your biggest fear when you decided to first be published as a novelist or poet?  Do you still have those fears with each new work or are there other fears that come up?

It used to crush me if someone didn’t like my writing. I was terrified to share them, which makes submitting to agents particularly brutal. At some point during the agent process, I grew a thicker skin. I stopped taking it personally and started examining what I could do with the information they were giving me. Some reviews still sting, but at least I’m now confident enough in the fact that I wrote the best book I could, and that’s really all I can do. Still, it’s always a little nerve-wracking when a new book is released! 

WL: If you could have coffee (or drink of your choice) with four other authors from any time period, who would you choose and why?

HH: Elizabeth Gaskell – I love her books and what she stood for. Like me, she often used her novels as a way to make people aware of social injustice. I think we’d have been friends if we hadn’t been born 150 years apart or so.

Christopher Moore –he makes me laugh, although my husband says he thinks we’d drive each other crazy because we’re so fundamentally different.

David – I’ve always felt a connection to David (as in the kid who fought Goliath and went on to be king of Israel). He wrote many of the Psalms, and it’s always his words I go back to when I’m struggling. There’s so much in his conversations with God that I can relate to.

Charlotte Bronte – my niece would never forgive me if I didn’t include her in the list (and invite said niece along)!

WL: Who was the most influential person or persons in your writing career?

HH: That’s really hard for me to answer – I don’t think there is any one person I can point to. So many people have contributed to who I am, and that’s what influences me as a writer.

WL: If there was one piece of advice that you could give to any fellow writer, what would it be?

HH: Learn from your rejections, but don’t let them slow you down.

WL: What advice would you give a fellow writer about pitching a story either face to face or in a query letter?

HH: Breathe. The one pitch I did face to face, I totally blew. I speak in public all the time, but I still got stupidly nervous when I was sitting across the table from my dream agent. I’d wrongly given her too much power, though. I had it stuck in my head that if she turned me down, my dreams would be shattered. In reality, her turning me down put me on the path to my dream publisher. So just do your best and trust that, whatever the outcome of the pitch, it’ll be okay in the end.

WL: How could my readers learn more about you?

HH: My website is www.heatherhuffman.net. While on my website, be sure to check out the event calendar – there’s always something going on! I’m also active on Facebook (www.facebook.com/heatherhuffmanbooks), Twitter (@heathers_mark) and Pinterest (Heather Huffman). 

Thank you Heather!

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