What made
you decide to write your first novel?
I've always
wanted to be a writer, it just took me a long time to finally sit down and
figure out how to make it happen. The concept for my first novel, Unraveled,
came to me when I was feeding our first child in the middle of the night. I
wrote a paragraph or two the next day, then several years went by, we had two
more kids and moved across the country before I felt a strong desire to pursue
creative writing. I feel writing is a calling, so to not write is to waste a
God-given gift.
Are you an avid reader of sweet romance novels?
Yes, I am. I read both inspirational and general market romance.
How long did it take you to write your first book? How many rewrites did you do on it?
I spent
approximately two years writing Unraveled.
The rewrites were numerous. Some chapters were re-written 7 times, others had 2
or 3 rounds of revisions.
Who helped
you with the editing?
Sally
Bradley was my editor. My friends and family are very supportive and encourage
me with every book I write and celebrate when a book is published.
Are you
active with any writing critique groups?
Yes, I have
been a part of critique groups in the past, which I found through my membership
in American Christian Fiction Writers. At the moment, we are all busy with
family and jobs and writing so we aren't actively critiquing as often as we'd
like. Generally speaking, if a writer can find a critique group that's a good
fit, it's wise to have a critique partner.
Did you ever
want to give up on writing the book and getting it published?
There's a
period of time with every manuscript when I want to give up. That's part of the
process. I just finished my 11th manuscript, and even though I'm proud of the
story and I look forward to seeing it published someday, writing is very
difficult work and I was tempted to quit several times. But if I quit, then
that story won't ever reach my readers, so I try to keep that in mind and just
keep going, one scene at a time.
How many
publishers or agents did you pitch before getting your manuscript published?
My first
novel, Unraveled was originally
published by a small press that's no longer in business. I didn't want to lose
momentum with my readers when the publisher unexpectedly closed, nor did I want
to un-publish the book, so I had a new cover designed and independently
published the novel as a second edition. I'm glad I was able to do that because Unraveled is a favorite among
my readers. Because of their enthusiasm and requests for more stories featuring
the characters, I've written and published a novella and a sequel, and have
plans to write at least two more books in the series.
What was it
like doing your own publishing of that book?
Whether
independent or traditionally published, being an author is the equivalent of
running a small business and demands a lot of time and attention to detail.
There's a myth in this industry that traditional publishers handle everything
once the book is contracted, and that is just not true. While a publishing
house takes on the expense of editing, production and some of the marketing,
every author has a responsibility to market their books, build relationships
with readers, and stay informed about current trends regardless of their path
to publication.
How did you find
your agent?
I am
represented by Jessica Kirkland. I met her at the national conference for
American Christian Fiction Writers. I believe she was the second agent I
pitched to and she offered representation a few months later. For those who
aren't familiar with pitching to an agent at a conference, this means writers
attending the conference sign up for appointments with agents and editors.
The appointments
are usually 15 minutes and the author presents the agent or editor with a brief
summary of a completed manuscript, unique details about the work that set it
apart from titles already published, perhaps discuss plans for marketing the
book, etc. It's an exciting and stressful experience. I'm very thankful that
Jessica is my agent.
What was
that process like? How did you get involved with Harlequin?
I started
entering Harlequin Love Inspired's contests in 2012 or 2013. I can't remember
the exact year. I did not advance to the final rounds in the first two contests
I entered, but the feedback I received encouraged me to keep trying.
In 2015 I
entered a paragraph and a back cover blurb in the Blurb-2-Book contest. That
led to a request for a full manuscript. Although I didn't win the contest, the
process required that I complete the manuscript. Then the editor I worked with
encouraged me to keep revising and she offered a contract after the revisions
were complete. That book is called The
Firefighter's Twins and it was published in 2018. Harlequin Love Inspired
also offered me a second contract and that book releases in May of 2019.
What is the hardest part of writing for you?
The hardest
part of writing for me is completing the first draft. Discipline and
determination are necessary to get the words on the page/screen and it's also
emotionally exhausting to draft a complete novel. Revisions are where the magic
happens, and I know that, but it takes a great deal of effort to get to that
magical place.
What does
your editor remind you to do most often?
My editors
remind me to do A LOT of things. Consistently I'm encouraged to make sure there
is enough external and internal conflict to sustain the plot throughout the
whole novel.
What’s the
best encouragement you’ve had in your writing?
Never, ever
give up.
We have all
experienced rejection. How have you
learned to write past it?
Rejection is
a part of the writing process and it is painful and discouraging. However,
there is something to be learned from every rejection, even if it takes a few
days or weeks or months to see the proverbial silver lining. I don't have a
formula or an easy method for bouncing back. My best advice is to read books
you really enjoy, put the rejected manuscript away for a while and fill up your
creative well.
Maybe that
means you read or try a different form of creative art, watch movies, spend
time with people and live life. Eventually, the desire to create a new story
will spring up and it will be time to try again. This is when strong writing
friends can come alongside and encourage, offer constructive feedback on your
new idea, and generally cheer you on.
What has
surprised you the most in writing/publishing?
The wheels
of traditional publishing turn slowly, while things move really fast in the
indie world. That contrast is both surprising and frustrating. It's tricky to
navigate both realms sometimes.
What do you
know now about writing you wished you had known sooner?
Writing a
full novel is much harder than I expected and requires a lot of time, energy
and intentional living. I didn't realize all the ways creative writing would
impact my life. While I can step away from the computer or put down my pen and
close my notebook, I can't exactly turn off my brain. Writers are either
writing or thinking about writing.
What is the
best writing advice you’ve received or could give?
In addition
to never giving up, I'd recommend reading voraciously, especially in the genre
you're writing and if you want to be traditionally published, read the books
your ideal publishing house is currently releasing. Harlequin Love Inspired
editors say this over and over: read currently published books to get an idea
of what sells. A lot of writers don't want to take this advice and I'm offering
it again because it is so important.
Are there
any other points about writing you would like to add?
Even if a
writer isn't published yet, start connecting with other writers and readers.
The internet makes it so easy. Pick one social media platform that you like and
build a presence there. Join a Facebook group with readers who read what you
write and actively participate in the conversation. Try to get on a launch team
for an author you admire so you can see how he/she markets the book. There's
always something to learn and opportunities to grow.
My next
Harlequin Love Inspired release is Their
Baby Blessing and it arrives May 21, 2019. Here are some brief details…
The Navy prepared him for anything … except for an instant family.
When Navy veteran Gage Westbrook promised to look out for his late best friend’s son, he never imagined he’d bond with the baby boy. And he definitely didn’t plan to fall for Connor’s gorgeous temporary guardian, Skye Tomlinson. But weighted by guilt for the accident that took Connor’s dad, can Gage find the courage to forgive himself and embrace the chance at a family?
When Navy veteran Gage Westbrook promised to look out for his late best friend’s son, he never imagined he’d bond with the baby boy. And he definitely didn’t plan to fall for Connor’s gorgeous temporary guardian, Skye Tomlinson. But weighted by guilt for the accident that took Connor’s dad, can Gage find the courage to forgive himself and embrace the chance at a family?
That’s all for today’s interview. If you’d like to learn more about Heidi’s writing and new books, here are some links to get you started.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heidimccahan
Website: https://heidimccahan.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/HeidiMcCahan
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