WWR: Why did you choose to write romance? Why not some other genre?
Heather: Simple, I love romance. I'm fascinated by the idea of two people who start with an attraction (whether immediate or built over time) falling in love and living happily ever after. There are other genres that have bits of romance in them (like books by Stephen King and Dean Koontz), but there's only one that allows you to focus on that romance, that interaction, and build upon it to the extent the romance industry does.
WWR: Tell us about the release of your first book. Was it everything you'd hoped it would be?
Heather: The August/September release of A SECRET DESIGN was both exciting and scary. It marked the beginning of a new stage in my writing career...one where others would read what I'd written and either love it or hate it. When you're an unpublished writer there are only a limited number of people who read your work (trusted critique partner(s), maybe a few close girl friends, an editor [or two], and possibly an agent [or two]). When it's in the public domain anyone has the opportunity to read your work. While that is the ultimate goal and every bit as exciting as having the work accepted for publication, there's still that bit of apprehension inside over whether or not it will be well accepted.
For me, however, so far so good. I've had nothing but kind words from readers and reviewers. And I can't tell you how good that feels. :-)
A Secret Design (from Avalon Books, August 31, 2006) is the story of Mark and Angel. The story is one that you've had for a long time, waiting to be written. How does it feel now that it's published? Do you feel bittersweet that you've left the characters behind?
To have the very first book idea I conceived published is awesome. I fell in love with the Kensington family long before I wrote the first book, and that made it all the more important to wait on writing the first story until I was sure I'd do it justice. That's why I wrote/started other books before I worked on A SECRET DESIGN.
As for any bittersweet feelings, I have to say that the best part about writing is that you don't have to totally leave the characters behind if you don't want. I'm able to carry parts of them (sneak peeks, so to speak) through to the other books I plan to write in this series. And, for me, this book will always have a soft spot so I'm sure I'll revisit them every so often by re-reading their story.
WWR: What makes one idea stand out from another when you're considering your next writing project? Is there anything in particular that makes you want to write a certain story?
Heather: At the risk of sounding a bit crazy, the next story usually is the one with the characters shouting the loudest. LOL! The ideas that turn into books for me are the ones that I continually think about and develop in my mind before starting them on paper. While there's nothing in particular that stands out in my mind as to why I write a certain story, I'd say in general that it's the story that I feel has the most potential, the one that I think will carry itself through to the end, and the one where the characters are the most interesting and developed.
WWR: What projects do you have in the works?
Heather: Right now I'm working on two books at once (an interesting twist for me as I normally like to stick to one until the end). I have the second book in the Kensington series, and a novella targeted for Brava. I also just finished a book requested by the Mills & Boon's Modern Romance Extra line.
WWR: There's a lightness to your writing style that makes your characters and stories fun to read. What influences have led you to your writing style?
Heather: I believe my personality and what I like to read probably contribute most to my writing style. When I write, I enjoy looking at life as a fun escape rather than the harsh reality that it often is. That doesn't mean that all is peachy 100% of the time with my characters or their lives, but I like to think ahead to the end where I'll make their lives better and they'll live happily ever after.
WWR: How has it been working with Avalon? Has having an editor look over your work been what you expected?
Heather: Writing for Avalon has been really good. There´s a lot of support. From being able to pick up the phone and call (and speak directly with your editor) to the Avaloners loop, if you have questions someone is willing to answer them. I think starting with a small publisher is a definite plus in this respect.
As for what I expected when an editor looked over my work, I'm not sure. I don't think I truly had an idea what to expect. I do know that I've worked with three really great editors, so far. They've each had a different style and attitude toward the work, and the process you go through to get to the finished product. But, all in all, I've learned a great deal from each one.
WWR: Is there anything you would do differently with your story if you had it to do over again or are you very happy with the finished product?
Heather: Honestly, I can't think of anything I'd do differently. I'm very happy with the finished product (including the beautiful blue cover).
WWR: Where would you like to see yourself (in relation to your writing) in the next 5 to 10 years? Do you have goals for a writing career or are you just going with the flow?
Heather: In the next 5 to 10 years I'd like to be settled into a regular publishing schedule, releasing at least two to four books a year (with at least two publishers). Kind of bland, huh? But, for me, I don't need to make tons of money or win tons of awards (though both are VERY, VERY nice!)...I just need to write what I love and have others enjoy reading it. That's what would make me happy and that's the goal I'm shooting for in the next few years.
I guess that means you could say I go with the flow. This business has a lot of stress built in already, so I try not to add more by setting goals for things outside of my control (like best seller lists, etc.). I write the best, most interesting story I know how, and hope that others agree.
WWR: Anything else you'd like to mention about your writing or your book?
Heather: I'd like to invite everyone to visit my website at http://www.heatherreed.com, and join my newsletter (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/heathersnews/) to keep updated. And I love to hear from readers, so visit my blog (http://www.heatherreneereed.com/blog) and drop me a note on one of my posts!
WWR: It's been great interviewing you, Heather. I swear, I even learned a few things myself! (Note to readers: In case you're feeling left out of the loop, Heather is co-founder of WeWriteRomance.com and Terescia is giving this interview. What are friends for, huh? :-)
