Welcome everyone to my first-ever author interview. This is something I am hoping to do with decent frequency. Today's tribute is Heidi Harris. I've read her Vella serial "Reverse Ella: Superheroes of Kaimas" and will be posting a review on that tomorrow, so be sure to come back for that. Later on this week, Heidi and I will have a video "fireside chat" so to speak about writing, our process, and her Kindle Vella serial, Reverse Ella. That is, once I find the right platform to record it on.
Heidi's Goodreads credits her with 138 distinct works, for a combined 4.79 star rating. So, she's prolific and she's good. If you're a reader skeptical as to whether or not you should start one of her unfinished serials, there's a big enough track record suggesting that she will finish it.
You can check out her works, website, and social media accounts by following this linktree: https://linktr.ee/heidiharriswrites
I've done enough time wasting, let's get to the reason y'all are here.
1. Tell the world a little bit about who you are. Open format. This can be about where you’re from, your favorite food or place to vacation, how old you were when you had your first kiss, or even what your pet peeves are. You’re a writer. Take it away.
Hello, I'm Heidi. I have wanted to be an author since I was about five years old. I wrote my first chapter book when I was around 12-14 years old. Since it was my first, I didn't want to publish it. I didn't think it was good enough or would ever be good enough, so it sat on a shelf for about 21 years ish. I was going to do my first book signing, and I was asked to do a workshop. I couldn't put the thought out of my head that my first book was never published, so on a whim I tweaked it the day before, and published it live in the workshop. Amazon lets you update as you go, so I spent the next 3 days giving it a solid edit. I corrected the kindle file with my updates and uploaded the new doc. Then I proceeded to do the book and hardcover. I will probably end up doing a new cover, but I could put it out there and let someone read it or think it's never good enough, and it never sees the light of day. Fast forward a year later, I was at another book signing, and this little girl saw that book. I told her about it, and I watched her eyes light up the longer I talked. Her Dad was kind enough to buy the book. My first book I published was Reality from the Zelle Saga. I started writing it when I was 16. It took roughly 15 years from page one to book in hand. Does it take me 20 and 15 years to publish a book now? No. The longest took me 20 years. The shortest took 5 days. That book was Emma's Quest, and it has turned into a 24+ book series. 18 are in book format. The rest are on Kindle Vella.
2. We all know writing is a marathon where many stories don’t make it across the finish line. Tell us about the story you were writing when you stopped and thought to yourself, “Hey, I like this and kind of want other people to validate my soul.”
I am a Christian author. I don't seek outward validation. It makes me happy when other read my work. I like when they enjoy it, but mainly I want to write the story for me. I've heard the term book dragon when a book reader walks into the library and devours a series. When I was a child, I would walk to the library weekly and devour varies series from the 35 book Mandie series to the Bailey School to the Sadie series to the Help I'm trapped in my brother's body series. I really enjoy my writing. I can't devour it if I don't write it. So is it practical to have a Storyteller series that is 24 and ongoing book series? No. Not at all. But in book one Emma and Kasen had two kids, and I wanted to know what happened to them, and then they had 2 more, so all 4 kids got their own story, then I wanted to know what happened to their kids, and so on. Some of the Storyteller books are like 5 generations out. Then I asked what would happen if there were a set of twins, triplets, septuplets. Destiny's Choice is coming from 7 POVs and I loved the finished product, but it poses another problem, because they had kids too. One of my readers asked me to keep going, so I did. Basically, I get an idea for a book I want to read, and I write it. I primarily write from the first person. Most authors write in 3rd person. I have trouble with those books. My mind tends to wander. When it’s 'I' then I feel like I am the main character in the middle of the Dragon layer, fighting the bad guy, or solving the mystery. Books should be an experience. I may not succeed, but I try to write them in such a way that you wonder where the time went.
3. Why do you think it is so hard for writers to showcase their work to people they know, yet they crave the unsolicited opinions of strangers?
Writing is very personal. When you sit down and write, you fall onto the pages. I am all over my book. The things that I say, the thoughts and feelings I have. My ideals are open for the world to see. Putting your heart and soul on display and watching someone tare you apart isn't appetizing, and because it's “ONLY” words people don't think there is anything wrong with taring it apart comma by comma. Personally, I don't think there is anything as only words. Words can hurt and words can heal. Use them appropriately. I've heard that if you are reading a love story, that your brain doesn't know the difference between fake love and real love, the same chemicals are released.
4. When did you start fabricating the life events and thoughts of individuals in your head?
I spent my life people watching. I've seen their expressions, mannerisms. When I write a character, I try to focus on the law of three. What is important to them and what kind of character do they have? Who do they interact with and how? Where do I want that character to end up? Then I fill in the blanks from that point of view. If you listen enough, then you can hear voices with ease.
5. What makes a story good?
An emotional journey.
6. What genres and types of endings are you partial to?
I tend to like happy endings. I do have Dystopian Locket that has a bloody ending. I love to read mail-order bride type books, because I don't think the happily ever after is the wedding. I think it's a happy marriage. A happy marriage takes work. The fun is in figuring it out as a couple and as an individual. A lot of my books are soulmates, mail-order bride, mail order groom, arranged marriage books. I love to watch them every time. Every couple is different.
7. Give your take on the publishing industry vs indie publishing and why you’ve chosen the specific routes you have for your various works.
When I first looked into traditionally published, I found out you needed to have an agent to solicit your book. Agents took money. I remember seeing the figure of $10,000. My jaw dropped as I read. I didn't have that kind of money sitting around. A friend told me about Create Space which turned into KDP, and I went that route. My first four books had a cover by my sister-in-law. Then she got busy with kids, so I started doing my own cover art. She told me about Clip Studio Paint, and got me a copy for Christmas. It has been a big help. I found ProWritingAid, which helped me feel more comfortable publishing. How I edit: I will write a book. I check for plot holes. If I know something might be a potential plot hole, I write a sentence in the last chapter, and make sure it is fixed during the book. I will run it through ProWritingAid. Right now I am publishing everything on Kindle Vella first, so I will use the read aloud function on my computer and listen to the episode, and fix the other issues, and then publish. Occasionally, I will miss something. My Mom might read the book and point it out, or a friend will, but it's not anything more than I've seen in traditionally published books.
8. Have you ever written something that has made you laugh/cry? What was it, and why did it make you laugh/cry, and where can other people find it?
Yes. If you haven't, then go back and add emotion into your story. Mistaken Brother is meant to make you cry.
9. Tell us about the worst experience you ever had with a peer in the writing industry. Is the situation resolved or ongoing? Why?
A new author asked for a few tips and tricks in regards to editing. I gave the author 5 tips and tricks that I wish I had known starting out. The author of the post thanked me profusely and seemed satisfied with my help. Another author running the writing group on Facebook decided to tell me how inappropriate it was for me to answer the question the way I did. She proceeded to tell me about the writing handbook (Which I read in college) and mentioned there are 1,000s of grammar rules and so on about editing. I responded back; I read that book. The author asked for a few tips and tricks. If that author wanted to read a book, they would have asked for a book suggestion on editing. In my opinion, someone starting in any new thing should be given 3-5 things to practice. Anything more is WAY too much for them to digest and put into practice. Give someone 5 things. Let them practice whatever skill it is. Once they are ready for more, they will usually ask for the next step if it is something they want to continue. My solution was to leave the writing group. I try not to knit pick, and I try not to surround myself with those that do. It brings unnecessary drama.
10. Give us all your thoughts on Kindle Vella. Why did you choose this route for your stories? Do you think opening it up to an international audience will hurt your Vellas or help them? Do you wish there were more long-form serial publishers available to you? Do you see it as its own thing or just an avenue to cultivate stories before going to the traditional self-publishing route?
I see Kindle Vella as its own thing. I joined Vella, because I found out they offered bonuses. I've done what I have needed to get the bonus. My issue with Vella is that they stopped adding money to the Vella pool to be divided. I understand why, but adding an international audience with readers and writers without making the Vella financial pool bigger will hurt the US authors financially. As it is, many are getting off the Vella train, because it is no longer as financially viable as it was. The amount of work I did in March 2023 would have gotten me at least triple the amount I would have gotten in September 2022 in bonuses for the same amount of work, but with the change, it did not.
11. Give us a rundown of your Vella that you would like others to read.
Personally, I think all of my Vellas are worth reading. LOL.
Mistaken Brother-a set of twin brothers are in love with the same woman. It will make you cry and put you on an emotional journey.
S1:CAPTURED- S2:RESISTANCE (The Zelle Saga)-It's a telepathic journey in space with aliens. It is my longest Vella.
Mystery Dinner (Trice Strawly: The Case of the New Year's Eve) It is about a boy detective solving a fake, unalived mystery.
Pumpkin Spice Romance is a sweet romance where Julie is pulled over that morning by a cop, and her best friend tries to set her up with the same cop that night.
My Late Valentine is a duel POV where the Koty is a Vella mystery writer who is set up by his sister for a group date by a questionnaire. Melina only has one match, and he is late...
Other Side of the Portal (Zagora's Portals) is a fun one that I dug up out of my archive. It was only half-written, and I'm proud of the new back story I put on the book. I plan on turning it into a series once I decide where it's going. So far, there are 32 episodes published.
Reverse Ella: Superheros of Kaimas is a fun Vella. I decided to put a little fairy tale spin on it, with an arranged marriage, as superheros. I recently wrote a great backstory for... well, you'll have to read it to see.
Fourringdom: Is a book about a kingdom that has four rings. One of them is the ability to speak telepathically, and the other three... well, you'll have to read the Vella.
I currently have 30 Vellas. 14 are ongoing. They all have a great story. I will say this about all of my books. If you don't like the first three episodes, you are not going to like the rest of the book. If you do, then you'll like the rest of the book.
12. What five Vellas, not your own, do you think readers should check out?
Just Call the Sitter by Cherry Stark It is about superheros being people too. I've read half. https://www.amazon.com/kindle-vella/story/B09PFQVK9Y
Superhero Saga Season 1 - Trials, Tribulations, and Trust Issues by Julie C. Gilbert Another superhero book. https://www.amazon.com/kindlevella/story/B09XQ81RSQ
Poison Twins by Tricia Arnold It is about a set of twins raised to be assassins. https://www.amazon.com/kindle-vella/story/B0BBTGCF3G
Back in Time by A J Mylos, this book only has one episode, but it is written by a kid. I forget the age.
The Historinaut by Vincent Scarsella. I've only read half. The gist is they are trying to see the first Easter. https://www.amazon.com/kindlevella/story/B0B5JPSKMM
13. No one ends on 13 questions. They’re too scared. We’re going to tempt fate. Why do you write?
Personally, I like the number 13. I write because writing is so deep in my soul that it's a part of who I am. Not writing is like shutting down part of my soul. I decided at the age of 5 that there was no better job in the world than to be an author. It's why I named my one Vellas Living the Dream: Writing Books One Episode at a Time. For me, every day that I get to be a full-time author, I am living the dream. I pray it continues for many years to come.
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