Interview & Feature
with Author,
Heather Thurmeier
Biography
Where are you from?
I’m originally from the Canadian Prairies (Saskatchewan and Manitoba) but have lived in NY State for the last 15 years.
What inspired you to write your first book?
I’d wanted to write a book for about as long as I can remember, but never had an idea for one. Then one day, the idea for my book Falling for You came to me and I started playing around with the thought of maybe actually writing it! After thinking about it for a while, I decided it was time to try finally writing the book I’d always wanted to. So I did and I haven’t stopped since!
Do you write full-time or part-time? How do you balance your writing life with your family/work life?
I’m not sure what I would classify myself as. I don’t have another profession, so I guess writing is my full-time job, but I’m a mom and my family comes first so in that sense maybe I’m part-time. LOL. I tend to write only when my kids are at school, doing activities, or in bed. When they’re home, we’re busy doing homework and hanging out. I guess that’s how I balance it all—focus on kids when they’re home and focus on writing when they’re not. So far it seems to be working okay!
What book are you reading now?
Currently, I’m reading The Passage by Justin Cronin. It’s huge! I’m 350 pages in and it’s pretty awesome so far. It’s got this post-apocalypse vampire twist thing going on. It’s very unique, creative, and totally captivating.
Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?
Andy Weir is a new author and definitely an interesting one! If you’re unfamiliar with him, maybe you’ve heard of book or movie The Martian. I listened to the book on audio, which was fantastic!!! Then saw the movie, opening weekend and loved it too. I can’t wait to see what he writes next! He better write something soon!
What are your current projects?
I’m currently working on the next book in my Falling Stars series. And I’m also plotting some new ideas for contemporary romances.
If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?
I don’t think so. I’m really happy with how this one turned out!
Can you share a little of your current work with us?
The one I’m writing now isn’t ready for anyone else’s eyes yet, but I can give you a taste of my newest release—The Hometown Hoax!
Getting naked to swim was definitely her first mistake. Agreeing to sunbathe nude was absolutely her second. Somehow she feared that if she looked at him again, she’d be well on her way to making her third mistake of the day. And yet, she looked at him anyway.
How do you overcome writer’s block?
I force myself to keep writing even if I’m not feeling great about what I’m writing. I might only get 500 words that day, and they might be terrible, but they move the story forward and keep me going. Even if I know what I’m writing sucks, it’s better to keep going and get to the next scene because that one might be perfect. I can always go back and edit my writing later, but I have to get something on the page to begin with. A lot of times, the stuff I think sounds terrible while I’m writing it, actually turns out pretty decent!
What was the most fun part of writing your book?
I had the most fun writing the steamy scenes in The Hometown Hoax. They were each unique settings and the chemistry between Logan and Tessa was really exciting!
What was the hardest part of writing your book?
The hardest part of writing The Hometown Hoax was getting the story plotted just right before I started writing it. I had to really work to make sure their motivations and conflicts were clear before I got to work. Thankfully that hard work seems to have really paid off.
Do you have any advice for other writers?
My best advice is to keep writing, keep learning, and keep following your own path.
Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?
If you enjoy reading books that are lighthearted, humorous, romantic, and a little steamy, then I hope you’ll give my books a try.
What do you think about e-publishing versus technical publishing?
I think there’s room in bookstores—both in your neighborhood and online—for all great books. There is no right or wrong way to publish anymore. As long as you write a good book and work hard to make it great, then there is a way for you to publish it and get it into the hands of your target readers.
Do you have an agent or publisher? How did you go about finding one?
I’m a “hybrid” author, which means I have an agent, a few publishers, and I also self-publish. The first step is to write a book you feel great about. Then you need to decide if it’s a book you want to self-publish or not. If yes, you need to get busy working on all the details it takes to put a book out for the world—hire and editor, cover artist, and formatter. You’ll also need to learn about the various online retail options and how to get your books uploaded. Generally, it isn’t that difficult. If you decide you want a publisher, some will let you submit even if you are un-agented, whereas others will require an agent. Be sure to research each publisher to find out their specifics on submissions and also to make sure they are a good fit for you and your work. If you decide you need an agent, then you need to research them as well! Take note of what genres they represent and what their guidelines are. Check out their reputation online and take everything you read into consideration while still making your own, educated decision. All of the information you need is available online once you start looking!
If you could live anywhere, where would it be?
I’d love to live somewhere with a great view. It could be lake or Oceanside, or in the mountains, or overlooking beautiful valleys. No matter where it is, I’d just love to have a gorgeous view to look at each day.
If you could have any super power, what would it be?
Oh, super powers… If I could pick anything (and I’m assuming I can make up new ones!) my power would be the ability to eat whatever I want and still be in top physical form (not that I currently am, lol!) and always be healthy. Diet of coffee and chocolate, here I come! Woo hoo!
The Hometown Hoax
Leaving was hard, but staying away might be impossible.
Tessa Cutter escaped her tiny hometown and chased her artistic dreams straight to Manhattan. Now she’s home for a camping trip with her family. To keep them off her back, she makes up the perfect pretend boyfriend—successful, important, and most of all, permanently located in New York.
Logan Ridley lost everything when his Manhattan-based personal training studio shut down. Luckily, a friend got him a position as a gym teacher in the small town of Cutter’s Creek. He’s heard a lot about the infamous Tessa, but she’s even better than he imagined. Except, she seems to hate everything about the small town he’s growing to love.
The chemistry sparking between them is impossible to ignore, but falling for Logan will trap Tessa in the small town she worked so hard to escape. If they have any hope of a future together, he’ll have to convince her that everything she wants has been in Cutter’s Creek all along...
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