Today, I'm thrilled to share a recent interview I had with author Heather Flynn.
1) Who is your favorite comfort read author?
Oh, that's a really good question! My favorite comfort read author... my mind immediately went to Melanie Dickerson. I especially love her historical set fairytale retellings. Those books are always ones that tend to get me out of a reading slump and take my mind on a wonderful adventure! A few other authors that are go-to ones for me would have to be Robin Jones Gunn and Melody Carlson, because those were the first two Christian authors that I came across after I became a Christian in high school. I'm going to stop myself before I keep naming more names.
I love Melanie Dickerson's books, but I know the feeling, there are so many great authors, I could go on-and-on too.
2) What do you most like about this genre that you are writing in?
My most current story, a novella titled Beauty in the Shadows (featured in Evermore from Beyond the Bookery), is a fantasy, specifically leaning towards what I would consider a "kingdom fantasy". Oddly enough, this is a genre that a lot of my (unpublished) stories that I have written over the years ended up being set in. Currently, I have short stories published in a contemporary small town setting, with several historical projects in the works behind the scenes, but fantasy seems to be a comfort spot for me that I can really lose myself in.
I think that what I like most about this genre is that in a fantasy setting, it's very much "what you say goes" as the author. It is literally your world to create and make it how you want it to be. I enjoyed creating the kingdom of Enulmoor in this story, as well as mentioning the neighboring lands. I even at one point started playing around with creating a map for this area, which is probably something I just try to get back to, because it was a lot of fun. So to summarize, I suppose that what I like most about this genre that I'm currently writing in is that I enjoy bringing a whole new world into existence, and that I get to share this with readers.
I love that creating a new world and sharing it is what you enjoy about fantasy.
3) Who, past or present, is one author you would like to mentor you?
If I go for my gut response, I would have to say C.S. Lewis. I was given a copy of The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe at a young age by a friend of my mom's and I immediately fell in love with it. I believe he has inspired my dream to write and what has led to fantasy being a comfort spot for me in writing.
I love C.S. Lewis's writing. His writing definitely opens a new world to readers.
4) How do you develop your setting (a photo, a trip, a random comment)?
For me, this really seems to vary from story to story. Sometimes I'm inspired by a photo, and others it could be anything. I've had all sorts of "story sparks" while at work, because my day job allows me to see the stories of a lot of interesting people.
5) If you could share a cup of tea (or coffee) with anyone, who would it be?
I'd love the chance to share a cup of tea or coffee with some of the friends I've made along the way in my author journey. There are so many lovely people that I wouldn't have met if it hadn't been for writing and taking a chance on my words. I'm so pleased that I did, because I've made some truly remarkable friendships along the way. So long story, a bit shorter, I would love to settle in for a cup of tea or coffee with my writer friends.
6) Do you have a favorite author that you would recommend?
A go-to for me for a lot of years has been Melanie Dickerson, I love her historically set fairytale retellings. However, I have so many favorites that I don't know that I could possibly choose just one, but I'm currently enjoying listening to some of Rebekah Morris' stories on Audible (as I get the chance). A lot of these are short and very entertaining reads that make for a nice little wind-down treat.
7) What one book would you recommend that everyone read?
The Bible! Truly it is a book filled with all manner of stories, all that can help guide us in all that we say and do.
8) Who is your favorite character in your book/story?
The answer that I want to give regarding my favorite character in this book/story is ALL of them. *glances at Tiburon* Well, almost all of them. However, if I have to choose one favorite it would probably have to be Lewis. Throughout the writing process I continued to find myself just adoring this character, and what he said and did (even though I was writing him lol). I felt very much like a proud momma hen sitting upon my nest watching my offspring encounter the world!
9) Is there a specific line or scene from Beauty in the Shadows that you feel directed the entire story in a specific direction? That is, if it were not in the story, everything would have changed?
My mind is whirling through the story thinking about the best way to answer this question. I feel like a very pivotal scene takes place with Lewis and Jacaranda in the garden. It's a big moment, which I won't spoil, but it really impacts the future direction of the story in a lot of ways for both characters! Ooh, and the library scene directly after! Afterall, it's a Beauty and the Beast retelling, I had to have a library scene of some sort.
10) What one question would you like to be asked, and how would you answer it?
Would you mind if I shared two questions?
No, that would be fine.
Do your stories ever surprise you in the direction they take?
Absolutely! I feel like each of my stories at some point in time takes on a life of its own, and I feel as if I'm just along for the ride. In Embracing Joy, for instance, I had a pretty good idea for how the story would go. However, as I continued writing the story there was almost a still whisper inside me that said we needed to do something different than what I originally had planned.
What do you hope readers feel after finishing your work?
I hope that readers go away feeling as if I have given them something, whether that be a smile, a new perspective on something, or even a few tears shed. Whatever it might be, I want my stories to have an impact on people's hearts and in their lives.
Thank you, Heather, for taking time to give us a chance to get to know you!
You can find Heather's books on Amazon Heather Flynn on Amazon
Connect with Heather via her website https://heatherflynnauthor.weebly.com/
On Instagram https://www.instagram.com/heather_flynn_author/
On Facebeook https://www.facebook.com Heather Flynn author
