Author Interview with Heather Burch

Heather Burch has agreed to do an interview with me! Book one of her HALFINGS series will be available February, 2012. Visit her website HERE.

And here's her bio:

Heather Burch grew up weaving stories and rewriting movies when she didn’t like the endings. She loves a good romance if it’s set in the midst of danger with the fate of the world on the line and where characters narrowly escape with their lives. She is an award winning author and conference speaker. Book one in her series, Halflings, will debut in February of 2012 from Zondervan publishing. You can find more information about her at Novelteen.wordpress.com

Here's a little taste of her book:

Seventeen-year-old Nikki must entrust her life to three half human, half angel young men; the Halflings are sworn to protect her at all costs, but when two fall for Nikki, it puts more than their lives in danger; their very eternal souls hang in the balance.

1. When did you first begin writing?

I’ve always written. My first story, I was six or seven. It was about a trip to the beach. My mom sent it to our local newspaper office in Branson, Missouri—my hometown. The paper published the story. I guess that could be considered my first writing credit. *smile*

2. Do you enjoy writing poetry at all?

I wrote a lot of poetry during junior high and high school. It was a great way to express myself. Lots of frustration and confusion during those times, so poetry became a terrific outlet. I was able to explore territory on the written page that is difficult to sort through.

  
3. What was your first reaction when you found out that your HALFLING series was going to be published?

Shock, excitement, relief all rolled into one. I really believed in the Halflings. I also knew it would be a tough sell because it breaks a ton of unwritten rules. But I believed in the characters. I had to write about Nikki, Mace, Raven, Vine, and all the other Halflings. Their story took me captive. Which is why selling the series was a relief. I’d like to do ten more Halfling books. And because of the uniqueness of the characters, that’s totally plausible. The storyline has endless possibilities. If people love them the way I hope they love them, I’ll get to write several more.

4. Do you have any hobbies/things that you really enjoy doing?

We live near the beach now, and I love anything having to do with the ocean. I’m a certified scuba diver, but I don’t go as often as I’d like. I love to travel! I’m constantly looking for a conference to speak at or somewhere to go. Cruises are a favorite too. In fact, any boat will do. I love being on the water.

5. Where did you get the idea for the HALFLING series?

Years ago, I read a scripture that really stuck in my head. It suggested there was a time when male angels roamed the earth and actually took human wives. I’d always wanted to explore that scenario in a contemporary setting. But that was just step one of the idea.

I think teenagers are awesome. I wanted to write a story where the fate of the world rests in the hands of teenagers. I wanted a supernatural element to the story as well. One part X-men, one part angel fiction. And I wanted it to be “edge of your seat” suspenseful. All those thoughts were rolling around in my head. So, I started playing the “What if” game. What if the offspring of that human/angel union still roamed the earth? What if once they “tap into” their angelic ability, they stay teenagers? What if the entire world rests in the hands of these super human beings?

Then I got a picture of the first scene where Nikki is being chased through the woods by hell-hounds.

Once I wrote that, the story just kept coming! Literally, it consumed my thoughts for months. And with each passing day, the Halflings became more and more real.

6. Are you working on any books right now (aside from the Halfling book)?

Zondervan purchased the first three books in the Halfling Series, so those will keep me busy for a while. If the books do well, the door is open for many more—which I LOVE! The Halflings are quirky and fun to write, so I’d be happy to camp right here for a good long time!

7. What's your absolute favourite book to read? How about your favourite author?

That’s such a tough question for me because different things hit me at different times. Right now, I’m loving the Hunger Games. It’s so well written and beautifully crafted. Another recent favorite is Maria Snyder’s Inside Out.
8. What was your greatest inspiration to write? Did you ever want to be something else?

My mom was a huge inspiration because she always wrote beautiful poetry and encouraged me to write. Then, I married into a family of published authors. Book authors! I was gloriously ruined. But, I've done lots of other things. I worked in the spa industry for ten years. And I've always worked with teens in some fashion.

9. What genre is your favourite to write in?

Young adult. No question.

10. Do you have a favourite writing quote?

Yes. It comes from my first writer’s conference after the sale of the Halflings. Roxanne St. Clair was the key note speaker. She was talking about inspiration and writing great books. Her quote? Write Your Butt Off Every Day!

I will always remember that conference because Roxanne St. Clair was making her way around the room chatting with people and introducing herself before the conference began and when she asked my name, I told her and she said, “I know who you are!” Wow. It stunned me. I didn’t even know what to say, and at that point playing it cool was out of the question what with the big cheesy grin on my face and all!

11. What's the best part of being an author?

There are so many things I love about it, I don’t know where to begin. I really enjoy connecting with people. And I love helping people discover their own potential as a writer. I love words. People who read lots of books share my passion for words. It connects us.

12. What stage are you on in the HALFLING series (still editing, ready for printing, etc.)?

Halflings, book one in the series will release in February, 2012. I’m doing some final edits on book one right now. I am working on book two and will send it to my editor in the next couple of months, then on to revisions for book three. I’ve already done quite a bit of work on books four and five, but they will need a lot of attention before they’re ready. Book two will release about six months after book one, book three, the same.

 
13. Is life any different now that you're an author?

In some ways. I don’t feel any different, but sometimes now I get treated differently. Suddenly, people listen. I try not to give advice on writing unless I feel pretty sure about what I’m talking about. It used to frustrate me when I would give someone a solid piece of advice—you know, the kind that could turn an okay book into an awesome book—and I could almost see the words floating into one ear, passing behind their glazed eyes, and right out the other side. Glazed eyes. Maybe I’m just that boring. Hee hee. Anyway, I love, love, love to see people succeed! Writing is a tough business and anything I can do to help someone makes me feel great. So, I guess that’s how life feels different. People tend to listen.

14. How has your faith influenced your writing?

That's a tough question to answer because I don't think there's any area of life that our faith doesn't influence. It is everything to me, so it probably comes through in the writing. But at the same time, I'm vastly aware that my story is fiction. I'm not writing to "convince" people of anything. I'm not trying to make them see the light because as an author of fiction, I don't believe that can be your main goal. My books are deeply rooted and grounded in Biblical themes like sacrifice, loyalty, and being willing to lay down ones life. But as an author of fiction, it's my job to tell an amazing story and if it sparks people's questions about who God is, then that's a huge bonus. When the weight of responsibility gets overwhelming, God quickly reminds me He called me to write fiction. Not nonfiction. If not for Him, I would never have launched into this series of books.

Halflings by Heather Burch will release in February, 2012 from Zondervan Publishing.