Guest Post with Heather Burch

Photo Content from Heather Burch

Heather Burch is a #1 bestselling author of contemporary fiction. She lives in Southern Florida with her husband, John. Her title, One Lavender Ribbon was in the top 100 bestselling books for the year on Amazon. In 2014, she became one of the most quoted authors by Kindle readers. Her deeply emotional stories explore family, love, hope and the challenges of life. Her books have garnered praise from USA Today, Booklist Magazine, Romantic Times and Publisher’s Weekly. Heather lives to tell unforgettable stories of love and loss—stories that make your heart sigh.

        

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF AN AUTHOR BY HEATHER BURCH

There are two distinct parts of being an author. The glam side and the butt-in-the-chair hard work side. Wanna have a look into both?

I’ve just accepted a request to speak at a conference in South Carolina. They will fly me in, pay for multiple nights at a great hotel and cover all my expenses including a driver. Oh yeah, I’m loving it! Since I’m a social creature—I truly love meeting new people and learning about them—I enjoy the celebrity side of being a writer. I know a lot of authors break out in a sweat when the word book signing is uttered. Not me. I spend lots of time alone in a room with just the hum of my pc to keep me company. Get me out there! Let me see some real faces and hear some real voices!

But the largest slice of my time is spent in that other arena. The butt-in-the-chair one. Most days go something like this ...

I’m sitting in a nightshirt and sweats. My back is starting to hurt a little and my booty is numb. My cereal bowl is perched on the edge of my desk and my cold coffee is on a column beside me. Heaven forbid my coffee cup actually sit on my desk. Oh no. I’m much too clumsy for that!

I’ve yet to comb my hair (uh, you can imagine) and my feet are cold. Now that I’ve got you picturing the glam-it-up look I’ve got going on, let’s continue!

Most days start at 5:15 for me. Now, don’t go thinking I’m remarkably dedicated. My hubby leaves for work at 5:15, so after seeing him off, I stumble into the kitchen and make a latte. An alarm goes off at 5:40. Time to make sure my teenage son has risen from the dead to get ready for school. I traverse the still-dark house and enter my office. I’m an early morning writer. But it’s actually about 6:15 before I get started. I enter the land of make believe. It’s a happy place for me and I’ve been known to chuckle at my own writing and cry right along with my characters (something people give you weird looks for at Starbucks.) But even when I’m not writing, I’m living in the story. My characters are chattering in my head. I’m consumed once I sit down and hours can pass without me even realizing it. Once, when my son’s alarm didn’t go off (before I had the good sense to set an alarm too) I dropped into my story and completely forgot he was home until he came out of his room around 10:00 a.m. terrifying me because I thought an intruder had breached my home.

I wrote him a tardy note.

Please excuse Isaac. He overslept because his mother was busy flittering around a fictional world with half angel teenagers.

He refused to take it.

At 6:15, I’m at my computer and cranking out the pages. I usually work until noon or one or two. It all depends on how things are going in the story. Usually by one I’m ready to tackle emails and such. Sometimes when my brain needs a break, I handle those things throughout mornings, but I prefer to reserve 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. for writing words.

After one, I’m on The Halflings Network, Facebook, Twitter, I catch up on the guest posts I need to write and the interviews that are waiting for answers. I connect with bloggers and reviewers and check who is talking about Halflings and Guardian. I try to stop by Goodreads a couple times a week and Amazon. FYI-I just stopped by Amazon. As I was writing this I realized I hadn’t been there in a while. J

Here’s some more info on the other side of writing.

I work with a publicist set up by my publishing company. That’s fun because you never know what they’re sending out, so every morning, Google Alert is like Christmas. Right after my press release for GUARDIAN hit, I was mentioned in several rock music magazines. That’s pretty cool.

Some of the highlights of my year ...

I signed 250 copies of Halflings in about three hours at an ALA conference. This was my first signing. I will never forget it!

I got to meet the cover model who is Nikki on all three books. She’s as sweet as she is pretty!

I got the surprise of my life when I walked into Barnes and Noble and saw Halflings was on their Top Teen Fiction display.

Girls Life Magazine chose Halflings as one of their Summer Reads for June.

In the spring, my publisher sent me on a multi-city book tour.

The icing on the cake was signing a shopping agreement with a producer in Hollywood who is gathering a team and planning to make Halflings into a feature film.

It’s been a fabulous year so far and with the release of GUARDIAN on October 9, I’m gearing up to be busy, busy busy again. But can you tell I thrive on it? I do.

I don’t take writing lightly. It’s a huge responsibility to know people will invest their time and money into the words I say. So everyday I’m thankful. Thankful for the air I get to breathe, thankful for my supportive family, thankful for my awesome team-Jenn, Jacque and Lynn who take me to task when it’s not quite right. And really, really, really thankful for readers. I think of writing as a partnership between you and I. You have expectations. I must meet and exceed them. You keep me on my toes and force me to be the best writer I can be. When someone says to an author, ”I like your book!” It means the world. Seriously, it means the whole world!

Okay, so you’ve gotten a glimpse into the writer’s life as told by Heather Burch. I left out a ton of details like workshops, editing, conferences, networking with other writers, and the like. But now you know how I spend most days. It’s not all glamorous and I wouldn’t change it for anything.

Split. After being inexplicably targeted by an evil intent on harming her at any cost, seventeen-year-old Nikki finds herself under the watchful guardianship of three mysterious young men who call themselves halflings. Sworn to defend her, misfits Mace, Raven, and Vine battle to keep Nikki safe while hiding their deepest secret---and the wings that come with. A growing attraction between Nikki and two of her protectors presents a whole other danger. While she risks a broken heart, Mace and Raven could lose everything, including their souls. As the mysteries behind the boys' powers, as well as her role in a scientist's dark plan, unfold, Nikki is faced with choices that will affect the future of an entire race of heavenly beings, as well as the precarious equilibrium of the earthly world.

Praise for GUARDIAN

"A well-written, thoroughly thought-out, and utterly addicting read. Burch's novel captivated me from the word go - and the hits kept on coming. This hard-to-put-down novel kept me up late into the night and burrowed itself into my imagination." ―USA TODAY

"Gobble up and seek more." ―PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY

"Burch has penned a great read with a smart heroine, hot heroes and evil villains. You'll be entranced by the end of the first chapter. With action from the first page to the last, paranormal romance fans will definitely enjoy this." ―Meera Patel, RT BOOK REVIEW

Heather Burch’s Guardian, part two of the Halflings series, and deepens the developing plot with its classic love-triangle and startling twists. Although Nikki Youngblood would rather want everything to return to the way it was, she is in too deep and there is really no going back. She knows that her feelings for Raven and Mace could cost them their eternity, she cannot help her emotions from getting stronger towards them. She needs protection which Mace can provide, but she craves freedom that only Raven can offer her. It all comes down to the boys risking everything for Nikki even though they knowing that falling in love with her could mean eternal darkness for them. Nikki is uncertain which of the two she should pick or even if she has that choice.

Guardian is an amazing extension of Halflings. Readers will feel engrossed in its highly-captivating plot line. The descriptive texts that Heatherprovides her readers are an enhancement to the whole experience. It will feel like you are alongside the characters in their epic journey. The plot thickens with many of the questions from the first book being answered. It also opens up new questions that will certainly keep the intrigue level for this series high. The concept behind Halflings is 100% innovative and screams brilliancy. I sensed improvement from the first book and I can only imagine how Heather will take it up a notch or two for the next installment.

You can purchase Guardian at the following Retailers:

    

And now, The Giveaways.

Thank you HEATHER for making this giveaway possible.

1 Winner will receive one copy of Guardian & Bookmark by Heather Burch.

3 Winners will receive one Signed Guardian Bookmark by Heather Burch.

jbnpastinterviews

Read More

Heather Burch Author Interview

Photo Content from Heather Burch

Heather Burch is a #1 bestselling author of contemporary fiction. She lives in Southern Florida with her husband, John. Her title, One Lavender Ribbon was in the top 100 bestselling books for the year on Amazon. In 2014, she became one of the most quoted authors by Kindle readers. Her deeply emotional stories explore family, love, hope and the challenges of life. Her books have garnered praise from USA Today, Booklist Magazine, Romantic Times and Publisher’s Weekly. Heather lives to tell unforgettable stories of love and loss—stories that make your heart sigh.

        

What’s one thing that readers would be surprised to find out about you?
I won a trip to Germany and that’s why the Halflings’ ancestral home is there in Baden, Baden. I loved it and I can’t wait to go back. Although, a crazed bus driver almost drove us off a cliff when we were supposed to have dinner at a castle. He took us to the wrong castle. I mean, really. How does that happen? Needless to say, the road to this castle wasn’t made for a greyhound bus and we almost paid for his stupidity.

What was the greatest thing you learned at school?
That the nerds will run the world. So, be nice to them. I was pretty much friends with everyone. I had a circle, but I strayed beyond the boundaries and looking back, I’m really glad I did. I got to know a lot of great people. But what did I learn then? I guess that it’s good to have a wide circle of friends.

What is the best piece of advice you ever received from another author?
Skip the boring stuff. (Thanks, Ted Dekker.) Readers want to be engaged, enthralled. No one cares about what a character made for dinner … unless of course, the dinner comes alive and … Oops. Got off track there.

What are some of the common challenges that new and experienced authors face and what advice do you have for over-coming them?
Tons and tons of rejection. It’s just part of the process. Getting rejection after rejection doesn’t mean you can’t write. It doesn’t mean your baby isn’t beautiful. It just means you need to keep writing, submitting, and one day someone (agent/editor) will realize how gorgeous your baby is! Or you’ll have a second baby, and that one can be your shining star. I had four babies before I sold the Halflings Series.

For those who are unfamiliar with your novel; Halflings, how would you introduce it?
A young adult thrill ride with a supernatural twist. Seventeen-year-old Nikki Youngblood is being hunted by men and demons and turns to three half-angel young men for protection. With the Halflings, she’s completely safe. Everything except her heart. And their souls.

What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating Nikki?
She really is a warrior beyond what I imagined. As the second and third books unfold, we see how strong and determined she is to protect the Halflings.

Why do you feel you had to tell this story?
You know, the characters began having conversations in my head and I couldn’t shut them up. I was so caught up in their story, I had my whole family talking about it and creating storyline for the books. It sort of held us all captive.

Do you have a favorite quote that you keep visible in your work environment to help inspire you?
Write your butt off every day. (Roxanne St Claire) There are more devotional quotes I love, but at the end of the day, it all comes down to sitting in the chair and writing.

If you could introduce Mace to any character from another book, who would it be and why?
Peeta. I think the two of them would have a lot to talk about concerning their love lives. J

What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating Raven?
How easy he is to write. I can always count on Raven to do the “wrong” thing, to work the system to fit his needs. He’s a joy to write because he gives me so much to work with!

What are some of your current and future projects that you can share with us?
We are continuing the Halflings books and that’s the main thing on my desk right now. Book two, GUARDIAN, releases October 8. AVENGER, book three releases April, 2013. Also, there is another free ebook short story available in July titled A Halflings Rescue. It has a bonus—the first chapter of book two!

What’s the best advice you can give writers to help them develop their own unique voice and style?
Write and write and write and write. Pick books apart that you love and figure out what it is you love about them.

Where is the best place in the world you’ve been?
We’ve traveled quite a bit, but Germany is my favorite. I want to go there for Christmas some year.

What book are you reading now?
I’m reading the galleys for Guardian.

What do you think is the most useless class in high school?
All the classes are important.

When asked, what’s the one question you always answer with a lie?
The question about the most useless class in high school.

What's the worst summer job you've ever had?
I was the salad bar girl at Western Sizzlin’. It was my first job. I spilled a bucket of iced tea on the floor the second day.

When was the last time you cried?
Just now thinking about my Western Sizzlin’ experience. Nah, just kidding. I am a big marshmallow, though. Seriously. A good commercial can make me teary eyed.

Split. After being inexplicably targeted by an evil intent on harming her at any cost, seventeen-year-old Nikki finds herself under the watchful guardianship of three mysterious young men who call themselves halflings. Sworn to defend her, misfits Mace, Raven, and Vine battle to keep Nikki safe while hiding their deepest secret---and the wings that come with. A growing attraction between Nikki and two of her protectors presents a whole other danger. While she risks a broken heart, Mace and Raven could lose everything, including their souls. As the mysteries behind the boys' powers, as well as her role in a scientist's dark plan, unfold, Nikki is faced with choices that will affect the future of an entire race of heavenly beings, as well as the precarious equilibrium of the earthly world.

Praise for HALFLINGS

'Packed with action, Halflings is stocked with a feisty, likable cast and a fantastically impossible love-triangle that made my heart flutter, race and sigh. This hard-to-put-down novel kept me up late into the night and burrowed itself into my imagination.' ―Serena Chase, USA Today 

Heather Burch’s Halflings is an extraordinary plot with a plethora of action, drama, and romance. Nikki is not your typical seventeen-year-old girl. She is tough, kicks butt, and can take care of herself. She’s a total bad girl except she follows the rules. When the forces of hell goes on a rampage on earth, even bad-ass Nikki realizes she will need help. When the new guys in town, Mace, Raven, and Vine, come to her aid, it turns out they are there for a reason.

Heather’s prose of bringing her characters to life is truly remarkable. The female lead, Nikki, is well-rounded. She’s strong and fearless and not afraid to say what she wants. As the book progresses, so does Nikki, and it was quite entertaining watching her grow.

The way these new kind of Angels were introduced is amazing. Heather’s vivid description and stunning writing style made something so unknown or unbelievable to become believably true, that readers will be questioning if Halflings truly exists. It is certain Heather has put in a lot of effort and research into her book. It mixes magic, religion, and faith into one big glass and pours them onto paper to produce a very unique and entertaining story. Let’s not forget the love story. There is one and it involves three people. There is nothing disappointing from start to finish. Halflings is a very compelling debut novel from Heather Burch that promises great things are still ahead.

You can purchase Halflings at the following Retailers:

    

And now, The Giveaways.

Thank you HEATHER BURCH for making this giveaway possible.

1 Winner will receive one copy of Halflings by Heather Burch.

jbnpastinterviews

Read More