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| Meet The Author |
ChrisChat: Why did you write the book that brought you to MuseItUp Publishing?
Heather:
While walking my dog, Desi, one lovely autumn day, I saw a realty sign looming in the distance. “José Picada, Realtor?” I asked Desi. “That’s an odd name.” I got closer and realized I’d misread the sign, which actually said Josie Something-or-other, Realtor. “Guess it’s time to get my eyes checked,” I said to Desi with a chuckle. I thought about the possibilities of such a mix-up, my overactive brain turning the realtor into a private investigator, just because it seemed like that would provide more interesting story ideas. (And my brain is literally overactive. I’m epileptic.) Arriving home, I told my brother about my new character idea. The next day, the beginning of a book was in my email inbox. Thus was born not just a character, not just a book, but a series.
ChrisChat:
I’m intrigued with your “my brain is literally overactive. I’m epileptic” having never experienced anything like this, would you mind explaining more. On a totally different conversation, I know my mom’s brain and mine work completely opposite. Mom is a whiz at numbers while my mind is off in the clouds on other worlds.
Heather:
A seizure is caused by a sudden surge of electrical energy in the brain. Fortunately, my type of seizures are completely controlled by medication and keeping myself on a reasonable sleep schedule. Even though I haven’t seized in years, I’m still an epileptic and will be for life. Rather than thinking of this as a negative, I like to think of my brain as simply more active than most. 🙂
ChrisChat:
Sometimes when I’m on my glider…an exercise machine…my mind is suddenly filled with ideas. Do you find walking with Desi often does the same for you? How do you record them?
Heather:
Oh, yes, when I’m out walking with Desi, my mind wanders all over the place. I might start off by admiring the beautiful summer wildflowers growing beside the road, and veer off suddenly into a whole new story idea. If I’m suffering a bout of writer’s block, taking a walk will often kick-start the creative process, allowing me to move past the barricade in my brain. Then I just have to try to remember everything until I get home to my laptop!
Thanks for having me, Chris. This was super fun!
Glad you joined in Heather. Having fun myself 🙂
Heather and Chris, thanks for sharing your thoughts on creativity. It's interesting to see where other authors get their ideas.
For me, I need to get away from the computer. My best ideas come in the shower or while I'm swimming laps. And, I must admit, I got an idea for a story line while my mind wandered during a sermon at church (naughty me!).
Many ideas bombard us all the time. The question is whether we turn it into anything (a story, a novel, a blog post).
Again, thanks for sharing.
Walking fuels writing for me as well, and I often find myself hopping from subject to subject. Your especially. Your "more active brain" is certainly unique. You've c3rtainly put it to excellent use.
Pauline
This was a great interview, Heather and Chris. I enjoyed it.
When I walk alone, I purposely try and concentrate on my writing and get many ideas that way. If I'm stuck on a problem in my story, I try to think about the problem before I fall asleep and often times wake up and write down my ideas that come to me on a pad that I keep next to my bed. Also showers are a great place for thinking and unfortunately so is church, my mind drifts when I should be paying attention. I have a friend who took out his iPad and starting typing in church…lol…because an idea came to him for a story.
Thank you.
Susan
Joan, I also get ideas in the shower, but walking does it for me too. Usually either during or after a walk I come home and write a poem. Sometimes, though, I get ideas at night before I go to sleep.
I enjoyed learning more about Heather and I'm loving these little chats. Thank you for doing them, Chris.
Ditto to the thanks to Chris for these. They are quite fun. Heather, I love your positive attitude about your super-charged brain!
I get ideas from many places, but my brain jumps around a lot and if I don't put that idea down in some form–paper or notes on the iPhone, it's gone. 🙁 However, generally, something else will come along. I think, those of us with jumpy brains are probably blessed. 🙂 I'll be sharing.
Your mention of your overactive brain reminded me of the line in Keats where he talks about his "teeming brain" and his hope to glean it fully in his lifetime. We once got an idea for a story from a stone found on the beach.
Thanks for your comments – not to mention the compliments on my brain! 🙂 I love hearing where everyone gets their story ideas.
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Ah, an overactive brain. I can relate. Walking the dog, in the shower, overhearing a conversation, just thinking when I'm supposed to be sleeping. I get in trouble for that one.
I talk to my dog as well. Must be something to the name. Do you happen to be an aquarian?
I've read two of Heather's books. Loved them both.
H Greenis – The Natasha Saga
Nice interview, guys 🙂 It's always interesting hearing about fellow writers' creative process. Heather, I like your positive take on things. Glad you've been seizure-free for these last few years.
A friend once told me that her philosophy is to turn a negative into a positive. I thought that was an amazing way to view adversity, and have kept it in mind ever since. Hence the positive attitude 🙂
Heather G – yes, fellow aquarian here! No wonder we have so much in common!
I agree walking is a great way to clear the head and think up more brilliant ideas! But I can do that too when fixing supper, in the shower, folding laundry. The list goes one…Really enjoyed your interview, talented ladies. H, glad you are seizure free with the meds.