Interview with paranormal romance author Heather M. Walker

I’m chatting with paranormal romance author Heather M. Walker about The Otherling today.

During her virtual book tour, Heather will be awarding a hand-painted set of two wine glasses, painted to resemble stained glass and a ten card tarot reading (US/Canada only). To be entered for a chance to win use the form below. To increase your chances of winning, feel free to visit her other tour stops and enter there, too!

Also during the tour, The Otherling is available for $0.99 from Amazon.

Bio:

Heather was born into a military family, and has lived everywhere from Mountain Home, Idaho, to a small town in England called Bloxham. She eventually settled down in LaGrange, Georgia with her partner of 15 years, Billy, her 7-year-old daughter Makaylah, and her 4 indoor cats. She considers herself first and foremost, a mother. She enjoys being a writer, a jeweler, a glass artist, a painter, and avid crafter. It has been her lifelong dream to publish a book, and she has lovingly worked on The Otherling in its various stages for almost 3 years.

Heather loves to read, mostly horror, fantasy and occult books. She studies angelology, mysticism, Wicca, psychology and the human mind. Her writing goal is to create a book that comes to life in her reader’s hands and minds, and places them there in the middle of the story. It is her deepest wish that The Otherling, as well as her other written works, will accomplished this, and make a home in the hearts of all those who read her words.

Welcome, Heather. Please share a little bit about your current release.

The Otherling has been something I have been working on for quite a while. I knew I was going to write a book with a central theme of angels, and I had a few ideas, but I was uncertain about how to put it all together. I would see something here and there that would ignite a story theme, and I would write it down and squirrel it away for later. It wasn’t until I began the actual research that things began to piece themselves together. 

Research set things on fire for me, until I just had to write. It took me about 8 months, but at the end of the first draft, I felt as if I had won a race I had been preparing for all my life. This book is very dear to me, it has a lot of my heart and soul in it, and I hope that comes through for every reader.

What inspired you to write this book?

I have always had a deep affinity for the metaphysical, the occult, and all things arcane. There has always been a place in my heart specifically for angels, though. Just thinking about them centers me, and fills me with peace. For me, they are symbol of hope, of purity and love. That they are a paranormal and spiritual subject just enhances it even more for me.


Excerpt from The Otherling:

“Deep in the infernal glow of Hell’s belly, the Old Ones began to stir. Called forth out of a dreamless slumber by a growing sense of tension, where they had remained undisturbed for millennia, they awakened. Languidly they spread their scarred, battered wings and stretched their crooked limbs as their ancient eyes began to open. A growing sense of tension and unease began as a subtle stirring in the air and rose until it permeated Hell, down to the chambers in which they had slept undisturbed for millennia. Anger at being disturbed rose like bile in their throats. Ancient mouths filled with rows of hooked fangs yawned and snarled. Yet the Wise Ones knew, it had been no creature of Hell that had summoned them, no foolish mortal in the land of the Above that had recited age old incantations of beckoning. Things in the land of the Above were changing, shifting the balance of Good and Evil towards the powers of the Light. Narrowing newly opened eyes, the daemons concentrated and followed the signature of energy to its source in the world of mortals. The hideous ones smelled this change with flared nostrils, letting it fill their rotten lungs until it burst forth into their minds with a certain knowing.”

What exciting story are you working on next?

I have some ideas swirling around in my mind, and I am still in the gestation phase of writing. I am reading, gathering knowledge, and trying to form a basis from which to work form. I have always wanted to write a horror about the watchers, a group of angels who were supposed to watch over humanity, but ended up lusting after the daughters of men, and fell from grace. So perhaps I will start there.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

When I was in England in the third grade, my teacher took my writing project out and read it to the class as an example of fine writing. I suppose ever since then I have fancied myself as a writer.

Do you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?
When I am working on a piece, whether it is a short story or a novel, it takes center stage in my work life. I am also a stay at home mother and an avid crafter, so these are the things I fill my day with.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I talk to myself quite a lot. I find it helps the ideas flow easier.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I wanted to be a police officer. I wanted to help those who were hurt or in danger. I have a deep respect for the police who do not abuse their authority and go above and beyond the call of duty.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?

Thank you so much for reading along. Love yourselves, stand up for yourself, and never be ashamed of who you are inside.

Links:

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