Featured Author - Susan M. Heim

[Mandie]

Tell us about your book(s)  

I've worked with Chicken Soup for the Soul for thirteen years, co-authoring and editing many of their books. I've also written several parenting books about twins (I have 9-year-old twin boys) and babies. They include "It's Twins! Parent-to-Parent Advice from Infancy Through Adolescence," "Oh, Baby! 7 Ways a Baby Will Change Your Life the First Year," and "Boosting Your Baby's Brain Power." 

Where did the idea of your (latest) book come from?  My newest book, which will be published in May but can be pre-ordered, is "Chicken Soup for the Soul: Inspiration for Writers." Writing can be such a lonely and frustrating business, so I was excited to have the opportunity to inspire new and established writers, and to offer them encouragement. The book offers stories about handling rejection, overcoming writer's block, finding inspiration, carving out time to write, the life-changing power of words, and much more.

Who and what inspires you to write your books?   We receive so many letters from people saying how Chicken Soup for the Soul stories changed their life. I'm so blessed to have a job that has that kind of an impact. 

Each author has their own fascinating journey. How did you begin writing?   Like many writers, I was one of those kids who always had my nose in a book and was writing really bad poetry and stories. I'm an introvert, so books have always been my best friends. I love to escape into different worlds. As an adult, I was fortunate to get a job with a publishing company. I couldn't imagine a better job than to get paid to read books! Not surprisingly, I couldn't stop at just reading and editing them. I had to try my hand at writing books, too. So far, all of my books have been nonfiction, but I'm excited about my next challenge -- writing fiction!

What has been the most pleasant surprise about being a writer? How about the most unexpected downside?   The most pleasant surprise, as I mentioned previously, is the wonderful feedback I receive from readers. The biggest downside is the need to market my books. All authors discover that people won't read your books if they don't know they exist! So, you have to get the word out through articles, blog posts, radio shows, appearances, and more. I'm fine when it comes to writing promotional material, but I always dread the presentations and radio shows. The introvert in me has a hard time coming out of her shell!

Do you have any particular writing routines or rituals?  I wish I could be one of those writers who sets the alarm for 5:00 AM and gets up to write before her family awakes! But, unfortunately, I'm not a morning person, and I'm lucky if I can get my socks to match when I first wake up. So, my morning routine usually consists of doing more mundane tasks, like answering emails or visiting social media sites. I write a lot more in the afternoons or in the evenings after the kids have gone to bed. I don't watch a lot of TV because that's a peak writing time for me.

Do you write in order? Since I write mostly nonfiction at the moment, I don't write in order. Putting together a nonfiction book is more like putting together a puzzle. I'll gather pieces for the book, and then organize them and fill in the gaps. Suddenly, all of the pieces have become a book!

What is on your playlist when you write? Unlike some writers, I find music to be distracting when I write, especially if there are words. I'll start listening to the story in the song instead of focusing on my own words. But listening to music at other times can be inspirational and spur ideas for writing. I like many different genres, but I probably listen most to country music because country songs always tell great stories! 

Favorite writing snack? Chocolate!   

Where do you like to write? I write mostly on my desktop computer in my home office. I'm a touch typist, so I like a full-sized keyboard because my fingers know exactly where the letters are without looking at them. I do dream, though, of going away for a week to a beautiful place and spending all week alone just writing a novel! Sometimes, the distractions at home (phones, doorbells, email, my husband -- who also works form home) keep me from writing as much as I'd like!

Do you have any advice for authors wanting to publish? If you want your book to compete with those of professionals, don't skimp on editing. It's worth the expense to have your book professionally edited, both for content and grammar. Nothing makes me cringe more than reading a book that's chock full of punctuation and formatting errors. This can lead to poor reviews, too. Be open to suggestions, get feedback, and edit, edit, edit until you have the best possible product before showing it to the world.   

Are you currently working on anything else? I have another Chicken Soup for the Soul book coming out in the fall, "Devotional Stories for Wives." And I'm always writing blog posts for my parenting and writing blogs.   

Who is your favorite character and why? I love Elizabeth Bennet from "Pride and Prejudice" because she's not afraid to be herself. She's definitely not perfect, but her flaws are what make her appealing. She's a well-rounded character who has obviously withstood the test of time to be just as influential today as she was when she was first created by Jane Austen in the early 1800s.    

Favorite book of all time? "Pride and Prejudice," by Jane Austen   

Breakfast says a lot about a person, what is your perfect breakfast?  Eggs Benedict. A poached egg on an English muffin with Canadian bacon and Hollandaise sauce over the top ... heavenly! If I see it on the menu, I can't help ordering it! My husband makes it for me, too.

Please tell us in one sentence why we should read your book. "Chicken Soup for the Soul: Inspiration for Writers" will encourage you to write from the heart, persevere through the setbacks, and share the journey to publication with those who have successfully made the transition from dreaming about being a writer to being published!

Friend Susan M. Heim on Literary Addicts

Buy Susan's Books HERE

Author website: http://www.susanheim.com
Writing blog: http://www.susanheimonwriting.com
Parenting blog: http://susanheim.blogspot.com
Twitter: @ParentingAuthor
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/parentingauthor

http://www.facebook.com/SusanHeimOnWriting

http://www.facebook.com/SusanHeimOnParenting

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/susanheim