In conclusion….
Q. What first inspired you to write?
MH. I’m one of those people who started writing as soon as she learned to read. I wanted to make my own stories from a very young age. However, regarding writing seriously, for publication, in fiction—I was inspired by some books I read that I really liked. They recharged my imagination. A story of my own came to me, and I played with it until one day I began to write it down. About a year later I made the commitment to write seriously and to make a career as a writer a goal.
Q. What comes first to you? The Characters or the Situation?
MH. It depends. It can go either way. It has also changed over time, much like my writing schedule. Recently I would say that the characters come first, but unless I can attach a problem to them, I won’t have enough story for a novel-length book.
Q. Do you ‘get lost’ in your writing?
MH. Yes. It is very nice, too. That is why I said “write one sentence and the rest will follow.” Writers call getting really lost “being in the zone.” That is when the story is really flowing and very compelling and hours fly by. It is a magical place.
Q. Are you working on something now? If so tell us about it.
MH. I am about the begin the last book of The Duke’s Heiress series. This is a trilogy in which a duke dies and, to his large, colorful family’s consternation, leaves a good part of his personal fortune to three women whom no one knows anything about. The first book, Heiress for Hire, is out and the second one, Heiress in Red Silk, will be published on April 28. I am now writing The Heiress Bride. The hero is the new duke, whom readers meet in the earlier books, and the heroine is a rare book dealer.
Q. Do you think we will see, in our lifetime, the total demise of paper books?
MH. I don’t think so, at least not in MY lifetime, but I’m older than many of you most likely. I think there will always be paper books because it is its own reading experience and some readers prefer it. There are also certain kinds of books that just work better in paper, in my opinion. Serious nonfiction, for example. Illustrated books (which I would love to see have a renaissance.) Reference books. Cookbooks—just to name a few.
MH. A talent with words, obviously. A lack of self-indulgence (lest there be too many words.) Honesty. Courage.
Q. and the all-important: What does the process of going from “no book” to “finished book” look like for you?
MH. I start with the concept in a general way, then do all the brainstorming I described above. Once I have a synopsis I work on the all-important opening. I then plow through the rest. Once it is finished to my liking, it goes to my editor. She will usually have some revisions to suggest. Maybe only a few small ones but maybe some major ones. I fume and curse but I do the revisions (she has rarely been wrong in her suggestions, so even as I stomp around and frown I know it will not be a waste of my time.) Once those are done, the manuscript goes to a copyeditor who does her thing then sends it back to me. After I accept or decline those changes, the book is put into print (digital in reality now, but it is prepped for actual print too.) I then have to check the proofs for errors. While all of this is being done, my publisher is working on the cover, the cover copy, the marketing plan, and all of the things they are responsible for. All of this dovetails to have the book ready for publication day, which I greet with nervous excitement. I then hold my breath for a week until I start getting data on how well it has or hasn’t done. From copyedits on, I am at work on the next book.
Q. How has your life experiences influenced your writing?
MH. There are very few events in my life that end up in my stories. However, the emotions I experienced during certain events are pretty critical to my stories. I draw on them to give my books heart and soul, and to have my characters come alive in ways that readers respond to.
Q. What’s your down time look like?
MH. Aside from the business of life (cooking, etc)? I read, take long walks, keep in touch with friends and family, and watch too much Netflix.
Q. Have you or do you want to write in another genre`?
MH. Two others hold some appeal. One is mainstream historical and the other would be mysteries.
Q. Note to Self: (a life lesson you’ve learned.)
MH. Quite a few related to writing but I’ll share two. First, this is a job but, second, it is not only about money.
Did you miss part 1 of this fascinating Interview?
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