Writerspace Talks with Author Heidi Betts

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An avid romance reader since junior high, Heidi knew very early on that she wanted to write these wonderful stories of love and adventure.

It wasn't until her freshman year of college, however, when she spent the entire night reading a romance novel instead of studying for finals, that she decided to take the road less traveled and follow her dream.

By the age of 26, Heidi was a three-time Golden Heart finalist and winner of several writing contests. She is also the Founder and President of her local RWA Chapter, Clearfield Area Romance Authors. Cinnamon and Roses is her first book for Dorchester Publishing.

In addition to reading, writing, and romance, Heidi has a tendency to take in injured and homeless animals of every species. She lives in Central Pennsylvania with her family and six beautiful cats. (All rescued, of course.)

Heidi Betts is a wonderfully talented author of historical romance. I haven't personally had the pleasure of meeting this wonderful lady in person, but those who know her will tell you she's a gem right to the core. Heidi graciously agreed to an interview with me and I'm very thankful for all the insight she shared about herself and her experience. Heidi's previous releases, CINNAMON AND ROSES and A PROMISE OF ROSES have won her many many fans and this month her new release is set to hit the shelves - ALMOST A LADY. Do join me for this Heart to Heart with Heidi Betts. I promise you will enjoy her attitude and her sense of humor. I know I certainly did!

Jacquelyn Stone
Senior Editor, Heart Rate Reviews
2001

Walker's Widow
Zebra
January 2002
Buy Now

Jacqui: When did you first start writing? What made you want to become a writer?

Heidi: The earliest I can remember writing stories is in sixth grade when every Friday was Creative Writing Day. I *loved* Fridays! Sometimes the teacher would assign us themes to write about, like Valentine's or St. Patrick's Day; other times she'd let us write about whatever we wanted. Either way, I loved it and that's when I started wanting to be a writer. Unfortunately, I was told by some naysayer relatives that writing was a hobby, not a career, so I stopped dreaming--at least actively--about being a writer until college.

Jacqui: Did you always know you wanted to write romance novels?

Heidi: In sixth grade, I didn't, but in seventh grade, I did. That's when I started reading romances, & after that I didn't even know there *were* other kinds of books. From the first time my friend lent me her mother's Johanna Lindsey, Catherine Coulter, and Rebecca Brandewyne books, I was hooked.

Jacqui: How many books have you published to date?

Heidi: So far, I have three books out: CINNAMON & ROSES (1/00), A PROMISE OF ROSES (7/00), and ALMOST A LADY (1/01). All three are part of "The Rose Trilogy." (Yes, I know #3 doesn't have "rose" in the title, but it's connected, trust me. )

I have also just contracted with Dorchester/Leisure for three more books that will kick off a whole new western-set historical series entitled "Welcome to Purgatory." All of the stories will take place in or near the fictitious town of Purgatory, Texas. The first book is WALKER'S WIDOW and is scheduled for January 2002. The other two books are tentatively titled CALLIE'S CONVICT and HANNAH'S HALF-BREED, and are due to be released in July 2002 and January 2003, consecutively.

I'm really excited about this new series and can't wait to see what readers think of it.

Jacqui: What satisfies you about your writing?

Heidi: Boy, that's a hard one, because there are so many things I like about what I do. The storytelling aspects of writing are my favorite, though, I think. I love creating new characters and plots and pulling the strings for a hero and heroine to fall in love. It's like building a house, starting with the foundation, adding the framework, and eventually decorating all the rooms. I never quite know how a story is going to turn out when I first get the kernel of an idea.

It's a great feeling to sit back after I've finished and think, Gee, I can't believe all those pages came from that one sentence I wrote down six months ago.

Jacqui: What and/or who inspires you?

Heidi: That's another toughie because I don't know that I think about what and who inspires me on a daily basis. I know that I can get very inspired by reading other authors' work. When I read something really spectacular, it motivates me. Sometimes it even makes me a little envious, which gets me to push myself harder than I might have otherwise in hopes that I can someday be as good as the author I just read.

Jacqui: Do you have a preference for one period of time over another? Why?

Heidi: I am writing primarily western-set historicals at the moment and really enjoy them. I think because I grew up watching them. My dad is a big western fan and I often watched them with him. For a hint at just how seriously I take my westerns, let me tell you that I have every episode of The Big Valley on tape and wrote numerous letters to CBS when The Magnificent Seven was cancelled. (Sad--as my brother often reminds me--but true.)

I like all different settings when I read historicals, though, and think I would someday love to write a Regency-set historical, or maybe even a medieval.

Jacqui: What do you find comes to you first - the characters or the situation/plot for a new story? Once the basics are in place, what do you do next?

Heidi: LOL I suppose you're looking for more of an answer than "I don't know." Honestly, every time I start a new story, I go about it differently. As far as ideas go, I think I bounce back and forth between coming up with the characters or plot first. Sometimes a character pops full-blown into my head and I somehow know exactly what they look like, what they do for a living, what their "problem" is, etc. Other times, a more plot-like idea comes to mind and I end up having to create characters to fit the story.

After that, things get a little harder to deal with. Sometimes I sit down with the skeleton of an idea and just start writing a synopsis or outline of sorts, with all the things I think will happen in the story. And then sometimes I have the characters and the general idea of the story, but have to bang my head against the wall for a few hours before anything more comes to me. (And then I can't actually work on the story until my head stops throbbing. )

Jacqui: Of all the books you have written, which story or character is your favorite? Why?

Heidi: This is such a hard question to answer because the characters of whichever story I'm working on *right now* seem to be my favorite. I can tell you that I really liked Willow in ALMOST A LADY. I loved her brashness and lack of inhibitions. Brandt wasn't too hard on the eyes, either.

Jacqui: Have you created any secondary characters that you'd like to feature as the main character in a book yet to be written?

Heidi: I definitely did that with the Rose Trilogy. In CINNAMON & ROSES, I knew I wanted Caleb's sister, Megan, to have her own story when she got a bit older. Then in A PROMISE OF ROSES, even though Willow and Brandt didn't play very big parts in the story, I just knew I wanted to get the two of them together.

The series I'm working on now, Welcome to Purgatory, will likely have recurring characters because all the stories will take place in the same town, but I haven't actually created any in the first book that I have in mind for future stories.

Oh, wait, I lied. Actually, there's an Indian boy in the story I'm working on now, WALKER'S WIDOW, who will probably get his own story before long--if I can keep from writing myself into a corner. I'm trying very hard to get his age and background right so that everything works out when he grows into hero material.

Jacqui: How important is research in your writing?

Heidi: I think research is important in any romance, be it historical or contemporary. You don't *have* to do a lot of research if you're familiar with your subject, but you do want to make sure that any details you put in are right.

Although I often research a general setting or time period when I begin a new project, most of the time I tend to be a seat-of-my-pants researcher. I start writing and then stop to research for whatever details I need in a particular scene or chapter.

Jacqui: When is your birthday?

Heidi: November 11th. Veteran's Day, to my father's delight. :-D When I was little, it was just as likely for me to get a "Happy Veteran's Day" cake as it was a "Happy Birthday Cake."

Jacqui: Do you have your own list of favorite authors?

Heidi: I do. Probably too many to name, but I'll list a few that pop immediately to mind. Suzanne Brockmann and Susan Elizabeth Phillips are goddesses, as far as I'm concerned. Suz's SEALs make me want to set up a tent outside the nearest Naval Base. Hubba-hubba. And Susan is just amazing. Her books are so funny and memorable. I will recommend them to everyone, but I won't lend my copies to anyone. Who else? Oh, Maggie Osborne, Nora Roberts (of course), Christina Dodd... The list goes on and on, and I'm sure I'm missing tons of authors whose work I absolutely adore.

Jacqui: What can your fans look forward to in the next twelve months from you?

Heidi: Absolutely nothing. Ha, ha! It's true, but there's a reason. In January 2001, ALMOST A LADY will be released. It is the third book in the Rose Trilogy. And then the first book of the Welcome to Purgatory series won't be released until the following January, 2002.

I don't love that there will be a full year between books for me, but I would rather the gap be between the last book of one series and the first of another than smack-dab in the middle of a continuation, wouldn't you? I only hope readers are patient enough to remember me and look for WALKER'S WIDOW when it finally does hit the stores in January 2002. :-)

Jacqui: In your writing career, have you received any awards or nominations for your work you'd like to tell your fans about?

Heidi: I'm not very good at winning things, so I don't have much to brag about here. (The last thing I won was a boom box--am I showing my age, here?--in the seventh grade.) And most of the "awards" I've garnered for my writing are things that I was thrilled about at the time, but which have lost a bit of their luster over the years.

I won First Place in COFW's "Ignite the Flame" contest for a contemporary vampire story I absolutely adore, but haven't yet sold. (Maybe because I haven't marketed it very much, huh? ) I was also a Golden Heart Finalist in 1997, 1998, and 1999 in the Short Contemporary category for stories I also love but haven't marketed very much.

I would love to write both historical and contemporary, so I'm sure one of these days I will get around to marketing the contemporaries again and hopefully be able to sell them.

Jacqui: Do you have an autograph tour coming up? Could you give us an itinerary?

Heidi: I'm sure I'll be doing several signings for ALMOST A LADY starting in February, but I don't actually have dates or locations to share at the moment. When I do, I will post them on my website, so feel free to drop in there and see where I might be.

Jacqui: Do you have a website? If so, what is the url?

Heidi: Yes. And after that above paragraph, I'd better tell you where to find it. The URL for my website is www.karenafox.com/heidibetts. I hope you'll visit, sign my guest book, and even enter the contests I occasionally put up. I like to hold a new contest for each book when it comes out, but I have to admit I'm drawing a blank on ALMOST A LADY. Still, keep an eye on my website for when I *do* get around to putting up something new.

Jacqui: How can fans get in touch with you?

Heidi: I love to hear from readers, and I can always be contacted through my website, if all else fails. (Contact information is also included inside the back covers of my books.) But you can snail mail me at P.O. Box 99, Kylertown, PA 16847-0099, or e-mail me at hab427@netphd.net

Jacqui: What did it feel like to sell your first book?

Heidi: Holy mackerel, it was unbelievable! And for having been trying for so long, it really seemed to come out of the blue. You see, at the time, I was concentrating more on writing contemporaries, but still had my historicals circulating. I think I'd even forgotten how long they'd been out or I probably would have been wondering when I would get a reply.

And the funny thing is that actually getting that first offer was kind of a long process. I was away at a conference the Friday the editor called, so I didn't get the message until I returned home late Sunday night. And her message didn't say she wanted to buy my book, but simply asked me to call her back--and she wouldn't be in the office until Tuesday! I spent most of Sunday night and Monday screaming, jumping up and down, and wondering what she was going to say when I returned her call. I only had a partial on her desk at the time, so I sort of knew she'd be asking for the full manuscript before making an offer. But, oh, the waiting and wondering was brutal.

Bright and early Tuesday morning, I called her back and sure enough, she said she enjoyed the partial of CINNAMON & ROSES and asked me to send her the complete manuscript. I spent the next couple of days proofreading and printing, and had it in the mail by Friday. Considering it had taken her six months just to get to the partial, I knew I had a long wait ahead of me and tried to put it out of my mind so I wouldn't go stark raving mad.

So imagine my surprise when the following Tuesday rolled around and the editor called again. Actually, we had just finished dinner and I was making jell-o (watermelon flavored, to be precise). I thought it was likely a telemarketer calling at that time of day and refused to answer the phone. (I was stirring, darn it, and you know how gritty your jell-o can turn out if you stop stirring before all the sugar is dissolved!)

Anyway, my dad, who *never* answers the phone if he can possibly help it, went into my office to listen to the answering machine. I heard him pick up and a second later he came into the kitchen to tell me "that editor" was on the phone again.

This is the part where I think my heart stopped and I completely forgot about dissolving all the sugar in my watermelon jell-o. I raced to the phone, tried not to panic, and actually remained conscious after she said she wanted to buy the book.

After that, I spent many, many days screaming and jumping up and down. I lost my voice three times during all of this and finally went to see the doctor, who told me it would probably help if I didn't talk so much. Gee, thanks doc. :-P

Jacqui: Who has influenced you the most in terms of developing your personal writing?

Heidi: Gosh, I really have no idea. I've had a few critique partners and have belonged to a few critique groups over the years, and I know that those experiences have helped me tighten my writing. They have also encouraged me to experiment with my humor, which I didn't used to think I could do. (Now it's one of my favorite things to write, especially when something funny seems to come out of nowhere.)

Jacqui: What is your writing schedule? Could you briefly tell your fans about a typical day in your life?

Heidi: You do not want to know about a typical day out of my life. Not only would you probably be bored and horrified to know that I never change out of my pajamas but I spend an awful lot of time wondering where my cats are and what they're up to. (It's a long story, but suffice to say that we have one cat who doesn't play well with others and cannot be left unattended for long.)

Generally, though, I have two basic types of schedule. I either wake up fairly early and write most of the day, or I stay up writing late into the night and sleep until noon the next day. I go back and forth between the two every few months, but I have to admit that writing in the wee hours of the morning is my favorite. There's something about being awake when everyone else in the house is asleep that really gets the creative juices flowing.

Jacqui: What would a perfect romantic evening or weekend constitute of for you?

Heidi: I am such a homebody that I really enjoy just staying home with a good book. A *perfect* romantic evening or weekend would likely involve a suite with an ocean-front view in some high-priced Hawaiian hotel, but I could probably live with a nice dinner and trip to the movies. I also like the idea of booking a room in a Bed & Breakfast and exploring some quaint little town for the weekend.

Jacqui: What type of author are you? Do you plot and plan the story before you actually sit down to write it, or are you more of a "fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants" writer?

Heidi: With all three books in the Rose Trilogy, I think I mostly just sat down and started writing. With my current project, though, I had to sit down and plot out most of the story before I wrote much of it because my editor asked to see the first few chapters and a detailed synopsis. But a detailed synopsis for me can be fairly general, so I still have a lot of room to move around if I want to change things as I go along.

Jacqui: Is there anything in particular, like music, etc., that helps > you get into the mood to write?

Heidi: I don't know that music helps me get in the mood to write, but I absolutely need music in the background when I am writing. It can be just about any kind of music, too. I have very eclectic tastes and will be in the mood for Garth Brooks one minute and Aerosmith the next. It's not unusual to find them both in the CD player at once, along with Jewel or Barenaked Ladies, or even Vivaldi. (I told you, I'm a strange egg.)

Jacqui: Almost every author at some point or another suffers from > writer's block. Have you ever had that problem? How do you deal with it?

Heidi: I used to get writer's block all the time until I read a quote or heard someone say that there's no such thing as writer's block. As you can see, I have absolutely no clue what exactly was said or who said it. But ever since then, I don't think of it so much as writer's block. Rather, I try to figure out what's keeping me from moving forward in a particular scene. Oftentimes I realize that I've gone wrong somewhere and need to go back before I can go forward. Sometimes figuring this out takes a week to seven days, but I try not to think of that time as writer's block so much as a time of quiet contemplation.

Oh, and did I mention that I'm a world-class procrastinator and Queen of B.S.?

Jacqui: What is the best advice you have ever received in regard to your writing/career?

Heidi: Another hard one, because I've picked up so many great pearls of wisdom along the way. One of the best pieces of advice I've ever gotten, though, and which I stick to faithfully, is not to write to trends. Not to write baby books just because baby books seem hot at the moment--unless you love baby books and really *want* to write one. Not to stop writing the historical you love and try your hand at a contemporary just because contemporaries seem to be selling better at the moment. The market is cyclical and just because babies are popular now doesn't mean they will be six months or a year from now. In the same vein, even if historicals aren't super-popular at the moment, they will be in a while. In other words, don't try to predict when a wave will come and how high it will be, just go with them and wait until the right one flows in your direction.

Jacqui: What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

Heidi: Um...the above, to start. And also to never give up. If you really want to write and really want it to be your career, then stick with it. It may take years--trust me on this!--but if you believe in yourself and work hard enough, then it will happen. Perseverance is the key.

Jacqui: What is it about the genre and sub-genre you write that inspired you to choose it over all others?

Heidi: I don't know that I was really inspired to write western-set historicals over all others. I think I came up with my first kernel of an idea and a western setting seemed most comfortable to me and seemed to fit the characters and story best. And since the first books I sold were western-set historicals, I feel like I should stick with that setting and time period for a while instead of hopping all over the place. (Good thing I *like* writing westerns, huh? )

Jacqui: Have you seen an evolution in your writing? How or when did it come about?

Heidi: I have. I'm not sure that others see it, but I sort of hope so. I think that my writing--every aspect of it--has become better over the years and with each book. My fondest wish is that each book I write is better than the last. I want to grow as a writer and as a storyteller and have readers say with each book, "Gosh, I think I liked this one even better than her last."

Jacqui: Have you dreamed of writing a particular type of story or even a story in a different genre that you haven't done as yet?

Heidi: As I mentioned earlier, I would dearly love to write both historicals and contemporaries. Both serious and humorous contemporaries, to be honest. And I can very easily see myself writing romantic suspense someday. I haven't actually tried my hand at it yet, but I love to read in that genre and would love to write them someday, too. I think I just want to do it *all.* Time permitting, of course.

Jacqui: What is your favorite part of being a writer? The least favorite?

Heidi: My favorite part of being a writer, as unprofessional as it may sound, would have to be not having to wake up to an alarm clock and being able to work in my pajamas. (I'm serious about that--it's wonderful. And you should hear how loudly I complain when I have to put on stockings for a conference or booksigning!)

I'm not sure that I can pinpoint a least favorite part of my job because I really do like what I do. I think there are a lot of little things that I don't always enjoy. Revisions, deadlines, or proofreading galleys when it means you have to stop working on a current project to look over a past one...the kinds of things that take away from the fun and spontaneity of writing fresh new stuff each day.

Jacqui: How do you handle life's interruptions?

Heidi: Some of them I handle well. Others, not so well. It depends on the interruption, I guess. I think you just have to roll with things sometimes. Some things can't be postponed, so you have to stop what you're doing and deal with them, even if it means working twice as hard the next day to catch up. I think Nora Roberts explained it perfectly when she once said that life is a juggling act. Some balls are glass and will shatter if you drop them; others are rubber and will bounce back. The trick is knowing which is which.

Jacqui: What quality do you most admire in a person?

Heidi: Being a Scorpio, loyalty is very important to me. And I am very loyal in return. Unless you betray me, then Watch Out! I also really like people with a sense of humor. I love to laugh and have the most fun when I'm either making people crack up or being make to crack up myself.

Jacqui: If you weren't a writer, what would you be?

Heidi: Before I actually set out to build a writing career, I'm not sure what my answer to that would have been. I love animals, so I might have become a veterinarian, but since I also have allergies and don't get a big thrill out of testing for worms, I'm not sure I would have lasted long in that field. Now that I'm in the writing business, I think that if I weren't writing, I might be an agent. I love judging contests and reading something that I think could sell, so I think I would enjoy discovering new talent and then marketing that talent.

Jacqui: What is the most romantic city or place for you?

Heidi: I don't have a clue how to answer this one. I'm not much of a traveler, tho I have been several places and do take the occasional trip here or there. I attended an RWA conference in Hawaii several years ago and absolutely loved it, so I guess if I had to pick the most romantic place, that would be it. The beach or the rainforest or even the different areas of shopping--I loved it all and would go back in a flash.

Jacqui: What do you believe are the three most essential ingredients in writing a Romance novel?

Heidi: First and foremost, I think you have to love the genre and be an avid romance reader yourself. I don't think it's a good idea to try your hand at writing a romance if you're only doing it because you think you can make a lot of money at it (chances are, you can't) or because you think it's an easy sell (it's not). If you don't love romance novels to begin with, then you won't have a true feel for the genre and your heart won't be in it.

Second, I guess, would be to READ, READ, READ. Read every romance you can get your hands on. Learn the difference between the different house tastes and lines. Figure out why you love some authors and don't particularly like others. Figure out what made you pick up a certain book and what either made you unable to read it fast enough, or what made you quit reading halfway through. Reading alone can teach you a lot about how romances are put together and what makes the genre so popular.

I can't even think of a third thing. How awful is that? I just cannot think of a third thing, sorry.

Jacqui: What are some of your hobbies and do you ever incorporate them into your characters' lives?

Heidi: Reading is probably my biggest hobby; I am never without a book. I have one in just about every room of the house and always have one in my purse, just in case. When I'm watching TV, I read as much as I can during commercials. I'm kind of a craft-y person, too, so during the actual television show, I'm usually knitting, crocheting, or doing some other type of needlework. (In case you couldn't tell, TV is another hobby of mine. I watch *a lot* but always try to get something else done at the same time so I don't feel like a complete couch potato.)

I think CINNAMON & ROSES is probably the best example of a time when I incorporated my own hobbies into a book. Rebecca was a seamstress and I did a lot of sewing myself at the time; mostly embroidery. The funny thing is, I can't remember if my sewing encouraged her occupation, or if her occupation caused me to do more of my own. :-)

Jacqui: Heidi, you've been wonderful! I've really enjoyed this Heart to Heart and you've certainly had me smiling throughout. Thank you so much for your time and I'm looking forward to reading ALMOST A LADY soon!

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