Guest Author: Heather Paye - A Gift From Above

Heather Paye first started writing when she was about six years old. She started out writing lyrics, and when she was nine started writing short stories. When she turned ten, she moved on to full-length novels. At the age of 12, she started writing poetry as her love of that style of writing developed from her mother. Currently she is working on a book series of nine, with the first installment finished and being prepared to be released on bookshelves soon. The first draft of the second installment is almost finished. Her novel A Gift From Above which she wrote for NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) in 2008 was published March 28th, 2009 - a tribute to her parents as it was published on their anniversary. She's a part of many organizations and author groups.
So far, this is all of her "story" that has been "written". Stay for a spell and learn more about Heather through her insightful interview.

DMc: How long have you been writing?

HP: I've been writing for around eight years.

DMc: What started you writing for publication?

HP: After I read Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (yes, I read the second one before I read the first one) I was simply touched by the story and become absolutely obsessed with it. You can bet I went out and bought every book out there that had anything at all to do with it. Which was when I bought "Muggles and Magic" which had a short interview in it with J.K. Rowling. One thing she said was "Anyone can write a book" that was the sentence that changed my life.

Before then, I swear, I didn't know just anyone could write a book, I thought you had to be someone special. That was when I started out writing my first short story. I only managed to write three short stories before I decided that I wanted to write something bigger, something better - a novel. It took me four years, but I managed to write my first full length novel. During those years, I had been studying publishing, how to do it, where to go, what you need. It payed off, I'm signing a contract for my series of nine and I still have yet to get a rejection letter.

DMc: Do you have a set time when you write, or just whenever you get the urge?

HP: I try to write as much as I can. Whenever I'm not busy I spend my spare time writing, my schedule is too busy to really set a time.

DMc: What do you recommend to aspiring authors?

HP: Don't rush writing (Rome wasn't built in a day), study, take notes, pay extra attention to your English class, and don't underestimate the power of revision/editing. I used to think I didn't need editing, I just thank goodness I got that out of my mind before it was time for me to edit my first novel.

DMc: How do you invent your characters?


HP: This is a tough question, when I need to create a character I just make him/her up as I go along. I gather up a few ideas - visual appearance, overall attitude - and I go from there. Most of my characters are completely fictional and thought up. A couple of times I have tried to model my characters out of people whom I know in real life... but they always seem to take on a style all their own.

Heather, it's been a pleasure interviewing and hosting you today. Best wishes for your continued success!

Tomorrow, visit with Robert Medak at Shelby Patrick's blog - http://writershotspot.blogspot.com/.
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Best wishes,
Donna M. McDine
Award-winning Children's Author
The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. http://www.guardianangelpublishing.com/pathway.htm