AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT – HELEN SCHEUERER Q&A

We are so excited to have the Lovely Helen Scheuerer, as our guest this month. Helen took time out of her busy writing schedule to answer a few questions for us. Helen is the author of Heart of Mist and the founding editor at Writers Edit.

HEART OF MIST WAS PUBLISHED ON THE 31ST OF AUGUST, CONGRATULATIONS! IF YOU COULD GO BACK PRE-PUBLICATION DAY AND GIVE YOURSELF ANY ADVICE, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

Thank you! Hmmm… That’s a great question. I think I’d tell myself: Everything’s going to be okay! I was a massive stress case before the release of Heart of Mist, and in the end, the book’s success surpassed all my expectations!

WHAT HAS BEEN THE HIGHLIGHT OF YOUR PUBLISHING JOURNEY SO FAR?

So far, I’d say hitting #1 on Amazon in under 24 hours of the book’s release. That was an incredibly surreal moment for me. I had worked myself into the ground trying to get Heart of Mist into the right hands, and it showed that hard work pays off. 

WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BECOME WRITERS?

Write what you love. Don’t write for a trend or what you think is expected of you. You’ll never be able to sustain writing something you’re not in love with. I learnt that the hard way! 

HAVE YOU FOUND THAT YOUR WRITING PROCESS HAS CHANGED AT ALL NOW THAT YOU ARE WORKING ON BOOK NUMBER TWO? 

My writing process itself hasn’t changed much, but I’ve found it much harder to balance writing alongside the marketing of Book I. A book is a living thing, even after it’s been released - it need nurturing and promoting constantly, especially in the first few months of its life. And that makes it hard to create something new at the same time!

CAN YOU TELL US ANYTHING ABOUT BOOK NUMBER TWO IN THE OREMERE CHRONICLES?

Book II will see all the main players from Book I return. We’ll get to explore the realm on a much broader scale, and a number of big secrets from Heart of Mist will be revealed...

WHAT ARE YOU READING AT THE MOMENT (OR WHAT WAS THE LAST BOOK YOU READ)?

My reading has varied quite a lot over the last few months! I’m slowly working my way through Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series and am currently on The Fiery Cross. I’ve also read First Year: The Black Mage Apprentice by Rachel E. Carter.

WE ARE ALL ABOUT PROMOTING BOTH AUSSIE AND NZ AUTHORS - CAN YOU SHARE WITH US ANY FAVOURITES YOU HAVE?

I’ve recently discovered Gabrielle Tozer and her book Remind Me How This Ends, which I loved! Then I’ve got my classic faves like Isobelle Carmody and Melina Marchetta.

Thank you so much to Helen for taking the time to answer our questions! I'm sure we're all looking forward to reading Heart of Mist, if we haven’t already!

HELEN CAN BE FOUND ON TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, FACEBOOK & HER WEBSITE.