Featured Author - January // HEATHER FITZGERALD (+giveaway!)


January 28, 2018



   I think it's time to start playing the game entitled 'how many new blog series can Savannah start in 2018?'

   Apparently the answer is 'too many', because here we are with my first featured author of 2018! I met Heather FitzGerald through the Rooglewood contest, when I beta read her AMAZING entry. She's the sweetest lady, and I'm excited to share my interview of Heather with y'all!

   Shall we get right to it then?

Featured Author - January // HEATHER FITZGERALD (+giveaway!) - [post title image]


   A few awesome Heather-things you should check out: 


The Tethered World by Heather L.L. FitzGerald [cover image]
 “Normal” means different things to different people. For sixteen-year-old Sadie Larcen, family dynamics look a little different than most. Parents with oddball occupations? Normal. Five homeschooled siblings—one with autism? Normal.

Police knocking on the door and parents gone missing? Definitely not normal!

When Sadie uncovers the reasons behind her parents’ disappearance and the truth about her heritage, she despairs of ever feeling normal again. Especially when she learns that her mother’s interest in Bigfoot, Dwarves, and other lore extends beyond her popular blog. Sadie’s family has been entrusted with keeping the secrets of the Tethered World—home to creatures that once roamed the Garden of Eden.
Sadie and her siblings must venture into this land to rescue their parents. Stepping out of reality and into a world she never knew existed is a journey Sadie fears and resents. But she chooses to risk all to save her family.
She’s just not sure she will survive in the process.



her first novel, The Tethered World 

the other books in the series, The Flaming Sword and The Genesis Tree 




Savannah Grace: Hey, Heather! It's great to have you here, I'm really excited to interview you. Alright, obvious question first - what genre do you write in, and why do you enjoy it so much?

The Tethered World by Heather L.L. FitzGerald [cover image]
Heather FitzGerald: I write fantasy! Isn’t that the only genre there is, LOL? Thanks to the Chronicles of Narnia, I have fallen in love with the possibilities that fantasy offers. It is similar to Jesus using parables to make a point in the Bible. Fantasy is a wonderful platform for sharing epic truths and painting a picture of impossibilities that seem within the grasp of the ordinary. Plus, I don’t have to do a lot of research to make sure I have all the historical facts just so, which worked out well when I was homeschooling my four kids. My world, my rules, so to speak ;)

Savannah: Oh, gracious - YES, I'm exactly the same. I love having it be "my world, my rules", haha. And I love how you consider fantasy a platform for sharing epic truths, that's so cool. Out of all the books you written (whether they're published or not!), which one is your favorite?

Heather: My third book, The Genesis Tree, was very complex. Though all of the stories are my babies, in this case I’d have to favor this one over the others, at least a little! As the third story of a trilogy, I had loose ends to tie up and high stakes to make it a satisfying ending to the adventure. Though stressful, it was a real journey of faith and it allowed me to cling to the Lord in new ways. I took some big risks in the storyline which have shocked many readers but in a good way. That’s all I can say because…spoilers :) Plus, I grew a lot as a writer from book 1 to book 3. I think my writing improved and that gives The Genesis Tree a little bit of an edge too.

I also have a Narnia spin-off that I’ve been working on for years! I want to establish myself as a writer before I dare present it to the world and to CS Lewis fans. But I’d say that this particular story is my other favorite!

The Flaming Sword by Heather L.L. FitzGerald [cover image]
Savannah: Ooh, a Narnia spin-off sounds really neat. And I'm very excited to get to The Genesis Tree! I'm reading your first book, The Tethered World, right now, and I can't wait to see how everything turns out. Speaking of which - the covers for your Tethered World Chronicles series are gorgeous! Which of the three is your favorite, and why?

Heather: Thank you for saying so! I’ve had very good feedback about them, although I’ve had judges feedback that said they were not good and looked too Indie! That just shows how subjective art can be. I’m very thankful that my publisher, Mountain Brook Ink, allowed me a lot of input on my covers. I’m enough of an artist myself to have serious opinions about such things, and I was stressed, frankly, about how my books would be represented by the covers. The stories are quirky and I wanted that reflected in the first book in particular—so the first impression of the series would be the right one.

We went through maaaany mock ups for The Tethered World. Do you know how hard it is to find stock photos of things that only exist in your head? Not an easy task! Since my publisher is a small, independent press, we didn’t have the luxury of original artwork. Stock photos and a terrific graphic artist, Lynette Bonner, are what we had to work with. So…all that to say: The Tethered World is my favorite cover! I feel like we captured the quirkiness with the large, glowing mushrooms, as well as the fantasy/mystery element with the dragon. I had a small creative meltdown right before I found the mushroom picture and I’m thankful my publisher was patient with me while I found JUST the right thing! That was probably way more of an answer than you wanted :-D

Savannah: Well you all did a WONDERFUL job with the final cover - I would absolutely pick up a book that looked like any of those three! Lynette Bonner is quite talented. The dragon and mushrooms on book one fit it so well, I'm glad you  were able to find those before the cover was finalized! And, as far as I've read, the inside of the book is just as great as the outside, and I especially love your characters. Are any of the characters you’ve written based on people you know in real life?

The Genesis Tree by Heather L.L. FitzGerald [cover image]
Heather: Yes! Four of the characters in my stories are based on actual people, and most of the names (from characters to locations) are creative uses of friends or family members’ names as a way of showing them some love. For example, Revonika is really code for Veronica.

Brady is based on my nephew and how well he interacts with my son who is autistic. The character of Brock (who is Brady’s twin) is loosely based on my son, although my son has less “typically autistic” characteristics than Brock. I wanted readers to be able to identify with Brock right off so I made him a bit more stereotypical.

Aunt Jules is based on my BFF since third grade who still calls me chipmunk and other pet names :) Of course, my friend is much younger than Jules but they share the same bubbly personality.

And finally, Uncle Brent, who plays a bigger role in the third book, is based on my cousin whom I adore. He used to be a chemist, not a pharmacist, however.
Savannah: It's so neat that Brock is loosely based on your own son - so far, he's my favorite character <3. Are you currently working on any new novels?

Heather: Like you, I just finished a novella which I entered into a contest. The contest, for your readers’ sake, was a retelling of Snow White. I had fun mashing together the story of Snow White and that of Esther in the Bible. The judges will be picking five stories…so here’s to hoping that you and I might share that honor!

Beyond that, I have several stories that I’ve begun and am praying about which one to concentrate on more fully. They are mystery/fantasy stories, mostly. I’m always dabbling on my Narnia spin off as well. And one of these days I shall dust off some children’s books that I wrote when my kids were younger! Right now they are simply taking up space on my computer :)

Five Poisoned Apples [cover image]
Savannah: YES, it would be amazing if we get to be two of the winners. And I can attest to that fact that your Snow White retelling is beautiful and very deserving of being in the Snow White anthology <3. Now, besides writing, do you have any other creative outlets?

Heather: Actually, yes! For the past 15 years I’ve been teaching ballet at a fine art school for homeschoolers. And the last two years I’ve added a creative writing class as well (we have expanded beyond creative arts and have grown to nearly 1,000 students!). I also enjoy decorating and the occasional watercolor painting. My house is my palate, most of the time, however.

Savannah: You teach ballet? Oh, that's so neat - I've always had two left feet, so dancers shall forever amaze me. And your creative writing class sounds so cool, it's really neat that you're helping others to learn how to bring their own stories from the mind onto paper. Speaking of stories - who are a few of your favorite lesser-known authors?

Heather: Hmmm. I am reading Janalyn Voigt’s Dawnsinger fantasy right now and I’m so, so impressed with her writing! She has the most exquisite prose and has woven a lovely high fantasy with a Christian worldview that is very subtle. I’m not sure if you would consider Anne Elisabeth Stengl lesser-known but I’ve enjoyed her fantasy stories. Oh! And Andrew Peterson’s Wingfeather Saga is fabulous. I love his music (he tells stories with his songs) and his novels are great family reading.

On The Edge Of The Dark Sea Of Darkness by Andrew Peterson [bookshelf picture/cover image]
Savannah: You like the Wingfeather Saga? Epicness, so do I! And I agree that Andrew Peterson's music is wonderful (he has one song called The Reckoning that my sisters have pegged as one of "my songs", haha) <3. What’s the last five-star book you read, and why did you enjoy it so much?

Heather: The first two that come to mind is the An Ember in the Ashes series by Sabaa Tahir—creative world building, engaging characters, sweeping prose and clean! A great combination. I also loved the Inkheart trilogy by Cornelia Funke. Such an excellent adventure! Gripping situations, believable characters and world, and it’s one of those books that made me think, “I wish I had thought of that!” Her main characters are “silver tongued” and can read characters from books into our world…but it is a lot more complicated than that!

Savannah: Yes, definitely more complicated than that - I've read the whole trilogy multiple times, and I STILL don't know exactly how to describe them! Okay, here's a tougher question: What’s the biggest thing that has happened to you during your writer/author career, and why was it so meaningful to you?

Heather: Definitely the biggest and most meaningful thing was having The Tethered World and The Flaming Sword double final in the Oregon Christian Writer’s Cascade Awards last year! I was shocked when both books held two of the three Spec-fiction spots (against an award winning Bethany House author, none the less!) and then The Flaming Sword actually WON! Say what??? They announced the winner by reading the first line of their book. When they started reading mine I panicked for a second, wondering if I recognized it or not. Ha! I was in shock—in the best of ways!

Savannah: Oh my gracious - and YOU WON? That's seriously so epic, now I'm even more excited to get my hands on The Flaming Sword! It sounds like it's going to be amazing <3. It always inspires me when I hear about authors doing so well with their books. Which leads me to the next question - who are three of your greatest inspirations, and why?

The Chronicles Of Narnia by C.S. Lewis [bookshelf picture/cover image]
Heather: C.S. Lewis’ writings are always inspiring. But his Narnia books get credit for launching me into the realm of writing. Corrie Ten Boom is also such an inspiration and I love her biography The Hiding Place. It is such a compelling book and her passion for Christ and people are so all-encompassing and really stretch me as a Christian. And I’d have to say my family inspires me in a myriad of ways. They all have strengths that I lack and I love seeing how their gifts are at work, which challenges me to use mine.

Savannah: Corrie Ten Boom really does have an amazing story, and C.S. Lewis is one of the best authors out there, I love Narnia so much. It's cool that his books got you into writing! Alright, one last question before we shut this thing down and let you get back to your epic writing ;). What’s one big goal you have for 2018?

Heather: Well, I’ve entered The Genesis Tree in a few contests so it would be fabulous to see it do well in one or more. However, that’s quite out of my hands so I’m not sure if that qualifies as a goal :) I guess writing-wise my goal is to settle on my next book and dive in. And I hope to explore more of my Narnia spin-off plot, even though I’m a pantser and not a plotter. It is such a big project which I have underestimated while working on it in the past—before I was published. Lastly, I want to attend at least one writer’s conference since I’ve never been to more than a one day type seminar.

Savannah: *highfives fellow pantser* I'm a pantser for a good portion of my drafts, so I hope your plotting ventures go well! And BEST OF LUCK in the contests, I hope The Genesis Tree does wonderfully. I'm looking forward to seeing where you go with your next books, Heather! And thank you so much for being here today, I had lots of fun.

Heather: Thank you so much for your interest in my stories, Savannah, and for hosting me on your blog! I’m thankful to have met you and made a new writing friend :)



Heather L.L. FitzGerald [bio image]


Heather L.L. FitzGerald writes from her home in Texas, while dreaming of being back in the Pacific Northwest, where she grew up. Shes been married for 28 years and has four grown children and one grand baby (so far!). Her YA fantasy is available through Amazon or may be ordered through any book retailer. Books include The Tethered World (OCW Cascade Award finalist), and The Flaming Sword (OCW Cascade Award winner, Speculative Fiction), and The Genesis Tree. Connect with Heather: website/blog (free eBook with newsletter sign up),  Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram.




 

   Isn't she the best? I'm so glad I got to know her. <3 And you guys are probably about ready for me to talk about the giveaway, huh? xD Well, this one's easy...

   Leave a comment below, and one random commenter will get an ebook copy of Heather's lovely novel, The Tethered World! I'll announce the winner in my January highlights post on the 31st, so hurry up and scurry over to the comment section to show Heather some love! 

~ Savannah Grace

what was the last five-star book you read?
go ahead and chat with Heather in the comments!
 

30 comments :

  1. Wow - I just started The Tethered World! *falls over in shock* I'll read it with even more enjoyment now, knowing that the authoress is such a lovely person.

    Great post! I love hearing more about authors, and their stories, input, and advice are so inspiring. Thanks for being interviewed, Heather! (Oh, and that Narnia spin-off sounds like something I would TOTALLY read!! :D )

    Brianna

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    1. Hi Brianna! Wow, small world, eh? Okay, maybe not...the world of books is rather vast! How did you happen across mine? I'm thankful you are giving it a go and hope you will enjoy it :) It's also great to hear you would be cheering for a Narnia spin-off! I'm certain some will be offended that I should think to try, but I hope it comes off as a labor of love and not that I would *dream* of comparing myself to the great CS Lewis (of whose shoelaces I'm not worthy to tie). Thanks for stopping by!

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    2. No kidding! I was so surprised - I thought I recognized your name from somewhere. :D Honestly, I don't even remember where I found it. Amazon, perhaps? I've been wanting to read it for a while, but haven't gotten to it. But I must finish it now! :D

      I certainly would not be offended! Hopefully, people would take it as admiration rather than something different - and I think a lot of fans would. I need to read this . . . now! :D

      Brianna

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    3. :-D Not much worth reading...yet!!!

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  2. Well, I for one LOVE your blog series, so I won't complain one bit about you having many of them! :D

    Okay. I NEED THESE BOOKS. They sounds JUST up my alley and so epic. :O YEP. NEED. Also I, too, think those covers are gorgeousssss. I love them!

    This whole interview was a delight to read. That's so fun your novel won that award, Heather. How exciting! ^_^ I wish you all the best with your writing goals. It looks to me like you dream big and that's so inspiring.

    Thank you both for sharing this with us!

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    1. Hey there, Christine! That's so kind of you to say that you like my covers (and I hope you shall like my books as well!). It's a nerve wracking thing, wondering what your book babies will look like, LOL. It was such an honor to final and then to win! Definitely something I will cherish. Blessings to you!

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  3. I've never read any of these books, but after reading this post (ad seeing those covers - oh my goodness, they are GORGEOUS!!!), I am definitely adding them to my reading list! Also - I love the idea of a Narnia spin-off, especially as I've just finished rereading the books. Good luck in your writing journey!

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    1. Hi, True! Love that name :) Would you believe your the second person I've met with such a cool name? The True I know (a guy) also has a brother named Story--an equally cool name! Although having kids you would call, "True, Story" seems a bit out there, even though I love the names! But I digress...LOL. Thanks so much for your kind words about the book covers! Glad you like them and I hope you'll try them :) And, YAY!!!! A fellow Narnia lover <3 Although, I suppose we are both in good company with many other Lewis fans! Thanks for stopping by!

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  4. I loved reading this, Miss FitzGerald! I've been writing stories for almost as long as I can remember, but I just recently started taking dance (starting at age 16 seems rare, but I'm loving it!), so I definitely perked up when you said you teach dance. I think it's a great outlet for me as a writer, as it inspires me to get out of my chair and move around sometimes, and push myself physically!
    Fantasy is my favorite genre as well, and your books sound lovely!

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    1. Howdy, Hannah! Oh, that's SO great to hear :) Good for you! And let me tell you a little secret...although I grew up dancing via public school dance team and cheerleading (back in the *cough* 80s when it was waaaay less death-defying and competitive), I never took any dance lessons because my parents could not afford it. I did not take ballet until I was in my 30s and had four kids! So, to quote CS Lewis, "You're never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream." So keep up the creative outlet! Plus, you're getting a huge head start on me :) Yay, for fantasy! Keep writing and pushing yourself in new ways <3

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  5. Ooooooohhh, I remember seeing The Tethered World a while back and immediately falling head over heels with the wonderfully quirky cover!! There's something about all those mushrooms that's just haunting and magical and aaaaaaahhhh. *drools* The story sounds SO cool too, of course!

    Great interview! Your Rooglewood story sounds extremely cool, Heather, and I LOVE the idea of a Narnia spin-off. I'm almost desperate to read some of your writing now. :D

    Lila
    The Red-Hooded Writer

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    1. Hi there, Lila! Thanks for spending some time here today :) Wow! That's cool that my book stood out to you. That's what an author likes to hear! I see you're a writer too...did you enter the Rooglewood contest? I like your writing nickname (The Red-Hooded Writer). Blessings!

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    2. Yes, as a matter of fact, I did enter it! Fairy tale retellings are my favorite to read and write (as evidenced by my blog name/writing nickname :D), so when I heard of the contest, I latched onto the opportunity!

      Thank you so much!!

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    3. Oh, yay! What's the title of your story so I can look for it :)

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    4. It's called The Seven Huntresses. :D I'll be looking for yours too!!

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    5. Sweet! I'll be looking for it! Maybe there are some "unicorns" among us :D

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  6. You know, I would say Narnia got me into writing as well! Heather seems like such a lovely person and her books sound awesome!
    ~ Abby

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    1. Hi Abby! I think there are soooo many of us readers that have turned writer thanks to Lewis! Just think of the writer's group meetings we can have one day in heaven? Thanks for stopping by the blog <3

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  7. Savannah: I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE all of your series, Savannah! =D This was such an awesome interview to read!

    Heather: I love your covers! The one for The Genesis Tree is my favorite. I hope to be able to read your books soon! Oh, and C.S. Lewis and Andrew Peterson are some of my favorite authors too. =) ALSO: I noticed that you said you grew up in the Pacific NW, and that's where I live right now. =) It's raining. As usual. xD Texas sounds pretty nice sometimes.

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    1. Please. Send. Rain! *cough* It's dry and dusty here in Texas (which makes me sad since it's January and it's 60 degrees). What part of the NW? I grew up in the Portland/Vancouver area (although I was born in Seattle). My books are set up there too...well, and in the Tethered World :)

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  8. Wow. _The Tethered World_ sounds almost eerily like my own book. The normal is not-normal, the situation pre-story-starting is _abooouuut_ the same, parents with (mysterious) occupations go missing, there’s a connection to some kind of magic, and [#spoilers]. Odd... but you know what they say about great minds and all that. :)

    Anyway, about you: Narnia-spinoff? Snow White combined with Esther from the Bible? These are some _really_ interesting ideas! (And I didn’t think of them too, in this case :P) I may have to give them a read eventually. :D And I agree, Narnia/CS Lewis is really inspirational, and The Wingfeather Saga is epic too.

    Last five-star book I read... would that be first-time read or reread? I guess it could be The Hobbit (because I finished it--again--this morning), or The Door Before (by ND Wilson, and it is AWESOME).

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    1. Ooooh! Great minds indeed! What's the name of your book (going to dash over to Amazon in a sec and look you up!). From books we read to books we write, sounds like we're kindred spirits :)

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    2. Actually, I, er, haven't finished it, or published anything yet. *embarrassed* The name of the series is Hanesion House, though. And thanks anyway! :)

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    3. Oh no, there's nothing to be embarrassed about! We all start somewhere with an idea and hope to get it from imagination to publication. Blessings on your efforts!

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  9. Oh my goodness; those books look AMAZING.
    Fantasy, when done right, is one of my favorite book-genres. I am actually in the middle of outlining a fantasy WIP; I am definitely a plotter. I've tried writing without plotting and it hasn't worked for me. :s

    Though I am a huge fan of C.S. Lewis, I have to say that J.R.R. Tolkien is what really got me into writing. I had been something of a writer for years, but until I read The Hobbit and lord of the Rings, I wasn't very serious or passionate about it.

    I hope I get to read your books someday! The interview was so enjoyable.

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    1. Hey Kendra! I hear ya :) I think most fantasy lovers *love* both Tolkien and Lewis but *favor* one or the other. Tolkien's Hobbit is amazing but I had a hard time with LOTR because it was too detailed for me. I finally got through the series thanks to listening to it on Audible. Tolkien created such a full and fluid world it certainly lends itself to cultivating the imagination! Very inspiring!

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  10. These books looks soooo good! And the book covers are beautiful!

    Great post, Savannah!

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  11. What a great interview! I'll have to check these books out!

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