Author Interviews

10/6: Interview with Heather S. Ingemar

A SLIP OF WORMWOOD, (August 2007); DARKNESS CORNERED, (March 2007, Echelon Press, LLC.)

Heather S. Ingemar has worn many hats - rancher's wife, musician, librarian, and now, author.

In DARKNESS CORNERED, Ingemar weds romance and vampires into a suspenseful tale of love on the dark side.

The book, which brings to mind images from old Vincent Price films, involves Lear King's quest to rescue his girlfriend, Kai, from the evil clutches of Dr. Maddox Corvan. King, who's adapted to his vampyric mutation, faces even darker threats as he tries to get Kai away from the evil doctor's criminal research.

Next, she slips into the Victorian era in her latest, A SLIP OF WORMWOOD, for a look at what happens when sibling rivalries go too far.

For this new author, getting published is a chance to share her storytelling with a whole new audience.

“Even though I've been a storyteller for as long as I can remember, I really haven't been writing for very long,” Ingemar says. “As a child, writing frustrated me. My stories never turned out the way I envisioned them. It wasn't until I took a creative writing class as an elective in college that I 'discovered' my skill, I guess you could say.”

Besides writing, Ingemar also works as a librarian and is a musician playing at local weddings and events. As a rancher's wife, she is used to squeezing in a few minutes of writing when she can.

“I'm an opportunistic writer,” she says and laughs. “I can't afford to have a schedule, besides, my personality type rebels against schedules. I write whenever I get the chance, and I don't worry too much about it if I don't.”

Not that she isn't committed to writing. She instead prefers to think of it as a chosen occupation instead of an obligation. “What keeps me writing is the fun of it,” she adds. “I love telling stories. But the minute it becomes not fun, a chore, the minute it becomes an occupation I hate, I'll stop.”

That isn't coming anytime soon. Ingemar says she is enjoying her role as author too much to even consider quitting. Plus, she has plenty more stories she wants to get down on paper. “I love telling stories. It's fun. Writing makes me happy.”

Favorite Quote:

"Have you ever thought that maybe there isn't an antidote? Maybe there isn't a 'miracle-component' that will put us back to what Corvan considers 'normal'? Maybe we are normal, damnit! Maybe there's nothing wrong with us! Have you thought about that?” – From DARKNESS CORNERED, Echelon Press.

Favorite Writing or Other Moment:

"Seeing my name and website link listed next to the likes of Neil Gaiman on someone's author blogroll!”

Writing Advice:

"Never give up!, Never surrender! and Quality over quantity." #