Author Interview – Tamara Hart Heiner

When and why did you begin writing? This is something I talk about extensively when I do author presentations. I started writing novels when I was 12, and though it took more than a decade, my first novel was eventually published. I’ve been writing (and improving!!) ever since.

What genre are you most comfortable writing? I can’t seem to get out of the young adult genre. Maybe I’m just too immature or have ADHD. It’s pretty much all I read and write. I also seem stuck in thriller/suspense mode.

Who or what influenced your writing once you began? I’m very influenced by what I read and watch. A movie or a book will trigger a writing-reaction with me, sparking an idea that makes me itch to write.

What do you consider the most challenging about writing a novel, or about writing in general? The first draft. The hardest part for me is getting that brilliant idea out of my mind and onto paper. I get impatient and want the entire book written all at once.

Do you intend to make writing a career? It’s a lovely idea. I keep trying.