About Heather Tullis:
Heather Tullis has been reading romance for as long as she can remember and has been publishing in the genre since 2009. She has published more than twenty books. When she’s not dreaming up new stories to write, or helping out with her community garden, she enjoys playing with her dogs and cat, cake decorating, trying new jewelry designs, inventing new ways to eat chocolate, and hanging out with her husband.
What inspires you to write?
It’s different for different books. Sometimes it’s a news article. Sometimes it’s something I overhear in a conversation, or I just start writing down general ideas and the plot starts to form.
Tell us about your writing process.
I used to be a total pantser, which is why I have several books that either never got finished, or needed massive rewrites after I finished the first draft. I work kind of hybrid now. Most of the time I have several plot points I want to hit, do some character backgrounds, and usually a journal entry for anyone important so I can get the feel of their character, and even the way they speak, and then I go with it. Having basic plot points mapped out helps me get back on track if I get lost, but I don’t let them tie me down is the story takes on a life of its own.
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
I don’t have conversations with them, as such, but sometimes I break and add to their journal entry, letting them tell me what they think about what’s going on and their feelings about things. I might unconsciously be interviewing them, but it sounds more like a letter to herself or himself.
What advice would you give other writers?
The hardest part can be powering through to the end of the draft. That might be because you get a little lost in the story and can’t figure where it goes from here. It might be because you get caught in re-writers syndrome and keep going back to redo the first part of the book instead of finishing the story, or it might be that you actually finish the book, but don’t ever stop tinkering with it. You get better as you keep writing new stories, keep moving ahead. Don’t give up on yourself. Keep writing, and finish what you write.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
I started out with a small press and after a few books decided to go all in with self publishing. I think this decision is not an easy one. Some types of books do better if they are in bookstores. Some do better in paper vs ebook. For me, I had been paying close attention to the publishing industry for nearly a decade when I finally published, so I knew what I was getting myself into. I understood the advantages and disadvantages of using a publisher, but ebooks were still so new I hadn’t really considered self publishing. A couple of experiences with a publisher, and one of self publishing made me realize that I would be happier self publishing. I like the control, the instant sales information, being able to pick my covers and not worry about whether or not my publisher has just published something similar so they don’t want my book. I can’t imagine going back to traditional publishing now. I love doing it on my own.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
I don’t think paper books are going away, but publishers are wrong that people are buying fewer ebooks. People are still reading plenty of them, they just have a lot more options now, and that is going to continue to upset the balance Publishers are trying to maintain.
What do you use?: Professional Editor
What genres do you write?: I write romance with a touch (or more) or mystery and/or suspense. I’ve also written some culinary mysteries under another name. with a touch of romance.
What formats are your books in?: Both eBook and Print, Audiobook
Website(s)
Heather Tullis Home Page Link
Link To Heather Tullis Page On Amazon
Link to Author Page on other site
Your Social Media Links
Goodreads
Facebook
All information in this post is presented “as is” supplied by the author. We don’t edit, to allow you, the reader, to hear the author in their own voice.
