Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Heather Baxendale. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Heather, appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

I’ve been writing stories in my head since I was a child and quickly learned to put pen to paper. Most of what I wrote was terrible, all the way into my early twenties, but I’ve always been an avid reader, so I began to take on the task of reading as a writer instead of reading as a reader, and my true education began. Through college, I took every writing class I could, and that helped with the basics, but creatively, it was trusting what I’d learned through observation. Even now, I continue doing workshops and reading and listening to what other successful writers have to succeed on their journey.

The most difficult aspect of my early writing was doing so as a mother of three, already working a full-time job and prioritizing time to write. It meant sacrifice. It still means a lot of sacrifice. But it’s so worth it.

As a writer, the most essential creative skill I’ve learned is to first learn who my characters are. Once I know who my characters are, the story comes to me, and then I can build the foundation for structuring the plot. Until I know who I’m dealing with, I can only tell so much of the story. My character’s choices dictate that more than my larger vision. The paradigm often shifts as I get to know them, and I tend to run with it. My mantra is: Trust the process and always tell the truth.

Heather, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

The blame rests with The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. It was my first muse as a creative type. For an entire year, I checked it out of the library every week and read it over and over again. It spawned my love for fantasy, beloved yet flawed characters, and adventures while expanding my imagination to places I never dreamed of. I think even then, a part of me understood that writing wasn’t just a hobby; it was in my blood. I had to do it.
I grew up in a lower-income neighborhood in the Metro Detroit area. Kids like me didn’t have big dreams, and we certainly didn’t imagine ourselves as writers or artists. There were times in my life when I pushed that idea aside and treated it like a hobby, but I always knew it was more than that. Just before Covid hit, I decided to take it seriously. I began writing my first epic fantasy adventure, an idea that manifested in my early twenties. The timing wasn’t great. I had two teenagers, one toddler, and a job that taxed my time, but I had a supportive husband and tribe that encouraged me to do it anyway, and there began sacrifice. I stopped listening to the voices that told me the reasons it wasn’t logical and started doing workshops, reading like an absolute fiend, listening to author interviews, and investigating what kind of books people were excited about on Instagram. I started reaching out to independent authors and asking them how they started, their process, and how they became successful. I took as many notes as I could (I still do) and applied them as was applicable to myself.

By age forty, I published my first book, which turned into two books and then a third. What was more, was people were really enjoying them. And by book three, I was in love with the process. I’d learned to trust my instincts and follow the characters and the story rather than force the plot. I began to work on my weaknesses and utilize my strengths. After three books, because of relentless discipline, sacrifice, and commitment to the craft, I finally found my voice as an author. I love writing stories with strong female leads in impossible situations. Fantasy and Science Fiction have always been my comfort zones, but I’ve found mixing genres together with romance and politics enriches my stories and the writing experience.

For a little girl who never thought she would write her own novel, I’m sitting here, writing my fifth novel in six years.

It’s never too late to start.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

There are no rules.

So many rules we follow as writers, artists, and people are completely arbitrary. The three-act arc was invented for concessions. Other than the basics, the way we tell a story can be entirely flipped upside down.

I call myself a pirate because I look at the “rules” as guidelines and trust myself to tell the story. Until I started doing that I was a square peg, trying to fit in a circle.

Secondary to that, I take what J. Michael Straczynski has warned about anyone selling their process…be mindful of it. The purity of creation is within us, not by rigidity. Be curious, and don’t be afraid to explore. That’s where all the fun is.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

J. Michael Stracyznski’s “Becoming a Writer, Staying a Writer” is my favorite writing guidebook. It’s down-and-dirty and blunt, with real-life examples of his process and how it’s worked for him. It freed me as a writer to trust myself but also be open to learning.

Stephen King’s “On Writing” is my second writing bible. Aside from enjoying King’s narrative along with, he also opened my mind and gave me permission to explore. Not all authors jive with your sense of creating because all of our minds operate differently, and King demonstrates what sacrifice (I love origin stories!) looks like and encourages you to trust yourself.

I also listen to a lot of podcasts. One of my current favorites is “Inside of You” with Michael Rosenbaum. He talks deeply about the creative process with writers, actors, and performers, but also has athletes and other celebrity types. He gets down to how hard it is to make it. There are a lot of sacrifices to make when chasing your dreams and a lot of accepting rejection, but mostly perseverance, and those stories motivate and empower me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://heatherbaxendale.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/h.b.walshauthor/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HBaxWalsh
• Other: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22639677.H_B_Walsh