We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Lorraine Heath. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Lorraine below.

Lorraine, appreciate you joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on is GIRLS OF FLIGHT CITY. It is inspired by true events, British pilots being trained in Terrell, TX during WWII. It was a very personal story because my dad graduated from Terrell in 1935. My mom was a young girl in Watford, England, near London as bombs fell. I have always enjoyed working both my heritages into my stories, but this one just felt especially poignant. I first learned that the Royal Air Force trained some of its pilots in Terrell when I read an article in the Dallas Morning News about a woman who cared for the British cemetery there. I became fascinated not only with this aspect of Texas history but the important role women played in ensuring the pilots were trained. They served as flight instructors, control tower operators, flight simulator operators, and more. I wanted to share this little known history.

Lorraine, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I was born in England. My dad, a Texan, served in the air force and was stationed at Bovingdon, near London. He met my mom at a USO dance. When he left the air force, he brought us to Texas. I always enjoyed writing. In 1990 I read a romance novel and fell in love with the genre and realized I wanted to write romance novels. In 1993, I sold my first manuscript. Since then, I’ve published more than 46 romance novels as Lorraine Heath. I’ve also published numerous young adult novels under the names Rachel Hawthorne and Jade Parker. With my son, I’ve published young adult novels as J.A. London, bringing my total published works to more than 70. My novels have been recognized with numerous industry awards and have been included on the New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestseller lists. Reviews have touted me as a master of my craft who writes “beautiful, deeply emotional romances.” My novels reflect my dual nationality and are set in either Texas or England, between the years 1850 and 1890. I’m always mindful that readers spend not only their money, but also their time, on a journey I’ve created. I strive to bring the reader some smiles, a few tears, and a sigh-worthy ending to an enjoyable and, hopefully, entertaining read.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

After I’d completed the contract for my fourth novel, my publisher informed me that they were reducing their stable of authors and would no longer be purchasing my work. It took more than six months and several rejections at other publishing houses before I was offered another contract. What I think isn’t always clear to people is that even after you get that initial sale and contract, you can still receive rejections. I have received more rejections since I got published than I did before I sold my first manuscript. The reasons for rejections are many, and are not always a reflection of the author’s lack of mastering the craft of writing. The publishing house just purchased a similar story or an author’s voice is very similar to that of another author they are publishing. Perhaps they don’t know how to market the story. Or what we are writing is no longer popular. I began my career writing stories set in Texas and the setting was incredibly popular. But after a few years, the popularity of romance novels with a western theme began to wane. Publishers wanted stories set in England. My editor called one day to ask if I would be willing to start setting my stories in England. Since I had some English-set stories I wanted to write, I was more than happy to shift my settings from Texas to England. It required additional research and becoming more familiar with the Victorian period. For many authors, having a long career in this business requires flexibility, paying attention to the market as well as reader preferences. I’ve alway been willing to adapt, learn, and study what is required to remain relevant in this business of publishing.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being a writer, for me, is knowing that my stories often help people get through difficult periods in their own lives. I was once at a book signing where a woman approached me. She’d driven four hours to meet me. Her best friend had recently lost her battle to cancer, and she wanted me to know that her friend had a stack of my books on her bedside table that had provided her with an escape from what she was enduring, and she simply wanted to thank me. It’s not uncommon for writers to receive letters from readers thanking them for providing some relief from their troubles. Books, at their heart, are entertainment. But they can also be trusted friends that offer a place for people to put down their burdens for a while.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.lorraineheath.com
• Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/LorraineHeathAuthor
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LorraineHeathBooks
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/Lorraine_Heath

Image Credits
covers courtesy HarperCollins Publishers other photos courtesy of author