A Conversation With A Writer Heather Mihok November 2007 Heather Mihok at Myspace Official Website Interviews ©LK Hunsaker. All Rights Reserved.

[Interview originally conducted for the On Our Own Indie Publishing Myspace blog. Reprinted here by permission of author.]


OOO: Hi, Heather. We're glad to have you with us.

HM: Hi back at you!

OOO: Let's start with simple things first … if you had to list an obsession other than writing, what would it be?

HM: When I'm not writing or reading, my mind is on travel. It's safe to say I'm pretty obsessed with it! I read guidebooks to foreign places as though they are novels, and the Travel Channel is frequently playing on my television. I'm always attempting to learn new languages, desperate to try them out on natives. (Practicing my czech at the moment!) My favorite place in the world so far is Iceland. The land is so pure and varied, it's a great place to clear your head.

OOO: Where is your favorite place to write?

HM: While I'll write just about anywhere, my favorite place is outside, preferably in my own yard. I love the way nature affects the senses. With the wind in my hair, sun on my face, or droplets of rain on my arm and smearing the ink on my page, I feel my muse is right there with me, and I can write anything.

OOO: Is there a particular writer who has inspired you in a way that reflects in your own work?

HM: It depends on what I'm writing. If it's a lighthearted piece, then Sophie Kinsella comes to mind. For something in the fantasy department, then I long to write like J.R.R. Tolkien. My favorite author is Dodie Smith, to me, she falls somewhere in between. When it comes to poetry, however, it's not an author or even a poet that inspires me. Singer and songwriter Tori Amos is often my inspiration in the background.

OOO: Ah, I'm with you on music being inspiring. It helps to draw out what's within. Speaking of, writing is a very personal artistic mode. Do you ever worry about readers seeing too much of "you" in your work?

HM: I hope that when people read my work, they see a little bit of themselves. I try very hard to grasp ideas and details that do not pertain to me and my own life, although I don't worry too much if some of it slips in.

OOO: How about friends and family? Is it difficult at times to share your writing with them?

HM: It is very difficult to share projects with my family. I know that they would never say anything hurtful about my work, but I suppose there is still a child in me seeking approval from her parents.

OOO: A bit off the subject now ... do you have a favorite color?

HM: I have four! Pink, green, purple, and royal blue.

OOO: Do you think your "surroundings" (writing space, noise/quiet, mental state) affect the way or what you write?

HM: Not usually. What's supposed to be written gets written. However, it does get difficult to write if someone is trying to talk to me, or if the TV is on (especially if it's on the Travel Channel!)… although it tends to be easier to tune out the TV than another person. A messy writing area tends to slow the creative flow too. I've learned to clear away the empty coffee mugs, candy wrappers, and balled up papers at the end of each writing session so it's nice and clean for the next one. I believe it's easier to write in free flow space.

OOO: Any thoughts about book signings?

HM: As of yet I personally haven't had one, but I think they are a great way to get in touch with readers face to face!

OOO: Others can have quite an affect on your work, and especially on the mental state that develops from comments and such. Is there a particular person who most encouraged your writing when you began?

HM: That would be my younger brother David, who would read my attempts at novels when I was fourteen years old. He would help me through writers block and give me ideas. Even now I will ask him for advice from time to time. He is an aspiring musician, so it's not hard to fuel each other with creative advice.

OOO: Now the big question: why did you decide to indie publish?

HM: I spent a lot of time and energy trying to get published traditionally, and it ended up being a huge disappointment. I expected to be rejected after speaking with other writers about the process, but there seemed to be no end in sight! I had always looked down on indie publishing, convincing myself that it wasn't good enough, and then one night after receiving yet another rejection letter, I had to question myself. Why was I being such a snob? What was so wrong with bucking tradition, which dictates who will and will not be published? There may be rare gems out there that we will never read, because one person didn't like the manuscript he received by an enthusiastic author. What about all of the other people in the world who would benefit from such a treasure? What if that author never changed his mind about putting it out there on his own? My thinking had changed overnight, and I have not regretted it since.

OOO: How did you decide which method to use for indie publishing?

HM: I did a lot of research, and didn't realize there were so many options! Print-on-Demand seemed the way to go for me, because I wouldn't have to put up a whole lot of money upfront. As a single mother, every penny counts! It also appealed to the environmentalist in me; a book would print when someone wanted it, so there was no risk of wasted paper bricks gathering dust in my basement.

OOO: What is the biggest obstacle you've had to deal with because of the way you published?

HM: Getting used to the fact that going indie is not as looked down upon as I once thought. I used to be embarrassed when people asked, feeling as though anything that I had built up about the book would deflate as soon as I lowered my head and admitted who my publisher is. But the response has been wildly supportive!

OOO: What kind of experiences have you had in marketing your work? Anything that worked especially well or not at all?

HM: It's a tough job, marketing a book. Something I had never done before, it is definitely a never-ending experience. I got a website, which has helped a lot. It's an easy place to direct people when they want more information about the book. At David's suggestion, I signed up with MySpace. MySpace has helped enormously. I was able to reach other poets, people interested in poetry, and people not so interested in poetry who may have liked my work anyway. MySpace has been an indispensable tool. I also prepared a press release and used online distribution services – that hasn't worked quite as well as I thought it would, except that the charity I am donating a portion of sales to caught wind of it and offered to put my book on their website. But the best way to get the information out there, I've found, is to talk about the book. People tend to get excited when they learn they are standing before a published author. I've passed business cards to my friends, who in turn have passed them on to their friends, and so on.

OOO: I'm glad it's going so well! It is tough to market. Along the lines of promotion and passing along the word, is there another indie published writer you would personally recommend to others?

HM: I definitely suggest checking out the novels by LK Hunsaker!

OOO: Well, thank you. I'm blushing virtually. (regrouping pause) Currently, I'm hooked on one TV show that draws me from my work, but I have a suggestion for the producers. If the "Dancing With the Stars" big wigs decide to take my suggestion about putting a writer on their show and ask you to take part, would you do it?

HM: Absolutely! Not only would it be great for publicity, but fun too!

OOO: We would all be rooting for you. :-) Finally, because it's always necessary to ask this one, what advice would you give writers who are considering indie publishing rather than following the traditional route?

HM: Be prepared to push your book to potential buyers yourself. There will be no one else to do the hard work of marketing for you, but if you're up to it, it can be a very rewarding accomplishment.

OOO: Thank you for your time, Heather. We wish you the best with your current and future work.

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I want to thank Heather for her time and willingness to "chat" with us. Check out Heather's website and Myspace links above and watch for shows in your area!

“What was so wrong with bucking tradition, which dictates who will and will not be published? There may be rare gems out there that we will never read, because one person didn't like the manuscript he received by an enthusiastic author. What about all of the other people in the world who would benefit from such a treasure?”
Heather Mihok