Author Interview Thursday and Giveaway: Welcome Wendy Higgins! @Wendy_Higgins

Welcome to Author Interview Thursday hosted by the Never Too Old for YA and NA Books group on Goodreads.

Today I am very excited to welcome Wendy Higgins! She is the author of the Sweet Trilogy.

Sweet Evil (The Sweet Trilogy #1) published May 1, 2012

Sweet Peril (The Sweet Trilogy #2) published April 30, 2013

Sweet Reckoning (The Sweet Trilogy #3) expected publication April 29, 2014

Have you read this series? No??? Well what are you waiting for?

And now, let's not wait any longer to hear what Wendy has to say!

Welcome Wendy! So excited to have you with us today!

Did you always know you wanted to be a writer or did you want to be something else? 

~ I always loved writing, but I didn’t think I could make a career of it (that was the far-fetched dream). I wanted to be a teacher and spread the love of reading. J

How long does it take you to write a book from start to finish?

~ One year. I’m horribly slow and I revise a ton. Lots of rewrites.

How do you come up with themes for your stories?

~ Hm. That’s not really something I think about. An initial idea just sort of comes to me, and then I play around with it, adding to it as I go.

Do you have a schedule of when you write? 

~ I write whenever my kids are in school, so the morning hours (my son is in preschool halfday).

How are you able to balance other aspects of your life with your writing?

~ That is actually very difficult for me. I have to prioritize. My husband is a business owner who works long hours, so I’m the primary homemaker. Trying to keep up with my author stuff, kids stuff, and house stuff can be tricky. Sometimes things just don’t get done in a timely manner. Family comes first.

What elements do you think make a great story line? 

~ Characters who are relatable. For me it all comes down, first and foremost, to a connection with the characters. Their dialogue and thoughts have to be realistic. I want them to be likable, yet flawed.

Secondly, tension. All kinds of tension (my fave is sexual tension). And knowing when to relieve that tension is key. Too soon and readers will lose interest. Too long and readers will get frustrated.

What was the hardest thing about writing a book?

~ For me, plotting and fight/action scenes.

How many books have you written so far? Do you have a favorite?

~ I have written a total of five books and started a couple others. Sweet Evil will always be my special love. 

Do you have a favorite character?

~ Kaidan Rowe. He is so complex that he pushed my abilities as a writer and forced me to hone my skills. He was a challenge, and I liked that. I was determined to get him right. Plus, he’s sexy.

Where do you write? 

~ At home, usually in my bed, but sometimes on the couch. Alone. In quiet. J 

Have you gotten feedback from family about your book(s)? What do they think?

~ My family is insanely supportive (with the exception of one extended family member who’s not entirely comfortable with the subject matter, which I understand).  My mom tells everyone she meets that her daughter is an author and she tries to get them to buy the books. It’s cute, but so embarrassing. My husband is proud of me and always encouraging. My kids think it’s neat and kind of crazy that mom writes such big books.

What kinds of things do you like to do outside of writing?

~ Hang out with our friends and find fun stuff to do with the kids. I also love traveling!

What kinds of advice would you give to someone who wants to start writing? 

~ Persevere through the rejections and long waits. Work hard, revise, and don’t give up.

What is your favorite book? favorite author? Do you have an author that inspired/inspires you to write? 

~ I adore Jennifer Armentrout’s writing, and as an author she’s so amazing. She interacts with fans, she’s down to earth, and she’s fun to hang out with. Her upcoming series, starting with White Hot Kiss, is a new favorite for me.

~ Another series that I’m loving so hard right now is Poison Princess by Kresley Cole. Wow. Amazing!

Do you have any go to people when writing a book that help you with your story lines as well as editing, beta reading and such? 

~ Nyrae Dawn is my first beta reader on everything I write. We talk daily, and we brainstorm together a ton.

Are you working on anything now? 

~ I’m about a third of the way through a fantasy based loosely on a Grimm Brothers tale. Right now I’m telling myself that I’m just writing for fun.

Thanks so much for being with us today, Wendy! It was so great to have you here and to hear what you had to say about writing, your books, and all that goes along with it. We wish you much luck in the future! Looking forward to the release of Sweet Reckoning.

After earning a Creative Writing degree from George Mason University and a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction from Radford, I taught high school English until becoming a mommy. I've always had a heart for teens, and writing YA stories gives me the opportunity to delve into the ambiguities of those pivotal years before adulthood.
I live in the D.C. area with my husband, daughter, son and puppy Rue.

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