Meet the Author: Heidi Swain

Image © Laura Aziz

Heidi Swain is the Sunday Times bestselling author of 16 novels. She lives on the outskirts of Norwich and the settings of her books largely draw on her love for Norfolk. Heidi’s writing career began in 2014 when she decided to enter Simon & Schuster’s Digital Originals ‘One Day’ open call for submissions.

Heidi’s first book, The Cherry Tree Café, was selected and published in 2015 and since then Heidi has gone on to write 16 more novels with S&S. That Festive Feeling is Heidi’s 17th novel and it promises romance, heart-warming friendships and all the festive sparkle that you’d expect from the queen of feel-good fiction. Heidi is one of the authors speaking at the Southwold Literary Festival on 4 November.

Who were your literary influences as you were growing up and did you have books around you as a child?

I loved Enid Blyton books when I was very young (The Wishing Tree and The Magic Faraway Tree especially) and then Sue Townsend introduced me to Adrian Mole before I fell in love with the classics courtesy of EM Forster.

The home I grew up in was full of books. My mum has always been a voracious reader and we made weekly trips to our local library. A few years ago, I was asked to give an author talk there and it was an emotional return to the building which had played a part in inspiring my passion for storytelling.

What was your path to publication and when did you start to feel that you could write as a career?

It took me decades to pluck up the courage to write my first novel. I’d studied literature at university, worked for an Essex newspaper, written for parish magazines and online blogs, before I realised that if I didn’t get a move on, I’d never do it.

After taking creative writing courses in Norwich and publishing some short stories online, I then wrote a novel and joined the Romantic Novelists Association. Having submitted The Cherry Tree Café to their New Writers Scheme (a fabulous critique opportunity), I then sent it to Books and the City (the digital imprint of Simon and Schuster) as part of their #OneDay call for unsolicited manuscripts in 2014. The team loved what I’d created and published it as my debut in 2015. After publishing two further books with them, I was then asked if I would write two books a year and I’ve been doing that ever since.

I’d written and had four books published before I decided to take the plunge and give up the day job. At the time it felt like a huge leap of faith and even though I now have eighteen books under my belt, I still count my blessings. There’s no other job in the world I’d rather have than this one!

You have created fictional worlds in Wynbridge, Nightingale Square and Wynmouth. Do you naturally go from one location to another or do you have to keep records before you pick up another story?

My writing life is even more complicated than that now because I’m writing standalone titles, too! The summer books are standalone titles, while the Christmas books are set in one of the three already established settings.

Remembering where I am hasn’t proved to be an issue so far. I’ve worked in the three locations for so long, I can walk around them with my eyes closed and can remember who lives where. Fingers crossed it stays that way!

Can you tell us a little about That Festive Feeling?

That Festive Feeling is the fifth book set in Nightingale Square in Norwich. That said, it can easily be read as a standalone because, as with all of my books, it features different main characters.

This story is about newly divorced Holly, who is house sitting for friends and trying to work out where her life (both personal and professional) is going to take her now it has veered off in a direction she wasn’t expecting.

Taking a risk, changing course, finding friends where you least except them and of course, the magic of Christmas all play a part in this book as does, love. It wouldn’t be a Heidi Swain festive read if there wasn’t a romance and a leading man in a chunky knit! And dogs. There are two very special pooches, too.

It may well be a trade secret but how do you go about writing a festive bestseller when it is not Christmas? Do you have to have props around to get you in the Christmassy mood?

If there is a trade secret, no one has shared it yet! I used to listen to festive playlists and keep a jar of mincemeat in the fridge to up the festive feeling (pun intended), but now I can manage without it.

The summer first draft deadline happens in September and once that’s away, I’ll turn my attention to thinking about the next Christmas book. Consequently, much of the planning happens during autumn and early winter, with the first draft often being written from January onwards. Consequently, even though the editing, proof reading etc happens during the hotter months of the year, the essence of the story is captured in almost the right season.

As a romantic novelist do you ever read and enjoy other authors in your field?

Most of the books I read are from the commercial romance field because it’s the genre I love most. It’s also a hugely supportive community where many of us actively promote each other’s work. I’m often asked to provide cover quotes so advance copies land at a fast pace in the run up to popular summer and Christmas release dates.

What can the audience at the Southwold Literary Festival expect when you visit? Is it a part of the world you are familiar with?

A fun and entertaining event, I hope. More often than not, my events run for much longer than advertised, so feel free to stand and have a stretch if necessary.

It is a part of the world I’m fairly familiar with. I used to live in south Norfolk and have had many happy trips to the town, enjoying the pier, beach and wonderful galleries, too.

One book, piece of music or work of art that everyone should experience?

A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens. I have so many copies of this book and I read it every year on December 1st. I watch it too. Can you even say it’s been Christmas if you haven’t watched and sung along to the Muppets Christmas Carol?

Even though the book was published in 1843, its message is still relevant today and I would love to see a copy on everyone’s bookshelf or e-reader.

What is the strangest or funniest thing that your readers have shared with you?

I couldn’t possibly betray a confidence! However, more often than not, the messages I receive are personal and emotional, rather than strange or funny. If anything comes up ahead of my visit, and I get permission to share, I’ll let you know then.

Can you tell us one thing about yourself that your readers may not know?

Before working in education prior to writing full-time, I worked as both a gardener and garden designer. I loved being outside in, nearly all, weathers, but I have a hip condition which eventually meant I had to switch paths.

I still enjoy my own garden and take long, early morning walks as you may know, if you follow me on social media.