An Interview With Ohio Poet and Author, Heather Veley

 

An Interview With Ohio Poet and Author, Heather Veley

We are honored to present an exclusive interview with Heather Veley, a distinguished poet and short story author from Ohio. With a voice that resonates deeply and a talent for capturing the human experience, Heather has become a celebrated figure in contemporary literature. Her work, known for its emotional depth and lyrical beauty, explores themes of identity, belonging, and the quiet complexities of everyday life. Her poems and stories have earned her both critical acclaim and a devoted readership.

In this interview, Heather delves into her creative process, shares the inspirations behind her writing, and reflects on a vibrant literary landscape. She opens up about her journey as a writer, the challenges she has faced, and the triumphs that have marked her career. Join us as we embark on a journey through the mind and heart of one of Ohio's most captivating literary voices.

Welcome, Heather!

GM: Can you share the initial spark that ignited your journey into writing?

HV: That's hard to say because I've been writing since I was fifteen and the story is a bit unbelievable. One night I was having a hard time getting to sleep, so I opened my cheap laptop and started writing. After I wrote a few stories, a friend introduced me to DeviantART to post them and the rest is history.

GM: What is your favorite part of the writing process and why?

HV: About 60% of the time, I'll start a story without knowing where it's going to go. Then, at some point, I'll have an epiphany, and the rest of the story will fall into place. I'd say that is my favorite part of the writing process.

GM: How do you handle writer's block?

HV: When writer's block comes, I do my best not to fuss about it. I find the more I fuss, the worse it gets. Instead, I step away from my laptop and do something else like go for a walk, do a few chores, or read a comic book. The space away from writing allows the mental gears to loosen up again.

GM: Could you shed light on your research methods for your books?

HV: I don't do much research for my books. The most I do is Google words to make sure I'm spelling them correctly or check a fact to add authenticity.

GM: How do your personal experiences influence your storytelling?

HV: When it comes to my poetry, I simply allow my subconscious to run wild and create whatever it wants. I am my poetry and my poetry is me. For my short stories, I'll add real events that happened in my life or my real sentiments to the characters. Many of my characters are a reflection of myself to a certain extent.

GM: What themes or messages do you most aspire to convey in your work?

HV: I don't typically like directing my readers to think a certain way. I like leaving my work open to interpretation for them to explore for themselves. If I feel like being direct, I'll be direct. If not, then the reader can take whatever they want from my writing.

GM: Who are some authors or works that have significantly inspired you?

HV: My earliest influences are Edgar Allan Poe and Oscar Wilde, and sometimes their influence still trickles in here and there. As for my current style, I'm inspired by Grant Morrison, Satoshi Kon, and a little bit of Warren Ellis.

GM: Can you discuss any challenges you've faced in the publishing industry?

HV: My biggest challenge was finding someone to publish my work. It was difficult finding someone accepting free-verse poetry and the only ones offering to publish my books were places where you pay the publisher to print your book under their name. Eventually, I settled for Amazon since their platform was relatively easy to use and low cost.

GM: How do you develop characters to ensure they resonate with readers?

HV: It's not so much that I develop them, I give them a basic personality with flaws and virtues then plop them into the story. Then I play out the scene as if I were that character and the rest follows. I try not to dwell too much on if they'll resonate with the reader or not because if I worry too much, I risk messing up the character completely. Besides, I find that readers are unpredictable; sometimes they'll end up relating more to the pizza delivery guy over the character your spent hours developing.

GM: What do you hope readers take away after finishing one of your books?

HV: I hope my readers take away that they read a good story/poem. That'll all I ever hope for.

GM: What advice would you give aspiring authors?

HV: Become your own greatest advocate and cheerleader. The industry is tough and it's even tougher when you go into it alone. There'll be a lot of people who'll want to take you for all you've got or put you in a tight spot because they only see you as a money bank. You need to advocate hard for yourself and cheer yourself on when things get tough. If you can build a trusted team around you to help share the burden, fantastic. But you always need to make sure your voice is heard.

GM: What are you currently reading?

HV: I'm currently reread the original Sherlock Holmes stories. I started reading them back in high school but haven't finished the collection I have. Now I'm finally sitting down and reading them all!

Connect with Heather…

Amazon Author Page