Hello! I’m Shilah Ferr, author of the Coming of Age Romance, April’s Heart, published in January 2020.
aprilsheartbook@gmail.comhttps://aprilsheartbook.comhttps://www.facebook.com/AprillovesMitchhttps://www.facebook.com/shilah.ferr.9/https://twitter.com/FerrShilah Q. When did you realize you wanted to be a writer? How long after that did you start writing a book?I always wondered if I had a book in me. I think a lot of people do. For a long time I wondered if I did write a book, what would it be about, surely my own life is not remarkable enough. But, eventually in the winter of 2018-2019 I finally had the idea to roll all of the significant relationships from back in the day into one love interest. I was good to go! It was such a revelation. The plot came together immediately. April’s Heart is definitely fiction, but follows the basic outline of my life, dysfunctional family and all. I started writing right away after getting funny looks upon announcing that I was going to write a book and sat down at the kitchen table.
Q. What do you typically develop first, your characters or your plot?
For April’s Heart, my debut novel, the main character is modeled after myself, so I am not sure I spent a lot of time “developing” the character. The plot is what I developed, having the inspiration of a lifelong love interest despite the main characters’ young age. The difficulties they went through I went through as well, including being taunted by a boyfriend’s friends about someone who cheated. And it is true that my dad left my mom the night I got caught in bed with my boyfriend. Oh boy!
Q. Do you have any books or authors that were inspiring to you?I do! I have been an avid reader of romance and erotic romance, and as I got older (I’m 56) I felt like not only did I want to write in that genre, but I COULD write in that genre. I’ve been inspired by E.L. James, Audrey Niffenegger and Stephanie Meyer.
Q. Are any of your characters inspired by people you know?
Clearly yes, but besides Mitchell Hudgins, April’s love interest, there are other characters inspired by people in my life however fictionalized, including family members, such as cousin Penny Schweiter. After my father left my mother when I was a teenager, my father and I sought refuge at my uncle’s house and lived there for a time. It was difficult and fun at the same time.
Q. What is your favourite aspect of your book?
Music is such an integral part of the story due to the eighties setting. The April’s Heart ebook edition contains almost forty 30 second Spotify music links embedded on every song referenced in the story. It’s so fun to click on the link, jam out for a few seconds, then return to reading. I love it!
Q. What was the publishing process like? Was it different than you expected?
If you consider the editing process part of the publishing process, many now know that my husband and I edited it ourselves. We’ve been both cheered and chastised. I learned a lot. I read it out loud to my husband twice during the summer of 2019. It was SO MUCH FUN! April’s Heart has been updated once again and is just about perfect now. I invite everyone to enjoy!
I published through Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP). It was easy for the most part, but their call back method when you need help was brilliant. I hate wasting time and don’t have a lot of tolerance for it. I was extremely satisfied every time I used it, which wasn’t much, mostly toward the end, trying to get it ready to go live.
Q. What is the most difficult part of writing for you?
I would love to write another Coming of Age Romance. I have several things working against me. I poured my heart, soul and life story into April’s Heart, and although I have TONS more memories and vignettes from life to draw upon, I’m having difficulty creating a cohesive, captivating plot. I will be patient right now, I know motivation and inspiration hits me when it wants too. Additionally, I am a school teacher. Now that school has started again since the shut down, I seriously have no spare time, writing this interview on an unexpected day off for the election. (I’ll be working on my report cards later!)
Q. Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?
I do! The content of April’s Heart is quite risqué at times, and potentially offensive to some readers. During the writing process I was often daunted by thoughts of offending people, or feeling afraid of what some might think. The advice an author friend of mine gave really helped me when he simply explained as a passing thought that there is no book that everyone will like, no book is everyone’s cup of tea. As obvious as that is, it really effected me, allowing me to put my fears behind, to just be brave and put it in there. “Just put it in there” became a little mantra of mine as I continued to write. So my advice is to be brave, knowing full well that there will be readers who do not like your book.
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As always, I had so much fun doing this interview and would like to take a second to thank Shilah for allowing me to interview her!
