How Can You Tell?

HANK:  Sometimes people ask me—did you always know you wanted to be a writer? Well, no, I always knew I wanted to be a—depending on when: cowboy, airline stewardess (this was the 50’s and that’s what they were called) waitress (they got to handle money, have whatever food they wanted and make people happy,) a geneticist, a rock star, a disc jockey, an actress, an English teacher, the lawyer for the mine workers...well, writer and author were never on the list.

However. You know those preference tests we all had to take in high school? When you had to fill in the little ovals and decide—would you rather twirl a fire baton or be a forest ranger?

 

When my scores came back, the guidance counselor told me-“according to this, you scored highest in literature and persuasion.”

She paused, then said “Perhaps you could work in a bookstore. " 

I am not kidding!

And all these years later, I kind of...do.

But Elizabeth Heiter—Femmes, meet Elizabeth, Elizabeth, Femmes, (her debut suspense novel HUNTED is brand new)—says she didn’t have to take no stinkin’ test.

She always knew. And here’s how she still knows.

 

How to Spot a Writer

Elizabeth Heiter

I’ve always known I wanted to be a writer.  And so did everyone else.

The Early Years

Like most kids, I climbed trees, played bike tag, took extracurricular activities after school.  Only I always had a notebook and pen with me.  I’d climb up into a high branch of a tree and write a story.  I’d bike as far and as fast as I could, find a good hiding spot and lay my bike down in the ditch and jot story ideas while the other kids searched for me.  During ski club, when it was too icy or too cold, I’d sit in the lodge and work on my latest novel.

Everyone Is a Potential Character

It quickly became a regular pastime for me to write stories featuring my friends.  Stories with aliens from made-up planets, stories with a friend’s latest crush, stories with side characters featuring truly ridiculous names (the stranger, the better – Bulldozer was one odd favorite of mine).  And, of course, every story needed a good mystery.

Guess Who

Pretty soon, I was getting regular requests for stories, and I realized I should start bringing these characters together.  So, I began writing short murder mysteries, featuring groups of my friends.  It became tradition to read them aloud at the beginning of our Odyssey of the Mind meetings.

Each week, I’d bring a new story, starring a group of friends, and a brand new murder mystery.  Much like my love of odd character names, I liked to find really bizarre ways to kill off a character (for example, being pushed off the roof into a pool of Jell-o, where the character drowned).  I’d read these stories, complete with red herrings and clues, and then I’d have pre-determined spots where I’d pause and make everyone guess who the killer was.

Yep, even back in middle and high school, I was tricking people into giving me beta reads and critiques.  To this day, I ask my early readers to tell me who they suspect at certain points in the story, and why.

It’s No Mystery

It didn’t come as a surprise to anyone I knew growing up that I’d become a novelist.  I use fewer strange character names and I no longer feature people I know in my stories, but I’m still fond of the odd method of murder (the serial killer in my debut buries his victims up to their heads deep in the woods).  I still read my books aloud – these days, to critique groups and to myself, as I’m polishing.  And I still carry a pen and notebook everywhere I go.

These days, you might catch me standing in the middle of a grocery isle, frantically jotting notes for a new book, or at the coffee shop, typing like mad and looking like I’m having way too much fun to be working.

And I probably am!  Writing HUNTED, my suspense about an FBI profiler who learns just how deadly it can be to get inside the heads of killers, was challenging and time-consuming.  It required loads of research and rewrites and restless nights.  But it was also fun, and like the stories before and those to come, it was something I always knew I wanted to do.

How about you?  Were there early signs of the profession you chose?

 ****************************

 ELIZABETH HEITER likes her suspense to feature strong heroines, chilling villains, psychological twists, and a little bit (or a lot!) of romance. Her research has taken her into the minds of serial killers, through murder investigations, and onto the FBI Academy’s shooting range.  She graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in English Literature, and she’s a member of International Thriller Writers and Romance Writers of America.   You can visit her at http://www.elizabethheiter.com

HUNTED, Book 1 in the Profiler Series from MIRA Books:

Terror stalks a small Virginia town…

FBI rising star, criminal profiler Evelyn Baine, knows how to think like a serial killer.  But she’s never chased anyone like the Bakersville Burier, who hunts young women and displays them, half-buried, deep in the woods.  As the body count climbs, Evelyn’s relentless pursuit of the killer puts her career – and her life – at risk.  And the evil lurking in the Burier’s mind may be more than even she can unravel.

Terror is closer than she thinks…

The Bakersville Burier knows he’s got an FBI profiler on his trail.  He knows who she is and where to find her.  And he’s biding his time, because he’s planned a special punishment for Evelyn.  She may have tracked other killers, but he vows to make this her last chase. This time it’s her turn to be hunted!


Facebook: [www.facebook.com/elizabeth.heiter.author]www.facebook.com/elizabeth.heiter.author
Twitter: [www.twitter.com/ElizabethHeiter]www.twitter.com/ElizabethHeiter
Hunted Book Trailer:http://www.elizabethheiter.com/video/huntedtrailer.mp4

Comments

[Hank Phillippi Ryan]

Being pushed off the roof into a pool of Jello??

Already jelled Jello, or still hot liquid? See, now you have me thinking about this. :-)

[Elizabeth Heiter]

Hi Hank! Thanks for having me here today!

Hmmm...I'd always imagined it jelled, but the still-hot liquid would be another way to go...

[Sally Schmidt]

Librarian! As a 50’s & 60’s girl in small town Midwest we were supposed to be nurse (eewwww), teacher (patience?), or secretary (ok, plus mom said learn to type so not a waitress like me and can sit down once in awhile). Stewardess too, but first too young, then too skinny (!!), and mom said that was a flying waitress anyway. So secretary it was, and finally SW engineer. When I look around now think I did get the dream job tho – surrounded by books (paper & electronic), have a master list. . . .good thing I am retiring from that SW gig in a couple of weeks. More time for my librarian work and following FB posts (see how I snuck that in?) and these blogs I am becoming addicted to!

Profiler series sounds like just my thing. Good luck! Can’t wait to read.

[Elizabeth Heiter]

Surrounded by all those books does sound heavenly (and a little bit dangerous!) I LOVE the library...when I was a kid, my mom took me every week and I'd come home with a stack of books too high to see over (and I'd need to go back before they were due for more!).

Thanks for visiting!! I hope you enjoy HUNTED! :)

[Elizabeth Heiter]

Being surrounded by books all the time sounds heavenly (and a little dangerous! ). I LOVE the library (my mom took me every weekend growing up and I'd come home with a stack of books too high to see over, then need more before they were due.)

Thanks for visiting, Sally! I hope you enjoy HUNTED! :)

[Hank Phillippi Ryan]

Plus being a librarian is so nice and ORGANZIED. That's what I love about he idea. Besides the books.

[Susan P]

I loved getting a glimpse into your growing up knowing you were a writer! That is awesome you want to see who people think is the killer at certain points in the book. I end up reading mysteries that way. I'll stop when I think I found a clue and then think of why it would make sense it's that person. Then when I come to another clue - I'll end up changing my mind and totally justify why I now think it's someone else. LOL
Thanks for pointing me here from FB!! Go UofM!
lattebooks at hotmail dot com

[Elizabeth Heiter]

Thanks, Susan! I do the same thing when I read mysteries...I think that's half the fun! Since I read (and write) so many, it's hard to fool me, but authors who do go on my auto-buy list!

Go blue!! :)

[Elaine Viets]

Hi, Elizabeth,and congratulations on your new book. I wanted to be an artist until I realized couldn't draw. The teachers at school steered me into writing and I'm glad they did.

[Elizabeth Heiter]

Thank you, Elaine! It's been so exciting finally seeing my book on shelves! :)

I think there are a lot of readers out there very, very happy your teachers knew where you really belonged!

[Hank Phillippi Ryan]

Well, sure, I WANTED to be a ballerina. But that was never gonna happen...!

[Barb Han]

I ADORED this book! So fun to get to know authors better with these interviews. Much continued success to you, Elizabeth. And, I'm anxiously waiting for your next book.

[Elizabeth Heiter]

Thanks so much, Barb!! I really appreciate your support, and I'm so happy you enjoyed HUNTED! :)

[Hank Phillippi Ryan]

And the winner is SALLY SCHMIDT! Email me at h ryan @ whdh dot com and I will send you HUNTED!

Hurray!

[Hank Phillippi Ryan]

And welcome, Barb and Susan P! So grew to see you here!

[Hank Phillippi Ryan]

Ah, my computer. I KNOW I didn't type "Grew"! I mean--great. :-)

[Dana Cameron]

Welcome, Elizabeth, and best wishes for the new book! I wanted to be a writer from very early, until I thought I'd have to get into bar fights to have something to write about...