PHOTO: Heather Grace Stewart in her creative space, ready to bring her next captivating story to life.
Exploring Love, Laughter, And The Magic Of Time Travel
Heather Grace Stewart, bestselling author, shares her journey of blending humour with emotion in her rom-coms and time-travel romances, offering insights into her writing process and creative inspirations.
Heather Grace Stewart’s writing is a journey through the delicate, unexpected moments of life, where humour and heartache collide in the most magical ways. As the #1 Amazon International Bestselling author of over twenty books, her stories weave rich tapestries of romance, wit, and emotion. Whether navigating the whimsical worlds of time travel or the deep, relatable struggles of love and loss, Heather’s words invite readers to laugh, cry, and reflect.
The Love Leap, her latest novel, continues this tradition, blending real mess with real magic in a way that feels both effortless and profound. Inspired by a childhood spent dreaming up time-travel adventures and a recent trip to the Scottish Highlands, the novel encapsulates the joy of discovering something extraordinary in the ordinary. Heather’s unique voice captures the essence of human connection, reminding us that even in our most vulnerable moments, magic is never far behind.
Her characters—often an extension of her own whimsical spirit—are messy, lovable, and larger than life. As an author, Heather doesn’t shy away from infusing her protagonists with bits of herself, but she also crafts them with a keen sense of imagination and empathy. The result is a cast of characters who feel incredibly real yet still manage to enchant us with their charm and imperfections.
In this conversation, Heather shares insights into the process of creating emotionally honest rom-coms, adapting her work for audiobooks, and even venturing into screenwriting. Through it all, she offers a refreshing perspective on writing that’s as relatable as it is inspiring. Heather Grace Stewart’s work is a testament to the power of storytelling that makes us feel something—deeply, and often with a smile.
Heather Grace Stewart’s writing effortlessly blends magic and reality, capturing the heart with her humour, emotional depth, and vibrant characters.
In your most recent rom com, what motivated the blend of “real mess, real magic,” and how did your childhood treehouse imaginings influence the story’s emotional core?
That tree fort up in a towering pine in Pontiac, Quebec, was my first writing sanctuary. I spent hours up there writing stories and dreaming up time travel machines, fueled by peanut butter and banana sandwiches. But for The Love Leap, the real spark came from my recent trip to the Scottish Highlands. I stayed in a seaside cottage on Moray Firth, just like Mills did. One night, I discovered a teeny locked door in the cottage and instantly went into full “Narnia-meets-Loch-Ness” mode. On the plane ride home, Mills and her magical portal were born. The story so consumed me, I wrote for days and basically ghosted my luggage and the rest of my life.
Your novel Lucky features both heartfelt romance and humour—how did you balance those tones to create emotional resonance?
I’ve been telling jokes since I could form sentences, and writing poetry since I learned to rhyme moon and spoon. Comedy and romance have always lived rent-free in my brain. But striking that perfect balance isn’t easy. Thankfully, I’ve got my brilliant editor Melissa Durston and a league of sharp-eyed early readers who aren’t afraid to say, “Heather, this is hilarious, but does Mills have to make a pun while her heart is breaking?”
“Don’t chase the joke. Chase the truth.” – Heather Grace Stewart
As an audiobook narrator’s script writer, how do you adapt your writing style when working with Tantor Audio or Dreamscape Media editions?
I’ve always written visually. I picture scenes as if they’re playing out on a cozy cinema screen in my head. Before novels, it was poems and screenplays, so rhythm and imagery have always been part of the blueprint. But once audiobooks came into play, I realized I might torture my poor narrators with tongue-twister territory. I love alliteration, especially in my poetry, but a triple “s” sentence? That’s just mean. Now I read everything aloud during edits, not just for flow, but so my narrators won’t stage a dramatic protest.
And since joining the Ambient Books App team, I’ve always got: “What music goes with this scene?” in the back of my mind as I write. Getting to offer Ambient Books my creative vision, suggesting visuals and sounds for each chapter of The Love Leap video experience on the Ambient Books app, was a dream come true. I’m eager to see the audience’s reception of this innovative, artistic project!
What challenges did you face turning one of your novels into a screenplay, and how did that reshape your storytelling technique?
Two of my novels were optioned for shopping agreements. Sadly, neither deal lasted beyond a Netflix binge. The world of movie production is both thrilling and treacherous. That said, if my screenwriting heroine Nancy Meyers ever wants to team up… Nancy, call me. Please. I’ve got great snacks and the Canadian wilderness at my door.
“Comedy and romance have always lived rent-free in my brain.” – Heather Grace Stewart
I’ve written two screenplays that I might novelize someday. Writing for screen versus page requires a full brain switcheroo: one is meant to be performed, the other absorbed through imagination. It’s like jumping between jazz and classical music: equally rich, totally different vibes.
How much of your younger self appears in your protagonists, and why does that matter?
Every heroine and hero I write contains some of my DNA, whether they like poetry or weird sandwiches at midnight. But I love crafting composite characters: part me, part mysterious stranger at the bus stop, part ex who couldn’t commit to a pizza topping, let alone a relationship.
Then I dial them all up to eleven. Even the villains are built from real-life jerks, but made slightly more diabolical, because nobody wants a romcom antagonist who just ghosts your texts and calls it conflict. The goal is keeping it relatable, but larger than life. It’s the sweet spot I’m always chasing.
“I picture scenes as if they’re playing out on a cosy cinema screen in my head.” – Heather Grace Stewart
What single piece of advice would you offer to aspiring authors hoping to write emotionally honest rom coms?
Don’t chase the joke. Chase the truth. If you sit at your desk thinking, “How can I make this funny?” chances are you’ll overcook it. But if you dig into the real emotions of the scene—be gut-level honest about heartbreak, joy, awkwardness—that’s where the natural humour bubbles up. And the readers feel it. They laugh with your characters instead of at the punchline. That’s when the magic happens.
