Exploring Personal Themes, Spiritual Battles, and the Power of Storytelling
Heather Thompson discusses her debut novel Stillwater, blending personal experiences, faith, and urban fantasy, while offering advice to aspiring writers and insights into her creative process.
Heather Thompson’s debut novel, Stillwater, is more than just a work of Christian speculative fiction and urban fantasy—it’s a testament to her faith, her life experiences, and her unwavering dedication to storytelling. A communications professional turned author, Heather brings a unique perspective to her writing, blending her deep-rooted love for literature with her spiritual journey. Her background in strategic public relations and content writing has not only honed her narrative craft but also equipped her with the tools to navigate the challenging world of self-publishing.
In this exclusive interview for Reader’s House Magazine, Heather opens up about the inspirations behind Stillwater, from the quaint apple towns of North Georgia to the cherished memories of loved ones who live on through her characters. She shares the challenges of balancing her professional career with her passion for writing, offering candid advice to aspiring authors who may struggle with self-doubt or the complexities of storytelling.
Heather’s journey is one of resilience and redemption, both in her personal life and in the pages of her book. Through the protagonist Harriet’s story, she explores themes of hope, faith, and the eternal battle for the soul, inviting readers to reflect on their own spiritual journeys. With her thoughtful insights and practical guidance, Heather Thompson is not only a voice to watch in the world of Christian fiction but also an inspiring figure for anyone navigating the intersection of creativity and faith.
Discover how Heather’s life, faith, and professional expertise converge in Stillwater, and why her story is resonating with readers far beyond the pages of her debut novel.
What inspired you to incorporate elements of your own life into your characters?
The old adage “write what you know” lent greatly to my inclusion of personal aspects of my life, or experiences, into Stillwater. While fictional, the town of Stillwater mirrors the apple towns of North Georgia and many of the characters have some element of either my personality or the personalities of people I hold dear. In fact, two of my characters in this book pay homage to two very special people who have passed away but meant quite a lot to me. Now, every time someone reads Stillwater, those people get to live on through the legacy of literature.
How do you balance your professional writing career with your personal writing projects?
My professional and personal writings are vastly different which makes it easy to keep the two separated; however I still approach writing the same way whether it’s a book or another piece of content. For me, writing is a privilege that I did not think possible and to be able to do it as a burgeoning professional is a childhood dream come true.
What advice would you give to aspiring writers who struggle to finish their stories?
Your story is good. The problem with many gifted writers is the plague of second guessing – I do it too – but you must trust that your idea is good then ride it out until the bitter end wherever it may lead. While Stillwater was an easy book to write, and I finished it in a fury, there are things I would change about it but that would take away from the integrity of my first novel so I won’t. As I continue writing the series, I can see my writing and story-telling skills develop beyond what I had in the first book and this will be true for any writer who sticks with the story.
Can you share any challenges you faced while writing Stillwater?
The biggest challenge was my lack of knowledge around specifically writing and publishing a book. There are things I know now that would have benefitted me then, but you live, learn and grow as a writer and a person. The good news is no matter what, every human being is guaranteed to evolve over time, which is what I feel is happening with me and my writing.
What do you hope readers take away from Harriet’s journey in your book?
Stillwater shows readers a world outside of their own that directly impacts everyday life whether it’s supernatural battles or the very real struggle of humanity. But the good news is there is always hope and the love of God is redemptive and encompasses all who are willing to open their hearts to it, because the battle for a soul is fought not only on earth but in heaven.
How has your background in public relations influenced your writing style?
In college, I wanted to major in journalism because of my desire to be a writer but my school didn’t offer that option at the time – I believe they do now – and so I landed as an English major with a minor in professional writing which took me into public relations and communications where I was always writing-adjacent. What I learned in this field is how to properly craft a narrative and, most importantly, how to market a product – although it’s much harder to market yourself which is why so many self-published authors, like me, struggle with it. However, consistency is key and eventually an author can find what marketing works for their book.
What guidance would you offer to other authors looking to explore personal themes in their work?
It’s an adage for a reason “write what you know” because it requires you, the author, to pull information out of your own experiences to create a compelling story to which readers can relate and cling. The reason Stillwater was an easy book to write is because so much of it comes from my knowledge and understanding of the Bible, the supernatural and all those weekends I spent driving up to north Georgia to buy apple cider doughnuts – which are delicious by the way.
Use your own understanding, and as you learn and grow you will naturally expand how you research, craft and write the story that is desperate to leave your mind and jump on the page.
