Heidi Collotzi Inspires Readers With Her Fantastical Worlds And Relatable Characters

Exploring The Magic Of Fantasy, The Power Of Resilience, And The Art Of Storytelling

Award-winning author Heidi Collotzi discusses her journey, the Avonoa series, her creative process, overcoming challenges, and exciting upcoming projects, offering inspiration and insight for readers and aspiring writers alike.

Few authors possess the ability to weave worlds so vivid and characters so compelling that readers find themselves utterly transported. Heidi Collotzi is one such storyteller. With a career spanning over a decade, she has gifted us with the enchanting Avonoa series, a saga that has captured the hearts of fantasy enthusiasts worldwide. From the gripping debut, The Secret of Avonoa, to the latest instalments of her People of the Storm duology, Collotzi’s works are a testament to her boundless imagination and her deep understanding of the human condition.

What sets Heidi apart is her remarkable ability to balance the fantastical with the profoundly relatable. Her characters, whether human or dragon, grapple with emotions and struggles that resonate deeply with readers. Her background in martial arts and healthcare lends a visceral authenticity to her action sequences, while her personal journey through challenges like depression and imposter syndrome infuses her stories with a raw, heartfelt honesty.

In this exclusive interview, Heidi Collotzi shares insights into her creative process, the inspirations behind her beloved series, and a tantalising glimpse into her upcoming projects. Whether you’re a long-time fan or new to her work, prepare to be inspired by the mind behind the magic.

Heidi Collotzi masterfully blends fantasy with heartfelt emotion, creating unforgettable stories that captivate readers and inspire aspiring authors worldwide.

EDITOR, RH

How do you balance writing fantasy with relatable human emotions and struggles in your stories?

When I decided that I wanted to write fantasy it was with the purpose of helping the reader relate to someone or something that wasn’t normally relatable, so I settled on having a dragon as a main character. I specifically gave him a world and body that a human reader might find difficult to relate to, but a mind and personality that anyone could appreciate. By the end of the story, I wanted my readers to be able to see things from his point of view and even be able to predict what he might do because they knew him so well. I feel like those are the most relatable characters and struggles, the ones that we can say ‘I know what they’ll do because that’s exactly what I would do’ and being able to say that about a dragon makes the real world feel even easier to understand.

“I wanted my readers to be able to see things from a dragon’s point of view and relate to him.”

Heidi Collotzi

What was the most challenging part of writing the Avonoa series, and how did you overcome it?

One of the challenging parts of writing the Avonoa series was simply finding the time to do it. I had an extremely busy personal life, but I found joy in writing and was driven to do more. I once heard another author say that as authors we have to ‘fight’ for our time to write and that’s what I had to do. I had to demand time to spend with these characters as if they were members of the family that deserved my time and attention.

But the hardest part of writing in general is dealing with depression and imposter syndrome. I’ve always struggled with depression due to my bi-polar disorder, but it can have serious repercussions when it comes to the creative process. Through therapy, I’ve learned to look back at a day and focus on the good things and progress I’ve made. That, in turn, helps me set manageable goals for the following days. Or I just collapse and try again another day. On those days, I just have to give myself a little grace.

“As authors, we have to ‘fight’ for our time to write.”

Heidi Collotzi

As for imposter syndrome, my favorite thing to do is get out into the communities, mostly through renaissance festivals, and talk to people who have read and enjoyed my books. Little reminders that I made someone’s life a little better help me keep pushing forward and creating more for those people.

Can you share your process for developing the intricate plots and twists in your books?

I am an outliner. I start by creating a strong character and theme and then write an outline accordingly. Only I know what is going to happen from start to finish. One might think that would make the books predictable and boring, but it actually helps me come up with all the outrageous ideas in one massive story building session. Then as I write I can focus on the nitty-gritty details of how to connect it all.

How has your background in martial arts and working as a Certified Nurse Assistant influenced your storytelling?

Action! Lots and lots of action! While I try to keep my personal beliefs out of the story, my knowledge and experiences in life can be extremely helpful. The most notable way a reader can see this is in the action sequences. My martial arts have taught me what a body is capable of and my medical experience has taught me where the limits are. I think that both together give the action and visceral sensations a more realistic feel. Even if it is a magical creature experiencing them.

What advice would you give to aspiring authors who want to write fantasy novels?

Do it! I always tell anyone who wants to write to just sit down and do it! Don’t think, don’t hem, don’t wait for the perfect time of your life, just do it. Make now that perfect time of your life.

That being said, fantasy is a lot of fun to write, but it is also often frowned upon by the literary community. Other authors and readers might think less of you if you write fantasy. It’s sad but true. Just like heavy metal artists can be extremely talented, but they are seen as ‘screaming into the mic’, fantasy authors are often seen as ‘making stuff up’ or ‘just doing their own thing’. If anyone wants to write fantasy, they should be prepared for how the world might view them and grow a thick, tough skin.

What can readers expect from the People of the Storm series compared to the Avonoa series?

The People of the Storm duology is different because it is set in modern times but still has the magical qualities that fantasy requires. People of the Storm is about a young woman who gets struck by lightning and through it acquires the power to read minds. She learns of an entire secret society of similarly powered people and the secret underground war that rages between two powered groups. She struggles to overcome her depression, learn about her powers and use them to fight for the people she cares about.

Do you have any upcoming projects or books in the works that fans should look forward to?

Yes! Last year, I released the first book in the Dragons of Avonoa series and look forward to releasing the second book this year! This series is about the children of the main characters in the Avonoa series. Although it is a sequel series, it can be read completely separate from the others, or before the others.

The most fascinating thing about this new series is that books two, three, and four (out of five) will happen at the same time in the timeline! The entire series has been written out in rough draft form already, so the story is done because I needed to make sure that the timeline for the three middle books is cohesive. I have been working diligently on book two and I’m hoping to get it published by this summer!

Lastly, an insider hint. I plan to write a dystopian fantasy series next, probably three books, and a third sequel series for the Avonoa series, all of which will tie all five book series together. That includes, Avonoa, People of the Storm, Dragons of Avonoa, the dystopian fantasy series (no working title yet) and the third Avonoa series (no working title yet), all linked in lore and world! A reader will be able to start any of the series and read them in any order to get the entire story arc in one large loop. I’m very excited to start the outlines and I already have the major ideas and plots in place. I hope everyone can join me and my dragons on this epic adventure!

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