Heather Hummel writes from her heart and has a book to give away

By Amy Bromberg


**Giveaway is now closed**


When she’s not immersing herself in photography, Heather Hummel is a celebrity ghostwriter and an award-winning, best-selling author. Heather's books have appeared in newspapers such as Publishers Weekly, USA Today and The Washington Post; and in magazines that include Health, Body & Soul, First and Spry Living, a combined circulation of nearly 15 million. A graduate with High Distinction from the University of Virginia, Heather holds a Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies degree with concentrations in English and Secondary Education. She is currently earning a Ph.D. in Metaphysical Sciences. Her most recent novels are from the Journals from the Heart Series: "Whispers from the Heart" (reviewed here) and "Write from the Heart."
Visit Heather at her website, as well as her Facebook and Twitter pages. And for all you "Glee" fans, sorry to inform you but she is not related to Kurt (although she wishes she was)!

Heather is giving away one autographed copy of "Whispers from the Heart" to a lucky reader in the US or Canada. She also has a $10 Amazon gift card for a lucky reader in the US or Canada (the value is in US dollars though)!

What inspired you to write the Journals from the Heart series, "Whispers from the Heart" being the first?

I’ve been an avid journal writer since middle school. It’s a natural form of expression for me, and over the years I’ve greatly come to appreciate the power of the pen. Many of the wishes and dreams I journal wrote came to fruition down the road. Rather than a particular character, it was the powerful theme of journal writing that I wanted to be the thread between my novels. In WHISPERS FROM THE HEART, Madison uses journal writing with her high school students to help them cope with the suicide of a fellow classmate. In WRITE FROM THE HEART, Samantha uses journal writing as a method for turning her dismal life into one of fulfilled hopes and dreams. In the third and forthcoming, WISDOM FROM THE HEART, Jamie turns to her journal to deal with the emotional bomb of finding out she’s adopted. Journal writing can be used in so many healing ways, and that’s the ultimate message of the Journals from the Heart series.

Both WHISPERS FROM THE HEART and WRITE FROM THE HEART had former titles and covers (previously Through Hazel Eyes and The Universe Is My Sugar Daddy). I collaborated with a fabulous publisher who consulted me on putting the two in a series with journal writing as the common thread…a theme WISDOM FROM THE HEART has as well. The novels are the same interior stories; all that’s changed are the covers and titles. This has made a world of difference. When WHISPERS FROM THE HEART was THROUGH HAZEL EYES, it won Honorable Mention at the 2009 New York Book Festival, which was very exciting, but now that it has a new look and is in a series, it has taken off to a new level, reaching several thousands of new readers. So, sometimes it’s worth doing a book make-over, because people do judge a book by its cover!

What has been the most challenging aspect in your writing career?

My novels in the Journals from the Heart series are Chick-Lit, so they are relatively easy to brand and market. But because I write in many genres, including nonfiction ghostwriting for clients, there isn’t one specific niche or genre in which I can label all of my books. This results in branding issues, but only to an extent.

On the other hand, writing in multiple genres opens a variety of marketing avenues. For example, I have been able to successfully use my nonfiction book, GO BIKE & OTHER SIGNS FROM THE UNIVERSE, and my novel, WRITE FROM THE HEART, in cross promotions with authors at Hay House because they both have positive, feel-good messages that Hay House is known for.

Who are your favorite authors of all time?

When it comes to music, I love certain songs, but not necessarily all songs by that artist. The same applies with authors and their books. For example, I love John Steinbeck’s TRAVELS WITH CHARLEY for emotional reasons, but that doesn’t put him at the tip-top of my list of favorite authors. Authors whose books I love include Joan Didion (THE YEAR OF MAGICAL THINKING), David Baldacci (one of the few that I do love all of his books), Harper Lee (TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, naturally), and everyone’s favorites Nicholas Sparks and Jennifer Weiner for genre reading. There are writers’ books that I love too, such as Stephen King’s ON WRITING: A MEMOIR OF THE CRAFT and Anne Lamott’s BIRD BY BIRD. Both are compelling memoirs with writing advice woven in - fabulous reads.

What is your guilty pleasure?

Ghirardelli hot chocolate made with Voss sparkling water. I came up with that invention, Tweeted that it was my fav indulgence, and Voss water ReTweeted all my Tweets. They loved the idea, but I don’t think I’m on their marketing payroll yet.

If "Whispers from the Heart” were optioned for film, who would play Madison, Michael, Phil and Olivia?

We had this discussion on my Facebook page last summer…it was a popular post and Ryan Gosling was hands-down everyone’s fav for Phil. Not to reinvent THE NOTEBOOK, but I do think Rachel McAdams would be a great Madison. Who doesn’t love their energy on screen? Kirsten Dunst would be adorable as Olivia; and perhaps someone like Ben Affleck for Michael, who is a bit more rugged and mysterious than Phil.

If you could jump into a book, and live in that world, which would it be?

Of my own books, I’d want to be Samantha in WRITE FROM THE HEART. In another book, it would have to be about a writer or a photographer…and include dogs, so if anyone knows of such a book, let me know and I’ll jump in!

What are some of your hobbies, one of them definitely being photography?

I’m an avid cyclist by nature. As my muse, I’ve written many chapters in my head while pedaling down the road. Lately, however, I have been back to doing a lot of nature photography, and that has become my muse de jour (my poor bike sits in the laundry room making me feel guilty whenever I pass it by). A photo shoot usually involves some hiking, so I still get plenty of exercise at least.

My photography is inspired by both human nature and Mother Nature; I am in a place of complete bliss when I’m out there capturing images, and from those images, story ideas develop. With the feedback I get from people on Facebook and Twitter about both my books and my photography, I’m formulating ways to combine the two passions.

Did you make any New Year’s resolutions?

No. I don’t believe in them because they create too much anxiety and not enough satisfaction. It’s like Valentine’s Day, which only creates a lot of pressure to show love on one day when really we should be showing it all year anyway.

Any other books in the works? Goals for future projects?

I’m currently writing the third in the Journals from the Heart series, WISDOM FROM THE HEART, and a literary novel titled $1 AND $100.

Readers who have read WHISPERS FROM THE HEART will be happy to know that Phil is returning in WISDOM FROM THE HEART. He was a fan favorite; the perfect guy, so I’ve been told by readers and reviewers. So, I’m excited that he decided to show up in book three, and he’s as dashing and handsome as ever. (FYI, I don’t plan my books; the characters show up and tell me how it’s going to be!)

I’m really excited about my literary novel, $1 AND $100, too. The protagonists are a $1 bill and a $100 bill. The novel is about their journey through many people’s hands, different eras, and variety of places. It opens in the mid-1970s in a diner with a young, widowed waitress who receives a $100 bill for a tip and her son, who receives a brand new $1 bill as change for candy he buys. From there, the bills go out into the world and begin their journey. The purpose is to explore how each character relates to the money when they have it in hand. I’m really enjoying writing this novel and my plan is to film a documentary on the same topic. The documentary will include interviews with people of all walks of life, delving into their emotional relationship with money. I already have a list of people waiting to be interviewed.

Thanks so much for having me as a guest on your amazing blog!
Cheers to the New Year!

Special thanks to Heather for visiting with us and sharing her book with a lucky reader!

How to win "Whispers from the Heart":
Please comment below with your e-mail address. (Please note:Entries without an e-mail address will NOT be counted. You can use AT and DOT to avoid spam. Or provide a link to your facebook page or blog if you can receive messages there.)

Bonus entries (can be listed all in one post):
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US/Canada only. Giveaway ends January 9th at midnight EST.