An Interview with Yuri Heart

Yuri Heart is a romance author who writes emotionally driven stories centered on healing, vulnerability, and meaningful connection. Her work explores love in its quieter forms, where patience, trust, and emotional honesty take precedence over spectacle. She is especially drawn to characters who carry unseen wounds and relationships that challenge traditional boundaries while honoring depth and sincerity.

Through her writing, Yuri hopes to create spaces where readers feel seen and understood. Inspired by music, introspection, and moments of stillness, she believes stories can be both gentle and brave. A Light for Each Heart is her debut novel and the beginning of a deeply personal creative journey.

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What inspired you to start writing this book?

I started writing this book because I wanted to explore love in a quieter, more intentional way. I was drawn to the idea that emotional connection doesn’t have to be rushed or dramatic to be meaningful. Sometimes the most powerful moments happen in stillness, trust, and being truly seen.

The story grew from a desire to create something gentle yet honest, a space where healing and intimacy could unfold naturally. Writing A Light for Each Heart became a way for me to honor vulnerability and the many forms love can take, especially when people allow themselves the time and courage to open their hearts.

Tell us the story of your book’s current title. Was it easy to find, or did it take forever?

The title came later in the writing process, once the emotional core of the story had fully revealed itself. I wanted something that felt soft yet meaningful, something that reflected individuality, hope, and emotional warmth, rather than a single moment or plot point.

A Light for Each Heart felt right because it speaks to the idea that everyone carries their own inner light, and that love doesn’t disappear or diminish when it’s shared. It wasn’t instant, but once the title surfaced, it felt honest and complete, like it had been there all along, waiting for the story to catch up to it.

Describe your dream book cover.

My dream book cover is soft, atmospheric, and emotionally inviting rather than loud or literal. I’m drawn to designs that rely on mood. Gentle light, subtle color, and a sense of quiet intimacy so that the feeling of the story comes through before a single word is read.

I love covers that feel timeless and calm, where simplicity leaves room for reflection. Something understated, warm, and slightly ethereal – an image that suggests connection and healing without needing to explain itself.

If your book had a soundtrack, what are some songs that would be on it?

The soundtrack for my book would lean toward quiet, emotional, and cinematic music. Songs that unfold slowly and linger rather than demand attention. Music plays a significant role in my creative process, and I often write lyrics alongside my fiction as another means of exploring emotions.

Many of the songs connected to this story are intimate and reflective, shaped by the same themes of healing, vulnerability, and connection found in the book. I’m drawn to melodies that feel soft and atmospheric – the kind of music you listen to late at night, when emotions feel closer to the surface, and silence has its own weight.

What books are you reading (for research or comfort) as you continue the writing process?

I tend to return to emotionally driven novels for both comfort and inspiration. Stories that prioritize character, atmosphere, and internal growth. I’m especially drawn to books that allow space for quiet moments and emotional nuance rather than constant momentum.

Reading helps me stay connected to why I write in the first place: to create stories that feel lived-in, gentle, and emotionally honest.

What other professions have you worked in? What’s something about you that your readers wouldn’t know?

Before fully committing to writing, I worked in roles centered around education and support, which deeply shaped how I communicate and connect with others. Those experiences taught me the value of patience, listening, and empathy – qualities that naturally found their way into my storytelling.

Something readers might not know is that I often develop scenes internally long before they reach the page, letting them unfold quietly in my mind through music, stillness, and reflection.

Who/what made you want to write? Was there a particular person, or particular writers/works/art forms that influenced you?

My desire to write came from storytelling in many forms – books, music, and visual media all played a role. I’ve always been drawn to emotional subtext and the unspoken moments between people, the spaces where meaning often lives quietly.

Writing became a way for me to explore those moments more deeply, giving time and attention to feelings that don’t always have room to exist out loud.

Where is your favorite place to write?

My favorite place to write is wherever I can feel calm and uninterrupted. I love writing at my desk with soft lighting and music playing quietly in the background, especially during early mornings or late evenings when the world feels still and focused.

What advice would you give your past self at the start of your writing journey?

I would tell myself not to rush and not to compare my timeline to anyone else’s. Writing is as much about patience as it is about persistence, and uncertainty is often part of creating something meaningful.

I’d also remind myself that trusting my voice – especially when it’s quiet – is just as important as finishing the work.

What’s one thing you hope sticks with readers after they finish your book?

I hope readers finish the book feeling seen and gently reassured that love can be patient, layered, and deeply human. If the story leaves them feeling a little soft toward themselves or others, then it has done what I hoped it would do.

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Are you a writer, too? Submit your manuscript to Atmosphere Press.