An Interview with Heather Ivatt
A creative writing graduate with a master’s by research investigating magic systems in fantasy fiction, I’m also a professional editor and change manager. That said, I am embarking on two new adventures this year: committing myself to pursuing publication of my novel, and starting my own freelance editing business with a unique change management twist! I was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome last year, which has impacted every area of my life, but has weirdly reignited my writing mojo and smashed through my chronic writer’s block. I also have a cute but clingy golden retriever called Rufus.
What inspired you to start writing this book?
It started 17 years ago, believe it or not. I was a moody teenager wishing I could escape into my favourite book series, The Belgariad by David Eddings. Since then, I’ve been working on capturing every reader’s dream in my novel by having the protagonist be sucked into her own favourite book… but it’s a case of being careful what you wish for!
Tell us the story of your book’s current title. Was it easy to find, or did it take forever?
Oh my goodness, it was a journey, I can tell you! It started off with some cringey title choices such as Darkness Falls: Prophecy, then became Rewritten (which is ironic since I’ve rewritten the first draft 1,000 times), but I settled on Of Blood and Ink because it’s more relevant to the themes and sounds much cooler.
Describe your dream book cover.
I’ve always imagined my protagonist, Dylan, standing in the middle. She’s looking over her shoulder, her dark ringlets cascading down her back in glossy but messy tendrils, and she’s holding the book in her hands. The book is glowing with cerulean magic that has a gradient effect on the rest of the cover, and in that effect you get ghostly images of the novel she used to read and then the novel she finds herself in. Think handsome prince meets gruesome zombie-esque creatures, ice beasts and epic sea battles, and a man with a hooded cloak (yes, stereotypical villainy is a trope I’m exploring) facing off against a one-eyed man with a long braid and a very pretty axe.
I haven’t thought much about it, though… Okay, maybe a little.
If your book had a soundtrack, what are some songs that would be on it?
I actually have a full iTunes playlist for this. It’s an eclectic mix, though. For fight scenes, it would be “Midnight Crow” by Aucifer. There are a few Delta Goodrem tracks on there, Cascada, Queen, Westlife for some romance plots, Phil Collins, Dua Lipa, Billy Eilish, Black Sabbath, and more!
What books are you reading (for research or comfort) as you continue the writing process?
I have a whole library of reference books on Ancient Egypt, which was an inspiration for the world of Ecea in the book. This won’t come to play really until the standalone novel I have planned comes out, which is the book Dylan read as a child (so that my readers can see what it was meant to be before all hell broke loose!).
What other professions have you worked in? What’s something about you that your readers wouldn’t know?
Apart from a brief six-month stint at Eon Energy as a customer advisor, I’ve worked in universities since I was a student myself. I’m just finishing my current role as a Change Manager due to redundancy, but I’ve also recently launched my own freelance editing business, EditAble Online. I have big things planned for it, including a surprise I can’t reveal until everything’s been confirmed, but I’m passionate about helping others get their work to be the best it can be, and my social media accounts is about sharing as many DIY editing tips and relatable content as I can!
Who/what made you want to write? Was there a particular person, or particular writers/works/art forms that influenced you?
My dad was the one who got me into reading, so I blame him for this never-ending passion for writing fantasy that I can’t shake. I also blame Raymond E. Feist (who I met and told to his face I blame him, and his response was ‘Don’t blame me, kid!’—amazing guy!), and I met Victoria Aveyard a few years ago, who reignited my spark when I was close to giving up. If I could meet Kristen Britain next, author of the Green Rider series (my muse, idol, role model and general hero of an author), I would die happy!
Where is your favorite place to write?
I’m like most authors in that I love a good cafe. Due to my chronic fatigue, I can’t do that as much anymore, so I switch between my office, dining table, bed and sofa. Anywhere I’m comfy that isn’t too far from the kettle, really.
What advice would you give your past self at the start of your writing journey?
It won’t be easy. In fact, it will be very hard. You’ll face challenges others will face, and some others will not, and you’ll compare yourself to the journeys of those around you. Don’t. If you want to make it, you will, but nobody is going to carry you down that path. You’ve got to keep writing, keep fighting, keep speaking up about your passion—even if nobody understands it. You’ll get there. Promise.
What’s one thing you hope sticks with readers after they finish your book?
That books aren’t just paper and ink. That characters aren’t just figments of imagination wrapped up in a book sandwich. Words have impact. Characters have hopes, dreams and fears. Writers dream and readers dream with you. But be careful what you wish for, because not every story ends happily, but even if it doesn’t, it doesn’t mean it’s the end of the story.
Are you a writer, too? Submit your manuscript to Atmosphere Press.
Atmosphere Press is a selective hybrid publisher founded in 2015 on the principles of Honesty, Transparency, Professionalism, Kindness, and Making Your Book Awesome. Our books have won dozens of awards and sold tens of thousands of copies. If you’re interested in learning more, or seeking publication for your own work, please explore the links below.
