An Interview with Heather Jefferson

Heather Jefferson graduated Phi Beta Kappa in English Literature from University of Illinois. She is a wife, mother, yoga teacher, and manager of a wellness center. Daughter Unbound is her first book. Heather lives in Columbia, Maryland, with her husband, Bob, and their two dogs and two cats.

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

My book’s title was originally And Now They Both Knew How because originally it was a book about me and my sister. During the development editing of the book, it became clear that my healing journey depicted in the book was truly mine alone, and it was the journey of disconnecting from my mother’s mental illness. I searched for words that told the story of my separation from her, and ‘unbound’ captured the essence of my journey perfectly.

How did it feel when you first saw your book cover? Or when you first held your book in your hands?

I remember when the first proof copy arrived in the mail one night. I thought I had ordered a book, and when I opened it and saw my cover, my title, my name, I started shrieking! It was unreal after working on all the different phases of publishing. Holding the physical book in my hands was one of the proudest moments of my life. I was filled with gratitude for all it took to get it to that stage.

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

I have always journaled to process my emotions, and my English literature degree was a reflection of my love of books. One day I was receiving a massage by a therapist who is also a medium. She asked me during the service, “Do you have something you need to say, because your throat chakra is blocked?” I replied that I had always joked that I wanted to write a memoir but that I couldn’t do it until my mother passed away. I didn’t want to hurt her feelings by writing about how her mental and physical illnesses affected me. She told me to go right home and start writing. The first draft only took four months to write. The words and stories just poured out of me.

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

The first half of my career was in publishing. I worked on several truck magazines in Los Angeles, and then I transitioned to academic publishing, where I worked as a production editor for books and journals of various topics. My second career is in the wellness world as a yoga teacher and wellness center manager of forty teachers and eighty-plus weekly classes. I also lead yoga teacher trainings and yoga retreats.

What was the most rewarding/meaningful part of publishing your book?

Working with my developmental editor, Tammy. She really saw my potential and pulled out the writer in me, which made the book a thousand times better. I edited the book twelve times, and each pass grew my confidence in my writing and in my story’s ability to make a big difference in people’s lives.

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

Survivors by Stone Soup

You Can’t Rush Your Healing by Trevor Hall

Kinder by Copper Wimmin

Circle Game by Joni Mitchell

Forgive by Trevor Hall

What is one thing you hope readers take away from reading your book? How do you envision your perfect reader?

My hope for my readers is that they see some part of themselves in my stories and that they awaken to a deep and sincere love for themselves. I want them to feel seen and understood in their life challenges. I hope my book serves as a hopeful guide, providing inspiration on their healing path.

What creative projects are you currently working on?

I am creating several teacher trainings, as well as creatively marketing my memoir to book clubs, bookstores, online, and in person. I hope to also create workshops based on my book to bring daughters and mothers into community to heal.

How was working with Atmosphere Press? What would you tell other writers who want to publish?

Atmosphere Press was divinely guided and has been and continues to be a dream come true. The care that each person takes, the friendliness and encouragement, the prompt and clear communication, and particularly the collaboration with my editor – every step of the way has felt so supportive and easy. I would highly recommend Atmosphere to anyone looking to publish their writing.

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