An Interview with Mikki Shepard, author of In a Heartbeat

A USAF Veteran, Mikki’s career includes speaking, real estate, and marketing. She is the author of IN A HEARTBEAT – The Miracle of a Family That Was Meant To Be, a true story spanning several generations of families born out of love. She now hosts Adoption as a Choice radio show & podcast.

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

When I was in real estate, I wrote educational articles and seminars to help guide agents in their everyday work thereby better serving the public.

What inspired you to start writing this book?

First, my dad. He came into my life when I was 12 and it inspired me to think about one of the themes in my book: it doesn’t take biology to create a family. Then, when my husband and I adopted our son at birth, I wanted to share a “good news” adoption story. One of the other themes in the Law of Attraction which was definitely at work with our son coming into our lives.

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

The title came from my response to a friend who asked me if my husband and I would adopt if we could. My response was “In a heartbeat.” The second part is a quote from the social worker who did our home study, and, under oath on the day our adoption was finalized, she told the judge “This was a family that was meant to be.” I added the word “miracle” because that’s what it was.

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

“Sunshine” by John Denver, “The Impossible Dream” by Elvis, and absolutely “My Way” by Frank Sinatra.

Describe your dream book cover.

The existing cover of my book is my dream cover. The white butterfly represents my brother Chet who passed away several years before. From the time of his death, I always seem to have a white butterfly flying near or around me. The people represent the various people that come in and out of our lives: for a reason, a season or a lifetime.

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

I was a real estate broker, first and Colorado and later in New York. I did seminars all over the country on “Farming Condominiums” and “Image.” I was the Marketing Director for the NY/Penn region of the American Red Cross. Then I published three trade journals in the Hudson Valley of NY for REALTORS and builders. I was a business coach and later, President of Client Relations, for Business Breakthroughs (a Tony Robbins and Chet Holmes company). Now I am a radio/podcast host on Adoption as a Choice on the VoiceAmerica Empowerment channel.

What books did you read (for research or comfort) throughout your writing process?

I’m a big Danielle Steel fan and have read all of her books. I did a lot of research on adoption for the book.

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

My wish is that people will laugh, cry and most important begin to see adoption as a choice. Adoption is greatest gift a birth mom can give her child and the adopting parents because it is an incredibly powerful act of love, first giving the child life and second giving the child a family.