Every Friday, we meet a member of the BFS and peer deep into their soul (or, at least, a form they filled out). Want to be featured? Email us: online@britishfantasysociety.org
Name:
Heather Ivatt (she/her)
Which region are you based in?
Nottingham, East Midlands
If you write, which genre?
Fantasy
Are you drawn to any specific SFFH sub-genres?
I do love a bit of portal fantasy, but I’m also a sucker for high fantasy and good old sword and sorcery.
Your influences
Tell us about the book/film/thing that got you into SFFH: What was it? How old were you? What impact did it have on you?
David Eddings: The Belgariad and The Mallorean series. I was quite young when my dad suggested I read them (maybe about nine/ten) and I was hooked! Humour, romance, magic and gods – it’s probably also why my own novels tend to be longer series rather than standalones. I know the author himself had a bit of a shady background, but I can’t help but have a soft spot in my heart for the novels themselves so it’s a case of separating the material from the creator for me.
How does that early influence show up for you (in life/writing/agenting/publishing/editing/reading) now?
I tend to write epic fantasy with several trilogies set in the same world rather than standalones, and I like to have a similar range of character types with some humour thrown in – so Eddings was a definite influence on that!
Where do you draw your creative inspiration from?
Songs, mostly. I have playlists for each novel series, sometimes for each character, and I let the music paint scenes in my head. I imagine wars and battles this way, as well as character arcs and some awesome end scenes! To be honest, I’ve been known to look at a tree and get a book idea, so there isn’t a single source.
Who do you look to as a genre hero? Why?
I have several: David Eddings, David Gemmell and Raymond E. Feist have been heroes for me since I was a kid because of their imagination, storytelling and magic. I mean, who doesn’t love Gemmell’s character of Druss?
More recently, I’ve been spellbound by Kristen Britain. The world she’s created and her characters have captured me since Page 1 and I would absolutely die if I ever met Kristen in person. Victoria Aveyard is also one of my biggest heroes. I met her in person once (evidence in the picture!) and felt like I had a lot in common with her when it comes to my passion for writing and my writing process. I would love to be like her one day!
Your Work
What are you working on right now?
I’m keeping it relatively low-key until I figure out the bigger complexities of it, but let’s just say it’s about two timelines caused by one key event being played out in two different ways, leading to drastically different outcomes. All fantasy, with magic and monsters and gods.
I’m also considering picking my research up again. I did a Masters by Research focusing on magic systems in fantasy fiction, presented at academic conferences, and had an article about it published in Volume 20 of the BFS Journal. I’m still intrigued by a PhD but need to investigate funding options for that.
Thinking about all the stories/work you’ve done, what sticks out most in your mind? Why?
Probably the one I’m writing now. I first wrote it as an overenthusiastic teenage writer and, looking at it almost two decades later, I know how bad it was back then but can also recognise how much potential it has. It’s something close to my heart and, I think, close to any reader’s heart, and has that USP I’ve always been searching for after previous works were rejected by agents.
Where and when do you create/are you at your most creative?
Due to my chronic illness, I find it difficult to pick a certain time or day, place or even position to be creative now. Sometimes I’m best at the dining table after work, sometimes on the sofa in the early morning. It’s unpredictable and sometimes frustrating when I don’t have the energy to write, but I’m getting there slowly. I always have a mug of tea handy!
What’s the best advice you’ve received about creativity?
You can’t force it. Sometimes it comes, sometimes it goes. Sometimes it stays for months, sometimes only a few minutes. Grab it when you can, appreciate it when you have it, and prepare for it when you don’t.
What’s your writing soundtrack?
The one song that has always stuck in my head as motivation is ‘I Can Go the Distance’ from Disney’s Hercules. Definitely cheesy, but it’s a reminder that it doesn’t matter how long it takes to complete a journey – it’s about getting to that final destination. I do have dozens of playlists on iTunes that I use when writing. It depends on how I’m feeling that day and which project I’m working on, as I usually have two or three going at the same time.
The Quickfire Round
Sci-fi, fantasy or horror?
Fantasy.
Quiet or loud?
Me as a person? My friends and family would say L.O.U.D. But when I’m writing, I prefer quiet.
Dark or light?
Dark
Strict lines or genre blend?
A bit of both
Awards or bestseller?
Bestseller
Fiction or non-fiction?
Fiction
Poetry or prose?
Prose
Plotter or pantser?
Plotser – tiny bit of planning, lots of pantsing, add to the plans as I edit. My partner would call me a Riditor though, as I delete whole chapters and sometimes even an entire book during editing and start again. I know people will be screaming at me when they read this, but it works for me. The next version is always so much better, and I’m not gaslighting myself with scenes I’ve written before but no longer want to include.
Reading or listening?
Reading
Notebook or computer?
Computer
Favourite SFFH book of all time?
Green Rider by Kristen Britain
Last book you read?
The White Queen by Philippa Gregory
Any SFFH author on auto-buy?
Kristen Britain, Victoria Aveyard, Samantha Shannon
Favourite podcast?
Not writing-related but ‘Toni and Ryan’ – a bit of comedy always lifts my mood!
The Home Stretch
What’s the best thing about being part of the SFFH community?
The support and inspiration. Even on my worst days, seeing others striving to get that tiniest bit closer to a goal is motivational for me. The events are incredible too and I always try to attend as many as my body allows.
Time to plug your stuff! Where can we find you and your work? What have you got coming up? Consider this your advertising space.
I wish I could say that I have a website, but I’m early on in my marketing side of things. I do have an Instagram (hemiwriter) but it’s mostly pictures of my 11-month-old golden retriever puppy (pictured) at the moment. Still, please feel free to follow as I will be posting more about my writing as soon as I get more of a grip on my chronic illness.
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