As an Ohioan, I believe there’s magic brewing in the local landscape. While I haven’t yet set a story here, there’s just something about the surrounding environment that’s perfectly poised to inspire. And I’m not the only Ohio author to think so! Havelah McLat, who hails from a more rural part of the state than I, grew up writing and drawing. Today, her journey as a storyteller continues, with Dust and Crown available for pre-order now and coming out July 10, 2024.
Nikki: Thank you so much for chatting today, Havelah! It’s so great to have another Ohioan on my blog. Were you born here? Are any of your books set here?
Havelah: I was born and raised in Ukraine for four years. Then I came to America. While some of the books I have published, like A Forever Summer and When You Returned are set in the U.S., none of them are located where I live now. But in the Fables of Hope and my short story A Land of a Thousand Dreams, those are set in Ukraine. I have another WIP that is set in Ukraine as well.
Oh my gosh, that is so cool. Are you traditionally published? Self-published? Tell me about your writing journey!
I am a self-published author. I’ve published four books — two romance novels, one anthology, and one fantasy novella. I started self-publishing in 2018 with ebooks on Smashwords. Three years later I pursued traditional publishing for one of my novels.
After many rejections, I decided to start over with my self-publishing journey to get my name out there. I published my debut novel, A Forever Summer, in 2022. I made mistakes along the way, but I also learned a lot as well. While I love the freedom of self-publishing, I still would like to have one of my novels published traditionally.
I love hearing that, I think so many authors get lost in the minutiae of maintaining a public presence and forget to lean into big goals. I love that you’re still dreaming. Did you always know you wanted to be an author?
I have an older sister who is a writer. I was a young teenager and she wrote a story based on my characters — I’m an artist who likes to draw characters. When she did it, I wanted to give it a try. It looked fun. I wrote a couple fan short stories and then started creating my own. Even since then, I never stop writing.
Oh my gosh, I love that writing is a family specialty. What genre do you write in?
While I enjoyed writing clean romance contemporary novels, I love writing light fantasy stories and short stories, too. I like to dabble in different genres. My most recent WIP is set in a historical time period: during the 1930s, The Great Depression.
One genre I have tried and probably won’t do again is historical thriller. It was a lot of work and intense and time-consuming. Then, I lost the manuscript. It was the saddest day of my life. One of these days I would like to write a contemporary mystery retelling of Dream Angus (a Celtic mythology) and The Swan Lake. I have an outline, but I haven’t got to the writing part. (laughs)
I totally get it. I have a historical fiction in the works, and all the research it takes is so time-consuming. It’s going to take years before that one comes to fruition. What are your favorite books to read?
The Memory Keeper of Kyiv, Jimmy, Wishtree, The Clockwork Crow, and Lines of Courage. I have more, but these are a few of my favorites.
Amazing, we’ll have to add those to our TBRs. Let me ask, if you could live in any fictional world, which would you choose?
Hmm, this is a bit tricky. It would be either a fairy world or Ghibli world. Both have that whimsical vibe and the vibrant colors and magic. Ah! I will probably pick Ghibli and the world would be Howl’s Moving Castle, or my favorite, The Castle in the Sky.
Ah, you’re a fantasy gal! Does this ever make an appearance in your stories?
My debut novel was actually a small town romance about Katherine inheriting a house, which stirs forgotten memories inside her. And the key to remembering them might lie with the handsome realtor she hired to sell the house.
Oh, we love a handsome realtor!
Yes! My second book, When You Returned, is a second-chance romance about Jaclyn, a renowned skater, who is losing the beloved rink that has been in her family for generations and must work with her ex-boyfriend, Lavern, to save it.
The recently published book is an anthology put together by a group of authors. Fables of Hope and Light has eight stories with a mixture of contemporary and whimsical fantasy. Each one has its own unique touch and wholesome that will leave you with a smile. These are all available on Amazon and Kindle.
Oh my gosh, you’re a busy bee! Do you have anything planned for future releases?
I have two projects I am currently working on. Long Journey Home is a middle grade historical fiction. That one I am planning to query for traditional publishing. The other project is a portal fantasy novel. I don’t know when I will publish that one. Right now I want to work on a story to keep me occupied. (laughs)
Holy cow, girl. Amazing. What does your writing routine look like?
I like to write in the morning because it’s when I have energy. I sometimes write during the day. It depends on my mood and energy.
I totally get that. And where do you find inspiration?
I get inspiration from Pinterest, songs, magazines, movies, and books. Or even stories from your own life or a family member. There is no wrong or right way to find inspiration. Inspiration is around us!
So very true. Do you find that you have any unique writing quirks that bubble up when you sit down to bring that inspiration to life?
I talk to myself a lot when I think about writing and trying to figure out what I want to do to solve the issue in the story. Or think up new ideas.
(laughs) I do the same! I also have a million notebooks lying around so I can scribble down my thoughts. So, do you have any indie authors you’re obsessed with right now?
Melanie Bateman, Naomi McCullough, and J. Plummer.
I love hearing new names, it always gives me some direction for growing my reading list. Thank you for those recommendations! Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?
It’s okay to publish one book at a time. It’s okay to write at your pace. You don’t have to publish tons of books to be successful. I understand it is hard to see other indie authors write more than you or publish a ton of books in a year. I learned that is not for everyone. I’d rather work on a story truly proud of and passionate about. Your story matters. You have to find what works best for you and your career.
Beautifully stated, Havelah. What’s the best thing a reader has told you in your writing career?
They tell me I am good at creating tragic backstories for my characters. But also tell me they admired the creativity and imagination I put in the stories.
I love that. I have just one more question for you. What do you do for fun when you’re not writing?
I like to read, listen to music, watch YouTube videos, ride a bike or take a walk, and listen to audiobooks. I also like to spend time with my family.
Havelah McLat has quite the story to tell, and she’s not done bringing world to life. Connect with her on Goodreads and Instagram to keep her work on your radar.
Want to learn more about other indie authors you need to know? Keep an eye on my Indie Author Spotlight Series for spotlights that span various different genres.