Author Interview - Havelah McLat
Havelah
McLat lives on a small farm in rural Ohio with her family. As a kid, she spent
hours drawing and then crafting short stories to go along with her
illustrations. As she got older, her passion grew to write stories about the
world, faith, and topics that matter the most to her. Havelah has written
several short fictions that have been featured in different anthologies. When she’s
not writing, she reads books, draws, which she shares on my website, helps with
activity events in her local church and community, and spend time with her
family. During her free time she watches YouTube videos on different writers
and authors on their writing journey and self-publishing industry.
Genre: contemporary clean romance fiction, fantasy, inspirational stories and sometimes historical fiction.
Q&A:
Q1: What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
A Forever Summer, and I got the inspiration out of a Victoria magazine from a friend. There was an image of two kids holding a boat and surrounded by water. And a bunch of old letters. That’s where the story begins.
Q2: What is a significant way your book has changed since the first draft?
Haha, the draft has changed quite a bit. The story was originally set in the 80s but then things didn’t work out and I decided to rewrite from scratch to make it contemporary fiction.
Q3: What authors, or books have influenced you?
Richard Evans, Beverly Lewis and several other authors. Even though both authors write fiction, they each write different types of genres. Richard would write sentimental stories and Beverly would write Christian fiction, but in a way, both have influenced me and how I write stories with valuable morals and faith.
Q4: What is your schedule like when you’re writing a book?
Hmm, I usually like to write in the morning and sometimes in the evening. All depends on my mood and when the inspiration hits me.
Q5: What advice would you give to a writer working on their first book?
Write at your own pace. Trust your storyteller (or main characters) and let them tell you the story.
Q6: What is the best writing advice you have ever heard?
Write a description only if it is important to the plot.
Q7: How do you celebrate when you finish your book?
Eat ice cream or sometimes buy something to reward myself for accomplishing the draft.
Q8: What do you think is the best way to improve writing skills?
Read books, watch Youtube videos about writing, and learn and grow in your skills.
Q9: What are you working on now?
Right now I am working on a contemporary, clean, winter romance set in the same world as A ForeverSummer, but they aren't a part of a series. They are all stand alone.
Q10: What are you currently reading?
I would read a book that interested
me. But I can say I have a long list of books on my TBR I would like to read
before the year ends.
Social media links:
Goodreads
Amazon Author Page
Newsletter
Website
Havelah McLat has generously provided us with an excerpt from Chapter One of A Forever Summer.
Katherine grinned wryly. It could be worse—I could have actually gotten hit. She breathed calmly. There is nothing that needs to be fretted over.
The sound of approaching footsteps caught her attention. She shifted her attention from Maude to the person who returned with a bottle of water in his hand. He was dressed professionally in a dark suit and tie. He was older and his face appeared very serious, but when he saw she had arrived, he greeted her with a friendly smile.
“It is nice to see you Ms. Linton.”
“I apologize for being late,” said Katherine.
He laughed, waving his hand. “It’s alright.” Then he gestured for them to take a seat at the desk.
“Mr. Dan—” Katherine paused and looked down at the name on the plate. “William Danforth, I was told we have a matter to discuss.”
“We do.” He sipped a little water and set the bottle aside. “Let me get the file.” He pushed his chair back and swung his arm to a large cabinet. “Your father told me about you both,” he said as he rummaged through his files.
Katherine glanced over at Maude, who was sitting next to her. “He did?”
“He said you are an artist,” said the lawyer turned his head sideways to look at Katherine, “working for a Boston Lifestyle magazine company, and Maude is a freshman in college.”
Katherine chuckled in amazement, wondering how much personal information her father shared with him.
“He told me how proud he is of you two.”
Katherine sadly smiled as she thought of him, especially as she remembered her and Maude watching him drift away into that deep sleep, and breathing his last breath. She wiped tears from her eyes and swallowed the lump in her throat.
“Should we get this settled?” said Mr. Danforth.
Katherine nodded.
The lawyer pulled out the document and slid back to his desk. “You already know your father has drawn a will…”
Katherine turned to Maude, and they exchanged knowing glances. Shortly before he died, he told his daughters they would inherit his home and everything that once belonged to him. After their mother’s death in a car accident years ago, their father’s will was the only reminder of their parents’ plans for the family.
“Is there something else we should know?” Katherine asked him, noticing a grave expression on Mr. Danforth’s face.
“Before your father passed away, he included something else in his will.”
“What do you mean?” Maude asked him.
What could he possibly add? Katherine pondered the same thought. She squinted in confusion, and the lawyer slid the file in front of them. Katherine opened it and drew out the sheet of paper. She studied it closely.
“What did he add?” she asked, pausing from reading.
“I can show you,” he said, holding out his hand. Katherine gave the document to him, and he pointed to one section toward the end of the will.
She and Maude drew their heads closer and squinted at the paragraph. Katherine raised her brows when she read it. “Our father left us a house in Westchester Bay, Massachusetts?”
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