Author Spotlight Interview: Heather Silvio
By: Hidden Gems on January 4, 2022
Today’s author interview is with multi-talented author Heather Silvio. Heather writes in a variety of genres but is known for her “fun, flirty, fantasy stories that make you smile.” It was an honor to chat with her about her writing style, interests outside of writing and upcoming projects.
HG: How would you describe yourself to somebody who isn’t familiar with your writing yet?
HS: I *mostly* write fun, flirty, fantasy romance & mystery, with a guaranteed happily ever after. Having said that, in the beginning, I was a bit of a genre-hopper, so I also have some nonfiction, a much darker psychological thriller/murder mystery, and a sweet romance with salty language romantic comedy, among others. My joke when I do book signings is that no matter what someone reads, I have a book in that genre. Not really true, of course, but I do have quite a few!
HG: Okay, so you’ve written supernatural, fantasy romance, romantic comedy, mystery and thrillers plus non-fiction! How do you switch gears between projects, genres? Do you have a favorite genre to write in or one that is easiest for you?
HS: Switching gears is fairly easy because I only write one book at a time. I am not a good multi-tasker, so I need to finish one major project before moving on to the next! As for favorite genre, not specifically, but I do find it easier to write stories that match my personality, which is naturally positive and optimistic.
HG: Overall, as you mentioned, you tend to write fun, flirty books aimed at making readers smile. Tell us more about that and why it’s important to you.
HS: Besides being a good fit for my personality, writing fun books that make people smile is important to me because there’s a lot of anxiety in the world. I like providing a respite for readers – they know when they pick up my series books that they’re in for a light, fun time!
HG: You’re best known for your Paranormal Talent Agency series. For readers that haven’t grabbed those books yet, what can you tell us about them?
HS: The six-book Paranormal Talent Agency is a genre mashup of sweet romance and paranormal mystery, set in the entertainment industry of Las Vegas (I’m also an actress who previously lived in Las Vegas, so this was a great setup for me!). They’re like your favorite television show, each episode contains a complete sweet romance and solved paranormal mystery, but the crossover characters and hints of a larger story suggest reading them in order.
HG: Your latest book Hazard in Hawaii, released in August. Can you tell us a little bit about the main characters and what readers will love about this story? Are more books planned in that new series?
HS: I love Doctor Danger – although in book one, she’s still completing her dissertation for her comparative mythology doctorate, so isn’t a doctor yet (which is a running joke in the book, lol). Sarah Danger is a clairempath, someone who doesn’t just sense the emotions of others, but experiences them as if they are her own. And when the emotions are intense, she also experiences their physical responses. At the start of the novel, she’s a private investigator assistant – it’s fun, low stress, and helps pay for her school. But then her boss invites her to Hawaii to investigate the possible supernatural source of an unusual fever illness. She finds herself unexpectedly in charge and must rely on her empath abilities and knowledge of mythology to solve the supernatural mystery. In terms of what readers will love about the story, reviews have noted that the story is fast-paced and unique, with fascinating real-world mythology, and a cast of characters they already love. And there will definitely be more books! I’m planning this as an open-ended series of standalone novels, since each book will be set in a new location, incorporating new myths & legends, but with the same team. I intend to travel to each location (like I did for Hazard in Hawaii) to conduct my research, so there will be one new book each fall. So, watch for the next one in August or September of 2022!
HG: Oh awesome! On that note, what can you tell us about any projects you have in the works?
HS: For 2022, I plan to release the next book in the Doctor Danger series, along with a new fantasy romance trilogy. In fact, book 1 in that series, Love’s Misfiring Magic (Wildcrest Witches #1), will release first in February in a sweet romance anthology, Finally Got It Right, before releasing with the other books in the trilogy in the summer. I’m excited about the anthology! Eighteen authors contributed brand new novels – and we’re offering the anthology for only 99 cents. It’s on preorder right now on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Apple Books.
HG: Exciting! We will absolutely keep a look out. Tell us a little bit about your actual writing process. When and where do you write?
HS: My best writing days start with a walk around my neighborhood while I drink my coffee. Then, I sit at my dining room table, so I can look out the sliding glass doors at the woods behind our house. I’ll write until lunchtime, typically. I’m a plotter, which fits well with the analytical side of my brain. I usually have the entire book outlined (even if it’s just a sentence or two for each chapter), which allows the writing to flow well when I sit down. Then, I spend the afternoon on other, related things, like marketing, or on other projects, since I freelance in a number of areas.
HG: Sounds like a great system. Switching gears, I understand that you’re also an actress, licensed psychologist and editor. Can you tell us more about those endeavors and why it’s important to you to have a variety of interests?
HS: These other interests are why I don’t release more books each year! I have so many interests that I enjoy, and I like that I’m able to pursue all of them. Besides the intrinsic enjoyment of them, they also contribute to my writing, by providing a breadth of life experiences. Being an actress, in particular, has directly shown up in the Paranormal Talent Agency series and Not Quite Famous.
HG: That’s fantastic. Now, for fun, before we wrap up, let’s do a fast five! First one…coffee or tea?
HS: Coffee
HG: Bonfire or fireplace?
HS: Fireplace
HG: Are you a morning bird or night owl?
HS: Morning bird
HG: eBook or paperback?
HS: eBook
HG: Tropical beach or rustic mountains?
HS: Tropical beach
HG: For readers that want to find out more about your stories and keep up with you, where should they go to connect or learn more?
The best is to sign up for my newsletter, but I’m also active across most social media:
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