What is your largest unfulfilled dream, and what are you doing to reach it?

I love speaking about the messages learned in my books. The spirit that I receive back from a large audience is so inspiring. I dream of bigger opportunities to teach audiences throughout the world. I love writing and that will never change, but I hope to make a real difference helping people through all kinds of global speaking events. I’ll continue to write about subjects that I’m passionate about and spend a good amount of time marketing both my books and myself in all kinds of conferences.

What is the hardest thing you've ever done?

Get certified in scuba diving. I’ve always known how to swim, but I’m not comfortable in the ocean. My husband paid for a scuba diving trip years ago and knowing that money was already spent and nonrefundable is what got me through the lessons. I forced myself through fear and claustrophobic feelings. It was so hard for me. Now I love it!

Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?

I learned to trust my instincts to write from my heart. If I feel the story, then I can tap into that emotion and find the words to vividly describe it. The other thing I learned is that everybody has a story. There is so much to learn from those stories. They are different for each one of us, and in our own unique way, we can make a difference.

What is your favorite part of writing?

My favorite moments are when I’m awakened in the middle of the night by a strong impression to write. I sneak into my den, turn on some quiet piano music and let the words flow. I become one with the story and my own inspiration in writing it. It’s a tender, spiritual moment for me. It’s not a regular occurrence because I really need my sleep, but when it happens, I embrace it.

Do you have any advice for other writers?

You will face a lot of rejection from start to end. You have to believe in yourself to get through that. Listen to the criticism and rejection and consider what you can learn from it. Then pick yourself up and continue to move forward. A good copy editor is worth everything. They can help you turn a really good manuscript into a great manuscript. Then you pitch to publishers or self-publish knowing that you’ve done your best.

What was the hardest part of writing your book, and how did you overcome it?

I spent weeks interviewing Servie to peel back layers of her life. Many memories were so painful, it was difficult for both of us, but I knew that I needed to feel this story to write from my heart. Servie had to go back into dark chapters of her life that were tragic and it took time to form a trusting relationship so that she could share intimate details and believe that I would honor her and tell her story in an honest, respectful way. I had to be really patient and give it time. After typing up every transcript from our interviews, I saw a pattern and knew that I not only wanted to tell this incredible story, but to allow her example to teach important principles that were defined by the way she lives. We’ve been through the storm together, but now have a friendship bond that will last a lifetime.

Now that we've gotten to know each other, tell me a story. It can be long or short. From your childhood or last week. Funny, sad, or somewhere in between. Just make sure it's yours. What's your story?

Writing a book was never on my bucket list. It was something that somebody else did. That all changed when I had a dream and saw my hands holding a book. I knew it was my book and I even saw an outline. When I woke up I had two very strong thoughts: (1) Wow, that was so real, and (2) There is no way! I tried to push that dream away, but could not ignore the strong impression. I knew that it was going to be really hard, but I also knew it was important. That is how my first book Finding Hope in the Journey was born. The most common question asked of me at book signings or speaking events is “did you dream of being an author?” Ha - that’s a funny question for me. I never dreamed of being an author, but yeah – a dream is how it happened!

About the Author

Heidi Tucker won the 2017 Illumination Award for her first inspirational book Finding Hope in the Journey and her newest release is entitled Servie’s Song. Her passion for writing and speaking about light and hope has inspired thousands. Heidi is known as a great storyteller who motivates us to rise up and find new strength. She teaches how to recognize truth and make a difference.

When Heidi isn’t writing her next book, or speaking at a conference, you’ll find her spending time outdoors with her husband, four grown children and eight grandchildren. She loves sunflowers, hiking, and ice cream … not necessarily in that order.

Find out more about Heidi at ThePickledSunflower.com

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