Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Heather Tabers!

Talkshow Thursday: 

Welcome Heather Tabers!

I'm pleased to introduce you to Heather Tabers who I "met" on Facebook when her post came through my feed. A busy lady, she writes historical romance and children's fiction in addition to designing jewelry, working as a virtual assistant, and creating digital products. Grab a 'cuppa' and get to know her.

When did you know you wanted to be an author? I’ve always loved writing and blogging, but in 2020, I couldn’t stop thinking about a story idea that was inspired by a lighthouse I visited with my husband. I’d never written long-form fiction before but decided to give it a try. After that, the ideas kept flowing, and in 2025, I felt God calling me to become a full-time independent author.

What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books? I was so surprised to learn how characters take on personalities of their own as you write their stories. You think you understand your characters’ motives and emotions and desires because you created them, and then out of nowhere they say or do something, or they tell you a piece of their backstory you didn’t know, and suddenly the story is better than you could have hoped or imagined.

Who is your favorite author and what is it that strikes you about their work? Ugh. That’s an impossible question to answer. I have many favorites and have gleaned so much from each of them. I was reading books by Heidi Chiavaroli when I visited that lighthouse and got inspired to write. As I was reading her books, I kept thinking to myself, “I want to write like this.” Then there’s Crystal Caudill. I keep her book, Counterfeit Love, on my desk when I write. When I get stuck or feel like my writing is lacking, I read a few pages to remind myself what good writing looks like.

I’m also extremely fond of Heather Kaufman’s lyrical writing, Sarah Sundin and Elizabeth Camden’s well-researched historical romance, and Charles Martin’s powerful storytelling.

Can you share a real life event that inspired your writing? Yes! In May of 2020, my husband and I

wanted to celebrate our tenth anniversary, but the world was shut down. We live in Florida, so we decided to stay a few days at a hotel on the beach. One day, it was raining, and we didn’t want to stay locked up in our room, so we started looking for anything local that was open. That’s when we found the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse and Museum. As I read the stories of the light keepers and their families, I kept thinking, “What if…?” I shared my ideas with my husband, and he encouraged me to write it down. The story changed drastically from my initial idea, but that original “What if?” question is still an important part of that story. That book has been written but I haven’t published it yet.

Tell us about your road to publication. I had been working with one of the best agents in the Christian literary world for almost two years when I felt God calling me to go indie. That was one of the most difficult decisions I’ve ever made. But a few months later, I held my independently published book in my hands, and I knew that I’d made the right choice. It was a Christian living book that many would find controversial, and if I had stayed with the agency, no publisher would have published it, as I am predominantly a Christian fiction author. However, dozens of hurting parents have been blessed by that book and have found hope, healing, and encouragement within its pages. That gave me the motivation to keep going.

What was your inspiration for the story? I’m currently writing the second book of my Words & War series which takes place in and around Camp Sheridan, Alabama, in 1918 during WWI. I felt like everyone was writing books about WWII, so I decided to explore WWI, instead. In my research for In Books & Battlefields, I learned that the American Library Association sent volunteer librarians to serve at Army camps across the US and overseas. Once again, my mind started asking, “What if…?” and an entire series was born.

My work-in-progress, In Fairy Tales & Fraud, stemmed from two characters featured in Book One and the research I did about the early days of aviation. My youngest son is a pilot, so including aviation in my plot was especially fun.

What is your process for writing? (do you outline, have a special place or time of day you write, etc.) What is your favorite part of the process? I’m an insane plotter. I tease that my outlines have outlines, but it’s actually true. I have a binder for each book I write, and creating that binder brings me more joy than I can express. I created my own novel workbook that I sell now on Etsy to help me (and other authors) stay organized. It includes everything from character interview questions, calendars for the years the book covers, character images, common slang used during that time period, character arcs, romance arcs, faith arcs, clothing details, location details, and then my story plots and chapter plots. The plotting process is, by far, my favorite part of the entire writing process.

What are common traps for aspiring writers? I’ve only been at this for 6 years, so I’m still working through some of the traps. I’d say the biggest trap is comparison, and that’s the one I struggle with the most. I’m never going to be Sarah Sundin or Elizabeth Camden or Roseanna White. God already made one of each of them. He thought the world needed a Heather Tabers, so I need to be Heather Tabers and stop trying to be someone else. I’ve published five books, and Roseanna has just submitted her 55th book. Comparing myself to her is ridiculous, and yet I do it. As writers, we miss out on what God has for us when we’re focused on what He has for others.

What is your next project? When I finish In Fairy Tales & Fraud, I’ll start In Letters & Landmines and then the surprise I have after that. I’m currently working on finishing up Framing Big Ben in my children’s series. I also have a Christmas rom-com in the works.

While all that is happening, I’m also rolling out a serialized fiction version of my grandparents’ real-life WWII love story. It’s available, one chapter at a time, through my newsletter under a subscription through Substack. Two to three times a month, subscribers receive the next chapter of In the Shadows of Sacrifice, a narrated character art video, and other immersive extras, including the stories behind the scenes, coloring sheets, recipes, playlists, and more.

About In Books & Battlefields

In 1917, spirited librarian Isabella Pearson leaves her comfortable life in Denver to serve at Camp Sheridan, Alabama, determined to bring hope to weary soldiers—not fall in love. But her plans for independence are tested when she finds herself pursued by Major Byron McDaniel, a brooding Army surgeon haunted by loss, and Nathaniel Steele, her brother’s loyal best friend who followed her across the country with hopes of winning her heart. As mysterious accidents and whispers of sabotage plague the camp, Isabella must decide who to trust—with her heart and with her life.

Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/4voZcqI

 

 
Connect with Heather:
Website: https://heathertabers.com/

Newsletter/Website: https://heathertabers.substack.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heather.tabers/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrsheathertabers/

Photo credits:

Author photo and book image: Courtesy Heather Tabers

Ponce Inlet Lighthouse: Pixabay/heatherlynnhaas0

Inspection at Camp Sheridan: Courtesy Alabama Department of Archives and History