Written by Teralyn Mitchell
Helena Hunting recently released a new novel, The Good Luck Charm, which is a sexy, second chance romance between childhood friends. Helena was kind enough to answer some questions from Teralyn about her new release and her upcoming release next spring, her life, and writing in general!
Can you tell us a little about yourself?
I’m a mother of one awesome ten-year-old girl, wife to the best man ever and I love crafting, puzzles and binge-watching TV shows like Stranger Things. I adore a good paranormal romance and my favourite food is popcorn.
When did you first know you wanted to be a writer?
I’ve always loved writing. As soon as I could put words on a page, I started creating stories. As a child I’d draw pictures when I didn’t know how to spell the word and that love for creating worlds and reading grew from there.
What inspires you to write?
I love creating worlds and characters, setting them up with challenges that they have to overcome. For me, writing is almost a compulsion. I’ve always loved being creative, whether it’s through writing or some other medium. It feeds my soul and makes me happy.
Do you have a set schedule for writing, or do you wait until you feel inspired?
I have a very set schedule. I treat writing like I would any other job and I’m in my office from nine to five, and often in the evenings, depending on where I am in the writing process. I think the most difficult part in working from home is knowing when it’s time to walk away and focus on other things, like family, and food and on very rare occasions, binge-watching TV shows.
What, according to you, is the hardest thing about writing? What would you say is the easiest aspect of writing?
Personally? The hardest part for me are content edits, where I’m going back and forth in the manuscript, making sure all the time lines jive and there aren’t any crazy potholes I need to climb my way out of. The easiest part for me is typically the first draft because it’s raw and fully immersive in the creation aspect of my writing process.
Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?
Write every day, even if it’s one sentence, or a paragraph, every word counts. And find your tribe. It’s so important to have people behind you for support.
If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?
It’s okay to be the weird kid, and it’s okay to be super emotional and feel everything intensely. Those traits are what will give you the backbone you need to do what you love.
You have written and published numerous books. Which book (or series) is your favourite that you’ve published so far?
That is a really tough question. I love them all for very different reasons. Meet Cute, which is coming out in April of 2019 is very different from my other stories, and for that reason I have a particularly huge love for that story. It’s not just about the romance and the hero and heroine, but also about the importance of family.
Your most recent release, The Good Luck Charm, has such an intriguing and interesting synopsis. What can you tell us about the novel?
The Good Luck Charm is a sexy, emotional second chance romance—with a hockey player hero (kind of my thing). It’s very much a story of love and loss, of reconnecting and starting over.
Can you share with us something about the book that isn’t in the blurb?
Young love can be all-consuming, and for Lilah and Ethan, that’s exactly what their experience was the first time they fell in love. They were best friends who became lovers, already so fully entrenched in each other’s lives. So, when Ethan comes back into her life, Lilah has to learn how to balance their relationship with her own personal goals. We get to see her finding her own way, and fighting for what she needs, even if it means putting herself before the man she loves.
Do any of the characters in The Good Luck Charm hold a special place in your heart? If so, why?
Emery, one of Lilah’s patients and a secondary character in the story is full of sass and I loved writing her. I can’t really say more than that without giving away too much. 😉
What were the key challenges you faced when writing this book? What was the highlight of writing this book?
I think writing a second chance romance where the hero and heroine have a very deep past can be tricky in that it’s easy to get lost in the history of them rather than their present. The evolution of Ethan and Lilah’s relationship was the most rewarding part of the story; giving them room to grow both individually and as a couple.
I see that you have a new novel, Meet Cute, releasing spring of 2019. What can you tell us about it?
I’m so excited for this story! Meet Cute is a fun, sexy rivals-to-lovers romance in so much that the hero and heroine have a past, but not a romantic history. While it’s definitely a love story, it’s also so much more than that. It’s about learning how to survive great loss, finding and accepting love, and making sacrifices for the people in your life that you love.
Lastly, do you have any book recommendations for us?
I’ve read some great books this year. I’m currently in the middle of Saint by JB Salsbury, it’s the second book in a duet. The premise is so unique and I’m just in love with the angsty, intriguing storyline.
