Blog Tour: Heaven Scent by Rebecca Talley

I thoroughly enjoyed Rebecca Talley's latest book, Heaven Scent. I bought it to read, but my fifteen year old daughter quickly snatched it away before I could even read it. She couldn't put it down, and I think she read the entire book in one sitting.

When I got my turn to read it, I could see why. It was a compelling story about a young girl and the trials she faced. It takes an unexpected turn that is very touching. You'll definitely need a box of tissues!

My favorite part of the book was Rebecca's portrayal of the main character, Liza. It was perfect. She captured the angst, self-consciousness, and the up and down rollercoaster emotions, we all have as teenagers, in a way that made me feel what Liza was feeling. I loved the character and would like to read more of her story.

Rebecca agreed to answer a few questions about this book and writing in general:

When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I actually kept my writing a secret for a long time because I was afraid people would laugh at me or think I was wasting my time. I finally realized that publication doesn't make you a writer, writing makes you a writer. When I realized this, I gave myself permission to be a writer.

Is there a message in your novel you are wanting readers to grasp?

The message of "Heaven Scent" is that no matter what life throws at us, there is always hope.

How long did it take you to write the book?

I worked on "Heaven Scent" off and on for years in between pregnancies, nursing newborns, toddlers, kids, teenagers, and caring for my ailing grandparents. I wasn't sure I'd ever finish it. It actually started as a short story in high school. So, yes, for me it took many, many years to finally finish it.

What books or authors have most influenced your writing?
I love to read books by Jerry Spinelli and loved his book, "Stargirl." I try to not let anyone influence my writing so I can maintain my own voice.

What can we look for next? What current projects are you working on?
I'm currently working on an LDS romance that's been a lot of fun to write. It's a simple, fun love story.

If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your book?

Nope. That's the story that played in my head that I wanted to share.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

Time. Time seems to be a luxury I don't always have. Maybe if I didn't sleep, I would have enough time to do everything!

I know you have lots of children, so when do you find time to write?

I squish it in here and there. I'd love to have a chunk of regular time that I could write, but that just ain't happenin' right now. Another season of my life perhaps. For now, I just take what I can get and try not to get frustrated that I don't produce as much as I'd like.

Do you have any advice for other authors?

Never give up. If writing is your dream, don't let anyone convince you to abandon it. Learn the craft, meet other writers, join critique groups, go to conferences, but most of all, write the story that's in your heart.

What do you like to do when you're not writing?
Eat ice cream, play with my kids, read, help my kids develop their talents, work on family history.

Thanks Rebecca! It was so fun to read Heaven Scent and to get to know you better. I look forward to reading more from you in the future.

You can purchase a copy of Heaven Scent at Amazon or your local LDS Retailer.