Ask the Author: Heather King
Answered Questions (6)
Heather King
My most recent book is called RAVISHED: Notes on Womanhood. I come right out up front and say I have been something of less than a wild success in the romance department...and thus I hope, set the tone for a book about womanhood by a human being--not defined by labels of right, left, pro-life or even feminist...but rather a full-fledged, deeply flawed, on-fire-with-Christ human being. Who OF course loves life in all its forms, and all women—and all children, and all men…
The book is a collection of essays, some of which have been previously published. "All the Mothers in the World," the last chapter, for example, won some kind of award, I think an Honorable Mention in Best American Essays, after first appearing in The Sun. At some point I realized I've been writing about being a woman, and especially having been formed as a woman in the Church, for years.
And after being less than thrilled with the approach and tone of much of MeToo, I decided it was time to collect those essays into a book. My own movement, and I have a chapter on it, would be called #AllOfUs.
The book also includes the whole of "Poor Baby," a 10,000-word essay about healing from abortion that I self-published years ago.
I sometimes joke that I've written a book about every single thing that has ever happened to me--which at this point equals twelve. Alcoholism, divorce, money neuroses, cancer--I can't wait to see what's next!
The book is a collection of essays, some of which have been previously published. "All the Mothers in the World," the last chapter, for example, won some kind of award, I think an Honorable Mention in Best American Essays, after first appearing in The Sun. At some point I realized I've been writing about being a woman, and especially having been formed as a woman in the Church, for years.
And after being less than thrilled with the approach and tone of much of MeToo, I decided it was time to collect those essays into a book. My own movement, and I have a chapter on it, would be called #AllOfUs.
The book also includes the whole of "Poor Baby," a 10,000-word essay about healing from abortion that I self-published years ago.
I sometimes joke that I've written a book about every single thing that has ever happened to me--which at this point equals twelve. Alcoholism, divorce, money neuroses, cancer--I can't wait to see what's next!
Heather King
I don't think about or wait for inspiration. I live my entire life, or try to, in such a way that the Holy Spirit, if that's not too hokey, informs and sort of adds a different dimension to everything I do. I'm steeped at all times in prayer and the Eucharist. So a trip to the 99-cent Store can be an Event, or a moment on my balcony before the sun rises, or my perpetual annoyance at my landlord. I have files and files of quotes and ideas and half-filled notebooks such that I could not possibly live long enough to do them all justice.
Heather King
I published two new books this year: RAVISHED: Notes on Womanhood and FOOLS FOR CHRIST: Fifty Divine Eccentric Artists, Martyrs, Stigmatists and Unsung Saints. I write a weekly arts and culture column so that deadline is always uppermost in my mind and nervous system. But I'm also spending the whole month of August at an artist's residency offered by St. Gertrude's Monastery in Cottonwood, Idaho! Here I hope to make some progress on my next book: HARROWED: The Misadventures of an Urban Gardener.
Heather King
Don't waste time seeking advice--just write. I myself had no mentor, cheerleader, companion--I'm not saying that's the only way or even the best way. But as Rilke said (I'm paraphrasing), Ask yourself in the stillest hour of the night--Must I write? And if the answer is yes--do it. Do not be dissuaded, discouraged, shamed, or swayed. Forge your own way and do it.
Heather King
That it's my vocation and thus, no matter how much I may be suffering rejection, a sense of failure, dryness etc--I know I'm doing what I was put here on earth to do. Of course there are many stabs of pure joy--crafting a sentence that lands, for example, or hearing from a reader who has been challenged, moved, inspired, consoled, or touched by my work.
Heather King
I don't get writer's block--I can neither afford nor indulge it. I write a weekly arts and culture column (among other things) that I consider part of my sacred vocation and thus a matter of obedience. Plus I need to pay the rent.
When I started out 25 years ago, I wrote every day as a matter of discipline. "The habit of art,"as Flannery O'Connor called it, became ingrained. I may not write every day but my heart, mind and soul have been formed constantly to be reflecting upon the world, my outer experiences and my inner life. So I may run out of energy and time, but I don't run out of ideas.
When I started out 25 years ago, I wrote every day as a matter of discipline. "The habit of art,"as Flannery O'Connor called it, became ingrained. I may not write every day but my heart, mind and soul have been formed constantly to be reflecting upon the world, my outer experiences and my inner life. So I may run out of energy and time, but I don't run out of ideas.
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more