Heather Levy had the type of critical acclaim debut novelists dream about. She was nominated for an Anthony award for Best First Novel, and her novel was described as “spellbinding” by The New York Times and a “standout” by the LA Times. Thanks Heather for taking the time to answer a few questions!

1. Please tell us about your debut novel.

Walking Through Needles is about two teenage step-siblings, Samantha (aka Sam) Mayfair and Eric Walker, who become inseparable when their parents rush into marriage. A traumatic event sends the two in wildly different directions in life until fifteen years later when police accuse Eric of murdering the person who abused Sam as a teen. As Sam tries to help exonerate Eric, she must hide terrifying truths of their past from investigators. Yet as details of the murder unravel, Sam quickly learns that some people, including herself, will do anything to keep their secret buried deep.   

 2. I’ve read that only 4% of the people who start a novel, finish writing it. Why do you think you beat the odds?

I wish I could say there was some magic process to finish a novel, but the only thing that worked for me was perseverance. Every time I hit a wall, I’d step back, take a moment to breathe, and then get back to it. 

3. Was your debut novel the first book you wrote?  (Any prior efforts hiding on your hard drive?)

Walking Through Needles is my third completed novel but the first one published. I’m not sure if anything will ever happen with those first two manuscripts, but I can say I wouldn’t have been able to finish what would end up being my debut without writing them. And there are probably a dozen half-finished manuscripts hidden away somewhere (forever, I hope). 

4. What helped you become a better writer? Any books or resources you found helpful?

Reading and reading widely helped me the most with becoming a better writer. Seeing what my fellow writers are doing, both contemporary and classic, and analyzing why certain craft elements work or don’t work in a novel helped me see my own strengths and weaknesses. I’m also a big believer in having a good circle of trusted beta readers who will be brutally honest. As for resources, I’ll always be a fan of Stephen King’s On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft. I also learned a lot from Jessica Brody’s Save the Cat! Writes a Novel, which my Pitch Wars mentors had recommended.

5. What was your process like getting an agent? 

I struggled finding an agent before the Pitch Wars mentorship. I knew something wasn’t clicking with my manuscript since I had received many full requests but no offers, which is what prompted me to apply for Pitch Wars in 2019. I was thrilled to get accepted by my mentors Layne Fargo and Halley Sutton, both excellent writers, and they helped me pinpoint my manuscript’s weak spots. During the Pitch Wars agent showcase, I had quite a few requests from agents and ultimately signed with my amazing agent Sandy Lu.  

6. How did you celebrate when you learned your book would be published?

My husband bought a bottle of prosecco and I’m pretty sure I danced and cried in every room in our house.

7. What was the most exciting moment involving the publication of your debut novel?  (The moment you first saw the cover? The call when you learned when it was being published? When you cashed your advance check?)

Hands down it was seeing the wonderful review of my debut in the Sunday New York Times. My husband bought six copies from Barnes & Noble, and the Times is not cheap! 

8. What’s your best advice for someone who wants to be published?

 Listen to your gut. Sometimes the desire to be published tries to supersede knowing when something doesn’t feel right. As the saying goes, it’s better to have no agent than one who doesn’t have your back. As a debut and beyond, you will have people suggesting changes, some which might make your story stronger and some that could change the voice of your writing, so it’s important to listen to your gut and decipher what advice to trust. This also applies to opportunities. If I hadn’t listened to that little voice urging me to apply to Pitch Wars, who knows when my book would’ve found a home.  

9. What are you currently reading? Or, what's one of the best novels you've read lately?

So many outstanding books have come out this year! Some of my favorites include Briana Una McGunkin’s debut ON GOOD AUTHORITY, Kelly J. Ford’s new book REAL BAD THINGS, Jennifer Hillier’s THINGS WE DO IN THE DARK, and Amina Akhtar’s KISMET. 

10. What are you working on now?  Any projects coming out soon?

The pandemic wasn’t kind to my writing motivation for a long time, and I spent many months working on a manuscript that ultimately died (or is going to be resting for a long time). My current novel, HURT FOR ME, which just went out on sub, is about Rae Dixon (aka Mistress V), a trafficking survivor and single mom dominatrix who becomes entangled in a sex ring run by Oklahoma’s wealthy elites when one of her high end clients goes missing. Rae teams up with lead investigator Dayton Clearwater, who goes rogue and has an agenda of his own, when women from her kink community, some of whom are sex workers, also go missing. But the deeper they investigate, Rae realizes her traumatic past may have disturbing ties to the present which could place everyone she loves in danger. 

To learn more about Heather Levy, check out her Twitter and Instagram accounts.