Heather : Yes, definitely! I love fantasy of all kinds, so writing “What’s in a Name” was a lot of fun, and I enjoyed reading and critting the stories of the other participating authors. How does it feel to write something different? Do you consider paranormal urban fantasy in your wheelhouse? JE: Out of the five anthologies thus far, three have been fairy-tale themed. Now that I have five (soon to be six) anthologies under my belt, the process is pretty much second nature. I also coordinate the judges who read through the stories during the revision process. Our writers’ group is amazing in that we’re all very self-motivated people who are always striving to improve. After that, it’s just a matter of sending gentle reminders about deadlines and checking in on progress. Heather : I’m fortunate that I enjoy organizing! My first step is to always set up a timeline and figure out who will be able to help out with what along the way. JE: Welcome! Before we talk about your work, tell me HOW do you stay so organized when managing the creation of JL’s anthologies time after time? Interview with the fabulous Heather Hayden. īut before we dive in, I want to announce that this blog is part of the JL Anthology Scavenger Hunt Blog Tour! Instructions and my blog's 'clue' is right after the interview, so keep reading till the end!

Today, I have the honor of asking her a few questions on this blog tour for the Just-Us League’s soon-to-be released anthology Secrets in Our Cities. Heather Hayden plays an integral role in making this process run like a well-oiled machine, and not only is she extremely organized, she is a talented writer. Each has its own unique theme: fairy-tale retellings, superheroes/villains, and horror. Since then, this passionate group of writers has contributed to five, going on SIX, volumes. The Just-Us League put out its first anthology in December 2016.

A Bit of Magic by Heather Hayden