Saturday, July 6, 2019

Learning to Fly By Heather Webber @booksbyheather


 Lucy Burdette: I'm so excited for today's guest. I've known Heather for a long time as a fellow denizen in the cozy mystery universe--and as you'll see, she survived the merger and downsizing of Penguin Random House with flying colors. I was delighted when I heard that she'd sold her first women's fiction (to Hank's editor, yay!) Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe will be published on July 16 and I cannot wait to get my copy. Welcome Heather!

Heather Webber: At the end of 2014, my husband and I finally joined the twenty-first century by signing up for Pandora, the music streaming service. We quickly added our favorite songs and music from the Beatles was included on our playlist. But as much as I enjoy the Beatles, for some reason I’d never heard “Blackbird” until Pandora suggested it.

Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
-The Beatles

I became obsessed with the song, listening to it again and again. I was haunted by the above lyrics. The writer in me took notice, and a story idea sparked for a women’s fiction/magical realism novel.

Broken people with emotional wounds. Learning to metaphorically fly.

Almost every character—and even the fictional town of Wicklow, Alabama—is broken in some way in Midnight at the Blackbird Café.

But how to heal everyone?

That’s where the blackbirds come in. If blackbirds could sing messages in the dead of night, what would they choose to tell us? What do we most want to hear? Blackbird research led me quickly to the Song of Sixpence with its “four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie,” and then a tidbit in Celtic folklore revealed that blackbirds were considered guardians and messengers of the "Other world.” With that, the heart of this book took form. What if blackbirds with their songs could pass messages from dearly departed loved ones through, of all things, pie, to bring comfort and love to those left behind?

The only problem with my story idea was that I didn’t have the time to write it. In 2014/2015 I was writing two to three books a year for Penguin-Random House (as Heather Blake). Finding additional time to write a 90-100k word book seemed impossible.

Then toward the end of 2015, PRH abruptly downsized their cozy line. I decided that if I was going to make a change, career-wise, this was the time to do it. Suddenly, the impossible seemed possible.

So I took a chance…and learned to fly.

Questions for Heather?


Midnight at the Blackbird Café is a captivating blend of magical realism, heartwarming romance, and small-town Southern charm.

Nestled in the mountain shadows of Alabama lies the little town of Wicklow. It is here that Anna Kate has returned to bury her beloved Granny Zee, owner of the Blackbird Café.

It was supposed to be a quick trip to close the café and settle her grandmother’s estate, but despite her best intentions to avoid forming ties or even getting to know her father’s side of the family, Anna Kate finds herself inexplicably drawn to the quirky Southern town her mother ran away from so many years ago, and the mysterious blackbird pie everybody can’t stop talking about.

As the truth about her past slowly becomes clear, Anna Kate will need to decide if this lone blackbird will finally be able to take her broken wings and fly.


"Webber infuses her charming Southern small-town tale with lighthearted magic and gentle humor, and the cast of supporting characters adds to the quirky fun. Readers of Sarah Addison Allen and Joshilyn Jackson will enjoy spending time at the Blackbird Café" – Booklist



Heather Webber, aka Heather Blake, is the author of more than twenty-five novels. She loves to read, drink too much coffee and tea, birdwatch, crochet, and bake. She currently lives near Cincinnati, Ohio, and is hard at work on her next book.

47 comments:

  1. Congratulations on your new book, Heather. It sounds quite charming and I’m looking forward to meeting Anna Kate.
    I’m curious to know if you found any other interesting blackbird lore in your research?

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    1. Thank you, Joan! It seems every culture has a blackbird legend of some sort. From the ones I found, most had to do with death / reincarnation. Some were about protection. It's all very fascinating.

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    2. One of the legends I found most interesting was the Italian one telling about the cold winter and how the once-white birds became blackbirds . . . .

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  2. Fabulous, Heather! I want to read it right this minute. I love that the song (one I have enjoyed for many years) inspired you, and I'm glad you found the time - and a publisher.

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  3. Heather, your book sounds fantastic, and the story of how you 'found time' to write it had me applauding. Going now to read the excerpt...

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    1. Thanks so much, Hallie. I hope you enjoy the excerpt.

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  4. Love the background story to this book, Heather. I am stunned, though, that you'd never heard Blackbird before a few years ago. Also one of my own favorite Beatles songs.

    I have long been a fan--of your road shows with Harley Jane Kozak and Alex Sokoloff! You guys are a rare hoot together.

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    1. I can't believe I hadn't heard it, either! Maybe the universe was waiting for just the right time. And I think you're thinking of Heather Graham. :) I'll take that mix-up any day of the week.

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  5. Heather--I memorized that song and wore out the record listening to it over and over--still love it, still find it haunting and inspirational! Can't wait to get my hands on your own 'learning-to-fly' book!

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    1. Thank you! Years later, I still listen to it obsessively. It's definitely haunting. I hope you love the book!

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  6. Congratulations on your new release! Waves from Cincinnati. Books on the Banks?

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    1. Thank you! And no plans for Books by the Banks yet--but I will be signing at Joseph-Beth on 8/8.

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  7. What an intriguing premise! Read the excerpt. Hooked.

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  8. Okay, I read the excerpt. I'm sucked in. Can't wait to read the rest!

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  9. Wow, was that excerpt engaging! Wish I could start the book tomorrow.

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  10. How wonderful! In so many ways… Cannot wait to read this, it sounds fabulous!
    Tell us more about how you deal with magical realism… Are there… Rules?

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    1. Thanks so much, Hank! The only rules with magical realism is there isn't any rules. It's incredibly freeing. It's magic that doesn't need to be explained, which is quite different from both my witch series, which have definitive origins.

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    2. Wow--that is fascinating! It'll be such fun to read this..

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  11. Congratulations Heather! I love this book and I can't wait for others to enjoy it as well.

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    1. Thank you, Dru Ann! ♥ Can't wait to see you in TWO weeks.

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  12. Heather, I just about cried when your Wishcraft series ended, so I'm looking forward to reading your new book. Congratulations!

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    1. Thank you for following me along my writing journey, Cathy! It's always so sad to say goodbye to beloved characters, isn't it? It was hard for me, too.

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  13. Blackbird has long been one of my favorite Beatles songs! (Recently I have been listening to Beatles music again as much as possible, and also stumbled on a radio station that plays a lot of it. I must be trying to relive the music part of my youth:-)

    The excerpt has definitely pulled me in, and I will be looking for the book!

    DebRo

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  14. Guess I never realized it was a Beatles song all these years. Your book already had me sucked in wanting to read. Very much looking forward to reading.

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    1. I can't believe I'd never heard it. And now I can't stop listening. Ha! I hope you enjoy the book!

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  15. Congrats on your new book, Heather! Funny how unwelcome news like PRH downsizing cozies can turn into something positive. I'm glad you got the chance to write a book outside of your normal genre, and I hope it's a great success!

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  16. I enjoy the books you write as both Heather Webber and Heather Blake, so I was already looking forward to this new one. I love that it was inspired by the song "Blackbird"! I hadn't heard that song in years and then just a couple of weeks ago got to hear Paul McCartney sing it at a concert and was reminded how much I like it. It's such a beautiful and moving song and now I'm anticipating reading this book even more.

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    1. Thanks so much, Cathy! And how wonderful you got to see Paul in concert--color me jealous.

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  17. Love the excerpt! Heather, MIDNIGHT AT THE BLACKBIRD CAFE may be one of the rare books I buy in paper these days - that cover is too beautiful to only have as a digital file!

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    1. Thanks, Julia! I just today received the hardcover copies and they're absolutely gorgeous in person.

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  18. Oh, Blackbird is one of my favorite songs, not just one of my favorite Beatles' songs. I love its simplicity yet depth. Of course, I love Paul McCartney singing it, but I always on the look out for covers of it, too. And, Heather, your book sounds like it hits the same chord as the song. Midnight at the Blackbird Café is a great title, and with that beautiful cover, those alone will attract lots of readers. Then, when they read what the story is, I know it will be irresistible. Putting it on my TBR list now!

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    1. Simplicity and depth is a great description. It's such a beautiful song. I hope you enjoy the book!

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  19. Heather! Welcome to Jungle Reds! Is your Midnight at Blackbird Cafe published by Penguin Random House? I will ask my library to purchase your novel. I would love to read your book. How wonderful that your novel was inspired by a song that you heard. Are you giving a copy of your novel to the singer/ band?

    Diana

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    1. Diana, thanks for thinking about your local library! The book is published by Forge, part of Macmillan. Haven't thought about mailing the book to Paul McCartney, but never say never...

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    2. Heather, I am following you on Instagram! And I think Paul McCartney would love a copy. Thanks for the name of the publisher company so I can let the library know :-)

      Diana

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  20. Thank you for the excerpt! I am ready to read more!

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  21. Thank you for sharing the excerpt. I am looking forward to reading the book. I for one believe the universe connects us to the present, Past and future. Animals are spirits or totems that help guide us.

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  22. Can't wait to read it, I'll request my library to buy it.

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  23. Congratulations, Heather!!! I feel as if I’ve been waiting for this book for forever!!! I love everything about the premise and I know with your word smithing skill it is just fabulous!

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