Life & Work with Heather Kirchhoff of Higginsville

Today we’d like to introduce you to Heather Kirchhoff.

Hi Heather, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My journey started in 2008 when I discovered Twilight.

The ending of Twilight by Stephenie Meyer is what truly started it. It made me so emotional to the point that I wanted to make others feel that way as well.

Reading Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead made me want to become an author even more. Evermore by Alyson Noel sealed my fate.

I started writing when I was thirteen and wrote all the time. At first I did paranormal stories, but that shifted the older I got. Now I write YA contemporary romance and poetry.

Growing up I wrote at least five books and tons of short stories. I also have several unfinished stories that I plan on going back to one day.

I was first published in November 2012. My short story, Save Me, was selected to be in Apocalypse alongside other amazing short stories. I was seventeen at the time.

When self-publishing was new, I decided to publish a few of my books: Dusk, Daybreak, Lightning Strike, Fading and The Last Night. I didn’t know what I was doing but the more I learned about publishing, the more I realized the books I published weren’t quality work so I unpublished them all.

I then spent years editing The Last Night off and on. In December 2023 I finally republished an improved version of The Last Night and changed the title to The Last Time. I made tons of changes to the storyline and it flows so much better now than it did back in 2013 when I first published.

I released a poetry book called Our Truths April 2024 and will be releasing a new YA contemporary romance in July 2025!

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I’ve definitely had struggles!

I published my first five books weeks after finishing and “editing” them. That’s why I unpublished them when I realized my mistake. I’m embarrassed to mention what I did as a teenager but it’s part of my story!

Now I take my time with polishing the story!

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I write clean romance books!

The Last Time is a YA contemporary romance about a girl struggling with grief after her boyfriend commits suicide. She slowly falls for the person who’s there for her as she navigates life after loss. I like to say The Last Time has the reluctant to lovers trope! Trigger warnings: hint of self-harm (not on page), bullying and depression representation.

Our Truths is a poetry book! It has many poems about the ups and downs of life!

My next release, Smitten with You, is a YA childhood friends to lovers romance. It’ll be released in July 2025!
Smitten with You is the first in a standalone series.

I’m currently working on the second book!

I’m also in thirteen anthologies. I’ve written horror, romance, paranormal and nonfiction short stories.

We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
Risk-taking is a big step!

Sometimes it’s needed to grow and achieve the things you want to!

Risks I’ve taken are signing up for book events! Since I only have two books out currently I’m not sure if it’s worth paying to attend these events but I’m doing it anyway!

Another thing is publishing in general! It takes a lot of time and money to produce an amazing story!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://authorheatherkirchhoff.weebly.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heatherkirchhoffwritesya
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorHeatherKirchhoff
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_v724s7_4tRFapDjcHnBOw
• Other: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Heather-Kirchhoff/author/B00ED77LEY

Image Credits
The Last Time and Our Truths cover is by Bree Vanderland Darcy
Smitten with You cover is by Ink and Laurel