A Peek into the World of Author Heather Dixon and the Inspiration Behind “Burlington”
At SavvyMom, we’re thrilled to offer you an exclusive glimpse into the world of author Heather Dixon — we’re so proud of our former SavvyMom.ca Editor-in-Chief! With her first release, Burlington, captivating readers, we wanted to know more about the creative mind behind the words. Heather shared her insights, inspirations, and a sneak peek into her upcoming projects.
Our Chat with Author Heather Dixon
Can you tell us a bit about the inspiration behind Burlington? What led you to write this particular story?
Author Heather Dixon: The idea for Burlington was first formed when I started taking my oldest daughter to school, back when she was in Kindergarten. It was new for both of us, and I suddenly felt very unsure of my surroundings. It could have been my own hang up, but I felt out of place—I noticed groups of parents and unwritten rules and was fascinated by this new world I didn’t know how to navigate.
Also, I’ve always felt like the odd woman out, or like I didn’t quite belong. It’s been hard to find my place, even as an adult, and I wanted to explore that among female relationships. Then, of course, I had to have more of a plot, so my story ideas developed from there.
Do you see yourself in any of the characters or situations?
Heather Dixon: The main character, Mae, isn’t me, but I do share a lot of things with her. She’s a woman who feels a little vulnerable, a little unsure of herself, but who wants to have meaningful friendships in her life. She wants to do the right thing, and be a good mother and a good friend, but can find it all a little overwhelming.
What advice would you give to moms navigating schoolyard politics and drama?
Heather Dixon: I wish I knew how to give advice on this! I’ve always been a sensitive person, so while it might be easy to say, “Don’t let it bother you!”, I know that can be easier said than done. I think it comes down to finding your people. I often tell my daughters that the amount of friends you have really doesn’t matter, but if you have one good friend, who truly gets you, you’re golden.
What did you learn from the writing and publishing process? Any surprises?
Heather Dixon: I’ve learned so much these past several years. The main thing I’ve learned about publishing is that the process is a very long one because there are so many moving parts that need to be worked out early on. You may have a fully written manuscript, but it’s normal for it then to take a year and a half to two years for it to be published after being acquired. It feels like forever! But there’s so much to get right first.
And when it comes to writing, I’ve learned that persistence and hard work is at the root of it all. If you want to be a published author, you have to be willing to keep going after you’re told no many, many times. You have to keep practicing your craft and that means writing and rewriting and writing some more. I wrote two books before Burlington, so it took me writing three full manuscripts before I broke into publishing.
Talk a little bit about rejection – how did you handle receiving any rejections from publishers?
Heather Dixon: It’s very hard. I’ve had over 200 rejections from literary agents and editors. And, actually, I still don’t have a literary agent. It can be really, really hard to keep going when you’re constantly told no, and I really don’t think it gets easier. I just think you get kind of numb to it. It’s a part of the process though, and it’s a terrible, awful, no-good part, but everyone gets rejections.
As a busy mom, when do you find time to write?
Heather Dixon: I’ve always been a morning person, so I get up really early, at 5am, and I spend about an hour to an hour and a half writing. Then I help get my kids ready for the school day, take my dog out for a walk and afterwards, start my day job. Once the kids get home from school, it flips into after-school activity time and dinners and things like that, so I really only have that chunk of time in the morning to focus on writing.
If I’m on a deadline, I will make time in the day here and there, or I will edit at night, but my most creative time has to happen in the morning.
Are your kids impressed with your achievements?
Heather Dixon: I think so, but it’s pretty hard to impress a 13 year old! Although, I think they all find it kind of cool when their teachers at school ask them about my book.
Do you have any recommendations for readers of suspense novels?
Heather Dixon: Ashley Audrain writes incredible books. I also think I would call Burlington a “neighbourhood drama” and I love those types so much. My favourites are Liane Moriarty’s books (especially Big Little Lies) and Celeste Ng’s Little Fires Everywhere. But for more recent recommendations, I’ve heard Everyone Here is Lying by Shari Lapena and The Other Mothers by Katherine Faulkner are both very good. They’re on my to-be-read list!
Where can readers find your book?
Heather Dixon: You can find it online wherever books are sold and in Indigo locations across Canada. It’s also available online at Indigo.
What is next for you?
Heather Dixon: I have two other books coming out! One is available on October 26, 2023 and it’s called Last Summer at the Lake House. It’s about three sisters who return to the summer cottage where they spent their childhood to be with their mother after their father dies. Once there, they start uncovering secrets about everyone in the family that threatens to tear them apart. [Editor’s Note: You can buy Heather’s new release here!]
After that, I’ll have another book out in January of 2024. It has themes of motherhood, family, found family, and belonging.
Author Heather Dixon is the managing editor of a non-profit website and author of contemporary fiction, including Burlington, a domestic suspense, and Last Summer at the Lake House, women’s fiction. She spent over a decade in the marketing and advertising industry as a copywriter, and has written about motherhood for a number of established websites. She lives just outside of Toronto, Ontario with her husband, her three young daughters and her Bouvier, Zoey.
