Noelle Myers Interview Published on: 15, Sep 2023

I have always had an active imagination - and have been writing since childhood - in fact - both the first and second books in my Carter Saga (The Tender Heart and The widow's Heart) were begun as early as second grade. My parents encouraged my imagination, and my writing, and that helped as well.

As a child and young adult I was often told I was a great storyteller, and that I should write. I didn't have a lot of faith in myself as a writer for a long time. It took me a couple of years ( writing longhand) to finish my first (and as yet unpublished) novel, but when I did, the feeling of accomplishment was something I wanted to repeat. So I started writing every spare minute I had. I have a million stories in my head still!

I think the most fulfilling thing is just being able to reach more people with the diversity. People of all ages read YA, and it is such an important genre- especially for getting younger people to read more vs be on screen time more. I think it is fun to hear that a grandmother has read my book, and given it to her grand daughter and they both love it. That is quite fulfilling. As far as switching between them, I just write the story. If you stay true to the story, the rest mostly takes care of itself.

My writing often contains elements of my non-profit work. Characters in my stories have similar struggles to myself and/or my broader groups of clients, etc. so Yes, there is some overlap and synergy for sure. The work I do for the non-profit also tends to have some periods of down time (if I am at a crime scene for example, or waiting to testify at a hearing, etc) writing tends to calm and focus me - so I have my laptop to work on story sketches, details of scenery, etc during those times)

Technically that is the "title of my life" not the title of one of my books - lol.

Even though it isn't a title for a book - North Dakota is where I live, and where I know best - and it is beautiful (even if the weather is a bit unforgiving) You can absolutely change the atmosphere of a scene with weather - a sudden prairie thunderstorm can pose all sorts of dangers - or be a dramatic backdrop for a scene - or the eerie silence of after a blizzard - where the snow muffles the sounds, and the air is still and frigid - can mirror many things. You can make it romantic, spooky, etc. It is a unique location, and I enjoy utilizing aspects of it in my books.

Eclectic tastes mean a broader base of knowledge to pull from. The more I learn about by reading, etc.. the more information I have to pull stories and details from.

I think the tones and themes CAN be similar. Love, believing in yourself, Kindness, Compassion, Treating people well.. all of these can be in both genres equally. All humans of all ages need these things in their lives. I tend to focus on the story itself, the rest falls into place as I go along.

I enjoy a challenge - I enjoy the stretching and growth that it creates. I have dabbled in a little retro-style horror, some true crime, etc as well and I love the different aspects that each genre brings to the story.

Love, faith and hope - are present in everyone's lives to a varying degree, so I just take from real life many times. If you have read my books - so many of the little bits and pieces are from my life or family members' lives. In A Gentle Bravery - Jane (our main female lead) has a moment where she finds her nephew has a diaper rash - caused by his young mother bleaching his cloth diapers to keep them bright white. In an age where washing machines were new fangled inventions, she didn't know not to do that. This actually happened to my great aunt. She ended up taking her baby to the doctor to find out that she shouldn't bleach his diapers. I find that some of those real moments are the ones people relate to the most, and they help them relate to the larger story as a whole. I also do try to balance the hard and heavy things with humor and kindness sprinkled throughout the books.

I try to write regularly... life (especially with a non-profit like mine) doesn't always allow for that, but I do my best. If I am stuck - in a rut - or have writers block - I read, anything and everything I can get my hands on.. I watch movies and dramas - especially from other countries (Korean dramas are spectacular!) I paint. I try and do as many creative things as I can to stimulate that part of my brain. That and I hang out with my writers group - being together with like minded people helps to keep me motivated for sure.

Absolutely they find their way into my stories. It is difficult to NOT include them, as they can change every aspect of how I am going to go about my day. You treat things very differently if it is -60 degrees outside. Or if there is golf ball sized hail, or 70 mph winds. A Raging thunderstorm has a different effect on my mood than a gentle gloomy rain. A still, but frigid, and sunny day - sparks a different emotion than a whirling, spinning white out blizzard. Utilizing them helps to give the writing a uniqueness - and also in historical fiction especially - it would have informed EVERYTHING about their lives at the time.

I like to think of it like - Non fiction is learning through facts. Fiction is learning through imagination. Fictional stories that have mirrored things in my own life have helped me learn coping skills, boundaries, and more. FIction has often taught me that what I am going through is normal - or not - as the case may be.

I am still working on book 2 in the Brothers in Arms Series - but that one is close to completion. Hoping to finish that one soon, and start the next one. There will be 4 books in that series - and my next series is going to be set in the Middle Ages - so that should be fun!

I think it is a fun and reasonable place to get some exposure. I enjoy the ease of it, and the ability to connect with both other authors and readers. It is a fun community.