Interview with Lilith A. Heart, Winter 2021 Flash Fiction Runner Up

Lilith A. Heart is a horror prose author who favors the gothic horror and psychological horror sub-genres.

She graduated from Aquinas College in 2016 with a B.A. in English and a double minor in Creative Writing and Japanese. Lilith was featured in two publications by Caffeinated Press, a former local publisher: Brewed Awakenings 1 (2015, The Garden and the Grave) and Brewed Awakenings 2 (2016, Suppression).

At the end of 2020, she made the bittersweet decision to leave her job with a local cat furniture manufacturer to pursue her passion more enthusiastically and to build her writing collection.

She currently lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan with her husband of 11 years, two cats named Shinobi and Hana, and rescue pitbull named Koda.

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WOW: Congratulations on your top ten win in our Winter 2021 Flash Fiction competition! What prompted you to enter the contest?

Lilith: Thank you!

At the end of 2020, I left my job to pursue writing more enthusiastically, build my collection and challenge myself as an author. One of the challenges I gave myself was to enter at least one writing contest per month this year. I found WOW and thought that a flash fiction contest was a perfect way to kick off my new chapter.

WOW:  Can you tell us what encouraged the idea behind your story, “Snow Day?”

Lilith: People generally enjoy snow days. It’s a fun, guilt-free day off! But I wanted to create a situation where a snow day causes upset. Instead of relaxing or otherwise taking a load off, the nameless main character is suddenly forced to face the demons of a toxic home; “Snow Day” became a story about the unseen effects and events of domestic abuse.

WOW: You did a great job, I felt a wave of apprehension at the end. Are you working on any writing projects right now? What’s next for you?

Lilith: At the moment, I am working on a flash fiction horror story for another contest.

WOW:  What are you reading right now, and why did you choose to read it?

Lilith: I am currently reading “Barbed Wire Heart” by Tess Sharpe. I chose it because I wanted to find a gripping thriller and so far this one has had me hooked since the opening line.

WOW:  That book looks interesting! One of the reviewers described it as, "It's the Sopranos meets Ray Donovan only the hero is a woman." 

Thanks so much for chatting with us today, Lilith. Before you go, can you share a favorite writing tip or piece of advice?

Lilith: The first draft is just you telling the story to yourself. 

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For more information about our quarterly Flash Fiction and Creative Nonfiction Essay contests, visit our contest page here.