These Things Hidden (26 page)

Hometown and family

From its fields of corn, to the Mississippi River, to the bluffs and the wooded areas, Dubuque is a wonderful place to live and raise a family. I have an amazing family—I am married and have three children ages fifteen, thirteen, and eleven. And of course there’s Maxine, our German Shorthair Pointer—the baby of the family.

Passions

I am so fortunate to be able to do two of the things I love: working in the field of education and writing. Currently I’m working as a literacy coach who is a support to teachers, but I still get to work with students here and there, which I thoroughly enjoy. It’s very satisfying to meet up with former students years later and find out what they are up to and to know that I have, in a small way, made an impact on their lives. Children are the reason I went into the field of education and why I continue to remain there. I also spend nearly every spare moment writing or thinking about writing.

Hobbies

My favourite hobby is reading. I love escaping into a good book whenever possible. I read before I go to bed each night and keep a stack of books in my car so I can read while I’m waiting for my children to finish an extracurricular activity. On a lark, I learned how to knit this winter. I’m still at the point where all I can make are these oddly shaped rectangles that
serve absolutely no purpose, but I find it relaxing. I also enjoy running and hiking with my dog, Maxine.

Favourite places

I am such a homebody. I love spending time with my family at our home. We live in a house right at the edge of a wooded area. It isn’t uncommon for us to see deer, turkeys and foxes walking through our yard and nearly every night we can hear coyotes and owls.

When and why did you decide to become a writer?

I’m first and foremost a reader and while I took a few writing classes in college and have kept journals through the years, I didn’t seriously think about becoming a writer until I was an adult with three young children. The idea of writing a book evolved gradually over time. As a classroom teacher, I spent day after day, year after year, encouraging my students to dream big and never give up. Finally I realised this advice applied to me as well. The day after school was over for the term, I bought myself a beautiful journal and began writing my first novel,
The Weight of Silence,
and haven’t looked back.

What does your typical day look like?

My day is typical of that of a working mum. After I get up in the morning, I rouse my three children and get them off to school—no easy feat some days! My work day consists of meeting with teachers to discuss students and to brainstorm what can be done to help the children become more successful readers. I’m often asked to provide professional development for teachers, hunt down educational resources, and assess students. I also help teach an evening class to teachers who are looking to further their education. In regard to writing books, I write whenever I get a free moment, early mornings, nights, and weekends.

How much research and plotting do you do before you’re ready to write the book?

Since I’m the mother of three and work outside the home I write whenever I can. However, I prefer to get up early in the morning and write before the rest of the house is awake or stay up
late after everyone has gone to sleep, this way I can spend some solid, uninterrupted time on the story. I always buy myself a beautiful journal and spend the first month or so writing the story in long-hand. I’ve found that in writing this way I’m able to write nearly anywhere and minimise distractions. Later I transfer what I’ve written to a computer and continue to add to the story. I always have an idea of the direction I want the story to travel, but of course it never follows the mental map I’ve planned. In regard to research, I rely on the experts. For example, for
These Things Hidden
I was in contact with a criminal defence attorney who was able to answer my questions about Iowa law.

I’m in the midst of writing my third book, also set in small-town Iowa. I’m always hesitant to discuss a project I’m currently working on—so much in my writing can change from day to day—characters, plots, setting. I
can
say it’s a novel about ordinary people in an
extraordinary situation trying to care for those they love.

Heather’s first novel, TV Bookclub Pick,
The Weight of Silence

Sweet, gentle Callie suffers from selective mutism. Petra Gregory is Calli’s best friend and her voice. And both have disappeared.

Now Calli and Petra’s families are bound by the question of what has happened to their children. As support turns to suspicion, it seems the answers lie in the silence of unspoken secrets.

The Lies We Told
by Diane Chamberlain

Orphaned by the brutal murder of their parents, Maya and Rebecca Ward only had each other. But on the night they saw their parents killed, the teenage sisters buried secrets that should never see the light of day.

Twenty years later, Rebecca is faced with the news that her sister is missing, feared dead. She is left to mourn and hope for a miracle. The only person she can lean on is Maya’s husband. But, as the days pass and hope fades, Rebecca’s grief brings to the surface feelings she must bury. Deeper than the lies they once told….

All the characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author, and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all the incidents are pure invention.

All Rights Reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Enterprises II B.V./S.à.r.l. The text of this publication or any part thereof may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, storage in an information retrieval system, or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.

This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise circulated without the prior consent of the publisher in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

MIRA is a registered trademark of Harlequin Enterprises Limited, used under licence.

First published in Great Britain 2011
MIRA Books, Eton House, 18-24 Paradise Road,
Richmond, Surrey, TW9 1SR

© Heather Gudenkauf 2011

ISBN 978-1-4089-3545-3