Her Story
About Heather
Heather Samuel is a professional author and published novelist based in Montreal. She publishes novels and teaches memoir writing to adult women, having designed a program that covers the full process of writing and publishing. Her first publication appeared in 2014 or 2015, and she has focused on teaching since 2016 or 2017, including time spent in Europe where she led groups in Florence and via Zoom. Samuel's areas of specialization include storytelling and novel writing in the psychological and contemporary romance genres, often incorporating elements of lifestyle, travel, and food. She holds an undergraduate background in English and languages, teaching degrees, training from the College for Culinary Arts, and studies in design and architecture in Italy. She speaks a few languages and has lectured, conducted book signings, and appeared on television. Samuel has volunteered extensively, including work with fire victims in Maui, establishing Out of the Cold in Toronto, the Auxiliary for Women's at Mount Sinai Hospital, and plans to join the Jewish Hospital in Montreal. She was previously a member of AAUW. She attributes her success to overcoming early difficulties and turns personal challenges into passion projects that inspire others, while her values center on inspiring women facing relationship, family, personal, or health issues and giving back to create opportunities in her community. She advises aspiring writers to write every day, even just a few sentences, and to use writing as a tool for authenticity and self-release.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Heather
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success ironically to a lot of difficulty when I was young. I lost my mother very young under very difficult circumstances. I took over in the family and I've had loss. What does not kill you makes you stronger. I wrote about turning pain into passion and making it a passion project to inspire others and stave off loneliness.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Write and keep writing every single day even if it's 3 sentences. The only way to get better is to keep writing and put it out there. Use it as a vehicle and a tool to release whatever you're dealing with internally because that's authentic and that's your true voice.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenges are that there's so many books out there and getting the word out. The publishing industry has changed dramatically with self-publishing and no promotion from publishers. Marketing is the huge challenge now that 90% of books are not in brick-and-mortar stores.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
In my work I hope to be able to inspire women who are searching or have topical issues dealing with relationships, difficulties in family, personal issues or health issues. Personally it's just to give back and be part of a community and create opportunity for people that may not otherwise have it.
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