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Author Interview,  Giveaway,  Hope-filled Fiction

Interview with Heidi Main & a Giveaway

I’m Heidi Main and I live in North Carolina with my husband and backyard of spoiled birds. Our daughter is a public school teacher and lives about two hours away, but I endeavor to see her at least once a month whether she wants us to visit or not.

I devoured the Little House on the Prairie books, so of course Laura was my favorite character. She was a little girl, yet strong and independent, with a lot of spunk. I wasn’t very confident as a youngster, so I think that’s why she appealed to me.

It started with a simple question a friend asked me. “As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?” I told them I’d longed to be an author, you know, like everyone. My friend looked at me like I had three heads and then told me she’d never wanted that. And she’d never heard of *anyone* who had wanted to be an author. 

That day, I wondered if my dream was something unique God had put on my heart. So I started praying. And writing (I won’t tell you how long, because it was a very long time). I wrote eight novels before a publisher took a chance on me. And those first seven novels will never see the light of day! Now, my fourth novel with Harlequin / Love Inspired is out—woot!

I write short contemporary romance for Harlequin / Love Inspired. The funny thing is that I chose this line because there aren’t subplots. And many years ago, I decided that this line would be *easier* to break into since it was a shorter word count. Little did I know that they receive thousands of submissions and can have their pick of authors!

Read *and study* the line you are targeting. When I finished a novel, I’d have my agent submit it and then I’d start writing another book. Looking back, I basically made the same mistakes over and over because I didn’t know what I was doing wrong. 

I never reached out to published authors to ask them if they would help me. I didn’t read the Love Inspired line and tear books apart to figure out what the editors were looking for in submissions. I didn’t read craft books cover to cover. Don’t get me wrong, I own a ton of craft books that I’d refer to when I ran across problems, but I never took the time to read any of them cover to cover to better my writing with each written work. 

Had I done some of those regrets, I may have gotten published quicker. But I honestly believe God had me on my own special path to publication because I learned a great deal of patience and humility through the lengthy process I went through.

Yes, it is. For starters, the lady who helps me with all things country and farm owns a bunch of dwarf Nigerian goats, so that’s why I made the setting a goat farm. But as far as the marriage of convenience, I know a lady who lost her husband to cancer at a very young age. She had three young children, and her husband asked their pastor to find her a husband so that she’d have a partner and so his children would have a father. 

I always found that so neat because I heard this story after I had met the couple and known them for a number of years. They are always holding hands and seem to be completely in love—and they are! Because staying in love in a marriage is a choice. Marriage is work. And this couple started their lives determined to enjoy the rest of their lives together, and it shows!

Carter McCaw because his wound is related to the arthritis diagnosis he got as a college freshman. I had to take out all the backstory because I just didn’t have the word count to include it, so I had this thread of his arthritis that had made him decide as a young man to never marry. But I also have Emma working with him on diet and supplements through the book, ending with his arthritis feeling significantly better with the help she gave him, along with physical therapy. 

I based this on the arthritis that had started to cripple my hands, which my doctor told me to get used to. But once I made some diet changes and added daily collagen, my hands feel significantly better!

Dove milk chocolate. And I need to stop!

After I revel in the release of THE FARMER’S MARRIAGE BARGAIN, I’ll be announcing the title of my next book, which is the last of the McCaw siblings (Triple C Ranch Series) and will be part of the K9 Companions mini-series. That one will have a late December 2025 release date. 

Visit the #HopeFilledFiction blog and comment on @HeidiMain’s author interview by 4/8 for a chance to win #TheFarmersMarriageBargain. #giveaway #LoveInspired

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The Farmer's Marriage Bargain book cover

Click the book cover for purchase link

They agreed to a practical marriage, but love never goes as planned…


Raising three children alone was never part of the plan, but after losing her husband, Emma Bailey is doing the best she can. Until she discovers that she can’t afford the medication her youngest child needs. Suddenly, her late husband’s best friend comes to the rescue. Carter McCaw promised he’d always watch over the family and the farm. But when he proposes a marriage of convenience, Emma’s not so sure. It seems like the perfect solution…until love blooms between them and complicates everything. 

Bestselling author Heidi Main writes sweet inspirational romance novels set in small towns. She lives in the suburbs, but dreams of acreage and horseback riding, which is why her novels include wide-open ranches and horses. Before starting her writing career, Heidi worked with computers and taught Jazzercise. A perfect Saturday is lounging on the deck with her husband and watching the many birds in their backyard. 

Connect with Heidi: Website / Newsletter / Instagram / Facebook / X / Amazon / Goodreads / BookBub

Heidi Main head shot

As a Jesus girl for more than thirty years, Deena Adams understands how important hope is to daily life, which fuels her passion to inspire others through hope-filled fiction based on true to life stories. She is a multi-award-winning writer, an active ACFW member, and ACFW Virginia president. Connect with Deena through her website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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