Heather Frimmer: Interview

Heather Frimmer is a radiologist specializing in breast and emergency room imaging. Her first novel, Bedside Manners, was published in 2018 and has received several awards including National Indie Excellence, Readers’ Favorite and Independent Press awards. Heather Frimmer’s second novel, Better To Trust, tackles a world of secrets swirling around drug use and sexual identity—that must be dealt with in order for the family to learn to trust each other again.

We are delighted to feature this interview with Heather!

Thank you so much for joining us on WWWB, Heather!

Tell us about your beginning, where are you from?

I have lived in the northeast for my entire life. I grew up in Albany, New York, went to college in Boston, did my medical training in Manhattan and finally settled down in Fairfield County, Connecticut where my husband grew up. I understand why he never wanted to leave. It’s a beautiful place to raise our two children. Even better, the proximity to New York City allows us to see a Broadway show and still make it home to sleep in our own beds. 

When did you decide you wanted to be a writer?

In 2014, I decided to take an introductory writing class at Westport Writers’ Workshop. After working as a physician full-time for fifteen years, I felt like the creative side of my brain needed some exercise. On the last day of the course, my instructor suggested I write a novel. Once I overcame the self doubt, I accepted the challenge. My first novel, Bedside Manners, was published in 2018. Now, I have a healthy addiction to putting words on the page and I wouldn’t have it any other way. 

How has writing changed you as a person?

I think writing has made me a more observant person. I notice how people look, what they wear, their mannerisms, and how they phrase things. I’m constantly listening in on conversations at the next table in restaurants or staring at people across from me on the train. Creating stories and characters has also made me more empathetic. I find it easier to understand what people are going through and imagine what their motivations may be. 

Can you tell us a bit about BETTER TO TRUST? What inspired you to write it?

The idea for Better To Trust came to me when an acquaintance told me her brother had successfully performed a minor operation on another family member. This story gave me a case of the what ifs. What if it was a major operation and what if the surgery wasn’t so successful? Those questions sparked the idea and I ran with it. Before too long, the characters took on a life of their own.

What would be your 6 word memoir?

Always with head in a book. 

What is the best writing advice you’ve ever had, and the worst?

“Write every day” doesn’t work for me. With a full time job and a family, I just can’t find the time every day. I write when I find pockets of free time and somehow I get the work done. It may take me longer, but eventually I have a full-length novel. 

The best advice I’ve received is to surround myself with a community of writers. Knowing there are other people doing this really hard thing alongside me has proved invaluable. I’ve leaned on other writers for advice many times and I’ve developed amazing friendships along the way.

Do you need a special place to write?

I’m a wandering writer. I can write anywhere: at the kitchen table, outside on the patio or on an airplane. The café of the now shuttered big Westport Barnes and Noble store was my hands down favorite. I loved the background noise of the espresso machine and cash registers and listening to conversations at the next table helped me craft dialogue and come up with plot ideas. I wrote the majority of my first novel at one of the tables in that café. 

Are you part of a writing community or a writing group?

In addition to Westport Writers’ Workshop where I participate in a weekly manuscript workshop, I am also a member of the Women’s Fiction Writers Association. This incredibly collegial group offers a tremendous number of resources including webinars, newsletters and writing retreats. Over the past year and a half, I’ve taken full advantage of the Zoom write-ins to keep me going. Knowing other people are writing motivates me to keep going. 

What is your experience with social media as a writer? Do you find it distracts you or does it provide inspiration?

Social media is definitely a distraction, but I also find it a wonderful way to connect with and support other writers. Plus, it’s fun to see all of the pretty new releases on bookstagram, despite my exponentially expanding TBR pile. 

Who are your favorite authors?

My longtime favorites are Jodi Picoult, Chris Bohjalian and Jennifer Weiner. More recently, I discovered Kim Hooper. Her latest novel, No Hiding in Boise, blew me away and I’m working my way through her backlist. I also enjoy reading books by other women physician authors including Kimmery Martin, Saumya Dave and Meghan MacLean Weir.

What are you reading currently?

I am an avid, bordering on obsessive reader, often tallying more than 100 books per year. I will read anything if it comes with a recommendation from someone I trust, but I lean towards women’s fiction, historical fiction and psychological thrillers. I’m currently reading Other People’s Things by Kerry Anne King and listening to the audio of You And Me And Us by Alison Hammer, both engrossing reads.

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BETTER TO TRUST

When trust is violated, can it ever be recovered? Alison Jacobs needs brain surgery and places ultimate trust in her sister’s husband, Grant Kaplan, a world-renowned neurosurgeon and expert in treating her condition. But Grant is hiding a dark secret which threatens the outcome: an addiction to prescription pills. As Alison struggles to rebuild her life, Grant’s daughter, Sadie, spends more time with a new friend.

Frustrated that her parents exclude her from the conversations about her beloved aunt, Sadie makes increasingly risky choices which could endanger not only her, but her entire family.Alison is also harboring her own secret-an extramarital affair with a woman. Her close call with mortality spurs her to take a closer look at her marriage, explore her newfound sexuality and figure out what she wants for her future. How will she rebuild her life and move forward? Can she find a way to repair her broken relationship with her only sister?

Secrets swirling around drug use and sexual identity must be dealt with in order for the family to learn to trust each other again.

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Find out more about Heather on her site https://www.heatherfrimmer.com/

 

Tags: featured, women writers

Category: Interviews, On Writing