BFF K LOVED The Hidden Library! You can check out her 5-Rated Review! She had some very serious questions for Heather Lyons. Heather was kind enough to answer those below in our latest edition of, “That’s What She Said” author interviews! Enjoy!

Sometimes, the rabbit hole is deeper than expected . . .

Alice Reeve and Finn Van Brunt have tumbled into a life of secrets. Some secrets they share, such as their employment by the clandestine organization known as The Collectors’ Society. Other secrets they carry within them, fighting to keep buried the things that could change everything they think they know.

On the hunt for an elusive villain who is hell-bent on destroying legacies, Alice, Finn, and the rest of the Society are desperate to unravel the mysteries surrounding them. But the farther they spiral down this rabbit hole, the deeper they fall into secrets that will test their loyalties and pit them against enemies both new and old.

Secrets, they come to find, can reveal the deadliest of truths.

That’s What She Said – Author Interview with Heather Lyons

BFF K: Let’s just get this one out of the way……When can we expect Book #3 in The Collectors’ Society series?

HL: I don’t have a set date yet, as I’m still working on it, but definitely this year!

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BFF K: Though they’re fiction, books become part of our lives and part of our view of time and place. As you’re working with these classics, does it almost feel like you’re re-writing history?

HL: You know, it’s funny you ask this, because it was a question I considered early on in the process and had to purposely choose to set aside for my own sanity’s sake. While I’m definitely utilizing classic characters within the world of the Collectors’ Society, this is also firmly my story (if that makes sense!).

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BFF K: There were several boys in my high school who absolutely loved the Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain. I think they might be surprised with the direction the story takes in The Hidden Library. Do you worry what readers will think about your updates to some of their most beloved stories?

HL: It’s another question I’ve considered and then had to set aside, simply because it’s a terrifying prospect. I am keenly aware that there are beloved characters within my story, and I have done my best to stay true to their arcs and personalities. I did quite a bit of research for the series, both rereading the source materials and then hunting down scholarly analyses of the books and characters to better understand the significance behind the characters and their stories. From there, I crafted what I thought the characters would be like, given the foundations from the source materials. But in the end, I’ve told the most authentic story that I wanted to tell.

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BFF K: There are so many fantastic, iconic, rich characters available in the classics. How do you choose who is perfect for the stories in The Collectors’ Society series?

HL: Well, my reasons are multifold. First, I chose characters that I really liked or found interesting. Alice, for example, has always been one of my very favorite literary characters. Secondly, I carefully selected those whose stories and experiences best suited not only the Society’s needs but my own (haha). And then, finally, I tried to really dig deep and not go with the ones people would obviously expect, because where’s the fun in that?

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BFF K: It is no secret that I absolutely adore Alice, I think she is one of the most phenomenal heroines I’ve ever read. How do you consistently give her thought process and dialogue both courage and vulnerability?

HL: Here’s the thing, if I can be honest for a moment. I chose to craft Alice the way she is for a lot of reasons, but the big one is that I’m tired of people complaining about so-called Mary Sues or Bellas. It seems like anytime a heroine or MC shows any emotion, she’s labeled one of those terms, and it’s maddening to read. Why is showing emotion such a bad thing? Why is vulnerability so looked down upon? I’ve always had a very clear picture that Alice is tough and capable, but she’s also got a distinct vulnerability to her. Her emotions, her experiences have shaped her personality quite distinctly. And while life hasn’t always gone the way she’s wanted, there’s very little she would ever change about her history. When I write her, I always keep in mind: 1) Victorian attributes; 2) queenly attributes; 3) the emotional scars she proudly carries with her; and 4) how she’s not down with anyone trying to make her feel like she’s anything other than what she is.

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BFF K: The Collectors’ Society timelines cover so much ground! You jump from place to place and century to century. Is there one place or time that you’ve enjoyed writing about more than another? Is there a genre you haven’t explored yet that we might get to see in the future?

HL: Wonderland is definitely fun for me to write, simply because it’s so incredibly vivid in my mind. I would love to really explore the Society members within a high fantasy or even sci-fi, to be honest.

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BFF K: For those readers who are going to be beside themselves until the next book in the series is released….Is there anything you can tell us about what’s in store for our beloved Collectors’ Society?

HL: The Society will be even more determined to hunt down the villain(s) behind the Timeline deletions, and Alice will be right there, leading the charge. I think readers will definitely delight in seeing Queen Alice, in OR out of Wonderland, kicking butt and taking names!

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A HUGE Thank You to Heather Lyons for taking the time to answer my burning questions about The Hidden Library and The Collectors’ Society. If you’re not already following Heather on social media, do it! She’s super sweet!

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 Don’t miss the first book in this series, THE COLLECTORS’ SOCIETY!

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About Heather Lyons:

Heather Lyons writes epic, heartfelt love stories and has always had a thing for words. In addition to writing, she’s also been an archaeologist and a teacher. She and her husband and children live in sunny Southern California and are currently working their way through every cupcakery she can find.

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