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Heather Hogan is an expert on divorce, alcoholism, abandonment, death of a parent, and abuse. She lived through all of the above for thirty five long years, learned many lessons, and has helped hundreds of people deal with their dysfunction.

She grew up in Chicago, moved to Maui at twenty two, Santa Fe New Mexico at twenty seven, and finally, ended up in the San Francisco Bay area at thirty two.  While moving all over, having children, getting married and divorced twice, Heather reflected on her life, let go of the past, forgave herself, and others, and wrote her memoir Can There Be More?

Thank you Heather for taking the time to answer some questions for us! Please tell us about your latest book. 

My latest books is titled, Just Ask My Husband! 101 Women's Perspectives on Why Marriages Go South & How To Keep Yours Sexy, Peaceful, Interesting, & Alive!

Just Ask My Husband gets down to the basics of marriage and relationships. It answers all the questions women want and need to know: What works in a relationship? What doesn't work? How do you compromise? How do you reconnect with one another after children? How important is sex? This book will become your bible in your relationship.

The main reason this book is a must read on how to solve your relationship problems and keep your marriage going until death do you part is because the advice being given to you comes from women just like you: every day soccer moms, working moms, stay-at-home moms, all of whom are stressed, and trying to keep their marriage hot, steamy, realistic, sexy, interesting, and alive!

I sent a questionnaire out to 100 women that I do not know and asked them all the same nine questions. Some sample questions are: Have you ever cheated on your spouse? What steps have you taken to keep your marriage going until death do you part? What is your number one worry today as a woman? What parts of your marriage are not going well?

The answers these women give are enlightening, entertaining and worth the read. I believe this book can save millions of marriages, and help future marriages and relationships run smoother from the start. By the way, I am number 101. You get to read all I have to say on how to keep a relationship alive, healthy and happy. Let's just say I have learned from my mistakes.  

Just Ask My Husband! Will be released late 2009!

Have you received any awards for your work?

No awards, just heart felt thank you letters, emails, and flowers from women all over thanking me for writing my memoir! The letters are touching and allow me to feel like my story did serve its purpose, which was to let people know, that with faith you have hope, and with hope and faith you can turn your life around!

Do you also do speaking engagements, or seminars?

I have appeared on the show A View From The Bay here in the bay area discussing divorce and how to help your children get through it. You can view my segment by going to abclocal.go.com.  I go into detail about divorce and what it does to your family in my book. 

I do plan on putting together seminars on how to help a child deal with the death of a parentm, and how to help your children get through a divorce.

So many children today lose a parent, from death or drugs or other circumstances, had the death of my mother been handled in the proper way, my siblings and I would not have lost an entire childhood and gained a life filled with anxiey, inner turmoil, resentment, and demons on our back that had their claws dug so deep into our skin we couldn't shake them.

How has your education, profession or background helped you in your writing career? Or conversely, how has you writing success helped you in your  profession?

My education didn't help my writing. I didn't finish college, and the years of college under my belt had nothing to do with writing. Writing comes from my heart and soul. I write to try and help people heal, learn from others mistakes, learn to forgive themselves and others and finally, to realize that everyone is deserving of love, understanding, and compassion.

What kind of other works (books, scripts, poems etc.) have you had published? 

Can There Be More? was my first published book.  Just Ask My Husband! will be out late 2009.

Is there any aspect to your profession that gets you in touch with your readers directly?

My readers get in touch with me through my website, plottoohot.com and through email. I urge, and love, people to email with their questions, their concerns, and their opinions. My email is heather@plottoohot.com

What will your next project be?

I am currently working on my third book titled, How To Forgive In An Unforgiving World!

Who inspires you on a personal or business level?

You know, I truly cannot say I am inspired by any one person.  I try to inspire myself.  My kids aspire me to work harder, and never give up my goals with my books so I can make them proud.  I guess the people that inspire me are the ones whom I read about or meet that have overcome adversity and tragedy to create a character filled with compassion, empathy, and love!

What can you recommend for writers who are just getting started and are trying to make a name for themselves?

You need to be your own marketer, cheerleader, coach, and most of all, believe in yourself!  Getting a book published is a hard market to break into!  Even after you become published, unless you are James Patterson or Mayou Angelo, you have to get your book in front of people. If you believe in yourself and your writing, anything is possible!

How did you get started as a writer?

My life was tragic, depressing, and hard. I woke up one morning realizing I was constantly making mistakes and hurting all of the people around me. I had three children who needed a mother, not an angry, anxiety ridden woman living amongst them. I needed to figure out how I was going to get to the other side of the river where peace, light and love was waiting. Many times I grasped the rope to get there, but I had built up way too many calouses on my hands over the years to hang on. Finally, at the age of thirty five I knew I had to grasp that rope and not let go, or my children would suffer. I started to write my memoir to release the past, forgive myself, and the ones around me, and start living for today, not yesterday, not tomorrow, but in the moment!

What does a typical work day look like for you?

Coffee is a must, two cups, first thing, and then I can start my day! I usually write in the morning and market my book, and then I head to the gym around noon for an hour. In the afternoon I write some more, and then head off to get the kids from school. 

Who is your favorite writer/author?

I like an eclectic group of authors: James Patterson, Louise Hay, Robert Ludlum, Mayou Angelo, Brian Weiss, Amy Tan, I guess you could say I read about anything except romance!

Finally, a most important question: what was the last song you sang out loud when you were by yourself?  :)

I wouldn't call it singing, more like screaming, the song is......"Holiday" by Madonna!

Thank you Heather for an insightful interview!