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INTERVIEW: Heather Cavill Says the Real Work is Rewriting
- Christina Boyd
- Apr 28
- 6 min read
CHRISTINA: In 2017, I won an Omaze experience to meet actor Henry Cavill on the London Eye—yes, really. (You can even Google it.) During that unforgettable day, I also met his younger brother, Charlie, and we had a lovely conversation about life in the Pacific Northwest, as he and his wife were thinking of moving from Calgary to the West Coast of Canada then. Naturally, I followed him on Instagram afterward, which is how I discovered his wife, Heather Cavill—a gifted photographer with an incredible eye. So, when I recently saw that she’d published her debut novel, The Echo Below, I was intrigued. And when she agreed to this interview? Absolutely thrilled.
When did you first think you had a book to write, and how did you start?
HEATHER: It started with a dream. Not a “one day I’ll write a book” kind of dream. A literal one.
I dreamt about something that happened 18 years ago, when I was living on the Oregon Coast. A sneaker wave came out of nowhere and knocked my toddler son off his feet, pulling him toward the water. We were able to scramble to pull him back, but it was one of those terrifying moments that stays with you.
I hadn’t thought about it in ages, but waking up after dreaming about that day made me think about how differently things could have gone, and how the past has a way of resurfacing when you least expect it. That, mixed with more surreal elements from the dream, became the starting point for the story. After that, it wasn’t a clear plot so much as a concept. The coastline, what’s just beneath the surface, and how one moment can shape everything that follows. I started writing from there and let the story unfold.
CHRISTINA: That’s such a powerful—and chilling—origin for a story. I love how you leaned into both the emotional truth and the surreal to build your story.
What do you wish you had known before you started writing a book?
HEATHER: I thought the hardest part would be finishing the first draft. It isn’t. That’s just the beginning. The real work is in rewriting. Refining the plot, strengthening character arcs and pacing, and sitting with the doubt when something isn’t working. Many times, I thought, “This isn’t coming together at all,” and I’d scrap entire chapters. Those were usually the moments right before something clicked.
You don’t need everything figured out to start. You just need to begin. It’s messy, and that’s part of the process. Clarity comes from writing, not waiting.
CHRISTINA: Such an honest take on the process. I love, love, love the reminder that clarity comes through doing, not waiting for perfection.
What comes first: plot or characters?
HEATHER: For me, it’s mood first. After that, the rest tends to fall into place. Sometimes it starts with a moment, a place, or a feeling. Other times, it’s a concept I want to explore. Once I understand the world, the characters begin to take shape, and the plot builds itself around their choices.
CHRISTINA: Mood. Of the 140 plus writers I've interviewed here, that is a first—starting with mood gives everything such a strong emotional foundation.
Is there one of your characters you most identify with and why?
HEATHER: I think there’s always a piece of you in the characters you write, whether you mean to put it there or not. For me, that’s Isla in The Echo Below. She’s caught between who she once was and who she’s becoming, and she doesn’t fully belong to either version yet.
I’ve experienced that kind of shift in my own life—growing up in one world and finding myself in a very different one later on. That in-between space where you don’t fully belong to either version of yourself is something I understand well. It’s a strange place to be—trying to move forward while still feeling connected to who you were.
CHRISTINA: Interesting. That sense of being caught between versions of yourself. Such a nuanced, human place to explore.
What is your current project or latest release?
HEATHER: My latest release is The Echo Below, an atmospheric coastal suspense set in a fog-shrouded town where a young woman returns home after her grandmother disappears. As she begins to piece together what happened, she uncovers a deeper connection between her family and the sea. A connection that forces her to question what she thought she knew about her past.
It’s a story about inheritance, grief, and the pull of the people and places we think we’ve left behind.
CHRISTINA: Sounds beautifully haunting.
What do you think makes a good story?
HEATHER: Tension you can feel, questions that linger, an atmosphere you can almost step into. For me, a good story pulls you in, giving you just enough to keep you turning the page. More than anything, it makes you care. If you’re invested in the characters and feel like you know them, you’ll follow them anywhere, and you’ll be sad to leave them behind.
CHRISTINA: I agree 100%. When a story builds atmosphere and emotional connection, it really stays with you after the last page.
Do you put people you know, or their characteristics, in your book?
HEATHER: I do. It’s a bit of a running joke with my friends. I’ll borrow names or traits from people and weave them into the story. A habit or small detail that helps bring a character to life. It makes it fun to try and guess which quirks came from who, and we enjoy joking about whether they should be flattered or slightly concerned. I think those real-world touches make characters feel more grounded and familiar.
CHRISTINA: Ha! I do the same in my writing. It adds those little authentic details you can’t quite invent.
Have you gone on an author pilgrimage or research trip? What was the most memorable moment?
HEATHER: I live on the coast, so a lot of the “research” for this book was really just paying more attention to the place I’m already in. You start noticing things differently when you’re writing. Things like how the weather shifts, and how still everything feels when the fog settles in.
As for actual research, I definitely had to fill in some gaps. My dad is an experienced sailor, so I spent a lot of time asking him questions and double-checking terminology.
After reading The Echo Below, a friend said to me, “I had no idea you knew so much about lighthouses,” which made me laugh. That was entirely thanks to one lighthouse visit, some deep research, and a few late nights.
CHRISTINA: Those behind-the-scenes details are yummy! I'm always impressed with how much goes into making a world feel real, even if it starts with one visit… And a lot of late nights.
Best advice for new writers:
HEATHER: Don’t wait until you feel ready. Start before you feel confident. Write before you feel qualified. And don’t try to make it perfect on the first pass, because it won’t be. Also, pay attention to what you’re drawn to. The stories that stay with you are usually where your best work is hiding. If you keep coming back to an idea, there’s probably a reason for it.
CHRISTINA: Awesome—especially the reminder that readiness isn’t a prerequisite for starting. I love the idea of trusting what keeps pulling you back to something worth uncovering.
Thank you for your time and candor in this, my 140th author interview. I am looking forward to reading your debut. And I have recommended this to #mytotallylegitbookclub. Family legacy and magical realism, set here in the Pacific Northwest—sounds like just our thing.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Heather Cavill lives with her family in a quiet beach community near Vancouver, where the fog, sea, and folklore of the West Coast shape her writing. With decades of experience as a professional photographer and branding and marketing consultant, she brings a visual storyteller’s eye to every page. Her background in creative writing, combined with her artistic roots, drives her passion for crafting immersive, atmospheric fiction. You can connect with Heather via Instagram: @heathercavillwriter and her Website: www.heathercavill.ca
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