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INTERVIEW: Heidi Eljarbo’s Characters Fight for Truth, Justice, and Goodness
- Christina Boyd
- Apr 29
- 5 min read
CHRISTINA: I have followed Norwegian indie novelist Heidi Eljarbo's rising star for a few years now on Facebook. I am always amazed how well she juggles writing her next book, launching a new book, and promoting her backlist.
What do you think makes a good story?
HEIDI: The answer to this question depends on the reader’s personal preference. But for me, a story should not have too much dialogue—especially “talking heads”—or too much description. The novel should showcase a world with sight, sounds, smells. The characters should be interesting and engaging, the mystery secretive but solvable, and the budding romance clean, but with an overwhelming emotional conviction. When I read a Ken Follett novel, there are no page fillers, and the story gets to the point. Personally, I like stories where every page matters.
CHRISTINA: Absolutely. I love a writer who can make a book sing with tight prose, making each word work without appearing so.
Do you put people you know, or their characteristics, in your book?
HEIDI: It’s fun to give personality to a character in a book. I try to figure out what they look like, how they walk, and how they react and speak. One of my favorite things to do is people-watching in airports (always bring a pen and paper wherever you go), and I write down things people say or do that I find interesting. My handsome heroes have kind eyes, and I often give them my husband’s smiling lines that run down the sides of his cheeks.
CHRISTINA: Awww, I love that.
Best advice for new writers:
HEIDI: Hire a brilliant editor. Some are expensive, so choose wisely, but it’s important to have someone else’s eyes on your story. Send a sample chapter to three different editors—most will edit a chapter for free. Go through the edits and see which editor suits you best. The right editor for you should be one who picks up the details but doesn’t try to change your writing style and won’t rewrite everything. If you feel he or she can be a trusted partner in your writing journey and they respect your voice, go for it.
CHRISTINA: You know I agree with all of that. 100%.
Have you gone on an author pilgrimage or research trip? Where and what was the most
memorable moment?
HEIDI: Last year, my husband and I went to Holland where I gathered information for my upcoming book, The Dutch Muse. We visited an old windmill, the Rembrandt House in Amsterdam, and drove around the island of Texel. We also walked the street of Oudewater, a small town with a weigh house for witches. The building used to weigh people to find out if they were witches or not is now a museum. I took lots of photographs and notes that I use in the story.
CHRISTINA: That sounds fascinating. I love books about art, history, and relating to the present. I am your ideal reader.
Is there one of your characters you most identify with and why?
HEIDI: My books have moral characters who, despite their shortcomings, fight for truth, justice, and goodness. Then there are those who are selfish, greedy, and stomp on others to get their way. Because my stories are historical fiction, the men often see women as second-class citizens.
The main female character is usually a strong woman who strives for women’s rights, worth, and value. These things create a background to romance and mystery in my novels. I believe there’s a lot of myself in each of these leading ladies, although they are much braver than I am. My friends tell me they recognize me in my books, but I think I’ll quote what my husband has told people: “If you want to know who Heidi really is, you should read The Warmth of Snow.”
CHRISTINA: Good to know. I'll look for it.
If you weren’t a writer, what would you be?
HEIDI: I have a passion for art history and would love to be a clever art historian like Soli Hansen in my "Soli Hansen Mysteries" or her daughter Fabiola Bennett in the "Fabiola Bennett Mysteries." I studied art and design at Brigham Young University and have continued with my art history research over the years. Now, being an author who writes about master painters and art historical mysteries, I feel I get the best of both worlds.
CHRISTINA: Those are definitely my interests. Dual era, historical, art mysteries... Like I said, I am your ideal reader.
What is your current project?
HEIDI: The Dutch Muse is the fourth installment in the Fabiola Bennett Mysteries set in 1973. Fabiola is an art historian with an eidetic memory who lives and breathes for old paintings and their master artists. She jumps into danger without hesitation and solves art crimes in different countries. The books in the series are dual timeline, and the secondary story goes back to the painter several hundred years earlier. In The Dutch Muse, Fabiola is on vacation in Amsterdam with her friends Pippa and Cary, and a ruthless thief steals a coveted seventeenth-century portrait and leaves the owner unconscious on the floor. The list of suspects is long, but Fabiola is determined to find both the painting and the criminal who took it.
CHRISTINA: Can't wait to read it! It looks delish! Best wishes on the release. Thank you so much for your time for this interview.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Norwegian author Heidi Eljarbo grew up in a home full of books, artwork, and happy creativity. She is the author of historical novels filled with courage, hope, mystery, adventure, and sweet romance during challenging times. She’s been named a master of dual timelines and often writes about strong-willed women of past centuries. After living in Canada, six US states, Japan, Switzerland, and Austria, Heidi calls Norway home. She lives with her husband on a charming island and enjoys walking in any kind of weather, hugging her grandchildren, and has a passion for art and history. Her family’s chosen retreat is a mountain cabin, where they hike in the summer and ski the vast white terrain during winter. Heidi’s favorites are her family, God's beautiful nature, and the word whimsical. You can connect with Heidi via her website and social media.
Eljarbo's novels sound fascinating! Thanks for sharing these thoughts, both of you!