Novel Notions: Andrea Hahnfeld on The Marvelous Misfits of Westminster

I've always been a writer at heart because putting my thoughts into words has been my go-to way of expressing myself. When it came to "The Marvelous Misfits of Westminster," I simply decided it was time for this creation to see the light of day, so I took matters into my own hands and self-published the book. Waiting around for others? Not my style. If you believe the world needs to read something, why hold back? Share it with the world!

To be honest, it took me about 20 years to muster up the confidence to share a piece I'd written. But with the Misfits, I just knew deep down that this piece was something truly special.

I try to capture enough of the new idea to give my brain peace of mind, but I continue working on my current project.

I see "The Marvelous Misfits of Westminster" as a book filled with hope. I want my readers to never lose hope, even in the darkest times, and to believe that help might just arrive—even if it comes on four legs!

Nope, I'd say I'm pretty average. Well, except for one thing... I have this strange knack for pulling out dust bunnies that gather under doors. But hey, who doesn't love doing that, right? Oh, wait, you were asking about writing habits...

If I could give my younger self some advice, I'd say, "Don't sweat whether your writing is any good. Embrace your quirky stories and own them! Don't let anyone make you feel like your style isn't up to snuff." One of my favorite nuggets of wisdom for writers comes from Natalie Goldberg's "Writing Down the Bones": "Find your way as a noodle." So go ahead, noodle away!

As for favorite first lines in fiction, I'm lucky enough to have one in my own short story: "The Hunts and I are parked at the shabby side of the center of the universe, a little away from her trailer." I love that line. It popped into my head after the book was already published. Thankfully, being an independent author, I got to play puppet master and change the first line. I even had my narrator, who had already recorded the whole thing, go back and add it to the audiobook.

My biggest hurdle is striving for perfection in my writing! It took me years to learn to let go of those expectations and just write freely. I still have plenty to learn in that department. Taking courses has been incredibly helpful for me—I've been able to improve my skills and tackle those pesky blocked feelings that can come with writing.

Currently, I'm reading "The Member of the Wedding" by Carson McCullers.

Being an author was definitely on my wish list. I always fancied being a travel writer, but it turns out I don't enjoy traveling all that much—what a bummer!

Sometimes, I listen to music before I start freewriting. Music helps me connect with a specific emotion, and while freewriting, I try to capture memories tied to that feeling. The type of music I choose depends on the subject I'm writing about. Currently, I'm working on a fictional memoir about my youth, so I listen to a lot of sad songs from the 80s.

When I draft or edit my work, I prefer silence or binaural sounds to help me stay focused.

Yes! Harvey Hunt, a key character in "The Marvelous Misfits of Westminster," is actually inspired by someone I stumbled upon in a YouTube video. This individual had endured burns at a young age, yet their remarkably positive outlook on life deeply moved and inspired me.