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Heather Lloyd

Goodreads Author

Born

in New Brunswick, NJ, The United States

Website

http://www.Heather-Lloyd.com

Genre

Fiction, Memoir, Spirituality

Member Since

June 2017

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/heatherlloyd

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A bit about me. I’ve worked as an editor for more than twenty years and have authored, or collaborated on, a bunch of non-fiction books (under my married name). Venus is my first novel and I’m working on a second. Fiction is my new love and I may never write a “true” book again!
My husband and I have four adult children who live in Oregon, and one who is gone but still near in spirit (we miss you, Noah). Three years ago, Dave and I moved from Colorado to New York City, which was quite a culture shock, not the least of which has been the size of our apartment. Think postage stamp. But we love it here. We enjoy walking or riding bikes around Central Park. We like to do dinner and an Indie movie with friends, the occasional play, and on those h A bit about me. I’ve worked as an editor for more than twenty years and have authored, or collaborated on, a bunch of non-fiction books (under my married name). Venus is my first novel and I’m working on a second. Fiction is my new love and I may never write a “true” book again!
My husband and I have four adult children who live in Oregon, and one who is gone but still near in spirit (we miss you, Noah). Three years ago, Dave and I moved from Colorado to New York City, which was quite a culture shock, not the least of which has been the size of our apartment. Think postage stamp. But we love it here. We enjoy walking or riding bikes around Central Park. We like to do dinner and an Indie movie with friends, the occasional play, and on those hot and humid evenings of summer, head down to the truck vendor at the corner for soft ice cream. I love reading novels, of course, and meeting friends over coffee, and the bad habit I love most is watching dumb TV to help me wind down before bed.
I kind of, sort of, like walking my dog, Henri–except in winter when he hides under the couch as soon as I grab the leash. Problem is, he’s pretty sure I’ll make him wear his cute little coat in front of all the other dogs in Midtown (so embarrassing!). Why can’t he see they’re all wearing silly coats, too.
A bit about how Venus came to be. One morning I heard a girl’s voice in my head. She sounded really scared. And really angry. She had places to go, people to see–and I soon realized, a crime to commit. Clearly, she expected me to follow her around, listen to her talk, get it all down, and most importantly, get it right.
Like so many novelists, my characters often felt more real than conjured, like they already existed and knew exactly what they wanted to say or do next. In this way, they led me around tight corners in the plot and generously confided what they were thinking. In such moments, the writing process felt mysterious, even magical. (Other times, it was just damn hard!).
I do share some things in common with Venus. I grew up in Everett, Washington, when it was still mostly a mill town (lumber, paper) and before it was a bedroom community for high tech companies in Seattle. Like Venus, I was often angry and mouthy as a teen, and I had a volatile relationship with my stepdad. Fortunately, we worked things through before he passed, and (thanks be to God) without help from a gun.
Losing our son a couple years ago was the hardest thing I’ll ever experience, I’m sure. But his full-on enthusiasm for an early version of this novel sustained me as I wrote. And so did the story and the character themselves. Strange, how that happens. Wonderful, too. It probably explains why I was never tempted to abandon Venus (like she’d ever let me!). Even when I lost my way in the writing, it felt like I was participating in some kind of small, messy miracle. Of course, it also helped that I kept falling for these flawed, but mostly lovable, characters.
I hope you’ll fall for them too.
(and leave a review!) ...more

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My Name Is Venus Black

4.04 avg rating — 2,105 ratings — published 2018 — 11 editions

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My Name Is Venus Black

by Heather Lloyd (Goodreads Author)

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Apr 12, 2018 08:12AM

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Heather Lloyd is now friends with Gwen Dirks
May 17, 2020 08:59PM · like
Heather Lloyd liked Holly Cara Price's review of My Name Is Venus Black: "I was absolutely riveted by this book. I wanted to live forever inside Venus Black's world, which by the way is a very uncomfortable and terrifying place most of the time. Heather Lloyd has hit it out of the park with this one, and I can't wait to re" Read more of this review »
May 16, 2018 10:02AM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of My Name Is Venus Black by Heather Lloyd. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — My Name Is Venus Black by Heather Lloyd <iframe id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Heather Lloyd liked Charles's review of My Name Is Venus Black: "This book definitely kept my interest. The author developed the characters well, and the storyline was intriguing. In particular, the author shared enough about the characters to create an emotional tie, without belaboring Venus' "prison time," for e" Read more of this review »
May 09, 2018 12:17PM · see review
Heather Lloyd and 1 other person liked Meghan's review of My Name Is Venus Black: "A beautifully written story full of pain, loss, redemption, choices and love. The story about Venus Black is engaging and had my attention and heart strings from the first page to even after reading it and I can’t stop thinking about it. While Venus " Read more of this review »
May 09, 2018 12:17PM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of My Name Is Venus Black by Heather Lloyd. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — My Name Is Venus Black by Heather Lloyd <iframe id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Heather Lloyd is currently reading My Name Is Venus Black by Heather Lloyd (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Apr 12, 2018 08:12AM · 17 likes · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of My Name Is Venus Black by Heather Lloyd. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — My Name Is Venus Black by Heather Lloyd <iframe id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Heather Lloyd made a comment on Laurel’s review of My Name Is Venus Black " Laurel Beth, thanks for the stars! Venus loves stars. I am just so curious... This novel was written for adults and I had them (my mother, sister, etc ...more "
Mar 24, 2018 04:28AM · see review
Heather Lloyd answered Tamlyn's question: I just read "My Name is Venus Black", and honestly, it took my breath away. I will read anything you write, because after that book, I can't not. Thank you! Are you working on anything else? Oh Tamlyn, Thank you!! So kind of you. I am working on another novel, but it will be a while. I sure appreciate your comment. It's so hard to get a novel to sell these days, especially since it's so largely up to Amazon and review numbers there...But See Full Answer
Mar 23, 2018 07:59AM · 2 likes · like
Heather Lloyd rated a book really liked it The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Mar 02, 2018 03:36PM · 1 like · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks <iframe id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Heather Lloyd rated a book it was amazing The Very Worst Missionary: A Memoir or Whatever by Jamie Wright (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
This book was everything. Brilliant. Hilarious. Meaningful. Jamie’s story is written in a voice and style so unique, and so powerfully engaging I couldn’t put it down. Bravo! Highly recommend.
Feb 22, 2018 12:49PM · 6 likes · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Very Worst Missionary by Jamie Wright. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Very Worst Missionary by Jamie Wright <iframe id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Heather Lloyd rated a book really liked it Grief is the Thing with Feathers by Max Porter	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
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Quotes by Heather Lloyd

“Never assume you can take back anything. Never assume you have time to face facts later. And never underestimate the power of a parent’s betrayal.”
― Heather Lloyd, My Name Is Venus Black

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