Get ready to learn more about the book Irregular Heartbeat in this discussion with sapphic author Chris Zett.
Join us for an exclusive peek behind the scenes as we quiz Chris Zett about Irregular Heartbeat, writing, reading, and more.
This book is part of the Medical Romance category in the 2024 IHS Reading Challenge.
Why did you write Irregular Heartbeat?
My intention was to write a realistic medical romance. I wanted to show how complicated and messy the emotional side of medicine could be but also use a setting I’m comfortable with.
Who is your favorite character in the book?
I love Diana, the ex-drummer, ex-rock star, who is now an emergency doc. She always followed her dreams and was not afraid to change direction when they didn’t turn out as expected. She is much braver than I am and a better musician too.
What was the biggest challenge writing this book?
Learning to write a book. It was my debut novel and I was very frustrated that the first draft wasn’t as interesting and captivating as my imagination. I was lucky and found a mentor to help me write the best version.
How did you come up with the title for your book?
My working title was always “Drums” and as I played around with words associated with a drummer, I came up with beat. From there to heartbeat and then to irregular heartbeat was an easy step.
What is your writing process like?
I’m a plotter and I love the early stages of brainstorming ideas and getting them in line to form a interesting story arch. I’ve learned to adapt my outline if anything else comes up during writing but I usually have a complete list of chapters/scenes before I write the first sentence.
Where do you usually write, and what do you need in your writing space to help you stay focused?
I need a keyboard, music, and something to drink. I don’t care if I write at my desk, on the sofa or a café. On vacation, I often write sitting next to the path during a hike with my wife while she is sketching the view. I don’t like writing by hand so if I can’t take my laptop, I use a lightweight bluetooth keyboard with my phone.
When you’re writing an emotional or difficult scene, how do you set the mood?
Music. I mostly ignore lyrics but I have certain songs that evoke the right feelings in me and I listen to them on auto-repeat.
Have you ever hated one of your characters?
I really hated Jess, the main character from Heart Failure, after the first draft. She was arrogant, abrasive, and unrepentant. Her sense of self was severely shaken and she reacted with lashing out at everyone. I don’t know why she wanted to be written that way and I fought with her through several rewrites to dig out her redeeming qualities. After I’ve found them and toned down her hurtful tendencies, I ended up loving her.
Have you ever fallen in love with one of your characters?
I love all my main characters, I write them this way. Everyone is different but they all have character traits I admire and are people I’d love to meet and be friends with in real life. And if I didn’t have my wife, I’d want to find someone who is just like one of my main characters. Or maybe like all of them.
What type of books do you enjoy reading the most?
Slow-burn romances. I always enjoyed romances as a teenager but lost interest in them because of the terrible straightness and unhealthy relationships I read in the nineties. When I rediscovered romance as sapphic novels, I was so happy to finally find representation. I always loved long books and read a lot of epic fantasy because I love to dive deep into the world an author creates. Slow-burn romance offers the same experience but with relationships. You really get to know the characters.
Describe your favorite reading spot.
My bed on a Sunday morning, just after sunrise, before anyone else is awake.
