Author Interview: Christa Hickcox Chats about The Next 167 Hours

Get ready to learn more about the book The Next 167 Hours in this discussion with sapphic author Christa Hickcox.

Join us for an exclusive peek behind the scenes as we quiz Christa Hickcox about The Next 167 Hours, writing, reading, and more.

This book is part of the Hot & Steamy Romance category in the 2024 IHS Reading Challenge.

Why did you write The Next 167 Hours?

I wrote this book because I wanted to give people something to relate to. I felt it was important now more than ever with everything going on in our world to normalize mental health, therapy, healing, growth, love, lose and everything in between. I pride myself on finding a respectful way to make people laugh at the hard stuff along the way.

I write to make a difference. Although I write fiction, my goal is to have my readers feel something. Whether that feeling is being seen, heard, laugh, tingles or cry. Our emotions are the core of us, so I want to draw out all my readers’ emotions through my writing. I will always find a way to write inclusive and relatable content within my work.

Who is your favorite character in the book?

Ember Rue is the main character in my book. She is probably the most relatable character because she is going to remind you of yourself. All my characters come with real-life struggles. That is what I think makes them so relatable. I don’t shy away from raw topics of mental health, family dynamics, or any other real-life issues that are out there. Although you will always find that I include ways to write humor in my books to keep an engaging balance.

I found myself relating to Ember at times. Her awkward way of not knowing when to stop talking, and her quirky personality. I also absolutely loved writing her best friend and co-worker Bev-Bev. There is a beautiful age gap between these two characters. Bev is the most loving, carefree, supportive spirited soul that everyone needs to have in their life.

What inspired the idea for The Next 167 Hours?

I am in awe of women and the strength that we have to overcome the things that we do. We are amazing, beautiful, playful, sexy, strong and inspiring. This book is for all the women who found it difficult to swallow the very air they are trying to breathe because the pain is just too much at times, but they still found the strength to keep fighting another day. Women are so amazing! Women inspired me to write this book.

What was the biggest challenge writing this book?

Finding just the right balance to intertwine the subplot and the plot to make it all come together. That process is more challenging then I thought it would be. So glad I stuck with it though.

What part of The Next 167 Hours was the most fun to write?

I loved writing the firefly scene when Ember and her sister Sawyer snuck out of their tent on a family camping trip and discover a beautiful scene of glowing, magical moon bugs. It brought back a lot of memories from when I was a young girl catching fireflies with my twin sister on the those hot summer midwestern nights.

How did you come up with the title for your book?

I was doing research on therapy sessions for my book and came across a blog where a women asked a simple question. “How do you all get through the 167 hours between sessions?” It was impactful and the title was born.

How much research did you need to do for The Next 167 Hours?

I did a lot of research on what a therapist might say in a conversation for my book. I have been in therapy myself, but knowing how a therapist might response, think or react to an emotional person was something I was really wanted to get right.

If you’re planning a sequel, can you share a tiny bit about your plans for it?

I am not planning on a sequel, but I alway said if I sold a 1000 copies, I would write Holiday novella.

What is your favorite line from your book?

I have two.

“I couldn’t believe how she went from sweet and shy Cara at the bar to this sex crazed ninja in the click of a door latch.”

“I just laid there, curled up in a tight ball, and begged no one, someone, everyone, anyone, for the morning light to come. I just wanted to hear people walking below my window again, then I wouldn’t be alone anymore.”

What is your writing process like?

I have the basic plot and the original cast, then I just sit down and start writing. I do a little revising as I go, but not a lot. I find if I put too much structure around the writing process, I don’t allow for the characters to self-develop. New characters won’t show up, and none of the characters will make their own decisions. Yes, I still know I am the author, but the creative process of free-form writing is the process of what keeps me typing and excited. It’s like, “What will these characters do next?”

Where do you usually write, and what do you need in your writing space to help you stay focused?

I typically write on my couch. I need my dogs close by and to be able to look out the windows into my backyard. I also need a warm blanket to snuggle under. These are the things that ground me so I can relax and think clearly.

If you could spend a day with another popular author, whom would you choose?

Emily Austin. I find her to be inspiring as not only an Author but as a human being. I do a compare as of my book of her work of ‘Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead and Goodbye, Vitamin’, as we have similar sense of humors, but serious tones in our writing. I may be a little more steamy than her though.

What’s your favorite writing snack or drink?

Every weekend I get up and make myself a homemade mocha. This is my go to coffee recipe. Sumatra dark roast, dark chocolate selection coco mix, and I add a bit of creamer. Then I curl up under my blanket on the couch and spend the day writing.

How do you celebrate when you finish your book?

After I cried, my wife and I went out for dinner.

Do you have any odd writing quirks?

Besides losing confidence that I suddenly know how to spell, so I have to google EVERYTHING, nothing too odd.

Do you have a pet who helps/hinders your typing?

I have a pug named Chia, who is 5 years old. If you follow me on Instagram or TikTok you will get to see how she sits on my shoulder when I write and watches me. Sometimes, she gets jealous of my computer and will close it, then she will lay on top of it. This is when I know I have been writing too long and should probably take a break.

What are three words that describe your personality?

Chill, Inclusive and Quirky.

I am literally the most laid back person you will ever meet. I absolutely love learning about people and having genuine conversations. I rarely get worked up about things. I use my writing as a tool to make a difference. To be impactful.

I believe we all have a purpose and a place in this world. I love seeing everyone succeed and you will often see me promoting the hell out of other indie authors, BIPOC and the Queer community. I love humans!

I am such a goofy ball, I love to laugh and make people laugh. There is nothing more rewarding in life than to know that I was able to bring joy to someone else.

What is the most valuable piece of advice you’ve been given about writing, and by whom?

Be a unicorn. I don’t have to do what everyone else is doing. Write the way I want to write. Tell the stories I want to tell. There is a reader out there for all of our books. Be a unicorn.

What has helped or hindered you most when writing a book?

Beta readers and arc readers helped me the most. Their feedback was so valuable. Hiring an editor is also very important. The piece that hinders me every time, is I can’t stop looking back at past chapters and trying to fix them when I should just keep moving forward. Sometimes you need to just keep writing and not worry so much about getting everything perfect the first time through.

When you’re writing an emotional or difficult scene, how do you set the mood?

I like to make sure it is quiet and I have no one else around. I know I will have to process what I just wrote myself, so it is important that I take the time, not only to get the scene right, but to think about how I will take care of my self afterwards. This might look like playing with my dogs, having a nice dinner with my wife, or finding a feel good show to watch.

What do you do to get inside your character’s heads?

This is the creative process at it’s finest. I love thinking what it would look like if I was sitting across from this person? Watching them? How would they move their arms? What would they say? I would ask them to look me in the eyes and tell me what they are thinking. Ask them how they feel, or what they are thinking? Sometimes I even surprise myself with the answers I come up.

If you could be mentored by a famous author (living or not), who would it be?

Emily Austin. I just find her writing style so interesting and inspiring. She represents such a wide, inclusive cast of characters.

Have you ever cried when writing an emotional scene?

Oh yes, anytime I put a character through a painful breakup, a fight, a death, or honestly when someone is bullied, I get super emotional and have cried. I am always like, why did I do that to them?

Do you feel bad putting your characters through the wringer?

No. For the types of stories I write, they typically come out better version of themselves on the other end. I write stories that resemble real life, with a lot of fun, quirky humor in them.

What type of books do you enjoy reading the most?

I enjoy murder mystery and thrillers. These books tend to keep me wondering, who, why? Big bonus points from me is there is a twist I didn’t see coming.