Meet author Whitney O’Halek
Whitney O’Halek is a travel writer, author, and tourism entrepreneur. Her faith and travels have inspired much of her writing, both in her articles on halffullpassport.com and in all nine of her books. She lives in the D.C. area and travels the world with her daughter, Iris.
Tell us about your newest book.
Paradise Lost and Found is a solo female travel-inspired clean read about Sadie, a 20-something workaholic who’s never taken a day’s vacation. When her editing firm is acquired by a large corporation, she is forced to take all 480 hours that have accumulated in her years as a working professional. She takes her first trip ever to the island of Kaua’i, where she begins to find her courage, her independence, and herself, and she gets to do it all in paradise. This is the first in a seven-book series that follows Sadie’s journey from workaholic to traveler.
What inspired you to write your story?
I felt like there was a tremendous gap where the “clean, new adult” genre should be. I thought, why don’t I write what I would want to read? One of my favorite quotes is from Benjamin Franklin who said, “Either write things worth reading, or do things worth writing.” This has always inspired my writing, and it inspired Sadie’s story as well.
What genre do you focus on. Why?
I focus on clean reads. I love a good story, but so many of them have bad language and questionable moral themes, especially in the new adult genre. When I was younger, I wanted to write historical Christian fiction, but eventually, I realized I could be a positive influence on non-Christians if I wrote general fiction instead. My goal is always to point people to Christ, and writing good, interesting, clean fiction is a way that I believe God can use me.
Why do you write?
I write because I love it. Writing has been an instrumental part of my life since kindergarten. As long as I can remember, I have used writing to clear my mind, help me make sense of the world around me, process my life experiences, and show my husband that I loved him when he was alive. Writing is a huge part of my life.
Who is your main character, and how did you choose that name?
Sadie is the main character, and I chose the name because I love it! I’ve always liked “old” names, and I’ve always thought Sadie was a cute name. I was excited to write a story about a young woman for whom “Sadie” fit so well.
What is the hardest part of being an author?
Now that I’m a single mom, the hardest part is organizing my time to write. My daughter is very young, so she requires lots of my time and attention, and I love giving her those aspects of my life. But it’s hard to balance my time well in the ways I did before I became a mom.
What’s the best part of your author’s life?
Seeing my work in hardcopy. Getting that first proof copy of my books in the mail is one of the most exciting things I’ve ever experienced. I love the first time I get to see and touch a new book that I worked so hard to write well.
What’s one thing your readers should know about you?
I love to read. Since having my daughter and becoming a widow, however, I’ve largely switched to audiobooks, which has been pretty life-changing. Books have always been an important part of my life, but my time to read is much more limited these days. I used to think audiobooks were inferior, because I truly enjoy reading a paper book. But in this season of life, audiobooks are the way I get to “read” while I do the other things that demand my time.
What is your favorite pastime?
Travel! Travel allowed me to become the person I am today, I met my husband while traveling, and now I’ve made travel my “work,” although it doesn’t feel like work at all.
Do you have other books? We’d love to know.
Yes! I’ve written nine books to date. In the Lost and Found series, in addition to Paradise Lost and Found, I’ve also written Summer Lost and Found, American Lost and Found, Grace Lost and Found, Friendship Lost and Found, Confidence Lost and Found, and Home Lost and Found. My foray into spy fiction produced Secret Agent Girl, a book about a travel blogger-turned spy. And for Christian girls, I’ve written a devotional called Princess Culture, all about how young women are daughters of God, our King.
Website: https://quickwhittravel.com/lost-and-found-series/
Link to book: Whitney O’Halek Books
Social media links:
Instagram.com/halffullpassport
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