It's that time of year again - to fall back to reading, so I've launched a repeat of my first series with that title and invited a dozen thought leaders to answer six questions about reading, books, and marketing. Join me every Monday during October, November, and December - ending on December 15th and with a series recap on December 21st.
A repeat guest on my blog, today's featured series participant is Heather Hackett based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - and a fellow member of the "Leaders Who Fiction" virtual book club. As a consultant and contractor, Heather leverages 20 years of experience in organizational management, marketing, and community engagement. In addition to working in the for-profit, nonprofit, and cooperative sectors, she has also partnered with state and local government agencies. Heather attended the University of Pittsburgh, receiving BAs in English and communications and a Master's in public policy and nonprofit management. Her creative work includes nonfiction, fiction, and poetry, which is published under the pen name Hez.
QUESTION: Why did you choose the last book you read?
HEATHER HACKETT: I chose my last book, Yellowface by R.F. Kuang, based on a conversation between fellow writers during a creative co-working session on Deepwrk (a virtual body doubling platform). The two had polarized opinions on The Poppy Wars, also by Kuang, but strongly agreed that Yellowface was an interesting read.
Writers tend to be voracious readers with strong literary standards, so I trusted their taste. I didn't even research the author or read the description before diving in, which is how I approach my book club's monthly selections. Coming into a story free of preconceived notions has led to some wonderful surprises in my reading journey.
In the case of Yellowface, I was glad I took that conversation as a cue to check out something that otherwise may not have been on my radar. Kuang unpacks heavy concepts like cultural appropriation and racism within a satirical storyline that elicited many gasps of disbelief along the way. Without being heavy-handed or preachy, the novel offers a strong critique of the publishing industry while exploring the harmful effects of tokenism on writers from every cultural background and identity.
SHARE THIS: Coming into a story free of preconceived notions has led to some wonderful surprises in my reading journey. ~Heather Hackett #FallBacktoReadingSeries2025 #DebbieLaskeysBlog
QUESTION: Have you ever chosen a book because you were drawn to the cover design? If yes, what was the book, and what attracted you to the cover?
HEATHER HACKETT: A Botanical Daughter by Noah Medlock caught my eye while browsing recommendations on StoryGraph (a web platform for tracking and discovering books). The cover features a woman's silhouette against an eerie green backdrop. Her hair has been replaced with a colorful array of wildflowers and vines twisting up her shoulders, and she would appear delicately beautiful were it not for the ghastly skull peering out from her floral display.
Intrigued, I investigated further and discovered that the plot had a Frankenstein meets Little Shop of Horrors vibe. Medlock's debut novel also incorporates elements of queer literature; the main characters are Victorian gentlemen secretly in love and living together as isolated recluses in a large, unkempt greenhouse.
Though it's classified as horror, I found reading A Botanical Daughter to be more suspenseful and thought-provoking than scary, given its focus on emotional tension and ethical dilemmas. I enjoyed the story overall, though there were some elements of the twists and ending I wish had played out differently.
QUESTION: Have you ever chosen a book because of its title? If yes, what was the book, and what drew you to the title?
HEATHER HACKETT: Sure, I'll Join Your Cult: A Memoir of Mental Illness and the Quest to Belong Anywhere is a captivating title that drew me in, even though I hadn't heard of the author Maria Bamford before. Despite being unfamiliar with her work as a comedian and actress, her debut publication inspired me greatly in my own mental health work and creative endeavors.
Clever title notwithstanding, the book is not really about cults! Instead, it shares Bamford's experiences with mental health issues, including receiving a late-in-life bipolar diagnosis, and her journey toward healing through supportive communities like 12-step programs and peer support groups.
Despite quite different life circumstances, I resonated deeply with her shared experiences, thanks to the skillful ways she draws out universal themes about the human experience. I also applaud how effectively she transformed trauma into humor while deftly weaving in valuable life lessons. While this book is more likely to make you cry from laughing, those weren't the only tears I shed throughout Bamford's thoughtful exploration of mental health and community.
QUESTION: Have you ever finished reading a book, been disappointed by the ending, and thought you could have written a better ending? If yes, what was the book, and how would you have ended it?
HEATHER HACKETT: As mentioned above, A Botanical Daughter by Noah Medlock was an enjoyable novel overall. However, certain character shifts near the end felt abrupt, with several personality changes and moral reversals that could have been better developed.
While I appreciated Medlock's creative resolution, the novel's conclusion relied on two headstrong, independent young women making choices that left them contained and confined. I would have loved for the female characters to have maintained more agency.
My two favorite alternative endings would be:
[1] The young women uncover the controlling male protagonists' lies, prompting an uprising in which the creation slays her creators.
[2] The Botanical Daughter escapes her father-creators, who spend the rest of their lives obsessively chasing her to the ends of the earth, echoing Frankenstein's conclusion.
QUESTION: Is there a social media account, a national book publisher, or book club you follow for reading recommendations?
HEATHER HACKETT: As a digital nomad searching for a virtual book club, I was thrilled when a friend introduced me to LEADERS WHO FICTION. We read fiction novels and then discuss them from business-oriented and leadership-oriented angles. The curation by founder Melanie Bell (who has appeared here on this blog several times), with input from members, includes a mix of genres, styles, time periods, and topics. Last year, I was delighted to revisit a few longtime favorites from this leadership development lens, such as Ender's Game, The Alchemist, and The Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. I also discovered some new-to-me writers whose collections of work I've enjoyed diving into further since they came on my radar, especially Andy Weir and Matt Haig.
QUESTION: What book should everyone read, and why?
HEATHER HACKETT: I first discovered The Giver by Lois Lowry thanks to a kind community college librarian who generously kept an eye on me during my dad's accounting classes. She introduced me to classics like A Wrinkle in Time and Tuesdays with Morrie, but it was The Giver that most blew my mind and stuck with me. I continue to reread this book every few years and regularly gift it to young folks in my life, hoping they might enjoy it as much as I do.
Published in 1993, this dystopian novel's themes remain relevant today. The story reminds me of the importance of individuality and celebrating what makes each of us unique. It also features some essential lessons about the dangers of societal structures that pressure us into conformity. Throughout the book's exploration of the tradeoffs between predictable cohesion and genuine fulfillment and connection, Lowry reinforces that there is great beauty and wonder in this world to appreciate - despite the presence of pain and suffering.
My gratitude to Heather for sharing her insights and for being a part of my fall back to reading series. Until next week, happy reading!
Image Credit: Cambridge Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring.
Read Heather's previous appearance here on my blog:
SPRING LEADERSHIP SERIES 2025 – Featuring Heather Hackett
https://www.debbielaskeysblog.com/2025/04/spring-leadership-series-2025-featuring_0447188546.html
Connect with Heather at these links:
Professional website: https://www.heather-hackett.com
Creative website: https://www.hezhub.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-lynn-hackett
Check out the website for the "Leaders Who Fiction" virtual book club:
https://www.leaderswhofiction.com/upcoming-books
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