Heather Colley, who grew up in Tarrytown and graduated from Sleepy Hollow High School in 2016, released her debut novel, The Gilded Butterfly Effect, on Oct. 21. River Journal caught up with Colley to find out more about her book, her writing process and growing up in the River Towns.
River Journal: Give us a brief synopsis of The Gilded Butterfly Effect.
Heather Colley: When introverted loner Penny transfers to a Midwest university in search of the all-American college experience, she finds herself under the intoxicating influence of Stella, a glamorous, damaged sorority girl with a razor-sharp wit and a bottle full of secrets. As their unlikely friendship deepens into obsession, both young women spiral into a hall of mirrors — haunted by frat-house cruelties, prescription drug dependencies, and the brutal expectations of modern femininity.
Narrated in alternating voices, The Gilded Butterfly Effect exposes the glossy absurdities and grim realities of contemporary campus life, exploring themes of body dysmorphia, mental health, sexual assault, and peer manipulation with both ferocity and humor. This acerbic, atmospheric debut asks: How much of ourselves do we lose when trying to belong?
RJ: How long have you been writing?
HC: I’ve written stories since I was a little girl, but the first genuine short fiction that I remember writing was in high school.
RJ: Is this your first published book?
HC: Yes, this is my debut novel. I have had short stories published in magazines and journals like the Oxford Review of Books and the Desperate Literature Anthology. I also have my second book-length fiction coming out in February 2026 – a short story collection published by Serving House Books.
RJ: How long did it take to write your book?
HC: The first draft, around a year. Then it was several years of edits and revisions before publication.
RJ: For the benefit of other writers, briefly describe your writing process.
HC: I work well in the morning or late at night, when there’s fewer distractions. I don’t have a formal writing system; I’m a bit sporadic. If I’m struck with an idea I write tens of thousands of words in a week – then I’ll go weeks without getting much down. And I’ll write wherever and whenever the inspiration comes – in my Notes App, in a journal, or on my laptop.
RJ: Any advice for those who may struggle with writers’ block or other writing challenges?
HC: Just get words down on the page. The first words will never be in their final form and will always need more work down the line. But you’ll never get anywhere if you don’t just get them out, no matter how bad you think they might be. Also, read good books in your genre.
RJ: Do you have a literary agent?
HC: No literary agent but hoping to sign with one for my second novel.
RJ: Is your book self-published?
HC: No, it’s published by Three Rooms Press.
RJ: Do you have favorite local hangouts to dine, shop, socialize, escape, chill?
HC: My favorite place in Tarrytown is the Rockefeller Park Preserve. It’s beautiful for walks and runs in every season. When I was in high school and home on breaks from college, my dad and I spent many hours on runs together through the preserve; those are some of my most cherished memories from growing up in Tarrytown.
The Gilded Butterfly Effect is available wherever you buy your books, for $18 in trade paperback form, $9.99 in eBook form. Heather can be found on Instagram at @heathercolleyauthor.
PHOTO: Heather Colley
CAPTION: Tarrytown native Heather Colley’s first novel, The Gilded Butterfly Effect, is available wherever you buy your books.
