I’m happy to introduce today’s guest, Jeny Heckman who has a new release with The Wild Rose Press…
Please tell us a little about yourself, where are you from? Where do you live now? Family?
I’m from the great state of Washington and have lived here most of my life. My husband, Jeff and I just celebrated our twenty-fifth wedding anniversary and we have two beautiful children, Paisley and Charlie, who both just recently graduated from university this past summer.
Where did you get the idea for The Sea Archer?
The Sea Archer title was easy to come up with. I needed to incorporate Apollo and Poseidon together so decided to choose from some of the symbols they’re known for. Although Apollo is primarily known for music he was also an archer that would shoot his arrow across the sky to bring forth the sun. And Poseidon is of course, god of the sea and this book is heavily grounded there, taking place primarily on Kauai and the hero being a marine biologist.
Why did you choose this genre?
I have never written this genre before but love reading it, so decided to be brave and give it a try.
It was really fun implying the “fantasy” world within the real one. Where you get that reasonable doubt that the fantasy may be possible. The paranormal genre has a natural fluidity for a series and I was looking to write one, so it worked out beautifully.
What is the most difficult thing about writing a book?
For me, the most difficult thing about writing a book is having a head full of ideas and unable to write them down. When you’re distracted or have a lot of demands that pull you away from writing but have all those ideas in there just waiting to be forgotten! It’s by far the hardest part. When I write, I don’t stop. So invariably need a lot of undemanding time or I’ve been known to get a little grumpy when interrupted.
What do you love that most people don’t like and wouldn’t understand why you do?
Well, I’m not sure most people don’t like it but many people don’t understand us introverts. Many writers are introverts and I think the perception is we’re hermits, and that we don’t like people or are somehow lonely and unhappy all the time. It’s really unfortunate because it couldn’t be further from the truth. I gain energy and inspiration from quiet, where others might gain energy and inspiration from others or “busyness” around them. For me, I have to be in the mindset and prepare to be around a lot of people or it stresses me out.
What actors would you like in the main roles if your book were made into a movie?
What a great question! There were definitely visual inspirations for my characters. However, they were in fact only visual. Jennifer Aniston, was the perfect model for Raven Hunter. She had the best girl next door, golden beachy waves and kind, beautiful and intellectual face. The absolute gorgeous Ben Dahlhaus was my inspiration for Finn Taylor. You could not get a better blend of beautiful, masculine, and cool all wrapped into one. Pierce Brosnan was the model for Donovan Fortner. Now, while I don’t believe Mr. Brosnan could ever be as awful as Fortner, that kind of Thomas Crown conceit worked well for him in my mind. Then sexy Gerard Butler was the visual for Wyatt Hunter. I have a picture of him on his motorcycle and scruffy beard, along with the others on my character board. The rest of the characters also had models for inspiration, however they were more unknown models.
What genre have you never written that you’d like to write?
Oh, definitely a mystery! However, I do feel like really good mysteries are hard to write! If you aren’t careful your audience is solving the puzzle before they’re supposed to which can be so frustrating for a reader. I love it when you never see it coming and it was the aunt’s, boyfriend’s, sisters, cousin.
What is your favorite quote?
Beginnings are scary, endings are usually sad, but it’s what’s in the middle that counts. So, when you find yourself at the beginning, just give hope a chance to float up and it will.
–Hope Floats
If you were stranded on a deserted island and you could have 3 (inanimate) objects, what would they be?
It would have to be a laptop with a huge hard drive, then uninterrupted electricity and Wi-Fi. Spoken like a true writer, right?
Have you written any other books that are not published?
I have! I wrote my first novel which was self-published, entitled, “The Catch.” Then I wrote another book, entitled, “Civility.” It was a book about a kind of second civil war in America. This was well before the last election but funny enough that was the catalyst in the book for trouble too. I was still trying to decide what to do with it when things started getting really heated in our country and decided I didn’t want to be part of the vitriol tearing everything apart, so shelved it.
If you could spend time with a character from your book, whom would it be? And what would you do during that day? (PG-13 please 🙂
That’s funny, I didn’t even hesitate until you said PG-13, then of course I changed characters. Dee, would have to be my go-to-gal. I find older people fascinating. They are so full of knowledge and wisdom and no longer feel it necessary to play games. They are just real and genuine, and those are my favorite kind of people.
Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
Absolutely. I believe women are pretty powerful beings and yet can sometimes lose their way or get caught up in an inner made up story. I would love for a woman that struggles with some of the same insecurities that Raven does, to find a voice and role model in her. You must be brave in the world, and that you are entirely capable of most things. The same would be said for men. I feel like they don’t always get a fair shake. They are expected to be these strong individuals, the driving force in most things. I would hope a man might read this book and let go of some of those beliefs and feel safe to be just a little bit vulnerable, especially to a woman.
How much of the book is realistic?
I think the modern day story is very realistic, especially the emotions and awkwardness. I’ve seen or experienced many of the scenes in the book. Some made me actually laugh and some made me cry.
How did your interest in writing originate?
Wow! Well I’ll try and make this concise! I’ve always thought in stories and pictures. My imagination was always very vibrant and I loved to read and enter those “other” worlds. I never thought about writing until I was older and walking one day. My father-in-law was very ill and I was taking a break from caring for him. I had an idea for a story and the character wouldn’t stop talking in my head. When I got home, the kids were in school and I didn’t have anything going on so decided to write it down. At one point, I looked up and four hours had passed! I decided to play it out and in three days had a somewhat fleshed out story. I sat on it for a long time, just being busy with my active family and job. People read it and encouraged me to, “do something with it.” However, it wasn’t until my son (who isn’t a big reader), read it and said he wanted me to publish it. I decided to try and, “The Catch,” was created. I fell in love with the craft and started writing another book which was picked up by The Wild Rose Press and the result is or hopefully will soon be in your hands, The Sea Archer.
I’d like to thank the readers for taking the time to listen and hope they enjoy reading The Sea Archer.
Great, Jeny. Thank for joining me. I enjoyed getting to know you. Sorry I stifled you with that PG-13 thing. 😉
Now, about your book…
When opposites meet the attraction is undeniable, but Fate has other plans.
Blurb:
Raven Hunter, a musical prodigy, flees to the Hawaiian Islands to pick up the pieces after her marriage to her manager collapses. Instead, she experiences extraordinary and unsettling events that are beyond her understanding.
Living in paradise, marine biologist, Finn Taylor has the unconscious but effortless ability to understand the needs of the animals he cares for. His playboy lifestyle is most men’s fantasy. That is, until the night he meets the shy and elusive new island resident. Suddenly his life no longer feels like his own.
The attraction is undeniable. However, vastly contrasting lives, peculiar dreams, and an unbelievable proclamation that they could be the direct descendants of Poseidon and Apollo threaten to divide them forever. Will they accept their destiny and begin the quest of a lifetime or will they remain in their comfortable yet separate existence?
Author Bio:
Jeny Heckman, loves romance. She especially loves romance with a paranormal and/or historical twist. Educated as an artist, banker, sales clerk, draftsman, charity fundraiser, jewelry maker, nursing student, hospice volunteer, photographer, mother, and wife, she felt her calling lay elsewhere. While taking care of an ailing loved one, she was inspired to write her first novel entitled, The Catch, about a female Alaskan crab fisherman, and self-publish it. Wanting to try something very different she pitched an idea to a New York agent who told her to run with it. This book is the first of that seven-part endeavor. When not ignoring her family and friends by writing you will find her time exclusively on them and photography. Jeny lives in Stanwood, Washington, with her husband of over twenty-five years.
Contact:
My Website: www.jenyheckman.com
My Email: jenyheckman17@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heckman.jeny/?ref=bookmarks
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jenyheckman
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeny-heckman/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenyheckman/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41823002-the-sea-archer
Links for Purchase:
Barnes & Noble Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-sea-archer-jeny-heckman/1129487886?ean=2940161651582
The Wild Rose Press: https://catalog.thewildrosepress.com/2444_jeny-heckman
