The Sea Archer by Jeny Heckman

Posted: November 21, 2018/By: achristay@aol.com

Please welcome Jeny Heckman author of The Sea Archer

Jeny Heckman will be awarding a $50 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

The Sea Archer

by Jeny Heckman

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GENRE: Paranormal Romance

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INTERVIEW:

What or who inspired you to start writing?

I’ve always thought in stories but never wrote them down and was inspired to do so while walking one day. I was very intrigued by the show, The Deadliest Catch. It’s about Alaskan crab fisherman. There was a vignette about women on fishing vessels and how they’re taboo, or bad luck. I was taking care of my father-in-law, who was dying from non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma after a nineteen-year-long battle. My family was distraught to say the least, and a character materialized in my mind that put all those elements together. I went home to see if I could write it down and before I knew it four hours had passed, and I had a detailed outline. The Catchresulted from that effort and my first attempt at writing.

What expertise did you bring to your writing?

I hope the expertise I bring to my writing is emotion. It’s very easy for me to see how a character might react to different scenarios because I’ve had a rather eclectic life. I feel I’m intuitive with people and it hasn’t been very hard to put myself in their place when strong emotion occurs. Some characters can be maddening and seem like a pushover, such as Raven, but if you are someone without confidence or self-esteem, that might be how you behave. I think people that have never experienced that kind of manipulation would have a hard time believing it exists.

What would you want your readers to know about you that might not be in your bio?

What isn’t in my bio? I have a passion for history. I LOVE standing in a place where centuries before great things happened, but I also like standing in a place where centuries before a family was just living their life, exactly like I do today. I like knowing where my ancestors came from, which is mainly Sweden, Norway and Ireland, and wonder what they’d think about life today. I get this from my parents who have always kept our history alive and can track one side of our family back to the 1500s. Pretty cool!

As far as your writing goes, what are your future plans?

My plans as a writer, include completing the six books of this series. There’s a whole back-story that coincides with the series, only from the gods point-of-view. At the end of the series I may publish that book too if there’s interest in it. I also have an idea for a historical romance. If I can get a consistent writing schedule down, I may be able to publish it alongside this series. Finally, I have a set of children’s books I’ve been thinking about, so there’s a lot to ruminate about.

If you could be one of the characters from any of your books, who would it be and why?
If I could be a character in The Sea Archer, I’d want to be Raven. In some ways, I am a little like Raven and have lived part of her metamorphosis. I’d like to be her though because she’s so talented. I love music and wish I could effortlessly pick up any instrument and begin playing.

If you were the casting director for the film version of your novel, who would play your leading roles?

I love this question about casting a film for your book. So, when I write I must have visual cues around me. When I’m not seeing the characters like I want to, I can look at the photo and gain inspiration. The visual cue for Finn Taylor is Ben Dahlhaus, probably one of the sexiest men I’ve ever seen. If you don’t know who this man is go look him up and you’re very, very welcome. My visual cue for Raven is Jennifer Aniston. The cool thing about Jennifer is the broad span of her work. Raven has this kind of double life. First, as a performer, then as who she really is, and they couldn’t be more opposite. I could get pictures of Jennifer, who is the same person but as different versions of that person. The other two visual ques were Pierce Brosnan as Donovan Fortner, and Gerard Butler as Raven’s twin brother, Wyatt. The rest were all models.

When did you first decide to submit your work? Please tell us what or who encouraged you to take this big step?
I first decided to submit my work while I was at a writing conference. I had written a book entitled, Civilityand for many reasons decided at the last moment not to release it. At writing conferences, they have these events called pitch fests, a kind of literary speed dating. You get in a line and wait your turn for a three-minute pitch or presentation of your book to a preferred agent, publisher or editor. You have about a minute or two to present and then a minute for the person to ask you questions. I still had my time slot and even though I decided not to pitch Civility,I decided I’d pitch my idea instead. It’s a whole different experience pitching an idea rather than a book. A lot less stressful because you just get to talk and are generally more relaxed. The New York agent I pitched to loved the idea and even gave me some advice about how to organize it. I completed The Sea Archerand went to another conference where I pitched to five more New York editors and publishers. Each one wanted either full or partial manuscripts and I made my home with The Wild Rose Press.

What is the best and worst advice you ever received? (regarding writing or publishing)
The best advice I ever received is do not take things personally when your work is rejected. There are so many reasons why something isn’t picked up. You may have submitted to the wrong publisher that isn’t picking up anymore historical romance novels. They may be backlogged and not picking up anything at all right now. They may be looking for a book that has specific criteria, and yours didn’t have everything they wanted. So many reasons, and some writers just see it as they hated the book and you’re a horrible author. The standard rejection letter makes it even worse! However, place it all aside and see it for what it isn’t… personal.

The worst advice I ever got… Hmm, that’s harder. I guess getting advice on your story can be good and bad. Advice around flow, punctuation and spelling are good. Telling someone you just loved their book but secretly noticed there were spelling errors or flow issues, you’re doing them a disservice by not speaking up about it. However, if you have a story and it’s the story you want to write, creatively, try to stay true to it. I sometimes think when someone critiques your story or wants you to change it too much it no longer is your story and becomes theirs. That’s as close as I can get to receiving bad advice about something.

Do you outline your books or just start writing?
With, The Catch,I was a “pantser” all the way. I would get an idea for a scene and just run with it. I was extremely relaxed and there were papers all over my office. With, the Heaven & Earth Series, I have almost been forced into becoming a “plotter,” because if I didn’t, I’d never be able to keep things straight. I have outlined the entire story, and each book. Outlining and creating backgrounds for each of my characters, is by far the most time-consuming thing for me.

Anything else you might want to add?

I’d just like to say thanks for reading. I sincerely hope you enjoy reading The Sea Archer.Having others excited about your story and characters is a real kick in the pants. Knowing there is a lot of options for books out there, I’d like to tell you how much I appreciate you investing your time in my story. I’d also like to thank Christine Young for her hospitality in hosting me, I loved every moment!

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?

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EXCERPT:

“Finn, I understand it sounds crazy, really. I knew nothing about Greek mythology or who any of these people were until she told them to me.”

“And now you think Poseidon… I’m assuming you think I’m some offshoot of Poseidon, right?”

“You have a trident on your back.”

“Because I thought it was cool when I was twenty-years-old.”

“And you’ve never felt anything strange that you can’t explain?”

“And Raven,” he continued, unwilling to entertain those thoughts. “Who I just met, is Apollo? You realize, Apollo was a dude, the boy half of the twins, right?”

“God of music.”

“Jesus!”

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Jeny Heckman, loves romance. She especially loves romance with a paranormal and/or historical twist. When not ignoring her family and friends by writing you will find her time exclusively on them and photography. Jeny lives in Stanwood, Washington.

Contact:

www.jenyheckman.com

jenyheckman17@gmail.com

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Goodreads

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41823002-the-sea-archer