Wednesday Writer's Spotlight: An Interview with Rebecca Hart

Today we welcome Rebecca Hart to our blog to share some details about herself and her writing. Rebecca is the author of Call of the Sea, a tale of selkies, pirates, and a strong willed daughter. 

When did you first start writing? What made you want to be a writer?

I started writing somewhere around high school, but didn’t do anything serious with respect to the craft until about 2 years ago. I’ve always written stories, but it wasn’t until recently that I considered someone might actually be interested in reading what I wrote.

What inspired you to write your book?

I have always had a bit of an obsession with pirates. Call of the Sea was originally a basic short story about a girl who pretended to be a boy to get what she wanted from life. The original submission got lost somehow in the cyber land between email boxes and I never received any sort of reply. Thank goodness, because the story I wrote wouldn’t be what it was if that hadn’t happened. Funny how things work out, eh?

Are you a pantser or a plotter?

Definitely a pantser. I find if I try to plot things out, I spend too much time worrying about straying from my outline than actually trying to get the story out.

Do you have any writing rituals or special processes you complete before sitting down to write?

I don’t have any real routines, but I do find that I need to have music on, and I cannot be online in anyway or I tend to distract myself with social media sites instead of writing. Very bad…

What authors inspire you?

Admire is different from favorite author, so I would have to say J.K Rowling is the one I most admire. As a single parent who’s been on the lean side of life more than a few times, I’m inspired by what she has been able to accomplish. For me, she is the model of what is possible if you dare to dream it.

If you could only write in one genre for the rest of your career, what genre would you choose? Why?

Definitely fantasy. I love romance, and my stories usually have a bit of romantic flavor no matter the genre, but it is the unique characters and interesting worlds that really get me jazzed about writing. That creative flow really does it for me.

Which of the characters in your current release is your favorite? Why?

As much as I love Ellie, I think my favorite character was Nelson. He is modeled after a co-worker of mine I have known for about 5 years, but have never met in person. I made him the perfect best friend and confidant -- the best bud everyone wishes they had. I also never had an older brother, so I think I poured a lot of what I imagined one would be like into Nelson.

Are any of your characters modeled after real people?  If so, which ones?

Yes, a few of them actually. I just mentioned Nelson, Ellie’s best friend is modeled after an IT co-worker of mine. Ellie is a bit like I was at a young age. I had more than enough spunk when I was growing up. Just ask my dad. Actually, speaking of dads, Daniel is modeled after my father (also a Daniel) in personality. Yes, my dad is just that cool. Funny where we find inspiration, isn’t it?

What music was on your playlist while writing your novel?

Any one of the three Pirates of the Caribbean soundtracks. They are all perfect for writing pirate tales.

Morning person or grumpy bear?

Such a grumpy bear… Still working on that one… maybe someday I will be one of those people that wakes at the crack of dawn with a smile on their face. (Don’t hold your breath for that one)

Tell us one thing it would surprise us to know about you?

Growing up, I wanted to be an Olympic Beach Volleyball player, and I make a mean frozen margarita. Okay, so that was two things J

What is next for you?

I have a fantasy series in the works that I am so excited about tentatively titled The Machenwood Chronicles -- think Narnia meets Grimm’s fairy tales. I am hoping to have the first novel completed and ready for querying by fall -- muse willing, of course. I have also had quite a few requests for a sequel to Call of the Sea, so that has possibilities as well.

Do you have any unique skills or talents? If so, what?

I’m not sure about unusual.  I work in IT and PC’s and printers tend to behave properly when I show up to fix them. Almost as if they are scared of what I may do to them if they don’t. Doesn that count?

If I were to look in your closet right now, would I find frills and lace or demin and tees?

You would have to look long and hard to find ANY frills or lace in my closet. I am a home grown american tomboy. Jeans and tees all the way. Flannel is nice, too :P

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Neither can deny the call of the sea, 
but how long can they deny their feelings?

Elysandra Winters has always yearned for a life of adventure on the rolling seas and is willing to do whatever it takes to fulfill her dream. When her Privateer father continually refuses to allow his only daughter to sail, Ellie defies him, disguises herself as a boy, and goes in search of a captain who will give her a chance to prove her worth.

Thanks to the cursed selkie blood coursing through his veins, Daniel O'Rourke needs the sea to survive. After giving up on his humanity and spending three years in seal form, he decides to give his human side another chance. Daniel goes in search of a job and a sense of normalcy, earning himself a position aboard Captain Winter’s ship, The Siren's Call. However, his new captain’s first assignment has nothing at all to do with sailing, and everything to do with his headstrong young daughter. 

Years later, when the leader of a band of bloodthirsty pirates murders Captain Winters, Daniel and Elysandra’s lives come crashing back together with the force of a hurricane. Both experts in deception, they must find a way to trust each other in order to quell the raging storm between them or have any hope of hunting down the captain’s killer.


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