March 22, 2025 • 59 mins
Rock n Roll had a rocky start. Get the inside view of the music genre's history, mixed in with exciting mystery, band member conflicts and more! Tune into Off The Shelf now and catch author Rebecca Hendricks share deeper insights on her historical fiction novels “Hound Dogged” and “Hard Dog’s Night”. Her writings have won The Book Fest Award for Young Adult Historical Fiction and The Book Fest Award for Young Adult Boys and Men’s Fiction. Better yet, middle-aged readers are turning to "Hound Dogged" and “Hard Dog’s Night", loving the stories! You don't want to miss this show!
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
You're listening to the winning literary show Off the Shelf
Books Talk Radio Live with host Denise Turney, author of
the books Long Walk Up, Portia, Love for Over Me,
Spiral Love Has Many Faces, and Rosette Us Great Hope.
Turn up your dial and get ready for a blast
of feature author interviews, four one one on book festivals,
(00:21):
writing conferences, and so much more. Ready, let's go.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Welcome, Welcome, Welcome to this mom off the show Books
Talk Talk.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
I want to start, as I have been doing for
probably two years now, with a quote, just something to
give you something to think about. And this quote is anonymous.
The source is and the quote is dream it, wish
it do it. You know sometimes we get stop at
the dream it port but dream it, wish it do it.
(01:03):
And that quote is anonymous. We only hear a short time,
and it's where you all come in and do what
you came here to do. Dream it, wish it do it.
That quote again is anonymous. To our lower listeners who
have been with us, we're going on nineteen years. Oh
my goodness, I just thank you, thank you for being
with us every step of the way. And for those
(01:24):
it's your first time tuning in the Office show. Welcome, Welcome,
Welcome to our Saturday March twenty second show. I want
to repeat that quote again, because it's March twenty second.
We get made to end up the first quarter of
twenty twenty five.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
In January.
Speaker 3 (01:42):
You probably made yourself so many promises, perhaps perhaps not
things you were going to do this year.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
It's time.
Speaker 3 (01:50):
It's time to get to it, dream it, wish it,
do it, actually get going before we introduce you to
this today's amazing guests. And we've just been blessed with
so many authors who've come on. We've had people who
create movie films, plays, We've had songwriters on, We've had
(02:14):
New York Times best selling authors on USA Today best
selling authors. And we have another wonderful author on deck
for you today.
Speaker 2 (02:25):
But before we.
Speaker 3 (02:25):
Introduce her, I just want to ask you, you know
you hear that back to that quote again, what the
experiences we have in a short time we're here. They
have come from within us. They come from within us.
We have to change the way we think, to change
our appearance of the out exterior experiences that we have.
(02:48):
And if you want to change your life as you
move through the rest of the year and you want
to just experience, open yourself up to more experiences that
cause you to feel.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
Joy and peace and love.
Speaker 3 (03:01):
And I've just listened to a video last night a
woman she's like a sensitive person. She can't be around
a lot of people. So she found a way to
go out in like somewhere in northern Europe. So I
forget what country she was in. And she's just so
much happier now. And she found a small group of
(03:22):
people in a village. She loved her friends, they like family.
She really she did that. If you want to make
those interchanges to improve your life, I encourage you to
get a copy of He'll Gorgeous Wisdom Within Your Knows
the Way. It's an ebook, a paperback, and I think
(03:42):
hard copies. He'll Gorgeous Wisdom Within You Knows the Way
by the nise turning. I encourage you to get a
copy and read that book and see what impact it
may have on you as you continue to do what
it takes to create their life you truly want to live.
(04:04):
And now let us go and meet our very special
off the Shelf guests, and today's guest is Rebecca Indricks.
Rebecca started writing when she was a kid, she started
writing stories on her father's old typewriter, or she would
write stories on paper and long hand. And she's the
(04:24):
author of novels like Hounded the Hounddogs and Hard Dogs Night.
I let those titles Hound Dogs and Hard Dogs Night.
And these are works of young adult historical fiction and
her one of her books has won the book Fest
(04:45):
Award for Young a dot Historical Fiction and the book
Fest Award for Young Adult Boys and Men's Fiction. In
addition to writing, Rebecca has worked as an accountant and
judicial assistant. I really encourage you, this is what I
love about podcasts. When I give out this website, you
l you can click over there now even as you
listen to her share more about her books and her
(05:09):
writing journey here on Off the Shelf. And her website
is Rebecca hendricksauthor dot com and that is spelled r
E b E C C A h E N B
R I c K s A U T h O
(05:30):
R dot com. Rebecca hendricksauthor dot com. Please encourage you
to go over there and set her out her website
even as you enjoy listen to her on Off the
Shelf this morning.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
Welcome to Off the Shelf, Rebecca.
Speaker 4 (05:47):
Thank you, Denis. It's wonderful to be here, and I
have to say that introduction was amazing because it was
even a good message for me to hear right now.
So it's almost like fate, we only just.
Speaker 3 (06:04):
Here a little while, Yeah exactly.
Speaker 2 (06:08):
You want to have the experiences?
Speaker 3 (06:10):
Yeah, what if we only came here to that had
these awesome experiences?
Speaker 2 (06:15):
Yeah too. So it is.
Speaker 3 (06:18):
Absolutely a pleasure to have you here on off the
Sholf this morning. Uh, to kick off today's show, can
you please tell listeners where you grew up and what
life was like for you growing up?
Speaker 4 (06:29):
Well, I grew up here in Denver, Colorado. It was
you know, pretty much you know, back in the day,
you know, for for a children, child anyway, it was
pretty much you know, seems like it was a lot
(06:50):
different than it is today. There wasn't the pressures and
the stresses that I think a lot of the young
people today face. You know, I grew up in the
suburbs and you know, we didn't have computers and cell phones.
We played outside and you.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
Know, yes, playing outside is then we're like a real
when you grew up though, people say Colorado is gorgeous
for outdoors, did Yeah, a lot of time. I like
outdoors and the mountain, ski and hiking, doing those types
of things.
Speaker 4 (07:26):
Well, my father was a teacher counselor for Denver Public
Schools for many, many years, so we would go camping
in the summers because he had the summers off, so
we would go camping. They had their favorite spot at
but Rent Feathers Lake, and we would we would go
up there and spend our summers and then we'd come
(07:47):
home on the weekends, you know, and do whatever, restock
and check on the house and everything, and then go back.
Speaker 3 (07:54):
Okay, oh, my goodness, is camping it says something fun.
I love being out in the Yeah. Now, as a kid,
what did you dream of being? What did you want
to be when you grew up?
Speaker 4 (08:06):
Well, originally I wanted to be an actress, and I
did some acting, you know, in high school, and I
wrote and directed a few plays. But uh yeah, but
I think I end you know, writing was something that
I always had done and it's something that I kept
up with. It was it was kind of like a
(08:27):
form of entertainment for myself too, because you know, I
could dream up whatever and just write it down, and
you know, and I did a lot of it because
I wanted to have it for when I was got
later in life, I would have something to go back
and read. So yeah, writing has always kind of been
part of my thing as well.
Speaker 3 (08:48):
That was about one play you. I find that fascinating.
What is one play that you did? You write it
and direct it. I just think that's awesome.
Speaker 4 (08:58):
Yeah. I mean I was a teen ager at the time,
and I had a bunch of theater friends that I
had had from high school and they wanted they wanted
to do something in the summertime. So I wrote a play. Uh.
It was called blind Man's Bluff and uh, yeah. It
was kind of like a melodrama about a guy whose
(09:22):
brother had ran him out of the house or they
thought they I think they thought he was dead or something. Buddy,
he came back disguised as a blind man. Oh and
that's how he got back in the house.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
My goodness.
Speaker 3 (09:36):
But yeah, that's awesome as a teenager you did that. Yeah,
very creative. Now, who or what inspired your love for
writing books.
Speaker 4 (09:49):
I think it was just like, you know, something that
I really enjoyed and wanted to do. But my father
was really his uh his grandfather was writer. He wrote
a book actually of poetry. So uh yeah, So I
mean my dad was forever telling stories and singing songs
(10:14):
around the campfire and stuff like that. So I think
that's probably where it came from.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
Just being around your family.
Speaker 4 (10:23):
Yeah, my parents were really urged and encouraged creativity. They
didn't let us like spend a lot of time sitting
in front of the TV. We were only allowed like
X amount of time a day to do it. So yeah,
so you you had to find other things to do.
And so you know, my oldest sister was an artist.
(10:46):
Both of them were. I have two older sisters and
they both had their own outlets of artistry.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
Oh my goodness, where did you get the idea?
Speaker 3 (10:55):
Now switch it into your writing and what our listeners
might want to really dig into the stories that you
have written in very fascinating that you also created planes
as the person. Where did you get the idea for
the book Houndhog?
Speaker 4 (11:16):
Well, you know, I wrote, I created the first version
of the books when I was a young girl. I
was fourteen, And you know, it came from you know,
the love of you know how you are when you're
a young girl or some girl young girls like you know,
the rock stars, and you know, I just wanted to
(11:38):
write a story about rock stars. And then you know,
when I revisited it, I decided to place it in
the nineteen fifties because that's when rock and roll was born.
And you know, we all think it was all about
you know, soda shops and poodle skirts and all that,
(11:58):
but there was a lot going on in the fifties
that you know that that really were It was quite
a turbulent time and everything with because rock and roll
was frowned upon. Of course when it first came out,
it wasn't. They tried to stamp it out. So yeah,
(12:22):
it ended up being a really cool vibe to tap
into that. I don't think it's been written about very much.
Speaker 2 (12:31):
Did the characters you say?
Speaker 3 (12:33):
I remember I read a quote somewhere something where Elvis
Presley's father had said he after Elvis passed, that he
had faced so much criticism when he started out in
his really he's like he didn't know how Elvis waspit
all the criticism again that the rock and roll people
thought it was the devil's music.
Speaker 2 (12:52):
Yeah, so he said he didn't know how he was
did it? So these characters and.
Speaker 3 (12:56):
How dogs, how old are these characters and do they
face these hard criticisms or are people like applauding their creativity.
Speaker 4 (13:07):
Well, a little bit of both. But they are The
youngest member of the group is seventeen when he starts,
but the rest are like twenty because they're going to college.
And so, yeah, they have a little bit of both.
(13:29):
I mean, at first it's kind of you know more,
but then when they play a show at the community center.
It's a small town they're in, by the way, when
they play a show at the community center, things really
blow up because a riot breaks out, and so that
brings it to the attention of you know, parents concerned
(13:52):
and citizens, and so then it really becomes about you know,
trying to ban it and shutting it down. And yes
it's the Devil's music that wow, So they're facing that
controversy right now.
Speaker 2 (14:08):
So did you always know that the book would be
a series?
Speaker 3 (14:13):
And if so, what why had you Why did you
always plan to make it a serious If that's the case.
Speaker 4 (14:19):
Well, when I wrote the when I rewrote the book
and really seriously decided to think about having it published,
when I started talking to self publishing the school, they
told me, hey, you know this this you really have
two books here. It's too long for one, so they
said you need to split it. And then they said,
(14:39):
do you think you could write more? And I said, well, yeah,
of course I can, you know. So that's that's that's
really how the birth of the series became. And I
I just I was going to make it three books,
but there's just too much going on and everything to
really do it justice in three, So it's going to
be four.
Speaker 3 (14:56):
Wowially, I initially thought just one series books are for
our listeners, is a great way to to build readership
because readers don't want to know what happened to the
character next, like watching the TV series What's Happened next
to the party? Now, being that houndall is historical fiction,
(15:20):
can you tell us at least maybe two parts that
are that are based on real life?
Speaker 4 (15:28):
Well, the whole rock and roll controversy, Uh, I tried
to keep that as close to what really happened is
you know possible, because it's it really is a very
interesting piece of history. And you know, like the early
people that really were playing the genre, of course were
(15:52):
African American, and you know, they really had to. It
was really frowned upon and stuff.
Speaker 3 (15:59):
You know.
Speaker 4 (16:00):
But but but like you had said, I think I
think Elvis really bridged that gap. He fought he was
the one that really forged it forward. And there were
a lot of artists too that you know, played the
version of the African American song, like you know from
(16:22):
Bo Diddley and uh uh Fats Domino in them. And
but you know what, the kids really went for the
original versions. I mean, there was just there was just
no stomping it out. And and it's it's undeniable that
the original versions were of course iconic, and you know
the ones that we all still really love today, uh
(16:43):
you know, little Little Richard and and and all of them,
they were they were definitely the ones that that pioneered
the genre. And so I I really wanted to keep
that piece uh going and and and so like in
(17:04):
the town, it's like they're trying to ban rock and roll,
but there's a little club on the outskirts of town,
kind of like a juke joint almost, but they play
different kinds of music and on Thursday nights is their
blues night.
Speaker 3 (17:23):
And so.
Speaker 4 (17:25):
The hound Dogs actually end up going there and meeting
a lot of the characters, and you know, the owner
is called Cat. He's really a great guy. So yeah,
so that kind of ties that piece into it. And
the one of the main characters of the Hound Dogs
starts learning the Blues. He didn't he had an idea,
(17:50):
but he getting among the people and learning from them
really helps his his journey. So yeah, I really tried
to keep that peace real okay, and I kept apart
with I mean, I really have kept the part about
how women were treated, with what they thought of women,
(18:11):
and you know that struggle plays a big part in
the series as well.
Speaker 2 (18:16):
Oh my goodness, this is why I love talking.
Speaker 3 (18:20):
Because the more you talk about the story, the making,
the inner working, the more it's like, oh, I want
to go get that book. Now.
Speaker 2 (18:27):
You said it's a small town. Is this like the town?
Fix it all?
Speaker 4 (18:33):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (18:33):
Can you describe this town and you said the nineteen fifties,
but it's like, really nineteen fifty six or late fifties.
Speaker 2 (18:41):
Describe the town and the time it the story takes place.
Speaker 4 (18:44):
Yes, nineteen fifty eight, and it's a it's a small town,
your typical small town. You know. I talk about several
different places in the town, like there is a universe,
there's a your college, I should say, uh, you know,
I talk about a coffee shop that's across the street
(19:06):
from the university. There's the record shot, the beat, there's
the movie theater. Of course, there's a an arcade in
the town called Lucky's. Uh, there was there was a clown.
It starts out there was an old clown that sits
on top of the arcade that when he was new,
(19:29):
he used to laugh, but he kind of scared people,
so they turned off his voice box. And now and
now he's now he's aged and old, and so he
scared people period, so they end up removing him. But uh,
you know, there's the the gallop. Because the record store
is on the main street. There's the little like store
(19:53):
next There's a little shop next door that sells snacks
and stuff like that. There's the little lady across the
street who's annoyed by the rock and roll. But let's
see what else. Oh, you know, there's a new paper.
There's the newspaper of Coorse and and then oh there's
(20:15):
a there's an animal shelter as well, the police station.
Speaker 3 (20:20):
Okay, oh this is it is a small town, but
everybody knows everybody describe John and is he the leader
of the group. Is he the one who started founded
the group the hound Dogs.
Speaker 4 (20:32):
Yeah, well actually he founded the group the hound Dogs
with his friend Patrick.
Speaker 2 (20:36):
Okay, and uh.
Speaker 4 (20:39):
Patrick and him. Kind of the book starts out kind
of with John and Patrick's controversy. They start having a
falling out. They they're going down separate paths. John is
very much into the care free you know, I just
I'm here to just have fun. I'm not serious about it,
you know, I just want to get together with my
(20:59):
friends kind of you know, play around, listen to music,
and you know, maybe have a beer or two. That's
all I want to do.
Speaker 2 (21:05):
Well.
Speaker 4 (21:05):
Then Patrick's like wanting to pursue the record contract and
wanting to get serious and play shows and stuff like that.
So they're they're on different pages. So they end up
splitting up, and John's real reluctant. He doesn't even know
if he wants to continue going. But the one of
the band members, Stu, had had told a friend of
(21:27):
theirs that they would play his birthday party. So so
then John's faced with do I do we just let
this go wheor do I really want to pursue it?
And in his heart he really does want to pursue it,
but it takes James to show him there and and
so that's kind of how it all gets started.
Speaker 3 (21:48):
Okay, interesting, interesting, got that conflict going. Now, Yeah, you
told us about Stu, Stu, a little bit about Patrick
and John. Uh, tell us a little bit more about
Stu and Perry. And I always want to know, can
you say, so, I'm in the seventeen some of the twenties.
How old are Stu and Perry and what are their
(22:09):
personalities like? And do they get along with John?
Speaker 4 (22:13):
Yes, I mean they're both nineteen. There's a there's a
lead bang that types story kind of like an origin
story on my website. That's it's actually a free download
if you sign up for a newsletter called how Dogged Beginnings,
(22:33):
And it's the story about how John meets Patrick and
Jerry because John and returns to high school and that's
how he he meets those two. So, yeah, Jerry is
his best friend really, and so Stu is. He can't.
(22:58):
He was Patrick's friend, so he that's how he joined
the group. So he kind of has a little bit
of a there's a rift between him and John because
he feels like John kind of ignores him and doesn't
(23:20):
pay enough attention to him, and just when he thinks
he's probably getting it, is when Danny comes along. So also, uh,
Stu brings James into the group as well.
Speaker 2 (23:35):
I'm family something going on with mister mister James.
Speaker 4 (23:40):
Yeah, James is James's kind of gets he kind of
gets thrown into the mix by accident. He kind of
he kind of just gets kind of roped into it.
He wasn't luck a fornt at all. He was just
a friend of Stew's who ends up coming to their
their little their little show in the park and he's
just there to watch. Wanted to stup begged him to come.
Speaker 3 (24:03):
Oh my god, now now now, So Jerry, is John
the most committed to this, to becoming rock and roll star?
Or there are other guys in a group who are
you said they just in it for the fun? Is
there anybody other than John who's really really committed to
going taking his either national or global, really becoming big
(24:26):
as a band.
Speaker 4 (24:27):
Well, there's a rival group in the town called the Dice,
And they're the ones that are there, They're the ones
on the rise, They're the ones that are committed. They're
the ones that are really pounding it. John isn't that
into it at first. I think he gets more into
it as time goes by, because the hound Dogs have
(24:49):
a really rough, bumpy start, and I think once when
they then when they finally meet Danny, is when they
really start thinking that it's possible, because Danny's the real
talented one.
Speaker 2 (25:06):
So yeah, but I can do what I would call
the problems. Danny's the talented.
Speaker 3 (25:11):
When John helps start the group, him and Patrick, they
might not be sitting so well. No, oh my goodness,
I can see where that conflict would come from.
Speaker 2 (25:22):
What is what other? So John is he more of
a laid back kind of guy. He's more laid back.
Speaker 4 (25:30):
Care free, you know, just kind of takes life as
it comes, you know, just kind of does what he wants,
shows up for class late most of the time. He
lay for everything most of the time. He doesn't let
anybody tell him what to do, and he says what
he wants when he wants and he doesn't care who upsets.
Speaker 2 (25:48):
Oh.
Speaker 4 (25:49):
So he's just very you know. I guess you would
say care free. I guess, And then go ahead.
Speaker 3 (26:00):
Do they perform before live audiences or they just I'm
trying to imagine like the thought of this band, the
Dice is really doing strong. Are do the guys in
the hound Ug Do they perform in front of live
audiences or they just having fun making music in somebody's guard.
Speaker 4 (26:18):
Well yeah at first, yeah, and then they get committed
to playing this birthday party, and that's that's the first
time they're in front of a large crowd because the
birthday party is for a guy named Lynn in the
in the town. Len's really popular, He's a he's a big,
boisterous sky, He's got a big personality, So I mean Lenn.
(26:40):
Everybody knows Lynn. So every year this birthday party of
his is kind of like an event more than a party,
So like every kid in town is basically there. And
they get committed to playing this party, and that's the
first time they actually step on up on stage, and
they're nowhere near ready or prepared for it, and they
(27:00):
just want to play a song and just get off
as quick as they can, because one of the problems
that they have is they don't have a drummer, so
so they're like, well, we just want to get off
of here and we'll just play like that'll be the
day that's a nice little slow song, you know that
maybe we could get through pretty quick and easy. Well
that's not enough. The crowd wants more. They want him
(27:22):
to play a real rock and roll song. And you know,
they've played let's see, they've played hound Dog, but they
wasn't like one of their hound dog that wasn't really
run of their practiced ones. But John's like, you know, hey,
if that's what they want, then let's give it to him.
(27:43):
So he tells the crowd, you know, we don't have
a drummer, so beat on anything you can get your
hands on, beat on the table, stop on the ground,
make as much noise as you can to cover that.
And that gets them really piped up and excited, and
John's like, maybe that'll drown some of our you know,
are incompetence out. So they start the song, but Danny's there,
(28:06):
and Danny's just a really like, really fun, care free guy,
so he just joins in and he just totally blows
it out of the water. That's what puts him over
the top. Wow, He's like he just jumps up and
he just starts playing with them. So they're like, oh,
that's how they meet Danny.
Speaker 3 (28:27):
Now, in the book, do you show the guys dealing
with the effects of fame or disappointment?
Speaker 2 (28:34):
Do you show them like, do they make it big?
Speaker 3 (28:36):
I don't want to get a story away, but yeah,
do you show them dealing with any other effects of
they tried, whether it didn't work or they did did
become famous, and the effects of it on them.
Speaker 4 (28:49):
Yeah, I mean I am able to show a lot
of that through both groups because the Dice are are
touching that the tip of that face piece because they're
they're they're actually scheduled to go into the studio and
make a record, and so there's a and there's a
lot that's going on with them as well. So uh,
(29:13):
and of course, you know, the Hounddogs come up against
more disappointment than not in the beginning. It's just kind
of just the way things unfold in the beginning. They're
starting to get some success now, but they're ready for
it too, So yeah, I mean they're all dealing with that.
(29:36):
One of the one of the things about this book
is there's a lot of different characters and so I
will never do that again because it's a lot to
keep track of and keep going and weave together. But
I like it because I like it when things are
(29:57):
interesting and you're not just having to fall out follow
one person's journey. But it does tend to make it
a little bit difficult to keep track of everybody.
Speaker 3 (30:07):
But okay, now this hound Dog. Are they Elvis Presley fans?
And if so, how does his work impact their music
in their lives? Yeah?
Speaker 4 (30:21):
There they are Elvis Presley fans. I don't know if
if those guys are so influenced by one h person
per se, I think they just they just like they're
just in love with rock and roll and music. It's
(30:42):
more about the music itself as a whole. Like, uh,
when I try to say, like they really really there,
it's their love for music that pulls them forward. Okay,
you feel.
Speaker 2 (30:59):
And the books else so interesting. What have readers been
saying about Hound Dogs?
Speaker 4 (31:05):
Well, I've gotten good reviews. I get a lot, I've
gotten a lot of five star reviews.
Speaker 3 (31:11):
Awesome.
Speaker 4 (31:12):
They they like it, they say that, I have to
be honest, they do say it's a little bit slow starting,
But what they failed to realize is that it's building
a foundation for the rest of the series. Because if
you don't know where it started, then you're not then
the rest of it doesn't make as much. You know,
(31:35):
showing the struggles that they go through to get started,
how they form as a group sets up the rest
of the series, and you know what they go through,
you know, just becoming friends because in a way, it's
kind of a coming of age story too, you know,
it's about growing up and dealing with you know, all
of that, finding your friends, finding it's a found family
(31:59):
story because a lot of them are struggling with family,
like Jerry has a stepfather who's abusive, and you know,
it's just how they come together and find the brothers
that you know. And then of course there's the girls
that they all. You know, there's the romantic man's parts
that are going on. Okay, so it's I think it's
(32:21):
all about established them as a band and their love
for music. And that's that's a good start starting because
once second the second book starts, is when the real
conflict really starts to play out.
Speaker 2 (32:35):
Oh so so that is good.
Speaker 3 (32:38):
I like that you get you start out with all
that backstory, so they know their personalities, how they came
to be the way they are now, even understanding as
they go through changes that I like. I like that
if you're doing a series and you can see some
of the motivations behind what a character does. Now, how
soon after you published hound did you actually sit down
(33:01):
and start writing HOLG The Hard Dogs Night.
Speaker 4 (33:05):
Well, hard the skeleton for Hard Dogs to Night was
already there, because you know it, I ended up splitting
the book into two, so it was already there and
I just had to, you know, work on it from there.
I had to polish it more or less. So yeah,
it was kind of already there. And now, of course
I started writing it even before Hound Dog got published.
(33:29):
So okay, now this one, this one here, this third
book that I'm just now finishing. It goes to the
publisher on the editor on the thirty first. Actually, this
one has been harder because it well, there wasn't a
skeleton for it, and I had a lot of research
(33:55):
to do on this one because there was a lot
of there's a lot going on this in this book
that I had no idea how it played out, and
I wanted to keep it as as historical factual as
I could. So this one's been a little bit harder
because that and juggling all the different characters and trying
to keep it you know, at a manageable length. The
(34:16):
books are lengthy, I must say, but I think they
they're they're they're fast moving. The story is interesting and exciting.
Speaker 2 (34:25):
So okay, it sounds like it is. I want to
talk about your third book.
Speaker 3 (34:32):
So my first ask you, actually, if you can give
us before I go to the second one, the third book.
Let's giving my go to the editor, if you can
just give us a brief overview of the of that book.
Speaker 4 (34:46):
Okay, so yeah, the brief overview of this book is
really dealing with the rock and roll controversy and the
band and you know, not being able because they shut down.
It's because it's not banned yet. Some places can still
play rock and roll, Like are still playing rock and roll,
(35:08):
I should say, like the the the most the soda
shop b bops. He refuses to shut off shoe box. Well,
that clauses a big uproar. So his his business is
being vandalized and he's having a really hard time staying open.
(35:29):
So his business has gone down as well because a
lot of kids have been forbid to go there, and
so and the Dice is having to rethink their their
their show. They rethink their show because they're like their
platform because they're like, we can't we really shouldn't play
(35:53):
rock and roll anymore if we're going to be successful,
if we can still keep money coming in and everything.
So we've got a pivot it and we've got to
start playing different songs at least until this storm blows over.
So they're working on a way to survive it, and
the hound Dogs are revolting it. So you've got both
(36:14):
sides of the coin there. So that's basically the heart
and soul of this of the third.
Speaker 3 (36:23):
Book, and then there's we know there's a fourth one coming.
Can you please give us a brief overview of the
second book, which really was a part of the first
were record Hard Dogs Night, if you can give us
an overview what's happening. We just heard about Hound Dogs,
which kicks off the story. After you can let our
listeners know. We just give a brief synopsis of Hard
(36:45):
Dogs Night.
Speaker 4 (36:46):
So Hard Dogs Night picks up for book one leaves
off and the hound Dogs are looking for a drummer.
That's that's their biggest number one mission because they have
a showdown show with the Ice because the Dice are
doing some rotten things. So they're they're having a showdown
(37:09):
with them, and then Patrick ends up joining the Dice. WHOA,
So that's yeah, that's kind of what that's a huge,
uh piece of that, you know, the tension and the
drama and and all of that.
Speaker 3 (37:31):
How did the How did the hound Dogs and the
Dice develop a rivalry? They two two bands in a
small town young what what.
Speaker 2 (37:40):
Were they just? Why would they?
Speaker 3 (37:43):
I mean, it seemed like they'd be room for both
of them, especially if they start to go regional and national.
Speaker 2 (37:48):
What happened to make them just not like each other? Well?
Speaker 4 (37:52):
Danny, uh, you know, he's he's he like I said,
he jumps up on stage and he becomes really really
good friends with the hound Dogs. He you know, he's
playing with him and they're friends and everything. Well, he
gets an audition with the Dice and he ultimately, you know,
passes that audition and they offer him the job, and
(38:18):
so he uh, you know, and even though John is
against it and doesn't think it's a good idea, he
can't tell his friend to not join. He can't, you know,
you know, because they're they're basically going at this point nowhere,
So he can't tell him to stay with them because
they're going nowhere and he obviously has all his talent
(38:39):
that he should. So John's like, I can't tell him
to not do it. I have to encourage him to
do it because this is his dream, this is what
he needs to follow. And so so that's how Danny
joins the Dice.
Speaker 3 (38:54):
Oh okay, yeah, I'll see that would create he create
a problem, okay.
Speaker 4 (39:02):
Because the Dice are a bunch of narcissists. So there's that.
Speaker 2 (39:10):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (39:10):
So they're not as easy going. No talk about John,
he's just laid back. Yeah, they're not so much like that.
They're different, Okay, they're different type of type of guys. Yeah,
what's going to happen at the Madison Community Center.
Speaker 4 (39:28):
That's where they have the Showdown show, And it's supposed
to be this little quiet it's supposed to be this
Little Quiet show. As a matter of fact, the Dice
change their name to do this show so that nobody
knows it's the Dice, and so you know, it's just
supposed to really show because they really want to know
who's the best. So if people don't know it's a
(39:50):
Dice show, then not that many people will come and
they can base it on, you know, more about the audience,
you know, just this little audience. Well, news leaks out
and then it blows up. That's that's how it blows up.
And then everybody and their dog is there, the local
(40:10):
the local DJ shows up.
Speaker 2 (40:12):
So yeah, it's yeah, it sounds so it sounds so exciting.
What age? Okay?
Speaker 3 (40:17):
Look before I ask you that, can you described in
the second book or even in the first are all
the same characters who show up in book one and
book two and three and in book four? Yes, okay,
can you You told us about some guys in the band,
and they tell us about maybe two other characters who
make an appearance in the series who aren't in either band.
Speaker 4 (40:42):
Well, there's there's the girlfriends. There's Anne, who it really
struggles with wanting to pursue a teaching career and her
parents want her to marry this guy. Uh. You know,
(41:02):
because back in the day it was frowned upon. You know,
women were supposed to get married and be the little
house wife and take care of the kids. You know,
you you you had your career, but it was a
serious career and you weren't supposed to take it seriously.
You were just basically on a house hunt, a husband hunt.
You're looking for a husband. That was your goal back then.
(41:28):
And so that's what her parents want for her, and
they've they she has a boyfriend, but she's not really
that much in love with him, but they want her
to marry him. Well, and so her you know, her
life is kind of out of her control. They are
upper middle class and she ends up getting into a
(41:49):
relationship with John and uh so, yeah, there you go,
and that's that's a big, big, big problem. And then
you have Marcy who works at the coffee shop. She's independent,
strong girl, and you know she's she's there. There's the
(42:16):
Brewers that are Danny, Danny's aunt and uncle who he's
staying with right now. They're a big part of it.
Speaker 2 (42:24):
His parents passed away.
Speaker 4 (42:26):
No, no, he's he's had some he's had some trouble
with the law. Oh so he's on probation. So his
father was totally like, doesn't even want to acknowledge he
exists anymore. Because so that's why he's with his aunt
and uncle right now.
Speaker 2 (42:47):
What age groups?
Speaker 3 (42:48):
So these guys are like seventeen nineteen, early twenties, what
age group are?
Speaker 2 (42:54):
These are the books written for.
Speaker 4 (42:58):
I think personally, I think it resonates with a lot
of different age groups. It was put into the young
adult category because of the age of my characters. Okay,
but to be honest with you, it's resonating more with
the older, older crowd. You know, people, you know, a
(43:18):
lot of middle aged ladies, I guess especially like to
read young adult books because they're not as harsh as
adult books. You know, they tend to be about more
easy going themes. They're not there's not all that raunchiness
in there, and typically you know, it's a more sweet story.
(43:44):
So they like to read those kind of books. There's
a lot, there's a big market for that. So but
I've had most of my audience has been middle aged
and up.
Speaker 2 (43:55):
I'm surprised to hear that.
Speaker 4 (43:59):
I'll really I think they resonate with the time period.
They like to read about the fifties, and remember it's
a lot of nostalgia. Young kids today are more into
as you know, you know, they're more into superheroes and vampires,
and you know, maybe if I would have wrote a
(44:22):
story about that, it would have done better.
Speaker 3 (44:26):
But yeah, okay, okay, So I love the book covers
for the people I want to give give out your
website U r L again in case any of our
listeners are coming in midstream. Rebecca hendricksauthor dot com. And
it's R E B E C C A A T
N D R I C K S A U T
(44:50):
H O R dot com. Rebecca hendrixauthor dot com. I
love your book covers. Who designed the book covers? And
did you work with the illustrator to help develop those covers?
Speaker 4 (45:05):
Yes, yeah, I did. They were made by a company
called Nibble Art. Oh and yeah, so yeah, I've worked
with them the illustrator. Yeah, you know. And you know,
(45:26):
if people don't necessarily really want to just like dive
in or they want a taste of what the books
are like, you can go to the website and if
you sign it for my newsletter, you get the free
download of the of Haundog Beginnings, which is a short
origin story. I think it's about twenty pages long.
Speaker 2 (45:43):
Oh wow, interesting.
Speaker 4 (45:45):
Okay, so that if they don't want to, you know,
they want to see what the style is like and
kind of get a taste of what that's how they
do it.
Speaker 3 (45:52):
Okay, Now I want to kind of switch gears and
see how this might actually have influenced any of your writing,
do you You are not, and you're working on coming
out with book three.
Speaker 2 (46:05):
You got the fourth book in the series coming.
Speaker 3 (46:08):
Do you still also work as a judicial assistant or
you just fully writing full time? Uh?
Speaker 4 (46:15):
Yeah, No, I'm currently full time still with the judicial branch. However,
I am planning on retiring from the state at the
end of May and so that I can focus more
on my writing. And but I will have to, I'll
have to continue to work part time just to kind
(46:38):
of make the ends meet.
Speaker 3 (46:40):
But yeah, good for you, and I'm wi you the
first with your writing, as you have more time to
dig into it after all the years you put in.
And yeah, but we do, say, Rebecca, because I feel
like everything we do kind of influences are creative. In
(47:01):
what ways, would you say that working in an accounting
judicial assistant work has actually influenced the writing or would
you say no, no, no, it had no influence whatsoever.
Speaker 4 (47:12):
It didn't have any influence whatsoever, you know, because the
work's pretty dry and uninspiring. And that's but that's why
I really really loved your message that the quote you
gave in the beginning, because it is so true. And
and like you said, you know you get to the
second thing, you don't get you very rarely go past
(47:34):
the dream because it's hard and and to be honest
with you, it's like, this is my dream of being
an author, as my dream, and I want to give it.
I want to give it my all. Like you were saying,
time is so short, and I'm in this career that
is stifling me. So I guess you might say that
(47:55):
I'm taking a leap, that leap of faith, and I
am stepping out into the unknown to follow, you know,
to continue to follow and pursue my dream. So that's
why I really appreciate the message that you said earlier,
because it is so true. It's so true because life
is so short, and and you know the hounddogs books
(48:17):
are are. That's what they're really and truly about. Is
is following your dream and not giving up on you
as you know, on your dreams and yourself be who
you are no matter what.
Speaker 3 (48:30):
Yes, yes, Now what writing process do you follow? Do
you do outlines, character sketches? How do you go from
a blank page or a blank screen to a finished story?
Speaker 4 (48:46):
Well, I'm a panther, so I barely I very rarely have. Uh,
I think I have an idea of where I want
the story to go, and well, I see, I I
have an idea of I see where I want it
to end up. But then I let the road take
me there. And that's that's the fun of writing for me.
(49:10):
I just love the mystery that I has and letting
things unfold as they go, because to me, that's the
fun part and that's what makes me happy. I don't
like knowing everything ahead of time. I like to surprise
myself because something will happen and I'll be like, oh, wow,
yeah that's really cool, you know, or something. So I
(49:31):
just kind of let it, let it unwind on its own.
Speaker 3 (49:35):
Let me ask you this, because I've done outlines and characters,
sketches and stories, and I've also I'm probably more of
a panther like you. But yeah, do you find that
when you go back does it? Do you think you
have to do spend more, invest more in editing. I
think it's important just to get the story down most
of all. But do you find that you have to
(49:57):
do more with editing?
Speaker 4 (49:59):
Yes, yes, ma'am, Yes, ma'am.
Speaker 2 (50:05):
Yeah that's that's yeah, that's.
Speaker 4 (50:09):
With that.
Speaker 3 (50:11):
And but I'm most authors who come on off the
shelf have said that they that's what they are panther. Next,
can you share three to four steps as we start
coming to the end of the show, can you share
the three to four steps that you've taken, Rebecca, that
you found for you personally to be effective at getting
the word out about your books.
Speaker 4 (50:35):
Get the word out. Well, it's not easy, as I'm
sure you know. Uh, it's marketing is you know, it's
really hard. I mean, it's one thing to write your
book and and do all that work and put out
the best story or you know that you possibly can.
But then there's the other part with marketing, and that's
(50:56):
really been tough. It's been hard for me. It was
a lot of trial and error until I finally found
Black Chateau. Who have, who have? Who's really helped me
with the with the marketing piece, because I had no idea.
I made a few mistakes along the way, and you
(51:16):
have to be careful who you trust because you know,
and there's and unfortunately there's a lot of scams out there,
and so you have to make sure you navigate that piece. Uh,
but you know, it's it's just it's hard. For me too,
because you know, it's it's it's a very I mean,
historical fiction is not as like it's not really as
(51:39):
to market like with writing to market with like books
about vampires and and and fairies and things like that nature.
You know, those are easier to market because the audience
is easier to find. So that's been one of the
hardest parts is finding the audience that's even gonna, you know,
be interested in reading this book. So it's been a
(52:00):
really slow, hard process, a lot of up pill climbing.
But yeah, so having you know, the support and just
basically you know, you have to post on social media
a lot and positively it's a constant work, Yeah, project.
Speaker 3 (52:23):
A podcast radiocations, uh and uh. I was gonna say,
if it was the age of them, maybe even I
wonder if some high school appearances and then also maybe
some colleges you speak at. Uh, I wonder even if
you could if any music stores near where you live
(52:45):
get a lot of foot traffic, that that could maybe work.
And there was a bookstore and then where I lived
for the holidays, he said there was an author who
came in and sold quite a few books. Bookstore signings
don't always do well. But if you have like a
if something you if you were teaching somebody how to
(53:05):
play a musical instrument something like that. Are like people
who have a cookbook and they do the book signing
and they have a cooking class with it. But I
find like getting out and I told myself, I want
to get out on a road more. And this is
for our listeners as well, who might be authors or
you might have another product you sell. Getting out to
(53:30):
locations that ten thousand or more foot traffic like the
Miami Book Fair. There are different fairs and book events
what thousands of people are coming through and you get
a booth and you stand up, you pass out bookmarks
with your website you are, You pass out sheets with
your book exerts on them. You pass out let people
(53:52):
courage people to sign up for your newsletter. That's why
I've seen the results. Even if I didn't sell a
lot of books at that event, within a month, I
could see my booksells go up because you're just giving
stuff away with your UURL on it. I've seen that
payoff as well. But it is that's part of it.
Speaker 4 (54:12):
Yeah, and that actually I'm going to the LA Book
Festival end of April. This is going to be my
first actual so yeah, I'm excited about that. That's a huge,
huge event.
Speaker 3 (54:24):
Yeah, make sure you they tell me, don't sit down
the whole time, and maybe take somebody with you and
they help you pass out bookmarks and flyers and sign
up for the newsletter and all this stuff. So even
if they don't buy a book, you get something. Yeah, yes,
you get something out of it. And then you may
have just a blast. If you get somebody to go
(54:45):
with you, they can help pass uff out. They can
walk around and pass up out while you sit, while
you're still at your table. That's another tip I would
share with you and our listener. Where can off the
shelf listeners get a copy of your book?
Speaker 4 (55:01):
Okay, so you can go to Amazon. It's available in
ebook and paperback both and as Denise said, she's given
up my website. I'm also on Facebook and Instagram at
Rebecca Hendrix's author.
Speaker 2 (55:21):
And you said you're at the Los Angeles Book Festival.
Speaker 3 (55:26):
Yeah, what other either speaking events or in person events
are you going to be yet that you can tell
our listeners about so they can support you.
Speaker 4 (55:36):
Well, you know that's been the interesting part is because
I work full time, so I haven't had a real
chance to pursue that. But with going to part time
and leaving in May, I'm hoping to maybe be able
to do some of the things that you were mentioning
and recommending. I just haven't had the time when you
work full time and writing and trying to you know,
(55:57):
be the the have your life. You know, there's other
things that come up. I just haven't had time to
pursue it, but I hope to in the future.
Speaker 2 (56:07):
Okay, okay, Oh my goodness, Oh my goodness.
Speaker 3 (56:11):
And so I want to give you Rebecca Hendrick's website
again and it's r E B E C C A
h E N d R I c K s A
U T h O R dot com. We have just
had a pleasant of having Rebecca Hendricks the one I
always tell our listeners if you came in midstream, no
(56:33):
worries midway through the show. After finish the streaming, you
will be able to listen to it and it's entirety
as many times as you like, and share it with
book clubs everywhere. And surprisingly, this is you know, even
when I kicked off the show, I said, this is
These are young adult historical novels. But Rebecca said a
(56:54):
lot of people are middle aged who are actually enjoying it,
and I, as I was listening to or described as
story and the characters, I think it sounds more like
it could be. So anybody of any age would enjoy
the two that are out now. One set to their editor.
It's a four part book series. The first one is
(57:14):
hound Dogged and the second one is Hard Dogs Night,
and then that she has the third one she's finishing
up now, and then the fourth book.
Speaker 2 (57:23):
In the series.
Speaker 3 (57:25):
If you love music and you just like a good
story characters, it might even take you back to your
youth or a time when your parents were young. I
would encourage you to get a copy of Hound Dogs
and Hard Dogs Night, and definitely re visit Rebecca Hendrix's
author that come of mind. I love her your book covers.
(57:46):
Thank you so much for being here with us on
Off the Shelf Books. Rebecca truly enjoyed you and wish
you the very best. After Los Angeles Book Festival, I
wish I was there and just, oh my goodness, I
hope you sell sol many books and make so many
connections with so many people who can enjoy your stories
(58:10):
to our listeners. Thank you, thank you, thank you for
joining us here on this Saturday morning, March twenty second,
on Off the Shelf Books. To book lovers everywhere to
catch Off the Shelf Books. We've just been blessed with
so many phenomenal creatives who have appeared here on the show,
(58:31):
and as I always tell you, you are amazing. You
are absolutely phenomenal. Please go out and create a fabulous
day for yourself and I see you back here next
Saturday on Off the Shelf Books.
Speaker 2 (58:47):
Thank you so much, Rebecca, Thank you.
Speaker 4 (58:50):
It was a pleasure and I will be checking out
your books.
Speaker 2 (58:53):
Thank you so much. Spy for Nono
You're listening to the winning literary show Off the Shelf
Books Talk Radio Live with host Denise Turney, author of
the books Long Walk Up, Portia, Love for Over Me,
Spiral Love Has Many Faces, and Rosette Us Great Hope.
Turn up your dial and get ready for a blast
of feature author interviews, four one one on book festivals,
(00:21):
writing conferences, and so much more. Ready, let's go.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Welcome, Welcome, Welcome to this mom off the show Books
Talk Talk.
Speaker 3 (00:38):
I want to start, as I have been doing for
probably two years now, with a quote, just something to
give you something to think about. And this quote is anonymous.
The source is and the quote is dream it, wish
it do it. You know sometimes we get stop at
the dream it port but dream it, wish it do it.
(01:03):
And that quote is anonymous. We only hear a short time,
and it's where you all come in and do what
you came here to do. Dream it, wish it do it.
That quote again is anonymous. To our lower listeners who
have been with us, we're going on nineteen years. Oh
my goodness, I just thank you, thank you for being
with us every step of the way. And for those
(01:24):
it's your first time tuning in the Office show. Welcome, Welcome,
Welcome to our Saturday March twenty second show. I want
to repeat that quote again, because it's March twenty second.
We get made to end up the first quarter of
twenty twenty five.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
In January.
Speaker 3 (01:42):
You probably made yourself so many promises, perhaps perhaps not
things you were going to do this year.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
It's time.
Speaker 3 (01:50):
It's time to get to it, dream it, wish it,
do it, actually get going before we introduce you to
this today's amazing guests. And we've just been blessed with
so many authors who've come on. We've had people who
create movie films, plays, We've had songwriters on, We've had
(02:14):
New York Times best selling authors on USA Today best
selling authors. And we have another wonderful author on deck
for you today.
Speaker 2 (02:25):
But before we.
Speaker 3 (02:25):
Introduce her, I just want to ask you, you know
you hear that back to that quote again, what the
experiences we have in a short time we're here. They
have come from within us. They come from within us.
We have to change the way we think, to change
our appearance of the out exterior experiences that we have.
(02:48):
And if you want to change your life as you
move through the rest of the year and you want
to just experience, open yourself up to more experiences that
cause you to feel.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
Joy and peace and love.
Speaker 3 (03:01):
And I've just listened to a video last night a
woman she's like a sensitive person. She can't be around
a lot of people. So she found a way to
go out in like somewhere in northern Europe. So I
forget what country she was in. And she's just so
much happier now. And she found a small group of
(03:22):
people in a village. She loved her friends, they like family.
She really she did that. If you want to make
those interchanges to improve your life, I encourage you to
get a copy of He'll Gorgeous Wisdom Within Your Knows
the Way. It's an ebook, a paperback, and I think
(03:42):
hard copies. He'll Gorgeous Wisdom Within You Knows the Way
by the nise turning. I encourage you to get a
copy and read that book and see what impact it
may have on you as you continue to do what
it takes to create their life you truly want to live.
(04:04):
And now let us go and meet our very special
off the Shelf guests, and today's guest is Rebecca Indricks.
Rebecca started writing when she was a kid, she started
writing stories on her father's old typewriter, or she would
write stories on paper and long hand. And she's the
(04:24):
author of novels like Hounded the Hounddogs and Hard Dogs Night.
I let those titles Hound Dogs and Hard Dogs Night.
And these are works of young adult historical fiction and
her one of her books has won the book Fest
(04:45):
Award for Young a dot Historical Fiction and the book
Fest Award for Young Adult Boys and Men's Fiction. In
addition to writing, Rebecca has worked as an accountant and
judicial assistant. I really encourage you, this is what I
love about podcasts. When I give out this website, you
l you can click over there now even as you
listen to her share more about her books and her
(05:09):
writing journey here on Off the Shelf. And her website
is Rebecca hendricksauthor dot com and that is spelled r
E b E C C A h E N B
R I c K s A U T h O
(05:30):
R dot com. Rebecca hendricksauthor dot com. Please encourage you
to go over there and set her out her website
even as you enjoy listen to her on Off the
Shelf this morning.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
Welcome to Off the Shelf, Rebecca.
Speaker 4 (05:47):
Thank you, Denis. It's wonderful to be here, and I
have to say that introduction was amazing because it was
even a good message for me to hear right now.
So it's almost like fate, we only just.
Speaker 3 (06:04):
Here a little while, Yeah exactly.
Speaker 2 (06:08):
You want to have the experiences?
Speaker 3 (06:10):
Yeah, what if we only came here to that had
these awesome experiences?
Speaker 2 (06:15):
Yeah too. So it is.
Speaker 3 (06:18):
Absolutely a pleasure to have you here on off the
Sholf this morning. Uh, to kick off today's show, can
you please tell listeners where you grew up and what
life was like for you growing up?
Speaker 4 (06:29):
Well, I grew up here in Denver, Colorado. It was
you know, pretty much you know, back in the day,
you know, for for a children, child anyway, it was
pretty much you know, seems like it was a lot
(06:50):
different than it is today. There wasn't the pressures and
the stresses that I think a lot of the young
people today face. You know, I grew up in the
suburbs and you know, we didn't have computers and cell phones.
We played outside and you.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
Know, yes, playing outside is then we're like a real
when you grew up though, people say Colorado is gorgeous
for outdoors, did Yeah, a lot of time. I like
outdoors and the mountain, ski and hiking, doing those types
of things.
Speaker 4 (07:26):
Well, my father was a teacher counselor for Denver Public
Schools for many, many years, so we would go camping
in the summers because he had the summers off, so
we would go camping. They had their favorite spot at
but Rent Feathers Lake, and we would we would go
up there and spend our summers and then we'd come
(07:47):
home on the weekends, you know, and do whatever, restock
and check on the house and everything, and then go back.
Speaker 3 (07:54):
Okay, oh, my goodness, is camping it says something fun.
I love being out in the Yeah. Now, as a kid,
what did you dream of being? What did you want
to be when you grew up?
Speaker 4 (08:06):
Well, originally I wanted to be an actress, and I
did some acting, you know, in high school, and I
wrote and directed a few plays. But uh yeah, but
I think I end you know, writing was something that
I always had done and it's something that I kept
up with. It was it was kind of like a
(08:27):
form of entertainment for myself too, because you know, I
could dream up whatever and just write it down, and
you know, and I did a lot of it because
I wanted to have it for when I was got
later in life, I would have something to go back
and read. So yeah, writing has always kind of been
part of my thing as well.
Speaker 3 (08:48):
That was about one play you. I find that fascinating.
What is one play that you did? You write it
and direct it. I just think that's awesome.
Speaker 4 (08:58):
Yeah. I mean I was a teen ager at the time,
and I had a bunch of theater friends that I
had had from high school and they wanted they wanted
to do something in the summertime. So I wrote a play. Uh.
It was called blind Man's Bluff and uh, yeah. It
was kind of like a melodrama about a guy whose
(09:22):
brother had ran him out of the house or they
thought they I think they thought he was dead or something. Buddy,
he came back disguised as a blind man. Oh and
that's how he got back in the house.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
My goodness.
Speaker 3 (09:36):
But yeah, that's awesome as a teenager you did that. Yeah,
very creative. Now, who or what inspired your love for
writing books.
Speaker 4 (09:49):
I think it was just like, you know, something that
I really enjoyed and wanted to do. But my father
was really his uh his grandfather was writer. He wrote
a book actually of poetry. So uh yeah, So I
mean my dad was forever telling stories and singing songs
(10:14):
around the campfire and stuff like that. So I think
that's probably where it came from.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
Just being around your family.
Speaker 4 (10:23):
Yeah, my parents were really urged and encouraged creativity. They
didn't let us like spend a lot of time sitting
in front of the TV. We were only allowed like
X amount of time a day to do it. So yeah,
so you you had to find other things to do.
And so you know, my oldest sister was an artist.
(10:46):
Both of them were. I have two older sisters and
they both had their own outlets of artistry.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
Oh my goodness, where did you get the idea?
Speaker 3 (10:55):
Now switch it into your writing and what our listeners
might want to really dig into the stories that you
have written in very fascinating that you also created planes
as the person. Where did you get the idea for
the book Houndhog?
Speaker 4 (11:16):
Well, you know, I wrote, I created the first version
of the books when I was a young girl. I
was fourteen, And you know, it came from you know,
the love of you know how you are when you're
a young girl or some girl young girls like you know,
the rock stars, and you know, I just wanted to
(11:38):
write a story about rock stars. And then you know,
when I revisited it, I decided to place it in
the nineteen fifties because that's when rock and roll was born.
And you know, we all think it was all about
you know, soda shops and poodle skirts and all that,
(11:58):
but there was a lot going on in the fifties
that you know that that really were It was quite
a turbulent time and everything with because rock and roll
was frowned upon. Of course when it first came out,
it wasn't. They tried to stamp it out. So yeah,
(12:22):
it ended up being a really cool vibe to tap
into that. I don't think it's been written about very much.
Speaker 2 (12:31):
Did the characters you say?
Speaker 3 (12:33):
I remember I read a quote somewhere something where Elvis
Presley's father had said he after Elvis passed, that he
had faced so much criticism when he started out in
his really he's like he didn't know how Elvis waspit
all the criticism again that the rock and roll people
thought it was the devil's music.
Speaker 2 (12:52):
Yeah, so he said he didn't know how he was
did it? So these characters and.
Speaker 3 (12:56):
How dogs, how old are these characters and do they
face these hard criticisms or are people like applauding their creativity.
Speaker 4 (13:07):
Well, a little bit of both. But they are The
youngest member of the group is seventeen when he starts,
but the rest are like twenty because they're going to college.
And so, yeah, they have a little bit of both.
(13:29):
I mean, at first it's kind of you know more,
but then when they play a show at the community center.
It's a small town they're in, by the way, when
they play a show at the community center, things really
blow up because a riot breaks out, and so that
brings it to the attention of you know, parents concerned
(13:52):
and citizens, and so then it really becomes about you know,
trying to ban it and shutting it down. And yes
it's the Devil's music that wow, So they're facing that
controversy right now.
Speaker 2 (14:08):
So did you always know that the book would be
a series?
Speaker 3 (14:13):
And if so, what why had you Why did you
always plan to make it a serious If that's the case.
Speaker 4 (14:19):
Well, when I wrote the when I rewrote the book
and really seriously decided to think about having it published,
when I started talking to self publishing the school, they
told me, hey, you know this this you really have
two books here. It's too long for one, so they
said you need to split it. And then they said,
(14:39):
do you think you could write more? And I said, well, yeah,
of course I can, you know. So that's that's that's
really how the birth of the series became. And I
I just I was going to make it three books,
but there's just too much going on and everything to
really do it justice in three, So it's going to
be four.
Speaker 3 (14:56):
Wowially, I initially thought just one series books are for
our listeners, is a great way to to build readership
because readers don't want to know what happened to the
character next, like watching the TV series What's Happened next
to the party? Now, being that houndall is historical fiction,
(15:20):
can you tell us at least maybe two parts that
are that are based on real life?
Speaker 4 (15:28):
Well, the whole rock and roll controversy, Uh, I tried
to keep that as close to what really happened is
you know possible, because it's it really is a very
interesting piece of history. And you know, like the early
people that really were playing the genre, of course were
(15:52):
African American, and you know, they really had to. It
was really frowned upon and stuff.
Speaker 3 (15:59):
You know.
Speaker 4 (16:00):
But but but like you had said, I think I
think Elvis really bridged that gap. He fought he was
the one that really forged it forward. And there were
a lot of artists too that you know, played the
version of the African American song, like you know from
(16:22):
Bo Diddley and uh uh Fats Domino in them. And
but you know what, the kids really went for the
original versions. I mean, there was just there was just
no stomping it out. And and it's it's undeniable that
the original versions were of course iconic, and you know
the ones that we all still really love today, uh
(16:43):
you know, little Little Richard and and and all of them,
they were they were definitely the ones that that pioneered
the genre. And so I I really wanted to keep
that piece uh going and and and so like in
(17:04):
the town, it's like they're trying to ban rock and roll,
but there's a little club on the outskirts of town,
kind of like a juke joint almost, but they play
different kinds of music and on Thursday nights is their
blues night.
Speaker 3 (17:23):
And so.
Speaker 4 (17:25):
The hound Dogs actually end up going there and meeting
a lot of the characters, and you know, the owner
is called Cat. He's really a great guy. So yeah,
so that kind of ties that piece into it. And
the one of the main characters of the Hound Dogs
starts learning the Blues. He didn't he had an idea,
(17:50):
but he getting among the people and learning from them
really helps his his journey. So yeah, I really tried
to keep that peace real okay, and I kept apart
with I mean, I really have kept the part about
how women were treated, with what they thought of women,
(18:11):
and you know that struggle plays a big part in
the series as well.
Speaker 2 (18:16):
Oh my goodness, this is why I love talking.
Speaker 3 (18:20):
Because the more you talk about the story, the making,
the inner working, the more it's like, oh, I want
to go get that book. Now.
Speaker 2 (18:27):
You said it's a small town. Is this like the town?
Fix it all?
Speaker 4 (18:33):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (18:33):
Can you describe this town and you said the nineteen fifties,
but it's like, really nineteen fifty six or late fifties.
Speaker 2 (18:41):
Describe the town and the time it the story takes place.
Speaker 4 (18:44):
Yes, nineteen fifty eight, and it's a it's a small town,
your typical small town. You know. I talk about several
different places in the town, like there is a universe,
there's a your college, I should say, uh, you know,
I talk about a coffee shop that's across the street
(19:06):
from the university. There's the record shot, the beat, there's
the movie theater. Of course, there's a an arcade in
the town called Lucky's. Uh, there was there was a clown.
It starts out there was an old clown that sits
on top of the arcade that when he was new,
(19:29):
he used to laugh, but he kind of scared people,
so they turned off his voice box. And now and
now he's now he's aged and old, and so he
scared people period, so they end up removing him. But uh,
you know, there's the the gallop. Because the record store
is on the main street. There's the little like store
(19:53):
next There's a little shop next door that sells snacks
and stuff like that. There's the little lady across the
street who's annoyed by the rock and roll. But let's
see what else. Oh, you know, there's a new paper.
There's the newspaper of Coorse and and then oh there's
(20:15):
a there's an animal shelter as well, the police station.
Speaker 3 (20:20):
Okay, oh this is it is a small town, but
everybody knows everybody describe John and is he the leader
of the group. Is he the one who started founded
the group the hound Dogs.
Speaker 4 (20:32):
Yeah, well actually he founded the group the hound Dogs
with his friend Patrick.
Speaker 2 (20:36):
Okay, and uh.
Speaker 4 (20:39):
Patrick and him. Kind of the book starts out kind
of with John and Patrick's controversy. They start having a
falling out. They they're going down separate paths. John is
very much into the care free you know, I just
I'm here to just have fun. I'm not serious about it,
you know, I just want to get together with my
(20:59):
friends kind of you know, play around, listen to music,
and you know, maybe have a beer or two. That's
all I want to do.
Speaker 2 (21:05):
Well.
Speaker 4 (21:05):
Then Patrick's like wanting to pursue the record contract and
wanting to get serious and play shows and stuff like that.
So they're they're on different pages. So they end up
splitting up, and John's real reluctant. He doesn't even know
if he wants to continue going. But the one of
the band members, Stu, had had told a friend of
(21:27):
theirs that they would play his birthday party. So so
then John's faced with do I do we just let
this go wheor do I really want to pursue it?
And in his heart he really does want to pursue it,
but it takes James to show him there and and
so that's kind of how it all gets started.
Speaker 3 (21:48):
Okay, interesting, interesting, got that conflict going. Now, Yeah, you
told us about Stu, Stu, a little bit about Patrick
and John. Uh, tell us a little bit more about
Stu and Perry. And I always want to know, can
you say, so, I'm in the seventeen some of the twenties.
How old are Stu and Perry and what are their
(22:09):
personalities like? And do they get along with John?
Speaker 4 (22:13):
Yes, I mean they're both nineteen. There's a there's a
lead bang that types story kind of like an origin
story on my website. That's it's actually a free download
if you sign up for a newsletter called how Dogged Beginnings,
(22:33):
And it's the story about how John meets Patrick and
Jerry because John and returns to high school and that's
how he he meets those two. So, yeah, Jerry is
his best friend really, and so Stu is. He can't.
(22:58):
He was Patrick's friend, so he that's how he joined
the group. So he kind of has a little bit
of a there's a rift between him and John because
he feels like John kind of ignores him and doesn't
(23:20):
pay enough attention to him, and just when he thinks
he's probably getting it, is when Danny comes along. So also, uh,
Stu brings James into the group as well.
Speaker 2 (23:35):
I'm family something going on with mister mister James.
Speaker 4 (23:40):
Yeah, James is James's kind of gets he kind of
gets thrown into the mix by accident. He kind of
he kind of just gets kind of roped into it.
He wasn't luck a fornt at all. He was just
a friend of Stew's who ends up coming to their
their little their little show in the park and he's
just there to watch. Wanted to stup begged him to come.
Speaker 3 (24:03):
Oh my god, now now now, So Jerry, is John
the most committed to this, to becoming rock and roll star?
Or there are other guys in a group who are
you said they just in it for the fun? Is
there anybody other than John who's really really committed to
going taking his either national or global, really becoming big
(24:26):
as a band.
Speaker 4 (24:27):
Well, there's a rival group in the town called the Dice,
And they're the ones that are there, They're the ones
on the rise, They're the ones that are committed. They're
the ones that are really pounding it. John isn't that
into it at first. I think he gets more into
it as time goes by, because the hound Dogs have
(24:49):
a really rough, bumpy start, and I think once when
they then when they finally meet Danny, is when they
really start thinking that it's possible, because Danny's the real
talented one.
Speaker 2 (25:06):
So yeah, but I can do what I would call
the problems. Danny's the talented.
Speaker 3 (25:11):
When John helps start the group, him and Patrick, they
might not be sitting so well. No, oh my goodness,
I can see where that conflict would come from.
Speaker 2 (25:22):
What is what other? So John is he more of
a laid back kind of guy. He's more laid back.
Speaker 4 (25:30):
Care free, you know, just kind of takes life as
it comes, you know, just kind of does what he wants,
shows up for class late most of the time. He
lay for everything most of the time. He doesn't let
anybody tell him what to do, and he says what
he wants when he wants and he doesn't care who upsets.
Speaker 2 (25:48):
Oh.
Speaker 4 (25:49):
So he's just very you know. I guess you would
say care free. I guess, And then go ahead.
Speaker 3 (26:00):
Do they perform before live audiences or they just I'm
trying to imagine like the thought of this band, the
Dice is really doing strong. Are do the guys in
the hound Ug Do they perform in front of live
audiences or they just having fun making music in somebody's guard.
Speaker 4 (26:18):
Well yeah at first, yeah, and then they get committed
to playing this birthday party, and that's that's the first
time they're in front of a large crowd because the
birthday party is for a guy named Lynn in the
in the town. Len's really popular, He's a he's a big,
boisterous sky, He's got a big personality, So I mean Lenn.
(26:40):
Everybody knows Lynn. So every year this birthday party of
his is kind of like an event more than a party,
So like every kid in town is basically there. And
they get committed to playing this party, and that's the
first time they actually step on up on stage, and
they're nowhere near ready or prepared for it, and they
(27:00):
just want to play a song and just get off
as quick as they can, because one of the problems
that they have is they don't have a drummer, so
so they're like, well, we just want to get off
of here and we'll just play like that'll be the
day that's a nice little slow song, you know that
maybe we could get through pretty quick and easy. Well
that's not enough. The crowd wants more. They want him
(27:22):
to play a real rock and roll song. And you know,
they've played let's see, they've played hound Dog, but they
wasn't like one of their hound dog that wasn't really
run of their practiced ones. But John's like, you know, hey,
if that's what they want, then let's give it to him.
(27:43):
So he tells the crowd, you know, we don't have
a drummer, so beat on anything you can get your
hands on, beat on the table, stop on the ground,
make as much noise as you can to cover that.
And that gets them really piped up and excited, and
John's like, maybe that'll drown some of our you know,
are incompetence out. So they start the song, but Danny's there,
(28:06):
and Danny's just a really like, really fun, care free guy,
so he just joins in and he just totally blows
it out of the water. That's what puts him over
the top. Wow, He's like he just jumps up and
he just starts playing with them. So they're like, oh,
that's how they meet Danny.
Speaker 3 (28:27):
Now, in the book, do you show the guys dealing
with the effects of fame or disappointment?
Speaker 2 (28:34):
Do you show them like, do they make it big?
Speaker 3 (28:36):
I don't want to get a story away, but yeah,
do you show them dealing with any other effects of
they tried, whether it didn't work or they did did
become famous, and the effects of it on them.
Speaker 4 (28:49):
Yeah, I mean I am able to show a lot
of that through both groups because the Dice are are
touching that the tip of that face piece because they're
they're they're actually scheduled to go into the studio and
make a record, and so there's a and there's a
lot that's going on with them as well. So uh,
(29:13):
and of course, you know, the Hounddogs come up against
more disappointment than not in the beginning. It's just kind
of just the way things unfold in the beginning. They're
starting to get some success now, but they're ready for
it too, So yeah, I mean they're all dealing with that.
(29:36):
One of the one of the things about this book
is there's a lot of different characters and so I
will never do that again because it's a lot to
keep track of and keep going and weave together. But
I like it because I like it when things are
(29:57):
interesting and you're not just having to fall out follow
one person's journey. But it does tend to make it
a little bit difficult to keep track of everybody.
Speaker 3 (30:07):
But okay, now this hound Dog. Are they Elvis Presley fans?
And if so, how does his work impact their music
in their lives? Yeah?
Speaker 4 (30:21):
There they are Elvis Presley fans. I don't know if
if those guys are so influenced by one h person
per se, I think they just they just like they're
just in love with rock and roll and music. It's
(30:42):
more about the music itself as a whole. Like, uh,
when I try to say, like they really really there,
it's their love for music that pulls them forward. Okay,
you feel.
Speaker 2 (30:59):
And the books else so interesting. What have readers been
saying about Hound Dogs?
Speaker 4 (31:05):
Well, I've gotten good reviews. I get a lot, I've
gotten a lot of five star reviews.
Speaker 3 (31:11):
Awesome.
Speaker 4 (31:12):
They they like it, they say that, I have to
be honest, they do say it's a little bit slow starting,
But what they failed to realize is that it's building
a foundation for the rest of the series. Because if
you don't know where it started, then you're not then
the rest of it doesn't make as much. You know,
(31:35):
showing the struggles that they go through to get started,
how they form as a group sets up the rest
of the series, and you know what they go through,
you know, just becoming friends because in a way, it's
kind of a coming of age story too, you know,
it's about growing up and dealing with you know, all
of that, finding your friends, finding it's a found family
(31:59):
story because a lot of them are struggling with family,
like Jerry has a stepfather who's abusive, and you know,
it's just how they come together and find the brothers
that you know. And then of course there's the girls
that they all. You know, there's the romantic man's parts
that are going on. Okay, so it's I think it's
(32:21):
all about established them as a band and their love
for music. And that's that's a good start starting because
once second the second book starts, is when the real
conflict really starts to play out.
Speaker 2 (32:35):
Oh so so that is good.
Speaker 3 (32:38):
I like that you get you start out with all
that backstory, so they know their personalities, how they came
to be the way they are now, even understanding as
they go through changes that I like. I like that
if you're doing a series and you can see some
of the motivations behind what a character does. Now, how
soon after you published hound did you actually sit down
(33:01):
and start writing HOLG The Hard Dogs Night.
Speaker 4 (33:05):
Well, hard the skeleton for Hard Dogs to Night was
already there, because you know it, I ended up splitting
the book into two, so it was already there and
I just had to, you know, work on it from there.
I had to polish it more or less. So yeah,
it was kind of already there. And now, of course
I started writing it even before Hound Dog got published.
(33:29):
So okay, now this one, this one here, this third
book that I'm just now finishing. It goes to the
publisher on the editor on the thirty first. Actually, this
one has been harder because it well, there wasn't a
skeleton for it, and I had a lot of research
(33:55):
to do on this one because there was a lot
of there's a lot going on this in this book
that I had no idea how it played out, and
I wanted to keep it as as historical factual as
I could. So this one's been a little bit harder
because that and juggling all the different characters and trying
to keep it you know, at a manageable length. The
(34:16):
books are lengthy, I must say, but I think they
they're they're they're fast moving. The story is interesting and exciting.
Speaker 2 (34:25):
So okay, it sounds like it is. I want to
talk about your third book.
Speaker 3 (34:32):
So my first ask you, actually, if you can give
us before I go to the second one, the third book.
Let's giving my go to the editor, if you can
just give us a brief overview of the of that book.
Speaker 4 (34:46):
Okay, so yeah, the brief overview of this book is
really dealing with the rock and roll controversy and the
band and you know, not being able because they shut down.
It's because it's not banned yet. Some places can still
play rock and roll, Like are still playing rock and roll,
(35:08):
I should say, like the the the most the soda
shop b bops. He refuses to shut off shoe box. Well,
that clauses a big uproar. So his his business is
being vandalized and he's having a really hard time staying open.
(35:29):
So his business has gone down as well because a
lot of kids have been forbid to go there, and
so and the Dice is having to rethink their their
their show. They rethink their show because they're like their
platform because they're like, we can't we really shouldn't play
(35:53):
rock and roll anymore if we're going to be successful,
if we can still keep money coming in and everything.
So we've got a pivot it and we've got to
start playing different songs at least until this storm blows over.
So they're working on a way to survive it, and
the hound Dogs are revolting it. So you've got both
(36:14):
sides of the coin there. So that's basically the heart
and soul of this of the third.
Speaker 3 (36:23):
Book, and then there's we know there's a fourth one coming.
Can you please give us a brief overview of the
second book, which really was a part of the first
were record Hard Dogs Night, if you can give us
an overview what's happening. We just heard about Hound Dogs,
which kicks off the story. After you can let our
listeners know. We just give a brief synopsis of Hard
(36:45):
Dogs Night.
Speaker 4 (36:46):
So Hard Dogs Night picks up for book one leaves
off and the hound Dogs are looking for a drummer.
That's that's their biggest number one mission because they have
a showdown show with the Ice because the Dice are
doing some rotten things. So they're they're having a showdown
(37:09):
with them, and then Patrick ends up joining the Dice. WHOA,
So that's yeah, that's kind of what that's a huge,
uh piece of that, you know, the tension and the
drama and and all of that.
Speaker 3 (37:31):
How did the How did the hound Dogs and the
Dice develop a rivalry? They two two bands in a
small town young what what.
Speaker 2 (37:40):
Were they just? Why would they?
Speaker 3 (37:43):
I mean, it seemed like they'd be room for both
of them, especially if they start to go regional and national.
Speaker 2 (37:48):
What happened to make them just not like each other? Well?
Speaker 4 (37:52):
Danny, uh, you know, he's he's he like I said,
he jumps up on stage and he becomes really really
good friends with the hound Dogs. He you know, he's
playing with him and they're friends and everything. Well, he
gets an audition with the Dice and he ultimately, you know,
passes that audition and they offer him the job, and
(38:18):
so he uh, you know, and even though John is
against it and doesn't think it's a good idea, he
can't tell his friend to not join. He can't, you know,
you know, because they're they're basically going at this point nowhere,
So he can't tell him to stay with them because
they're going nowhere and he obviously has all his talent
(38:39):
that he should. So John's like, I can't tell him
to not do it. I have to encourage him to
do it because this is his dream, this is what
he needs to follow. And so so that's how Danny
joins the Dice.
Speaker 3 (38:54):
Oh okay, yeah, I'll see that would create he create
a problem, okay.
Speaker 4 (39:02):
Because the Dice are a bunch of narcissists. So there's that.
Speaker 2 (39:10):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (39:10):
So they're not as easy going. No talk about John,
he's just laid back. Yeah, they're not so much like that.
They're different, Okay, they're different type of type of guys. Yeah,
what's going to happen at the Madison Community Center.
Speaker 4 (39:28):
That's where they have the Showdown show, And it's supposed
to be this little quiet it's supposed to be this
Little Quiet show. As a matter of fact, the Dice
change their name to do this show so that nobody
knows it's the Dice, and so you know, it's just
supposed to really show because they really want to know
who's the best. So if people don't know it's a
(39:50):
Dice show, then not that many people will come and
they can base it on, you know, more about the audience,
you know, just this little audience. Well, news leaks out
and then it blows up. That's that's how it blows up.
And then everybody and their dog is there, the local
(40:10):
the local DJ shows up.
Speaker 2 (40:12):
So yeah, it's yeah, it sounds so it sounds so exciting.
What age? Okay?
Speaker 3 (40:17):
Look before I ask you that, can you described in
the second book or even in the first are all
the same characters who show up in book one and
book two and three and in book four? Yes, okay,
can you You told us about some guys in the band,
and they tell us about maybe two other characters who
make an appearance in the series who aren't in either band.
Speaker 4 (40:42):
Well, there's there's the girlfriends. There's Anne, who it really
struggles with wanting to pursue a teaching career and her
parents want her to marry this guy. Uh. You know,
(41:02):
because back in the day it was frowned upon. You know,
women were supposed to get married and be the little
house wife and take care of the kids. You know,
you you you had your career, but it was a
serious career and you weren't supposed to take it seriously.
You were just basically on a house hunt, a husband hunt.
You're looking for a husband. That was your goal back then.
(41:28):
And so that's what her parents want for her, and
they've they she has a boyfriend, but she's not really
that much in love with him, but they want her
to marry him. Well, and so her you know, her
life is kind of out of her control. They are
upper middle class and she ends up getting into a
(41:49):
relationship with John and uh so, yeah, there you go,
and that's that's a big, big, big problem. And then
you have Marcy who works at the coffee shop. She's independent,
strong girl, and you know she's she's there. There's the
(42:16):
Brewers that are Danny, Danny's aunt and uncle who he's
staying with right now. They're a big part of it.
Speaker 2 (42:24):
His parents passed away.
Speaker 4 (42:26):
No, no, he's he's had some he's had some trouble
with the law. Oh so he's on probation. So his
father was totally like, doesn't even want to acknowledge he
exists anymore. Because so that's why he's with his aunt
and uncle right now.
Speaker 2 (42:47):
What age groups?
Speaker 3 (42:48):
So these guys are like seventeen nineteen, early twenties, what
age group are?
Speaker 2 (42:54):
These are the books written for.
Speaker 4 (42:58):
I think personally, I think it resonates with a lot
of different age groups. It was put into the young
adult category because of the age of my characters. Okay,
but to be honest with you, it's resonating more with
the older, older crowd. You know, people, you know, a
(43:18):
lot of middle aged ladies, I guess especially like to
read young adult books because they're not as harsh as
adult books. You know, they tend to be about more
easy going themes. They're not there's not all that raunchiness
in there, and typically you know, it's a more sweet story.
(43:44):
So they like to read those kind of books. There's
a lot, there's a big market for that. So but
I've had most of my audience has been middle aged
and up.
Speaker 2 (43:55):
I'm surprised to hear that.
Speaker 4 (43:59):
I'll really I think they resonate with the time period.
They like to read about the fifties, and remember it's
a lot of nostalgia. Young kids today are more into
as you know, you know, they're more into superheroes and vampires,
and you know, maybe if I would have wrote a
(44:22):
story about that, it would have done better.
Speaker 3 (44:26):
But yeah, okay, okay, So I love the book covers
for the people I want to give give out your
website U r L again in case any of our
listeners are coming in midstream. Rebecca hendricksauthor dot com. And
it's R E B E C C A A T
N D R I C K S A U T
(44:50):
H O R dot com. Rebecca hendrixauthor dot com. I
love your book covers. Who designed the book covers? And
did you work with the illustrator to help develop those covers?
Speaker 4 (45:05):
Yes, yeah, I did. They were made by a company
called Nibble Art. Oh and yeah, so yeah, I've worked
with them the illustrator. Yeah, you know. And you know,
(45:26):
if people don't necessarily really want to just like dive
in or they want a taste of what the books
are like, you can go to the website and if
you sign it for my newsletter, you get the free
download of the of Haundog Beginnings, which is a short
origin story. I think it's about twenty pages long.
Speaker 2 (45:43):
Oh wow, interesting.
Speaker 4 (45:45):
Okay, so that if they don't want to, you know,
they want to see what the style is like and
kind of get a taste of what that's how they
do it.
Speaker 3 (45:52):
Okay, Now I want to kind of switch gears and
see how this might actually have influenced any of your writing,
do you You are not, and you're working on coming
out with book three.
Speaker 2 (46:05):
You got the fourth book in the series coming.
Speaker 3 (46:08):
Do you still also work as a judicial assistant or
you just fully writing full time? Uh?
Speaker 4 (46:15):
Yeah, No, I'm currently full time still with the judicial branch. However,
I am planning on retiring from the state at the
end of May and so that I can focus more
on my writing. And but I will have to, I'll
have to continue to work part time just to kind
(46:38):
of make the ends meet.
Speaker 3 (46:40):
But yeah, good for you, and I'm wi you the
first with your writing, as you have more time to
dig into it after all the years you put in.
And yeah, but we do, say, Rebecca, because I feel
like everything we do kind of influences are creative. In
(47:01):
what ways, would you say that working in an accounting
judicial assistant work has actually influenced the writing or would
you say no, no, no, it had no influence whatsoever.
Speaker 4 (47:12):
It didn't have any influence whatsoever, you know, because the
work's pretty dry and uninspiring. And that's but that's why
I really really loved your message that the quote you
gave in the beginning, because it is so true. And
and like you said, you know you get to the
second thing, you don't get you very rarely go past
(47:34):
the dream because it's hard and and to be honest
with you, it's like, this is my dream of being
an author, as my dream, and I want to give it.
I want to give it my all. Like you were saying,
time is so short, and I'm in this career that
is stifling me. So I guess you might say that
(47:55):
I'm taking a leap, that leap of faith, and I
am stepping out into the unknown to follow, you know,
to continue to follow and pursue my dream. So that's
why I really appreciate the message that you said earlier,
because it is so true. It's so true because life
is so short, and and you know the hounddogs books
(48:17):
are are. That's what they're really and truly about. Is
is following your dream and not giving up on you
as you know, on your dreams and yourself be who
you are no matter what.
Speaker 3 (48:30):
Yes, yes, Now what writing process do you follow? Do
you do outlines, character sketches? How do you go from
a blank page or a blank screen to a finished story?
Speaker 4 (48:46):
Well, I'm a panther, so I barely I very rarely have. Uh,
I think I have an idea of where I want
the story to go, and well, I see, I I
have an idea of I see where I want it
to end up. But then I let the road take
me there. And that's that's the fun of writing for me.
(49:10):
I just love the mystery that I has and letting
things unfold as they go, because to me, that's the
fun part and that's what makes me happy. I don't
like knowing everything ahead of time. I like to surprise
myself because something will happen and I'll be like, oh, wow,
yeah that's really cool, you know, or something. So I
(49:31):
just kind of let it, let it unwind on its own.
Speaker 3 (49:35):
Let me ask you this, because I've done outlines and characters,
sketches and stories, and I've also I'm probably more of
a panther like you. But yeah, do you find that
when you go back does it? Do you think you
have to do spend more, invest more in editing. I
think it's important just to get the story down most
of all. But do you find that you have to
(49:57):
do more with editing?
Speaker 4 (49:59):
Yes, yes, ma'am, Yes, ma'am.
Speaker 2 (50:05):
Yeah that's that's yeah, that's.
Speaker 4 (50:09):
With that.
Speaker 3 (50:11):
And but I'm most authors who come on off the
shelf have said that they that's what they are panther. Next,
can you share three to four steps as we start
coming to the end of the show, can you share
the three to four steps that you've taken, Rebecca, that
you found for you personally to be effective at getting
the word out about your books.
Speaker 4 (50:35):
Get the word out. Well, it's not easy, as I'm
sure you know. Uh, it's marketing is you know, it's
really hard. I mean, it's one thing to write your
book and and do all that work and put out
the best story or you know that you possibly can.
But then there's the other part with marketing, and that's
(50:56):
really been tough. It's been hard for me. It was
a lot of trial and error until I finally found
Black Chateau. Who have, who have? Who's really helped me
with the with the marketing piece, because I had no idea.
I made a few mistakes along the way, and you
(51:16):
have to be careful who you trust because you know,
and there's and unfortunately there's a lot of scams out there,
and so you have to make sure you navigate that piece. Uh,
but you know, it's it's just it's hard. For me too,
because you know, it's it's it's a very I mean,
historical fiction is not as like it's not really as
(51:39):
to market like with writing to market with like books
about vampires and and and fairies and things like that nature.
You know, those are easier to market because the audience
is easier to find. So that's been one of the
hardest parts is finding the audience that's even gonna, you know,
be interested in reading this book. So it's been a
(52:00):
really slow, hard process, a lot of up pill climbing.
But yeah, so having you know, the support and just
basically you know, you have to post on social media
a lot and positively it's a constant work, Yeah, project.
Speaker 3 (52:23):
A podcast radiocations, uh and uh. I was gonna say,
if it was the age of them, maybe even I
wonder if some high school appearances and then also maybe
some colleges you speak at. Uh, I wonder even if
you could if any music stores near where you live
(52:45):
get a lot of foot traffic, that that could maybe work.
And there was a bookstore and then where I lived
for the holidays, he said there was an author who
came in and sold quite a few books. Bookstore signings
don't always do well. But if you have like a
if something you if you were teaching somebody how to
(53:05):
play a musical instrument something like that. Are like people
who have a cookbook and they do the book signing
and they have a cooking class with it. But I
find like getting out and I told myself, I want
to get out on a road more. And this is
for our listeners as well, who might be authors or
you might have another product you sell. Getting out to
(53:30):
locations that ten thousand or more foot traffic like the
Miami Book Fair. There are different fairs and book events
what thousands of people are coming through and you get
a booth and you stand up, you pass out bookmarks
with your website you are, You pass out sheets with
your book exerts on them. You pass out let people
(53:52):
courage people to sign up for your newsletter. That's why
I've seen the results. Even if I didn't sell a
lot of books at that event, within a month, I
could see my booksells go up because you're just giving
stuff away with your UURL on it. I've seen that
payoff as well. But it is that's part of it.
Speaker 4 (54:12):
Yeah, and that actually I'm going to the LA Book
Festival end of April. This is going to be my
first actual so yeah, I'm excited about that. That's a huge,
huge event.
Speaker 3 (54:24):
Yeah, make sure you they tell me, don't sit down
the whole time, and maybe take somebody with you and
they help you pass out bookmarks and flyers and sign
up for the newsletter and all this stuff. So even
if they don't buy a book, you get something. Yeah, yes,
you get something out of it. And then you may
have just a blast. If you get somebody to go
(54:45):
with you, they can help pass uff out. They can
walk around and pass up out while you sit, while
you're still at your table. That's another tip I would
share with you and our listener. Where can off the
shelf listeners get a copy of your book?
Speaker 4 (55:01):
Okay, so you can go to Amazon. It's available in
ebook and paperback both and as Denise said, she's given
up my website. I'm also on Facebook and Instagram at
Rebecca Hendrix's author.
Speaker 2 (55:21):
And you said you're at the Los Angeles Book Festival.
Speaker 3 (55:26):
Yeah, what other either speaking events or in person events
are you going to be yet that you can tell
our listeners about so they can support you.
Speaker 4 (55:36):
Well, you know that's been the interesting part is because
I work full time, so I haven't had a real
chance to pursue that. But with going to part time
and leaving in May, I'm hoping to maybe be able
to do some of the things that you were mentioning
and recommending. I just haven't had the time when you
work full time and writing and trying to you know,
(55:57):
be the the have your life. You know, there's other
things that come up. I just haven't had time to
pursue it, but I hope to in the future.
Speaker 2 (56:07):
Okay, okay, Oh my goodness, Oh my goodness.
Speaker 3 (56:11):
And so I want to give you Rebecca Hendrick's website
again and it's r E B E C C A
h E N d R I c K s A
U T h O R dot com. We have just
had a pleasant of having Rebecca Hendricks the one I
always tell our listeners if you came in midstream, no
(56:33):
worries midway through the show. After finish the streaming, you
will be able to listen to it and it's entirety
as many times as you like, and share it with
book clubs everywhere. And surprisingly, this is you know, even
when I kicked off the show, I said, this is
These are young adult historical novels. But Rebecca said a
(56:54):
lot of people are middle aged who are actually enjoying it,
and I, as I was listening to or described as
story and the characters, I think it sounds more like
it could be. So anybody of any age would enjoy
the two that are out now. One set to their editor.
It's a four part book series. The first one is
(57:14):
hound Dogged and the second one is Hard Dogs Night,
and then that she has the third one she's finishing
up now, and then the fourth book.
Speaker 2 (57:23):
In the series.
Speaker 3 (57:25):
If you love music and you just like a good
story characters, it might even take you back to your
youth or a time when your parents were young. I
would encourage you to get a copy of Hound Dogs
and Hard Dogs Night, and definitely re visit Rebecca Hendrix's
author that come of mind. I love her your book covers.
(57:46):
Thank you so much for being here with us on
Off the Shelf Books. Rebecca truly enjoyed you and wish
you the very best. After Los Angeles Book Festival, I
wish I was there and just, oh my goodness, I
hope you sell sol many books and make so many
connections with so many people who can enjoy your stories
(58:10):
to our listeners. Thank you, thank you, thank you for
joining us here on this Saturday morning, March twenty second,
on Off the Shelf Books. To book lovers everywhere to
catch Off the Shelf Books. We've just been blessed with
so many phenomenal creatives who have appeared here on the show,
(58:31):
and as I always tell you, you are amazing. You
are absolutely phenomenal. Please go out and create a fabulous
day for yourself and I see you back here next
Saturday on Off the Shelf Books.
Speaker 2 (58:47):
Thank you so much, Rebecca, Thank you.
Speaker 4 (58:50):
It was a pleasure and I will be checking out
your books.
Speaker 2 (58:53):
Thank you so much. Spy for Nono
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