Interview with Rebecca Sherwin, author of SECOND CHANCE HERO

'He owns me. Completely, irrevocably. He always has. My heart, body and soul belong to this man and I wouldn't have it any other way. I just hope I'm not too late...'

Two best friends. One Christmas. Unpredictable events that tear a perfect friendship apart.

Jenna Rivera changed after the night on the beach where her heart was broken and she lost everything she thought she had. Gone is the girl who was raised by the sea, replaced by the city girl she swore she'd never be.

Deacon Reid, owner of D R & Son Property Development and the town playboy spends his days avoiding everything his life was before the death of his father five years ago. After losing his dad and his best friend in the same night, Deacon went in search of the trait girls...

Five and a half years, countless one night stands and a stockbroker boyfriend later, Jenna and Deacon reunite. The past and present collide as they mask the all consuming love they feel for each other with a dangerous cocktail of anger, jealousy and lust.

Deacon makes it his mission to win Jenna back, to save her from the years of pain he caused. He swears to be her hero, grasping with both hands at their second chance at the kind of love many dream of.

In life nothing is certain, and every day must be treated as if it's your last. Can they save their love, and each other, before it's too late?

What's your favorite part of a book to read or write?

 

My favourite part of a book is normally about 50% of the way through when most of the themes are in place and there are questions which need answering. I love coming up with ideas in my head about which direction the story is heading. It’s usually the time when I’m so engrossed in the book, unable to put it down and already planning the number of stars I will give when I finish reading and it’s time to write the review.

It’s much the same with writing. By the halfway point I know how the story is going to pan out, what the ending will be and it adds to the excitement as a writer, introducing new ideas and building on established themes.

When naming your characters, do you give any thought to the actual meaning?

 

Yes. I did a lot of research into the names of the characters in Second Chance Hero. Deacon’s full name is Deacon Axel Reid. I had the name Deacon Reid in my head for a long time, and it didn’t take much research. But ancestry was important in this novel; both protagonists are close to their families, and both families are of different descents. Deacon’s grandparents were Scandinavian, so I gave him the middle name ‘Axel’.

 

Jenna’s father is from Spain and her mother from Wales, so I gave her the full name of Jenna Bethan Nina Rivera, which is a mix of the two. It was important to me that I give the leading lady in the novel a name that would portray her as the strong woman she is, but still have a hint of naivety. I feel her name did this.

 

I named all other characters in the book according to how I felt their ‘label’ best suited their personalities. It’s important to me that a name gives readers an idea of the person, before they get to know their background and place in the story.

I LOVE that you gave your characters full names!!!! What are the major themes of your work?

 

I always stick to similar themes with my writing. My stories are always romantic; I have never been a believer in the fairy tale love at first sight, so it’s refreshing for me to put myself in a position where I can write from that point of view. There is always an element of pain or suffering in my writing, and I aim to show real-life problems in an exaggerated yet relatable manner, things that affect people every  day, change their opinion on life and cause them to live accordingly. In Second Chance Hero the characters are faced with heartbreak, death and the whirlwind emotions of a lover’s affair.

 

My next project is something a lot darker, but equally something that happens every day.

What advice would you give to people who "run out of creativity" when writing?

I think it’s something that happens a lot. I know it happened to me. When it did, I took a step back and let the manuscript sit for a while, untouched and unread. I took a couple of days, even a week and read some other work to get out of “writing mode” and into “reading mode” for a while. When I then went back to my story, it was like looking at it with a fresh set of eyes and the ideas seemed to flow. So that would be my advice. Let it rest, take a break and do some reading. Never pressure yourself into getting it done quicker than you’re ready to.

Did you ever think you'd ever become an author?

No. I’ve always enjoyed writing, from a young age English was my favourite class and I’ve always had my nose stuck in a book. I would always write little stories or poems but to me, being an accomplished author was like being a celebrity. I thought my chances of making it as a writer were as great as me moving to Hollywood and starring in a Brad Pitt movie. I channelled my writing urges into working at college, deciding I would study further and become a journalist. And then I had my son and he became my priority, all other plans taking a backseat for a while.

But then I discovered the world of independent publishing. I’ve met some incredible authors who wrote, redrafted, edited, proof-read and published their own writing and it inspired me and showed me that I could do it too. So I did, and I can now say that I am a writer. And it’s the greatest feeling.

Thank you for answering some questions for me Rebecca.  Okay people.  You can grab your copy of SECOND CHANCE HERO from these retailers:  

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Smashwords

I wrote a poem when I was nine years old called 'Without You' and it was published in an anthology. That is where my writing journey began.

 

I bounced around between jobs and career ideas for a long time before I decided I wanted to take writing seriously. With nothing but college level qualifications and a mind full of inspiration, I sat at my desk and scribbled plan after plan onto A5 paper. In a few hours I had planned six novels including a trilogy. A full time mother to an energetic little boy, I thought writing and publishing was a long shot, and something I would keep in a drawer to read to myself, afraid to share what I had written.

 

But here I am, an independent author, full time mother and insomniac.

 

I write sexy contemporary romance with a twist. Most of my stories are everyday occurrences, things often thought of as irrelevant, although they affect and consume peoples lives every day. I create strong characters, emotional storylines and journeys with no simple road to the desired destination. Life isn't about where you end up, it's about the paths you take to get there and the people and events you encounter on the way, and that is what I aim to show with my writing.

 

I have many more stories on the way, and I hope everyone who reads, enjoys them and is able to relate to them in one way or another.

Places to find Rebecca Sherwin:

Website | Facebook | Twitter