Please welcome Hebby Roman to the blog today. I’ve
been acquainted with Hebby for many years through writer groups plus she lives
not that far from me. She graciously agreed to an interview today.
Caroline: Tell us something about yourself.
Hebby: I grew up in Del Rio, Texas, a small town in
SW Texas on the Mexican border that my mother who was from North Little Rock,
Arkansas deemed the edge of the world, and it was pretty desolate out there. We
had lots of sheep ranchers, they were the local aristocracy and the real world
intruded via Laughlin Air Force Base. I had one older sister, who was nine
years older than me and because of the age difference, we weren't that close. I
was definitely a "bookworm," carried books everywhere I went, was
well known at local library, and had read all the classics by the time I was in
high school.
I'm married, going on 28 years now. I have two
step-sons and a son of my own from a former marriage, Kevin. I have a two year
old granddaughter, Mackenzie, and another grandbaby on the way in January 2016.
Caroline: Who are your favorite authors and genres?
Hebby: Okay, that's a loaded question for an author
with author friends. J I'm a fan of almost all kinds of
romance and all us hard-working romance authors. Jodi Thomas is an old time
favorite of mine. I also love historical fiction, and I usually read anything
Alison Weir, Philippa Gregory, and Helen Hollick write, to name a few
historical fiction writers.
Caroline: I’ve read all of Jodi Thomas and Philippa
Gregory’s books so I’m happy to have a couple of new names. What’s your
favorite way to relax?
Hebby: During
the summer, I love to get in the pool, especially with my grandbaby. I like to
cook and try new recipes. I'm addicted to all forms of electronic solitaire and
mahjong. I love duplicate bridge but I don't have a partner right now. And the
last thing I do each night is read. I may be a writer, but I still love to
read, it's my number one "go to" escape.
Caroline: I love to read also and never trust an
author who says he or she doesn’t have time to read. What’s your favorite
quote?
Hebby: Live each day to its fullest.
Caroline: Good advice, too. I’ve known you 20 years.
How long have you been writing?
Hebby: Since I was 10 years old when I wrote a 100 page
notebook book. I started writing seriously for publication in 1990, was first
published in 1996, dropped out of writing in 2002 due to family pressures, and
dropped back into writing in 2012.
Caroline: Where do you prefer to write?
Hebby: In my study with music on. I don't like
interruptions and I use a laptop.
Caroline: I also write to music. Are you a plotter
or a panzer?
Hebby: Definitely a plotter.
Caroline: Me, too. Do you use real events or persons
in your stories?
Hebby: Yes, I definitely use real people and events
in my stories, but in bits and pieces. I take a piece from someone I know and a
piece from a family member and event that happened in my past and weave them
together. Then again, there are some parts of characters or events that are
completely made up. For instance, I've never been to a formal ball in the
1860's but I've read about them and written a couple of them, too.
Caroline: So, true, which is why we are sticklers
for research. Do you set daily writing goals?
Hebby: Yes, I set a goal but seldom make it. Life
intervenes, usually. I try to use page count for my goal, not words, I still
think in pages and words, too, but mostly pages, when it comes to goals. I
don't get to write every day. I used to, during the summers, in traditional
publishing when I was teaching. Wrote every day, but now social media and
promotion gets in the way. Sigh.
Caroline: Isn’t that the truth! What do you hope
your writing brings to readers?
Hebby: An easy escape from the cares of today's
world, and a sense of justice that doesn't happen in real world. Everything
turns out fair in my books, but not in the real world!
Caroline: Which is why I read romance novels. If I
want unhappy, I’ll watch the news on TV. What long term plans do you have for
your career?
Hebby: As fast as everything is changing, all I want
to do is be around tomorrow and turning out quality writing.
Caroline: Again, so true. Share a fun fact about
yourself.
Hebby: I'm definitely a warm-weather and beach girl.
Both of my releases this summer take place in tropical locales with beaches
nearby. TEMPT FORTUNE is set in Key West, Florida and CATALINA AND THE WINTER
TEXAN is set on South Padre Island, Texas.
Caroline: Oooh, I’m so not a warm-weather person, which is odd for someone who lives in
Texas. Share something about yourself that would shock readers.
Hebby: In the wake of Fifty Shades of Gray, you want moi
to shock readers? Really? Okay, how about, my hubby of 28 years is my third.
This one took!
Caroline: LOL Tell us about TEMPT FORTUNE.
Hebby: TEMPT FORTUNE is a stand-alone book. It has
two main love stories and is the longest book I've ever written, topping
105,000 words. See, I do think about words, just not when I'm setting goals.
Caroline: That length is unusual in today’s fast-fix
world but I know your writing is excellent and will doubtless keep readers
intrigued and turning the page. Can you share a blurb?
Hebby: (this only talks about one of the love
stories—the other love story is involved)
To escape an arranged marriage, Angelina Herrera
flees to Key West to start a new life. But when her past catches up with her,
she agrees to an arranged marriage in name only. Drawn to the independent
Angelina, Alejandro Estava marries her. Outwardly he agrees to a platonic
relationship because of his secret past. But forces more powerful than the
hurricane descending on them unleashes their mutual passion and threatens their
happiness.
Caroline: That captured my interest. How about
giving readers an excerpt?
Hebby: Of course.
The magistrate cleared
his throat loudly and intoned the opening words of the ceremony. Angelina
strained to listen, but the words didn't quite register.
She felt strange, as if she were
standing outside her body and looking on. She'd acquiesced to their marriage
because it was better than returning to Cuba and facing what her father had
planned. Alejandro had promised she could live her life as she saw fit.
But somehow, all his reassurances
rang hollow. She was more than aware of their attraction to each other. How
could they possibly withstand temptation, living together as man and wife? And if they succumbed to temptation, there
would be no easy annulment.
The magistrate met her gaze and
frowned. Impatience colored the tone of his voice when he repeated, "Will
you, Angelina Herrera, take this man for your lawfully wedded husband? For
richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to honor and obey?"
The word "obey" stuck in
her mind.
What
had she gotten herself into?
Caroline:
You hooked me. Share the buy links:
Hebby:
Amazon: http://amzn.com/B00ZYX4B30
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/tempt-fortune-hebby-roman/1012824647?ean=2940151138758
All About Romance https://www.allromanceebooks.com/storeSearch.html
The Wild Rose Press
 |
| Hebby Roman, Author |
Caroline: How about sharing your
author contacts?
Hebby: Happy to share those.
Website: http://www.hebbyroman.com
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/callofmuse/
Caroline: Is there anything else you’d
like readers to know?
Hebby: Yes, please check out my
Pinterest Boards. I've got some seriously cool pictures up there and lots of
history, too.
Caroline: Thank you,
Hebby, for sharing with us today Best wishes for continued success in your writing career.
20 comments:
Caroline, thank you for hosting me today. I appreciate being featured on your blog with all those beautiful bluebonnets! Bluebonnets in Texas are like life, if I may wax poetic. They're here in a blaze of glory for a couple of weeks and then they're gone.
I'm so happy you posted my interview and I've learned more about your site. You've given me an opportunity to become familiar with your writing all over again, and I'm excited to be reading some of your books, too, Caroline.
Hebby,What a terrific cover! Best of luck with this book. Great interview and excerpt!!
Thanks for being here and sharing with readers, Hebby. Best wishes with TEMPT FORTUNE. I've read many of your books and know what a great writer you are.
Wow!! Barbara, Hebby, and Caroline. How I love working with all three of you. Each of you with your own unique way of telling a story. It has been a true pleasure reading your stories. And to think you would never have thought that you were linked together by having the same editor at one time.
Hi Caromune, thanks for having Hebby here today. Hi Hebby... The "obey" has me laughing out loud! The story sounds amazing and 105k words? I am impressed! Best of luck with Tempt Fortune! Awesome cover, too! xox
Thank you, Barbara, for dropping by. Yes, I love my cover, but FB doesn't. Too much flesh! LOL
Hello, Allison, glad you visited my author interview, that was very kind of you! Thank you for your complimentary comments about our story telling. I knew Barbara had you as an editor a while back, but I just learned this past January that you had edited Caroline's work, too! I know we all love to work with you!
Tanya, thanks for coming by. Yeah, they still used "obey" back then for the woman. Pretty amazing, isn't it?
And it's a long book, but it doesn't seem that long because of the two love stories. I had to choose one to highlight, and Angelina and Alejandro's story is a bit more straight forward. But Destiny and Nathan's story is important, too, just a lot more complicated. LOL
I agree, books should proved an escape - for the reader and the writer. Good luck!
Hey, thanks, Sandra, I appreciate your dropping by. And you're right, they're an escape. That's why the last thing I want one of books to do is bore a reader. I'm certain I can't please everyone, but I like to try!
Wishing you all the best with this book. I think Angelina is a wonderful name for a heroine. :)
It was so nice to see a picture of you after reading your posts on Wild Rose Loop. I enjoyed your interview and look forward to reading your story. I read your Templar book and enjoyed it. Have a great rest of the summer.
Great interview, ladies! Best of luck with Tempt Fortune, Hebby!
Hah! Angelina, you would say that! I think it's a pretty good name, too! Thanks for stopping by.
Z, you made my day! I'm so glad you enjoyed the Princess and Templar. Hope you enjoy Tempt Fortune as well. Oh, that's my goofy picture. No makeup, bed head and on the beach. But hey, I'm on the beach, so I'm happy. The beach in Puerto Rico, no less!
Thank you, Jana, for coming by. I like your picture. And thanks for the good wishes for Tempt Fortune. Fingers crossed!
Great interview. I love the setting for your story.
Thank you, Debra, for taking the time to drop by. Yes, I'm finding on Pinterest that Key West is beloved by a lot of people. I've never had so many re-pins of any one place before. I know I fell in love with Key West and had to go back there. It's definitely a unique place.
Great interview, Hebby!
Thanks, Susabelle, glad you came by. I've enjoyed your blogs and interviews, too.
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