The long wait is over! DEE’S CORNUCOPIA, the fan requested novella from Jeny Heckman’s Heaven & Earth series is ON SALE everywhere TODAY! To those who are familiar with her series, the wait is OVER! To those that are new to Jeny Heckman, she would love to introduce you to the story of this feisty grandma and her fantasy paranormal Heaven & Earth Series that started with the Sea Archer three years ago!
Dee Walker can kick your ass. At least she thinks so and isn't afraid to say it. A no-nonsense spark plug, Dee keeps everyone around her hopping. When she meets fellow field hand, Arthur Taylor, her colorful world becomes even brighter when she makes him an offer he can't turn down.
However, this story of a bright explosion of color in a monochromatic world isn't what you might imagine, as Dee's life doesn't exactly turn out like she thinks it will.
This novella is the life story of Dee Taylor, the feisty and eccentric grandmother of Finn in the Heaven & Earth series. Her bright colorful muumuus and big floppy hat are her trademarks, and this story will tell you how it all began. She also has this little ability to see future developments. Oh, and commune with the greatest Greek family in history, but she just doesn't know it... yet.
Welcome back, Jeny. Always a pleasure hosting you. Wow, I loved Dee in The Sea Archer. Glad to hear she gets her own standalone.
Tell us about what you write.
I write fantasy paranormal, and women and contemporary fiction. The first two books of my fantasy paranormal Heaven & Earth series are novels. The upcoming book in the series is a novella, and I created an interactive supporting book for the entire series that will grow as I write more books. My women’s fiction Releasing the Catch is a novel. The next book of the series is going to a surprise, and I never wrote in that genre. It will have a little bit of everything.
When did your writing journey begin? What drew you to writing?
I’m sure I’ve written a million stories in my head. My first official story was entitled the Catch. I wrote it just to see if I could and at a very hard time in my family’s life (my father- in- law was dying of non- Hodgkins Lymphoma). I also had two teenagers who were also busy with school activities and sports, so sat on the book for a long time until my son told me I should publish it. I did. However, at the time, I didn’t really know the craft of writing and the book was full of mistakes. After I wrote a few more books and became a little more proficient, I went back to, the Catch and re- wrote it. That book is now entitled, Releasing the Catch. I’m thrilled it has come full circle with story arcs better closed and the writing of it more solid.
Tell us about Dee’s Cornucopia.
Dee’s Cornucopia is a fan requested novella about one of the secondary characters of my Heaven & Earth series. She appears early in the series and it’s the grandmother of one of my main characters from the Sea Archer, book 1 of the Heaven & Earth series.
Did you go the traditional route (agent/publisher), small press, or self-pub?
Yes and no. The first book I ever written I self-published. Let me tell you, it was a hot mess. The next two books are published by the Wild Rose Press and the books following after that are published by the Celtic Butterfly Publishing. Publishing books it’s not as easy as people think. There is so much involved that does not involve writing. There are advantages and disadvantages for all options, you just have to determine which one is best for you. Regardless of which option you choose, start your social media promos early!!!! Grow your channels and build up your audience before you even publish your book!
Words of advice for fellow writers in the trenches:
Build your audience before you publish anything. Build your audience while you are writing your current book. Be open to promotional opportunities that come your way and look for them. Don’t wait for somebody else to contact you to promote your book.