Rebecca Hopewell’s Favorite Reflecting Spot
Multi-published author Rebecca Hopewell recently stopped by my blog to share some about her writing life.
What’s the hardest part of writing romantic suspense?
This might sound strange, but I have a hard time putting my characters in danger! My early drafts inevitably have moments where I’ve avoided writing a direct confrontation with an obstacle or danger. I don’t even realize I’m doing it until I get a note from my editor that says something like, “Can we see this happen on the page?”
What is your favorite spot for reading or reflecting on your current work-in-progress?
There’s a green armchair by a window in our living room that used to belong to my husband’s grandparents, and it’s just wide enough for both me and our dog to snuggle on. Not only is it comfortable, but when our dog is snuggling with me, it stops me from jumping up just to do that one thing I forgot! I hand-edit my manuscript after the first draft, and this chair keeps me focused.
What’s your go-to when you need a pick-me-up to keep writing?
Coffee. We switched to making pots of mostly decaf just so we could drink more cups without getting too wired. I try not to drink any after 12 p.m. but sometimes…
How do you pick the location/setting of your romantic suspense novels?
Setting is one of my very favorite things to write, so I usually choose places where I’ve spent enough time to get the feel of the area. Lake Tahoe is a few hours away, and more than once, our family has gotten stuck up there because of snowstorms. I absolutely love action/suspense stories set in the mountains, so when I came up with the idea for my first Love Inspired Suspense story, I thought Tahoe would be a perfect location. I’m just finishing up one more book set in this area, and then I’m thinking of writing about someplace new. Perhaps somewhere in the Canadian wilderness?
How do you ensure your books are accurate?
When I write characters that are outside my personal experience, I ask my friends for help! For example, High-Stakes Blizzard featured a heroine who was a nurse, so I asked my nurse friend who worked in the ER to read over the pages where the heroine was treating a wound. Danger on the Peaks features a hero who is Chinese American, so two of my Chinese American author friends gave me feedback. His family owns a ranch, so another author friend who grew up on a ranch looked over a few chapters. Basically, I tap into my community! And the internet. Of course, I’m sure I still make mistakes, but I try my best to make the books feel as real as I can.
About Rebecca
Rebecca Hopewell is the kiss-only pen name for an award-winning romance author. In addition to writing, she loves to read, wander in the forest, and talk with friends and family. A perfect day is when she manages to do all four of these things! Rebecca lives just outside San Francisco.
Connect with Rebecca
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100085416083988
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rebeccahopewellauthor/
Danger on the Peaks
Targeted for elimination with no memory of why.
When Ellie awakes alone in a cave with no memories, she knows she’s in danger—especially when she’s attacked. She flees into the path of widowed rancher Michael Tang who offers to help. To recover her lost past, she and Michael retrace her steps…only it yields more questions than answers. Who’s after her? What do they want? And can Michael keep her safe until they find the truth?