YA author Rebecca Hendricks joins me today to chat about her new coming of age historical novel, Hard Dog’s Night.
Bio:
Rebecca Hendricks is a writer, researcher, and explorer with a penchant for 1950s pop culture and the societal impact of rock and roll. Her acclaimed “Hound Dogged” series, which includes Hound Dogged and Hard Dog’s Night, transports readers to the tumultuous 1950s, capturing the essence of a coming-of-age historical fiction against a backdrop of societal upheaval and musical revolution.
Though Rebecca has built a career as an accountant and judicial assistant, her true passion lies in writing. From a young age, she was captivated by the power of storytelling, often found crafting tales on her father’s antique typewriter. This early dedication blossomed into a successful writing career, allowing her to create vibrant and engaging stories with a captivating sense of time and place. Rebecca’s work is a testament to her ability to blend meticulous historical research with compelling characters, plots and settings.
An experienced urban explorer, Rebecca investigates forgotten places, abandoned buildings, and derelict sites. A Colorado native, she lives with her husband and their two fur-babies. In her spare time, she enjoys camping adventures with her family and restoring old dolls, giving them new life with her creative touch. Explore with Rebecca Hendricks on her website.
Welcome, Rebecca, please tell us about your current release.
Hard Dog’s Night is the second installment in the Hound Dogged series, and it really builds on the groundwork laid in the first book. The characters are facing the fallout from the events of the first story, and as they grow, they encounter new, more complex challenges. It was exciting to push their journeys forward and explore how their choices and circumstances shape their paths. This book introduces fresh dynamics, intensifies the rock ‘n’ roll conflict, and deepens the relationships between the characters. Readers will find themselves more connected to the cast as they navigate these pivotal moments in their lives.
What inspired you to write this book?
I’ve been writing since I was six, and during my early teens, I spent a great deal of my free time writing a series about a rock-n-roll group. I tried to rewrite the first book in the series later in life, but I eventually dropped the project.
In the spring of 2021, I revisited the series and felt inspired to rewrite the first book again. Initially, I intended to do this just for myself, but my husband was insistent that he wanted to read the book. I normally don’t share an unpolished piece of work with someone, but I relented and let him read it.
He loved the book and pushed me to pursue getting published. I had tried to get published once before, and the experience was discouraging, so I wasn’t very excited about trying again. However, my husband was persistent in urging me to follow my dream. By the end of the year, he had convinced me, and I began looking into self-publishing. The rest is history.
What exciting project are you working on next?
I’m currently working on the next installment of The Hound Dogged series, where the characters continue to grow and face increasingly difficult challenges as the rock ‘n’ roll conflict intensifies. This tension also deeply affects The Dice, who must decide whether to adapt to the changing music scene or risk losing their shot at stardom. The story remains interwoven with the ongoing coming-of-age journeys and the evolving relationships between the characters.
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I think I’ve always considered myself a writer. I’ve been writing since I was a child, always drawn to creating stories—it’s something that resonated with who I am. I wrote my first book when I was fourteen, mostly to entertain myself, and I rarely shared my work with others. It wasn’t until later in life that I felt confident enough to let others read my stories.
Do you write full-time? If so, what’s your workday like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?
I don’t write full-time; I work as a Judicial Assistant in the Colorado Courts. But because writing is my passion, I’m compelled to write whenever and wherever I can. Even when my fingers aren’t tapping on the keyboard, my mind is always working—whether it’s crafting the next scene or developing new story ideas.
What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
My interesting writing quirk is that I don’t rely on outlines or detailed planning. I prefer to let my stories unfold naturally, allowing my characters to guide the direction of the plot. It feels more authentic to me that way, and I find that it adds an element of surprise, even for me as the author.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be a performer—I loved singing, dancing, and acting. Writing came naturally to me as another creative outlet. I started with poetry, songs, and plays, but I found that writing stories gave me the most freedom, because there were no limits on where the story could take me.
Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
The heart of this series is all about perseverance and self-belief. Life is full of challenges, and my hope is that the Hound Dogged series will remind readers to never give up, no matter how tough things get. I also want readers to walk away with a sense of compassion—not only for others but for themselves, too. We all need a little grace during hard times, and it’s important to take each challenge one step at a time. At the end of the day, it’s the small victories and the kindness we show ourselves and others that make all the difference.
Links:
Website | Amazon author page | Amazon buy link | Instagram | Facebook | Goodreads