Best Friends and Worst Enemies

A friend started a discussion on Facebook by asking what the opposite of "frenemy" is. The answers were interesting, and most agreed that frenemies include people who are friendly on the surface but hate each other underneath. But they also include people who seem to hate each other, yet totally have each other's back. I agree with those definitions to a certain level, but I think a real frenemy relationship it much more complex. I know this because I've had a couple of frenemships (is that a word?) myself. I drew on these relationships when writing Relent.

Yes, I see Wraith a lot like Jason Momoa.
Only Wraith has much paler skin
and much darker hair.

Relent opens with Simone meeting a guy named Wraith, who reveals himself to be a demon. He also reveals the truth about Simone: that her mother, who abandoned her, is actually an angel. Simone's father, of course, was human, and her mother lost her status as an angel because of her affair with him. She abandoned Simone in order to regain her angelic status. Okay, it's more complicated than that, but to get the full story, you need to read the book.

The point is, Wraith gave Simone both the information she desperately wanted and the information that would hurt her the most. And his motivation was both to help her and hurt her. Throughout the novel, Wraith manages to be the only one Simone can trust, while also being the one who intentionally causes her the most pain. He is there to dig and torment at all the wrong times, but he is also there for Simone during her darkest moments. 

It goes far deeper than just pretending to be friends, but hating each other underneath. Or being openly hostile, while jumping in to save the other person from peril because it's the right thing to do. There is no moral compass guiding Wraith--he's a demon, remember? All of his motives are selfish. Everything he does is calculated, and yet driven by his own desires. He toys with Simone, but he connects with her, and she connects with him. There is a level at which they simply need each other because, despite their animosity, they are the only ones who can genuinely understand each other. They are quite literally best friends and worst enemies. 

After spending her life in foster care, Simone discovers she's half angel when the demon Wraith comes into the diner where she waits tables. Wraith--the only one who is ever truthful enough with her to admit his words are mostly lies.

Years later, angry that her mother abandoned her to return to heaven, Simone finds herself abandoning her lover, Reese, and their newborn child after Wraith tells her what she can't deny is truth: "They will grow old and die while you remain young."

But could he have lied? The only way Simone can know is by finding them, and making a place for herself in their life. And when the balance between human and angel begins to shift in her, she must turn to Wraith again regardless of whether she can trust him or not.

"A unique and twisted journey into the supernatural. Compulsively readable! I was totally captivated by Heckenbach's vision." - Rachel A. Marks, author of The Dark Cycle trilogy. 

"Relent is a fresh, unique take on angels and demons that will sweep you away on a wild ride you won't soon forget." ~Amy Brock McNew, author of the Reluctant Warrior Chronicles.

Find links to purchase Relent at your favorite online retailer HERE. Also available in print on Amazon and Barnes&Noble.

Why Relent is Really a Mother's Story

I realized recently why I've had a hard time pushing Relent when I'm at author events, as well as talking about it online other than the occasional reminders that it exists as a book and I want people to read it. You see, it's labeled as "paranormal romance." I cringe every time I tell people that, but it's not because I have an issue with that genre or with romance in general. I do read romance--it's just usually romance + some other genre. (Romance+fantasy, romance+sci-fi, romance+dystopian, etc.) I find myself telling readers that Relent is lighter on the romance, heavier on the paranormal. Which is true, but my motivation for that is so they don't expect a bunch of steamy scenes. There's love, there's romantic tension, and yes, Simone gets pregnant, but the details of that union stay behind closed doors.

But while listening to this podcast with authors Janeen Ippolito and H.L Burke, where they discuss books with unique family dynamics, I was struck by Janeen's comments about Relent. She pointed out that Simone isn't just some badass warrior chick with a sword, which is a common thing in paranormal/supernatural romance and urban fantasy. (BTW, not dissing that--there are some awesome books that use that trope in great ways, like The Reluctant Warrior Chronicles by Amy Brock McNew.) Instead, Simone is a half-angel, struggling to not let her angel half fall while she tries to get back into her young daughter's life. Sure, this involves the romance between Simone and her ex, but her focus, her driving force, is the relationship with her daughter.

That relationship was broken as a result of Simone's broken relationship with her own mother. Seraphina, who was full angel, was forced to give up Simone at birth and live away from her with her angelic status and powers stripped. Years later, after Simone has grown up and had a daughter herself, whom she abandons at birth -- for very different reasons-- Seraphina is allowed to return to Heaven as a full angel. Simone is angry to say the least. She believes her mother chose to abandon her out of selfishness, and vows to get her own daughter back. Thus begins her hunt for her ex and their child.

Throughout Simone's search she is guided (read: manipulated) by the only one who understands who she is, a demon named Wraith. He was the one who told her the truth about her past, about her mother, and advised her to leave her child. He is simultaneously her best friend and her worst enemy. Their relationship is of course complex, but even Simone doesn't realize just how complex until the end of the book.

See? Relent isn't a paranormal romance. Not in the traditional sense. It's a story of a daughter who was abandoned by her mother. The story of a mother who abandons her child. It is about the lengths a mother will go to to give her child a chance at life, even if it means not telling her child what's really going on, letting that child hate her for the decisions she makes because there is no way the child can understand what drives them. And it's about sacrifice, giving all you have, all you are, for the one you love.

So, yes, I will probably continue cringing every time I say Relent is a paranormal romance. Not because PNR is such a bad thing, but because it's not the right category. Unfortunately, there is no category for romantic supernatural fiction about mother-daughter relationships. At least now I can explain why Relent is different, and why it's more than just a book I wrote that I think you should read.

You can find Relent on Amazon by clicking THIS LINK.

RELENT Release Day!

OK, Folks, this is going to be short and sweet.

Today is the day RELENT releases on Kindle and Nook! (And other ebook platforms if you're one of those rebellious types.)

(Hold tight if you're wanting the print version--I'll announce the moment that's out as well.)

So, here's the official blurb:

After spending her life in foster care, Simone discovers she’s half angel when the demon Wraith comes into the diner where she waits tables. Wraith--the only one who is ever truthful enough with her to admit his words are mostly lies.

Years later, angry that her mother abandoned her to return to heaven, Simone finds herself abandoning her lover, Reese, and their newborn child after Wraith tells her what she can’t deny is truth: “They will grow old and die while you remain young.”

But could he have lied? The only way Simone can know is by finding them, and making a place for herself in their life. And when the balance between human and angel begins to shift in her, she must turn to Wraith again regardless of whether she can trust him or not.

And this is what some amazing authors have to say about Relent:

"A unique and twisted journey into the supernatural. Compulsively readable! I was totally captivated by Heckenbach's vision." - Rachel A. Marks, author of The Darkness Cycle trilogy

"Relent is a fresh, unique take on angels and demons that will sweep you away on a wild ride you won't soon forget." ~Amy Brock McNew, author of the Reluctant Warrior Chronicles

And here is where you can buy your copy!

RELENT for Kindle

RELENT for Nook

RELENT for Kobo

(If you're an Apple person or so rebellious you use a platform not listed above, you're obviously fiercely independent and will just search my name and the title on your preferred site/app.)

Blog Meme: The Next Big Thing

I normally don’t do blog memes. But this one kinda grabbed me. Not the usual, "What color socks are you wearing?" It’s basically part of an ongoing chain of book and author recommendations called “The Next Big Thing.” 

The whole idea is that writers get “tagged,” answer ten quick fire questions on their blog, and then tag five other writers … so that before long you have a whole web of writers answering the same questions, and linking to one another through social media. I was tagged by Mike Duran (thanks, Mike!) and will henceforth tag five writer friends at the end of this post who will answer these same ten questions on their blogs next Wednesday. (Okay, I was supposed to tag five. I tagged four. I am such the rebel.)

Here we go:

1) What is the title of your next book/work?

I have two works in progress right now. One is the third book in my Toch Island Chronicles series (as in the sequel to Finding Angel and Seeking Unseen), as of yet untitled. The WIP I want to focus on here is unrelated to Toch Island and geared to an adult audience rather than YA, and the working title is Relent.

2) Where did the idea come from for the book/work?

I wrote a short story (“Willing Blood”) a few years ago, with three main characters. A vampire-like demon master (um, yeah, I made that up) named Simone, a demon she is charged with controlling named Wraith, and a little girl named Emily from whom Simone draws power. I loved the characters so much, but the story was only a few thousand words and really had nowhere else to move after the ending. So I reshaped the characters and created a whole new story around them. The only one who stayed almost completely the same was the demon Wraith. Simone became a half-angel/half-human, and Emily is now her daughter…

3) What genre does your book/work fall under?

I wish I could figure that out! It’s romance, but not what one would find in a typical romance novel.  I don’t read romance myself, and I’m not aiming to hit that target. It’s paranormal because of the angel/demon thing. It’s suspense/thriller, with maybe a touch of horror. It’s definitely dark. A dark paranormal romance-ish story?

4) What actors would you choose to play the part of your characters in a movie rendition?

This, but black hair and dark eyes for Wraith

I’ve never seen Chris Hemsworth play a dark, evil character, but I can see Wraith’s human form looking a lot like him with black hair. Give him dark eyes, black hair, don’t let him sleep for a few days, and squeeze him into jeans and a Harley t-shirt. That’s Wraith.

For Simone…I actually posted on Facebook trying to get ideas for actresses based on my description of her. I got a wide range of suggestions. The closest of all of them, I think, was Kate Beckinsale as she appeared in Van Helsing, but with darkish auburn hair. 

Another possibility would be Scarlett Johansson as she appeared in The Avengers, but with longer hair. And, well, longer her. Simone is tall and lanky. So, put Scarlett in a stretching machine. Should make her cranky enough to play the brooding Simone.

For Emily…Maggie Elizabeth Jones, the little girl from We Bought a Zoo. Emily is contagiously cheerful, with brown eyes and curly blond hair.

When he's older, and with  a  bit longer/darker hair.

For Simone’s ex, and Emily’s father, Reese…Alex Pettyfer. Well, in several years. He needs to be late 20s, maybe 30-ish, and he’ll have to dye his hair dark brown and grow it out some. If Alex’s looks keep heading in this direction, then he’d likely work for the role. 

Another major character is one I can't name. No, literally, I keep changing her name. I need to settle, I know. And I couldn't find a picture of a celeb that reminded me of her at all. So she'll just have to stay a surprise :).

5) What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

(Kat throws herself on the floor, flails arms, kicks legs, and screams, “I hate this, I hate this, I hate this!”)

OK, now that I have that out of my system…

Seriously, I hate writing one-liners. I suck at it. One line to sum up a story about a half-angel searching for her daughter, being toyed with by her best friend and worst enemy (who happens to be a demon), while she fights to not fall back in love with her daughter’s father? Not happening. Really. Because it’s so much more than that.

Simone’s mother chose her angelic status over Simone when she was born. How could she do that? So selfish! And Simone had vowed she will never be like her mother. Never. Yet Simone did give up her daughter, too.  Not the same thing, she insists.

Right?

6) Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

I am hoping to find an agent and land a traditional publisher with this one. My goal from day one of my writing was to be published by a large, traditional press. Finding Angel didn’t hit that mark. In many ways, I’m actually grateful for that, though. It has set me on a path of friendship with some amazing authors as well as my publisher herself. I’ve gotten to have real creative control over my Toch Island series, which has been awesome. I wonder if giving up that control with Toch Island would have been too hard on me.

Relent, though, I think can withstand it. The right publisher, the right editor…It’s what I’m hoping.

7) How long did it take you to write the first draft of the manuscript?

When did I start this? Two years ago? Three? I can’t remember, to be honest. I have gone back and forth between bursts of inspiration for the story and stretches where I ignored it completely to work on Seeking Unseen and short stories. Right now, I’m about ¾ done with the first draft. It’s been a strange ride, this one.

8) What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

Oy. I. Don’t. Know.

I say angels and demons, suspense/thriller, and people probably immediately think Frank Peretti. But it’s nothing like his work. It’s not a “spiritual warfare” story at all. It’s very personal. It’s about relationships. Romance, yes, but more about family, sacrificing for the ones you love. I have never read a book that is like this. Not saying one isn’t out there, but I have no idea where to direct you.

OK, I will say, what I *hope* for it to end up like is Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor. Well, actually, more like the sequel, Days of Blood and Starlight. At least in tone. The story in those books is a romance set amongst a war between angels and chimaera. There’s no war in Relent. It’s a much smaller cast. Very personal, very intimate.

9) Who or what inspired you to write this book?

My husband, Jeff. I have always been very strict about not letting Jeff read anything of mine that isn’t published. He’s an engineer, and their nature is to try and fix everything, even when it doesn’t need fixing :P. I love him—and that is why I won’t let him near my writing! So, after “Willing Blood” published, I sent him the link. He read it. And pretty much ever since he’s been hounding me to write a book with those characters.

10) What else about the book might pique the reader’s interest?

I think what may pique readers’ interest is the theological aspect. The message will be clear, but the means of presenting it will likely have plenty of Christians picking it apart with their theological tweezers and crying, “No! Wrong! You can’t do it this way!”

I’ve already had one critique session with a group of Christian writers. They all gave enthusiastic thumbs up on the writing and begged to see more. But one of the ladies was really distressed by the way I presented angels and demons in the opening. Distressed enough to write me a pretty detailed email after the critique meeting.

So yeah, I’d say this is going to be a story that is loved or hated, seen as brilliant or garbage. And I’m okay with that J.

And now for the tagging:

Robynn Tolbert, author of Star of Justice, which if you have not read you deserve the cruelest of punishment--well, I guess missing out on the story counts as cruel punishment.

David Berger, a really nice author I met at the Necronomicon. His first novel, Task Force Gaea, is a superhero book with roots in Greek mythology. 

Shawna Williams, romance author. Yeah, I know. I said I don't read romance, But I read hers :).

Christopher Kolmorgen, a talented young author of spec-fic, whom I think we'll need to keep an eye on in the next few years....

And.....GO!