Jeny's Tattle Tales

Dr. Randy Overbeck is an award-winning educator, author, and speaker, and he stopped by our TattleTales for a second time to talk about his latest book, Scarlet at Crystal River.  As an educator, he served children for four decades in a range of roles captured in his novels, from teacher and coach to principal and superintendent. His thriller, Leave No Child Behind (2012) and his recent mysteries, the Amazon No. 1 Best Seller, Blood on the Chesapeake, Crimson at Cape May, and Scarlet at Crystal River have earned five-star reviews and garnered national awards including “Thriller of the Year–ReadersFavorite.com, “Gold Award”—Literary Titan, “Mystery of the Year”—ReadersView.com and “Crowned Heart of Excellence”—InD’Tale Magazine.  As a member of the Mystery Writers of America, Dr. Overbeck is an active member of the literary community, contributing to a writers’ critique group, serving as a mentor to emerging writers, and participating in writing conferences such as Sleuthfest, Killer Nashville, and the Midwest Writers Workshop. When he’s not writing or researching his next exciting novel or sharing his presentation, “Things Still Go Bump in the Night,” he’s spending time with his incredible family of wife, three children (and their spouses), and seven wonderful grandchildren.  Read excerpts from his book at https://bit.ly/2VCxAmw

This episode is one of my favorites episodes of this podcast so far. I had the pleasure to interview author Susie Black. We talk about writing and her latest book Death by Sample Size. Her book is a cozy mystery and I really enjoyed reading it. The opening scene of Susie's debut book is just as tragic as it is entertaining. Her entire book is very entertaining and her story is full of energy. Her characters are very lively and you don't want to put her book down until you find out everything!!! For an excerpt of her book and more go to my website at https://jenyheckman.com/susie-black/

Dan has wanted to write novels since first reading Frank Herbert’s Dune at the age of eleven. A native of the Pacific Northwest, he often goes hiking with his family through mist-shrouded forests and along alpine trails with expansive views....and he also loves photography just like me.  Dragons Walk Among Us is his debut novel. He plans to keep writing fantasy and science-fiction for many years. In this interview we find out if there are any dragons walking among us, we talk about writing, photography, and much more. You can also find out more about his debut novel and read an excerpt on my blog at https://bit.ly/3mzlG8c

Tanya Ross was born and raised in San Diego County, her “happy place.” Although Southern California is a particular kind of paradise, she desires a world where everyone is kind, compassionate, and upbeat, which became one of the themes of her first novel, Rising Up. For thirty-two years she was an educator of English, history, AVID, and student leadership. She loves teaching and kids, her students a daily inspiration. Her exit from the educational arena allowed her to indulge her hopes, dreams, and goals in what she taught for so many years–writing. This first novel began her lifelong dream of writing meaningful novels for young adults. When she’s not creating new worlds, you can find her reading, spending time with her husband and two kids, or walking her golden retriever, Honey. Discover more about Tanya on my website at https://bit.ly/3igFiLu

This episode is going to be different than the previous episodes of this podcast where I spotlight other authors and their new books. I am doing a character interview with Dee Taylor, the heroine from Dee's Cornucopia, my new book coming out 08/04/2021. To read more about my book, click here

D. V. Stone is this episode's author in the spotlight and I had the pleasure to interview her for my TattleTales. DV or Donna is a multi-genre author of two independently published books. Felice, Shield-Mates of Dar is a fantasy romance. Agent Sam Carter and the Mystery at Branch Lake is a mid-grade paranormal. Recently, Rock House Grill was released by Wild Rose Press. Rainbow Sprinkles a novella is coming out on July 8th. She also hosts, “Welcome to the Campfire,” and, “A Peek Through the Window,” both weekly blogs. Here’s a little more about her. Born in Brooklyn, D.V. Stone has moved around a bit and even lived for a time on a dairy farm in Minnesota before moving back east. Throughout her wandering, she always considered herself a Jersey Girl. She met and married the love of her life, Pete—a lifelong Jersey Man, and moved this time to Sussex County. They live with Hali, a mixed breed from the local shelter, and their cat Baby. Today we are talking about Rock House Grill, becoming a full-time author, and upcoming books....Read more about it on my website.

For the first time ever, I welcome two authors on this episode of Jeny's TattleTales to talk about their book, the Number's Game! Watch best-selling authors Desiree Holt and Liz Crowe talk about writing Numbers Game, a book about a former pro football player and coach Duncan "Hatch" Hatcher who fumbled his career and marriage. Now divorced and ready to tackle his future, he has an opportunity to redeem himself as coach of his college alma mater's football team. But how can he turn the team's losing streak around and keep the secret of his downfall buried when the school agrees to a documentary that will allow a lovely journalist to dig her way into his past...and into his heart?  For an Excerpt of the book go to: https://jenyheckman.com/desiree-holt-liz-crowe/

Elizabeth Barone writes dark biker romance with a body count and contemporary romance with badass belles because life isn’t just heavy or light, it’s both. She stopped on Jeny's TattleTales to talk about her third book of the River Reapers MC series, a Fatal Prospect!  Before publishing her debut novel, she was a web designer trapped in writing code instead of stories. It took a debilitating autoimmune disease to shove her toward the path she was always meant to be on. She shares more about her journey in this interview  Elizabeth has published over a dozen novels and has so many ideas for more, she’ll be employed ’til she dies. She lives in Connecticut with her husband Mike and more coffee mugs than she’ll ever need.  Read more including an excerpt from Elizabeth's book at https://jenyheckman.com/elizabeth-barone

Tena Stetler is a best-selling author of award-winning paranormal romance with an over-active imagination.  She wrote her first vampire romance as a tween, to the chagrin of her mother and the delight of her friends. Colorado is home; shared with her husband, a brilliant Chow Chow, a spoiled parrot, and a forty-five-year-old box turtle. When she’s not writing, her time is spent kayaking, camping, hiking, biking or just relaxing in great Colorado outdoors.   Her books tell tales of magical kick-ass women and mystical alpha males that dare to love them. Travel, adventure, and a bit of mystery flourish in her books along with a few companion animals to round out the tales.  Tena is also the author in the spotlight this week on my TattleTales. This is Tena's second time on my blog and this week she is doing a character interview with one of the main heroes of her latest book Chocolate Raspberry Magic. Read more at https://jenyheckman.com/tena-stetler

A couple of weeks ago I had the pleasure of sitting down for a chat with the wonderful Minaal Maan, all the way from Pakistan.   I love doing these interviews as I get to talk to authors that I would not have been able to meet without the help of the internet.   Minaal Maan is a young freelance writer and author who has just published her debut novel, “Our Tainted Souls”, available in paperback and e-book form. The book currently has a 4.8 rating on Goodreads. Her work has appeared in publications such as The Daily Times, The Fiction Project, and The Desi Collective. She has also recently launched “The Pakistan Chronicle” an online magazine that aims to highlight emerging voices focusing on inclusivity, and it can be found on Instagram as @thepakistanchronicle.  Minaal enjoys writing about strong female leads as well as the transgender community and is drawn to the contemporary fiction genre. Her Instagram handle is @minaalmaan  Read more about her and her book at https://jenyheckman.com/minaal-maan

Deborah Young is an Astrologer, not a writer but here we are. She grew up in rural Prince Edward Island, Canada, far, far away from multi-cultural influences. An innate curiosity about spirituality, the human psyche, and the world outside of her remote community, inspired her to study Astrology and in time travel the world. For the past twenty-nine years, Deborah has enjoyed a very busy practice with clients from all over the globe. Her practice includes teaching, leading workshops and writing popular blog-posts, translating the language of Astrology and other esoteric teachings to help people make sense of the world. She continues to travel and explore other humans; following her passion for winding paths. Deborah lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia with her partner and rescue dog, Frankie. For more about Deborah and her book head to my website at https://jenyheckman.com/deborah-young/ ‎

For a long time, the idea of writing and movie making would have been impossible for Christopher to even dream, because of his ADHD. Now that he is receiving proper instruction on how to live with ADHD however, he just published his first novel, "Whither We Tend", and he is now working on the second in the series called, "Governments of Men." Listen to my interview with Christopher German about his book and boating life, then head over to my website to learn more at https://jenyheckman.com/christopher-german

Joanna Walden is a Consciousness Visionary, Transformation Coach, Speaker, and Author of The Inside Hustle: A Mystical Misfit's Travel Adventure Into The Unknown. Joanna spent twenty years working in a high-flying advertising career in New York, London & Melbourne while secretly exploring her passion for the unseen world of energy, spirit, and consciousness. Inspired by a series of mystical experiences in her teenage years Joanna explored everything from Transcendental Meditation to quantum physics on a global quest to find her purpose and ultimately her true self, through a process of self-realization. Currently residing in her hometown of Auckland, New Zealand, Joanna quit her old corporate life to start a transformational consulting business, and begin sharing her knowledge and voice with the world. Read more at https://jenyheckman.com/joanna-walden

Author and hopeless romantic, Ariana Rose, dabbles in all forms of contemporary romance. All her novels do have one thing in common. Her heroes and heroines are as passionate about life and love as they care about each other.  A mother of two, she hails from the Midwest. Born and raised in the Minneapolis area, she's always been a storyteller and known to have a flair for the dramatic. Her daughter is just across the border attending college and is a go-to for all things web design. Her son is a busy middle schooler who loves all things penguins, science, gaming, cars, and the weather. He's been known to hang in many Storm Chaser marathons with Mom. Ariana's fur baby (a beagle/lab) can be found curled next to her while she writes unless chasing squirrels and finding puppy friends becomes a more pressing issue.  When Ariana is not writing, she can be found at the rink in a figure skating lesson, binge-watching her favorite shows, watching an 80s movie she's seen hundreds of times, exploring history, or traveling to any of her current or new favorite places.  She first published in August of 2018. Her Stone Trilogy was the leaping point. Her next novel, Twisted, in K. Bromberg's Driven World, will follow with its sequel Entwined in the summer of 2021. You can find her first sports romance, Bitter Edge, in the Cocky Hero World.  Read more about Ariana on Jeny's TattleTales at https://jenyheckman.com/tattletales/

Read more about Andrew at https://jenyheckman.com/andrew-john-raininie.

Welcome to a new episode of Jeny's TattleTales. This week the spotlight belongs to Rebecca Queen, a YA Fantasy Author, who is just about ready to launch her debut book, Elysian.  Rebecca joins us all the way from Peru for an author interview. Here is a quick bio for Rebecca:  Rebecca Queen was born in Lima, Peru. When she was still young, her family relocated to California where she lived in the city of Rancho Cucamonga. One day when she was around 11 years old, she stumbled upon a 4Kids TV forum where she met a group of girls who were into the same cartoon that she was. Together, they started writing stories through roleplaying games. That's how Rebecca discovered her love of stories and how she first became an avid reader. Reading wasn't enough though, because Rebecca realized that there were stories shaping in her head that no one would be able to get down on paper but her. Thus, she started writing. She has a degree in International relations and likes to spend time with her horses and dogs during her free time. She also has a youtube channel where she talks about anything from books, movies, and tv shows, to life in Peru (yes, she currently lives in Peru!)  Read more about Rebecca and her book on Jeny's Tattle Tales on my website at https://jenyheckman.com/spotlight/reb...​ Listen on the Jeny's Tattle Tale Podcast: https://anchor.fm/jeny-heckman​ Order Rebecca's book at: https://amzn.to/3qyrkpj

Do you like supernatural and horror mysteries? If you do, then join me for an interview with author Robert Herold.  The supernatural has always had the allure of forbidden fruit, ever since Robert's mother refused to allow him, as a boy, to watch creature features on late-night TV. She caved-in. (Well, not literally!)  As a child, fresh snow provided him the opportunity to walk out onto his neighbor’s lawns halfway and make paw prints with his fingers as far as he could stretch. Robert would retrace the paw and boot prints, then fetch the neighbor kids and point out that someone turned into a werewolf on their front lawn! (They were skeptical.)  Robert has pursued many interests over the years, but the supernatural always called to him. You could say that he was haunted.  Finally, following the siren’s call, he wrote The Eidola Project, based on a germ of an idea he had as a teenager.  Robert joined me on my Jeny's TattleTale Podcast to talk about his latest book and the supernatural.... He hopes his books give you the creeps, and he means that in the best way possible!  Read more Robert including additional questions not in this video on my website at https://jenyheckman.com/spotlight/robert-herold.​ Featured book: Moonlight Becomes You. Purchase the book here: https://amzn.to/387ZQ3r​

eBook: https://amzn.to/3dRBBKJ

Paperback: https://amzn.to/3kEbSXp

Book #2

The Warrior's Progeny

eBook: https://amzn.to/3pYO15H

Paperback: https://amzn.to/3kyJiXC

Audiobook: https://amzn.to/2ZYCdpF

Helen C. Johannes writes award-winning fantasy romance inspired by the fairy tales she grew up reading and the amazing historical places she’s visited in England, Ireland, Scotland, and Germany. She writes tales of adventure and romance in fully realized worlds sprung from pure imagination and a lifelong interest in history, culture, and literature. Warriors on horseback, women who refuse to sit idly at home, and passion that cannot be denied or outrun—that’s what readers will find in her books. Listen to Jeny's interview with Helen for Jeny's Tattle Tales

Award-winning author, Darcy Carson, is Jeny Heckman's guest on Jeny's Tattle Tale and the author on spotlight on Jeny's website, jenyheckman.com.

Darcy is an award-winning author, who was a born reader. Having a mother who worked in a library helped. She didn’t know that there were fines attached to books she kept reading over and over for decades.  Her first book was published in 2000, a romantic comedy, THE TROUBLE WITH MOTHER, with Hardshell Word Factory, which she won The Emerald City Keeper award. She penned five novellas with Amazon’s Kindle Worlds in the Doublesight, the first one winning Rivers of Ink first place. She has been nominated for numerous RWA chapter writing contests, winning and placing in several. She went on to self-publish a paranormal romance, MAGIC IN THE AIR, set in Seattle about the magic police.  She is currently writing for The Wild Rose Press. Her first book, HE WALKS IN DREAMS, is a fantasy romance and the first in the Dragons Return series. The second book in the series, WOMAN IN THE WOODS, will be out shortly. Dragons come naturally to Darcy as she had a childhood friend named Pepper-Piper, who was a dragon. She also has an Irish historical romance coming out with The Wild Rose Press entitled, TO STEAL AN IRISH HEART.  Prior to publishing, Darcy worked for a major airline manufacturer as an executive secretary. But don’t ask to identity an airplane. They all look the same to her.  Darcy’s hobbies include jewelry making. Stringing beads is very relaxing, zen-like. No thought required. She loves reading, traveling, shopping, and going to the casino to give her money away.  

The book we are spotlighting for Darcy this week is She Wakes the Night. Buy the book here.​ Read more about Darcy and a character interview from her book She Wakes the Night on Jeny's Website

Anna M. Taylor is the women's fiction and gothic romance penname of Anna Taylor Sweringen, a retired United Church of Christ and Presbyterian Church USA minister. A native New Yorker, she now enjoys the heat of the Southwest. She has been writing seriously since joining Romance Writers of America in 2003 and also writes inspirational romance as Anna Taylor and erotic romance as Michal Scott. She is also a guest on Jeny's Tattle Tales and one of the authors we spotlight on my website at JenyHeckman.com.  Read about the entire spotlight including an interview with one of Anna's characters from A Little In Love With Death, book #2 from the Haunted Harlem Series here.  Buy Anna's book from Amazon: https://amzn.to/2Zi1c6U

Releasing the Catch by Jeny Heckman is a women’s fiction, action-adventure Romance that has just been announced as the finalist in Finalist in the 2021 Feathered Quill Book Awards Program for the Women’s Fiction category.  

This is Faith Pearson’s story and what a grand story it is but while she is the heart of the story, there are also an astonishing array of true and fully drawn characters. Get ready to be introduced to a way of life that is dangerous, exciting, and backbreaking work.   

Releasing the Catch starts in the early 1970s when Mack Carter, a poor, wayward teenager who is lonely and alone in Washington State uses his natural brawn, willingness to work, and sense of adventure when he hitches up to Alaska and meets Nels Pearson. Mack talks his way into a job as a greenhorn member of Nels' crab fishing crew.  From there the adventure begins and all I can say is block out the time it will take you to devour this book in one sitting because you will not put it down.   

Jeny Heckman has a laudable eye for descriptive detail about everything in the hardscrabble crab fishing world and her ear for realistic language made every moment vibrate with often harsh authenticity. Faith Pearson’s story is powerful, poignant, and passionate. The people in her life are fully rounded with deep, believable backstories.   

Releasing the Catch will sweep you away with an unforgettable cast of characters in a grand saga of crab fishing families living, working, loving, and dying along the Gulf of Alaska and the Bering Sea.  

Releasing the Catch is FREE with Kindle Unlimited. Get a copy here: https://amzn.to/2YXzDj8

A voracious reader her whole life, author Susan Payne loves the written word. I am so excited to welcome her to my podcast and YouTube Channel as this episode's featured author.  When reading more than fifty books per month wasn’t enough, she decided to allow her mind to take flight and write all the many stories that kept intruding in her life.  She blended her love of history and her love of words to create over eighty stories.  All historical and centering on a couple finding love and a happy ever after together.  The author has published a series of stories surrounding fictional Sweetwater Kansas beginning with Harrison Ranch through The Wild Rose Press. Also, contracted through Wild Rose Press this summer was The Persistent Marquess, Forever Kind of Woman, Rescued By a Highlander, Texas Ranger, and the Professor, Regency Christmas Anthology, Three Sisters and Blind Faith.  Book Spotlight on The Woman of His Dreams. Read excerpts from the book on my website at on Susan's spotlight article here 

Author of the Urban Fantasy Paranormal Romance, the Queen of Swords.

Welcome to this week's author spotlight on Jeny's Tattle Tales. This episode belongs to L.A. McGinnis. L.A. McGinnis is the author of the urban fantasy paranormal romance series The Banished Gods and the book we are featuring is the Queen of Swords. Additional to this interview, L.A. allowed us to do a wonderful character interview with the main character of her book, the athletic and determined demon killer Morgane Elaine Burke. 

You can read the entire feature on L.A. McGinnis on my website at https://jenyheckman.com/spotlight/l-a-mcginnis/

Grab a copy of the Queen of Swords here: https://amzn.to/3ptI8y4 

More about L.A. McGinnis on her website at www.lamcginnis.com  

In this episode, I have the pleasure of talking with USA Today Best Selling Author, Veronica Scott. Veronica has a very interesting story that she shares with us in this episode. She is the Seven-time winner of the SFR Galaxy Award, as well as a National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award. Veronica is also the proud recipient of a NASA Exceptional Service Medal relating to her former day job, not her romances. Here is another cool thing about her: she was honored to read the part of Star Trek Crew Member in the audiobook production of Harlan Ellison’s “The City On the Edge of Forever.” I think that's fabulous. I featured Veronica's latest book on Jeny's Tattle Tales on my website at jenyheckman.com.

If you haven't already figured out, being an author is just like running any business. Reviews will help build your credibility and integrity and encourage new customers (readers) to try your product (books). Reviews can help both author and readers in many ways; from sales to giving your audience a voice. Listen to Jeny & Andrea discussing why readers should ALWAYS leave reviews regardless of how popular the author is and how vital they are to all authors and especially for those who are just starting out.

Spotlight on the Sea Archer, book #1 from the Heaven & Earth Series by Jeny Heckman.

"This story is about Finn and Raven, two opposites from different worlds who might just very well be connected by a root in the mythical Greek Gods. I enjoy a story that takes real world and flavors it with the supernatural/mystical. The author blends a story of romance, healing and growth, and a wee bit of the paranormal. It was a fun read and had me wondering if these two were going to end up together. I appreciated the characters' backstory and especially like Dee, Finn's grandmother (I love layered secondary characters). The Hawaii setting was a joy to read about and I could definitely see that this author did her research. Makes me want to go on a vacation right now in the midst of a looong winter!" - Jean Grant

Listen to Jeny discussing the how her first book of the Heaven & Earth Series, the Sea Archer.

For Autographed copies of the book, go to Jeny's store.