Fallen Angel Reviews would like to welcome author Rebecca Goings. Rebecca is the author of Learning to Love Again, Hearts Eternal and Hope in the Lord.


When did you start writing?

Well that’s a loaded question! Officially, my writing career began when I was a tender seven-year-old in the first grade. Not because I’d written a story, but because the second graders came in to read stories that they had written, and their teacher had laminated the books to make them permanent. It was so cool! So I began to write, wanting that same “permanence”.

When I was in the second grade, I wrote a short poem that my teacher loved so much that she submitted it to the Nevada Young Writers of 1983, and it was accepted! I was presented the book in front of the entire school at an assembly and had my picture taken for the local newspaper. I’d had my first taste of fame, and I loved it!

I wrote poems as a young teen, and began writing down some short stories. They won a few awards and my schoolmates couldn’t seem to get enough of my handwritten tales. I’d have to come to school every day with a new chapter or risk being tackled by my faithful readers. There were a few, though, who were very supportive of me and encouraged me to pursue publication.

What was the first story you ever wrote?

Goodness, the very first? Well, I think it was in the first grade, about a unicorn. I don’t remember much more than that other than its “cover” was made out of gray construction paper. The first actual story that I can remember the plot of was called “Castle Templestone” and it was the first in a fantasy series. The other two were called “The Crystal of Mynos” and “In the Beginning”.

These stories centered around two elven heroes who were chosen by the Protector, a huge eagle-like bird, to protect the Crystal of Mynos, a magical talisman buried somewhere deep within the earth.

Of course these stories weren’t any longer than about 15 pages, each handwritten, but my classmates seemed to enjoy them. I still have these stories tucked away in my closet, and in fact, they were the inspiration for my fantasy series called THE WOLVERINE CHRONICLES, which I’ll talk about later on in the interview.

Has being published changed you at all? If so, how?

No, I haven’t changed, other than spending almost every moment I can spare in front of the computer! I’m actually more shocked, than anything, to be enjoying the success that I have, because for so long, my stories have only been read by myself and maybe a few other people. But now I’m reaching many, many more! It is literally my dream come true. All my life, an author is what I’ve wanted to be. And here I am!

What is the hardest thing about writing Inspirational Romance? The easiest?

Honestly? Keeping the sensuality at a minimum is the hardest thing about writing Inspirational Romance. I write in many genres, including mainstream, so I’m no stranger to a romance having a detailed, consummated love scene. So when I write an Inspirational, I have to be in the correct mode.

The easiest thing about writing one is finding a way to have that scene in there regardless! The difference is knowing when to “close the door”. Readers are smart. They know what your characters are going to do when they walk into the bedroom or give each other that “certain” look. I enjoy that, because it lets the reader imagine what they will do.

Where did the inspiration for Hearts Eternal come from?

That’s kind of a funny story. I’m a member of the eHarlequin message boards, and I was found complaining one day that there were no good “ghost” love stories on the market. So they dared me to write my own and I took them up on it. I wanted to do something different, and I began thinking of the different myths surrounding ghosts, vamps, and werewolves. I loved the idea of the werewolf being tied to the moon, so a ghost that became a warm and real man with the cycles of the moon popped into my head and away I went!

Do your characters tend to resemble real life people you know?

No, not really. My heroes are heavily influenced by my husband, though. He’s very much a “take charge” kinda guy, an alpha. So I have a great reference! I don’t use movie stars, either, when making my characters. I pretty much just visualize them in my head as I write. I can never find the perfect person that would look like them anyhow, so I don’t even bother. I’d be a horrible casting agent!

Do you feel there is an advantage to having multiple publishers? Disadvantage?

Definitely an advantage, at least for me. Each of my publishers serves a different need I have in regards to the books I write. By Grace Publishing is there for my Inspirational books, Triskelion Publishing is there for paranormals. Champagne Books will handle my historical and contemporary mainstream books, and New Age Dimensions will publish my fantasy series. I’ve got all the genres covered!

What are you working on now?

Well, I never have just one thing going on. I’m in different moods on different days, so I have different works in progress depending on what I feel like writing. Currently, I just finished a mainstream historical western entitled IN YOUR ARMS for Champagne Books. I don’t have a release date for it yet, though. I have a Christmas novella I’m working on (also for Champagne) called UNDERNEATH THE MISTLETOE about a “Scrooge” heroine who gets melted by her handsome neighbor dressed as Santa. That one should be fun.

I have the third book in my fantasy series that still needs to be written and I’ve been toying with ideas regarding an historical Sheikh that has paranormal and time travel elements in it. That book is titled DESERT DREAMS. There is also a futuristic sci/fi floating around in my head about a handsome “space pirate”, kind of in the spirit of Han Solo and Princess Leia, but I don’t have a title for that one yet.

Would you like to give us a sneak peak into what you have coming soon?

Sure! I’ve been teasing you about my fantasies, so I’ll tell you about them first. The series is entitled THE WOLVERINE CHRONICLES. Unlike my childhood stories of old, these do not have a giant bird, but rather an ancient dragon named Mynos who made a magical talisman that somehow seems to keep getting into the wrong hands! There is a short story titled THE CRYSTAL OF MYNOS that opens the series. After that, there are going to be three books, perhaps more if I’m tempted. They are:

THE WOLVERINE AND THE ROSE
THE WOLVERINE AND THE JEWEL
THE WOLVERINE AND THE FLAME

The third book I have yet to write, but they’ve been bought by New Age Dimensions and they’ll make their debut sometime this year. Each book is a separate story about two different heroes and heroines, but the overarching story is of the dragons and their magical talismans.

My debut book at Champagne Books is titled ON EAGLE’S WINGS and is about a time traveling Indian from the future who derails the timeline in the past. Now he has to fix his blunder and not lose his heart in the deal. Can he do it? It’s a “futuristic meets historical” and will be released in August.

My next release from By Grace is a novella in their Brides and Bouquets Anthology. My novella is entitled THE BEST MAN FOR KRISTIE and features a plain-Jane overweight heroine who is madly in love with the best man at her friend’s wedding. But the man is perfect in every way; will he even spare her a second glance?

I have another book coming out in November from By Grace called HEART OF GOLD, and it is one of my all-time favorite books. It’s an historical Inspirational about a friendly cowboy who comes looking for work at a ranch in Wyoming. Once there, he meets the woman of his dreams and she introduces him to God. Can this cowboy who once had nothing to his name suddenly believe that he can have it all? It’s a very touching story and I think you’ll like it.

Of all things you have accomplished, is there one accomplishment you are most proud of?

I would say having my fantasy series purchased by New Age Dimensions was the icing on the cake. Since these books have been percolating since I was about 13 years old, it was a little overwhelming to have them accepted. At that moment, I felt like I could do anything. The world was my oyster!

What is the most embarrassing thing you have ever done?

My friends and I were fun-loving kids growing up. So when I was old enough to drive, I inherited my dad’s junky, yellow, ’78 Datsun F-10. The thing’s interior was literally falling apart, but the engine ran great and started with just a tap of the key. One day while we were driving, I spied the armrest on the floor and I had a great idea. Well, a great idea to a bored teenager. While my friend laughed so hard she almost peed in the seat, I held the car’s armrest up to my ear and pretended it was a cell phone. You can’t imagine the weird looks we got from other drivers around us. I’m not sure what they were more shocked by, the fact that a girl with such a junker car had a cell phone, or the fact that I was talking into an armrest. Of course I think back on that now and shake my head at myself.

Is there anything you would like to add?

Hopefully one of these days, you’ll find my books on the shelves at your local bookstore. That is my next “dream goal” beyond simply being published: seeing my own books on the shelf at the Barnes & Noble.

Thank you very much, Rebecca, for taking the time out of your busy schedule to answer these questions.

Thank you so much for interviewing me! I really had a blast. Take care!
~~Becka

If you would like to find out more about Rebecca Goings and her current and future books visit her website at www.rebeccagoings.com.


Interviewed by: JoAnn