with Bethany Hensel
We are delighted to welcome novelist Bethany Hensel to Omnimystery News today.
Bethany's new novel of suspense is Unstoppable (Bethany Hensel; November 2013 ebook formats), the first book in her Truth and Love series and full of twists and turns.
We recently had the chance to talk with Bethany about her new series.
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Omnimystery News: Why did you choose to write Unstoppable as the first in a series?
Photo provided courtesy of
Bethany Hensel
Bethany Hensel: Series characters … they are some of the most fun to write because you really get to discover them over a longer period of time. I write both standalone and series thrillers but it's always great to come back to a recurring character. The series I'm writing right now, The Truth and Love series, features Derek Archer, a nineteen year old recent high school graduate who is on his way to becoming an ER doctor as well as Captain Jace Pearce, in charge of one of the most volatile and controversial armies in the world. The characters, this time, definitely came before the plot. In a moment of pure boredom one night, I suddenly had an image pop into my head of a young girl and guy in a car. What struck me most though, was that it wasn't the girl who was upset, it was the boy. I instantly wanted to know why he was so heartbroken. I constructed the plot around that. As for Captain Pearce, he was a bit of an awesome surprise because his character and his role in the story changed a ton from the conception of the story to the final draft. But I always knew I wanted to write a role for this tall, beautiful man.
OMN: We introduced Unstoppable as a novel of suspense. Yet you mentioned that you write thrillers. Is that how you see the book?
BH: Oh my goodness, this is so hard. Really, I agonized over this. It's a suspenseful tale, for sure. There's a literal countdown. But it's also a romance. Yes, there are sex scenes. And it's also a mystery — there's a very big element of who dunnit and why. It could be labeled Adult, because the themes running throughout (as well as the violence and, like I said before, sex) isn't for young children. But it also has a lot of the New Adult concepts as well. It's a coming of age story, it a morality tale. It's a sexy thrill ride that I hope you enjoy!
OMN: Tell us about the setting for the book.
BH: My books are set in Pittsburgh, my hometown. I love this city and it's why I chose it. It really is it's own character. The landscape, the buildings, the weird way the streets are laid out. It has a ton of quirks and personality and it worked perfectly for what I was going for.
OMN: If you could travel anywhere in the world, all expenses paid, to research a setting for a new book, where would it be?
BH: Africa. It's one of my life's passions to write about the very real, very dangerous and incredibly courageous work of wildlife rangers and the animals they do their best to protect.
OMN: What kinds of feedback have you received from readers?
BH: I love interacting with readers and fans! Two questions I get most often is what happened that night? And when can they get more Jace Pearce. I am happy to report that you can find out what happened that night later this week because Irreversible, the story all about that night, is being released. And Jace's story, Unforgettable, is being released in June 2014. Sounds far away but it will be here fast! I can't wait for you all to read it.
OMN: If Unstoppable were to be adapted for television or film, who do you see playing the key roles?
BH: I actually posted a ton of photos to my Facebook page showcasing just this! Check it out!
OMN: Have any specific books or authors influenced how and what you write today?
BH: I love classics, but I learn the most from my contemporaries. So when I was writing Unstoppable, I was really trying to achieve the feeling I get when I read someone like Harlan Coben. His stories literally make me gasp aloud in surprise. I never see his plot twists coming. That's what I wanted Unstoppable to be like. I wanted to fool you once then twice then again and again. So pacing was of the utmost importance to me. If a scene or paragraph or even a sentence took away from the pacing, I deleted it. At the same time, I didn't want the story to be one long chase scene either. I wanted a great, complex central love story, much like the kind found in a Sherry Thomas novel. Her books are so lyrically written and have such an amazing focus on characters and their desires. Her stories were great inspiration. One of my favorite quotes is "And baby if it's love, if it's not rough it isn't fun" and I wanted to make Unstoppable fun!
OMN: Do you have any favorite series characters?
BH: I love this question! There's so many! Let's see: Myron Bolitar, written by Harlan Coben. Kingsley Edge, written by Tiffany Reisz, Peter Pan written by JM Barrie, Gigi Rowland written by Sherry Thomas, Cam Rohan written by Lisa Kleypas, Dorian Gray written by Oscar Wilde, any Bridgerton Sibling written by Julia Quinn, and so so so many more! The list goes on and on! Suffice to say, I have many a literary crushes.
OMN: Create a Top 5 list for us on any subject.
BH: As this is a mystery site, and my favorite mystery writer is Harlan Coben, I've got to do it: The Top Five Best Harlan Coben Books.
1. Tell No One
2. Gone for Good
3. Seconds Away
4. One False Move
5. Live Wire
OMN: What's next for you?
BH: What's next for me? More books! Three more Truth and Love series books, Irreversible, Unforgettable, Irreplaceable. Then a new series about four brothers. And then an e-serial about a very enigmatic guy. So yeah. The future is bringing more books. Which is wonderful, because I love writing them.
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Since her breakthrough into publishing in 2007, arts and entertainment writer Bethany Hensel has compiled a vast and varied catalogue of work that includes interviews with television personalities, bestselling authors, award-winning singers, and more; as well as reviews of popular books, Pulitzer Prize-winning plays, and beloved musicals.
For more information about the author and her work, please visit her website at BethanyHensel.com or find her on Facebook and Twitter.
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Unstoppable
Bethany Hensel
The Truth and Love Series
Young, intelligent and handsome Derek Archer's life is finally beginning. He's just about to graduate from high school, land the job he's always wanted, and move in with the girl he's always loved, Victoria. There's no reason for him to question or want for anything … until the day Victoria's father is shot and killed, setting off a devastating, heartbreaking chain of reactions.
Now, the race is on, and Derek has only three days to right a terrible wrong. With the help of a childhood friend with a penchant for high-tech espionage, they investigate every lead, never imagining their search would take them deep into the heart of a seemingly perfect family, where old ghosts, bitter lies, and agonizing betrayal all collide. It's then, with the lives of everyone he holds dear in the balance, Derek discovers just how unimaginable the truth can be … and how unstoppable.
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