Online for Authors Episode 7-9-2024

​Trapped in the Flames: A Suspenseful Forest Fire Thriller by Author Rebecca Hodge

My guest today on the Online for Authors podcast is Rebecca Hodge, author of the book Wildland. Rebecca is a former veterinarian and clinical research scientist who lives and writes in North Carolina. Her novels WILDLAND and OVER THE FALLS both place memorable characters in situations filled with suspense. She has three grown sons, one crazy dog, and one patient husband. When not writing on the back porch or brewing yet another mug of tea, she loves hiking, travel, and (of course) curling up with a good book.

Listen to Audio Version

Watch Video Version

​My guest on the podcast was Rebecca Hodge, author of the gripping contemporary suspense novel Wildland. Rebecca is a former veterinarian and clinical research scientist who brings her analytical eye and passion for the outdoors to her writing. Her debut novel follows Kat Jameson, a breast cancer survivor who retreats to the Blue Ridge Mountains to contemplate a difficult decision about her future, only to find herself fighting for survival when she and two children are trapped by a raging wildfire.

This isn't just an adrenaline-fueled survival story, though there's certainly plenty of that. It's also a thoughtful exploration of life, death, and the choices we make. As a cancer survivor herself, Rebecca wanted to authentically portray the complex emotions and thought processes of someone facing their mortality. Through Kat's story, the book prompts readers to reflect on their own lives and challenges.

Some other things we chatted about:

• How Rebecca's research into topics like helicopters, forest fires, and the NC mountains enriched the story (while avoiding dreaded mistakes that pull readers out!)
• The secondary characters of Scott and Lily, an estranged father and daughter whose fractured relationship is tested
• Rebecca's writing process as a "pantser" and how the story evolved organically
• What she hopes readers take away from Wildland about empathy, perseverance, and living life fully

Wildland is Rebecca's debut novel but she has a second book out, Over the Falls, which centers around whitewater kayaking and a woman searching for the sister she hates. She's also hard at work on her next novel set in the Puget Sound. To learn more about Rebecca and her books, visit RebeccaHodgeFiction.com, and feel free to reach out to her via the contact form on her site, especially if your book club would like to have her join a meeting!
​
This was such an inspiring conversation about how fiction can help us explore life's big questions. I hope it encourages you to reflect on your own journey, and to keep seeking out stories that challenge and move you.

Purchase the paperback.
Purchase the ebook.

*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.