Rebecca Hendricks is a writer, researcher, and explorer with a penchant for 1950s pop culture and the societal impact of rock and roll. Her acclaimed Hound Dogged series, which includes Hound Dogged and Hard Dog’s Night, transports readers to the tumultuous 1950s, capturing the essence of a coming-of-age historical fiction against a backdrop of societal upheaval and musical revolution.
Though Rebecca has built a career as an accountant and judicial assistant, her true passion lies in writing. From a young age, she was captivated by the power of storytelling, often found crafting tales on her father’s antique typewriter.
This early dedication blossomed into a successful writing career, allowing her to create vibrant and engaging stories with a captivating sense of time and place. Rebecca’s work is a testament to her ability to blend meticulous historical research with compelling characters, plots and settings.
An experienced urban explorer, Rebecca investigates forgotten places, abandoned buildings, and derelict sites. A Colorado native, she lives with her husband and their two fur-babies. In her spare time, she enjoys camping adventures with her family and restoring old dolls, giving them new life with her creative touch. Explore with Rebecca Hendricks on her website.
Why do you write in the genre that you do?
I love writing historical fiction because the past has always held a romantic allure for me. I enjoy immersing myself in a specific time period and learning everything I can, from fashion and language to the way people lived.
I watch documentaries and films set in the era I’m researching and read books written during that time. Writing historical fiction challenges me as a writer and allows me to expand my knowledge of different periods, bringing them to life for readers.
Are you more of a fan of plot-driven stories or character-driven stories?
I think it’s a bit of both because they influence each other. You can have an amazing plot, but if you don’t care about the characters, the story falls flat.
On the other hand, you can have great characters, but if the plot moves too slowly or doesn’t seem to go anywhere, the story can feel unfulfilling. I once read a famous novel where I loved the characters and the setting, but the story never really progressed. It focused on the family’s struggles, but by the end, it felt like it hadn’t gone anywhere. That experience solidified for me that the perfect balance of both plot and character is what makes a truly compelling story.
Fill in the blank: “People will like your book if they like…”
“…stories about coming of age, found family, and living your dreams.
On the surface, the Hound Dogged series is about a group of unlikely friends who form a rock-n-roll band in 1958. But it’s so much more than that. It’s about the struggles and challenges we all face while growing up—navigating romantic relationships, making the right choices, and finding our place in the world.
Above all, it’s about the rare and true friendships that lift you up, support you in your darkest moments, and stand by you no matter what. My hope is that this book inspires readers to believe in themselves and their dreams, and to never give up.
Are you a big reader? Do you own a large collection of books, or are you more of a borrower?
I’ve always enjoyed reading both fiction and nonfiction. In the past, research meant spending hours at the library, searching through card catalogs, and hoping the books you checked out held the answers you needed.
Nowadays, information is just a click away, with websites, AI, and YouTube offering instant access. However, I still prefer to do a deep dive when researching, absorbing as much information as I can.
My book collection reflects whatever topics I’m interested in at the moment. Recently, as I’ve been researching the 1950s, I’ve been reading a lot of books from that era, ranging from young adult novels to pulp fiction. I also enjoy collecting older books and preserving literature from the past.
How do you measure the success of your writing career?
Success, for me, is about connecting with the right audience for my books. While the Hound Dogged series is categorized as YA, it has resonated with readers of all ages due to its nostalgic feel and the way it evokes memories of a bygone era. If I can build a dedicated reader base that appreciates my work, it will allow me to continue writing stories that inspire hope in the future.
My main goal as an author is to give people hope—that there’s always a chance for a better tomorrow and to never give up. I want my readers to enjoy today for the gift that it is and to celebrate the victories they’re given, no matter how small, along the way.
Is there a book that somebody gave to you that helped you pave the way to becoming a writer, or is there a book on writing that you recommend all writers read.
The market is flooded with books, videos, podcasts, and programs that offer information on how to write, when to write, what to write, and how much to write. I took a course that focused on storytelling and what it takes to self-publish. I also watched a lot of videos by Jenna Moreci, who provides great advice mixed with humor.
The one book that stood out and helped me the most would have to be Stephen King’s On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft. He’s not only an amazing storyteller, but also a great teacher. His book was so inspirational to me because his number one piece of advice is to write without barriers.
Be authentic and let the story flow naturally. Don’t be tied down by rules and restrictions. Do you.
Something incredible about Stephen King is that he is always unapologetically himself. He doesn’t pretend to be an important author or try to fit into a certain mold; he is who he is, and that authenticity is refreshing.
The beginning of On Writing is his personal story, and it’s so inspiring because it shows the struggles and rejections he went through as a writer. It inspires you to never give up, no matter how difficult the journey gets. His honesty and perseverance are a reminder that every writer faces challenges and overcoming them is what makes the success even more rewarding.
I loved this advice because I’ve never written inside a box. I don’t use outlines, storyboards, or notebooks. Everything I need is in my head, and the story naturally flows from there.
I’m not saying I don’t have some kind of plan in my mind of where I want my stories to go, but I don’t let myself be confined by charts and formulas. To me, that takes the fun out of writing a good story. I don’t want to know how every piece is going to play out. I enjoy seeing it unfold, and that’s what makes it challenging and exciting for me.
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