So I did a thing…
Last year, my short story Persecution was selected for the 2022 Washington Square Review publication produced by the English Department at Lansing Community College, and edited by Melissa Ford Lucken. If you would like to check out the entire publication and support the English Department while doing so, you can find it on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Washington-Square-Review-Summer-2022-ebook/dp/B0BHXD8K6S
Otherwise, you can find a copy of my story here on my website: https://dahenneman.com/2022/10/30/persecution/. Either way, thanks for checking it out!
This year, I was interviewed for Washington Square On-Air, a radio show produced by the college. As a contributor to their 2022 literary journal, the interview focused on my experience as a writer, especially as pertains to the submitted piece. You can find the episode archive list here, which is populated each week with new interviews: https://www.lcc.edu/connect/shows/washington-square.html. The broadcast features contributing authors of works included in the publication and it was a blast taking part in this amazing project!
You can find my episode on iTunes on your Apple device, or on Spotify here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3H4mLuTaZhVmZpS1x9E5IB
You can also go directly to the LCC podcast on their website here: https://www.lcc.edu/connect/shows/washington-square.html and I am episode #6!
There were a few questions I was prepared for that I wasn’t asked, and I thought I would give my interview a little more context as relates to this story and where my head was at the time it was written. I believe many stories come out of the writer’s experience, even if they are writing fantasy or otherworldly fiction. There is always a bit of my personality in everything I write, in my mind, that is part of the process.
I thought this post, along with the radio broadcast, would give you an inside look at where my stories come from, and what could possibly rise from the flames if left unchecked. I am nowhere finished with this story, my work on it has only just begun… similar to my heroine it seems. The next version of it will be wildly different, and I can’t wait to share my plans when I get there. The next few years should be fun!
Timeline
I couldn’t remember off the top of my head when the story came, so I recreated a timeline. While I have always written, it wasn’t until I was diagnosed with breast cancer that I started writing deliberately. I decided then to tackle the things I had always wanted to do, which had me signing up for college and putting my fingers to the keyboard. I’ve been insanely busy ever since.
When I was younger, I primarily wrote poetry filled with teenage angst, along with some short stories. I also submitted some of my works to contests and even had a poem published in the Detroit Free Press. I will write more about that soon. Suffice it to say, I had always dreamed of writing a book, and it wasn’t until 2012 that I pursued my dream more seriously. Here is how it shook out:
Cancer diagnosis, treatment, & remission – 2012
Started College – 2013
Committed to publishing pursuit – 2014
Trip to Salem – 2015
Graduated (associate degree) with Honors – 2016
Published SOD – 2016
Published WOC – 2017
Published PWF – 2018
Drafted Persecution – 2018
Published TOF & TJW – 2019
Published HOE – 2020
Republished Power of Four Series – 2020
Published Love for all Seasons – 2021
Published Medusa’s Secret – 2021
Published Power of Four Series (Book Bundles) – 2021
Published “Persecution” WSR – 2022
Published Athena’s Challenge and Web Of Lies – 2023
Question and Answer
What I find interesting is that the story lodged in my mind 3 years before I wrote it, not something I really thought of until now. I also find it interesting that it came out right in the middle of an otherwise busy schedule, after launching one book, and working on 2 more I released that following year. I would have just hit my 5-year cancer-free milestone in 2017, which I can tell you without a doubt was on my mind as the story brewed.
While preparing for the interview, here are some of the questions I prepared myself for:
Q – What was going on in your life when you wrote Persecution? How does it fit into your overall body of work?
A – I wrote Persecution during the research and drafting process of my Power of Four series. The series is about four women who find out they embody the powers of the elements and collectively must balance the energy of the planet. The series features three sisters, triplets in fact, that represent the three Fates. In my story, they embody the past, present, and future, and are guides to help the Elements keep things on Earth in balance, which in turn affects the other parallel realms. The witches in my story were based on old religions and the practices of healing, and magick used centuries ago. Much like the Pagan religions of today, items such as crystals/stones, herbs, and tarot are used to aid the characters in their journey.
While researching Salem & what happened there, the idea that the people persecuted would one day come into power was something I kept thinking about. I love an underdog, so wrote one that not only gets her day in court but is also the judge and jury. I purposely didn’t name her because in my mind she represents all women who were, by far, the greatest percentage of those murdered during those horrific years.
During the drafting of Persecution, I was 6 years into remission and feeling more like myself. 5 years is a big milestone for breast cancer and the frequent visits to the Doctors had slowed. When I came back to writing and started this journey, I promised myself that I would follow the Muse, and write the things that interested me. I feel with everything happening in 2017 with the #metoo movement, this story was my way of processing and empowering women from all walks of life.
Q – Does travel play a part in your story creation?
A – Absolutely! Not only do I pull in places I’ve been, but also places I would love to go. I am a very visual person, so love to experience the sights, sounds, and smells of an area to flavor my descriptions. The places I’ve been to include: SOD – Florida, Maui, WOC – California, PWF – Sedona, AZ, HOE – Crazy Horse, SD, Persecution – Salem, MA, Current WIPs – New York City, NY, Traverse City, MI, New Orleans, LA. Bucket list: WOC – Greece, PWF – Spain, HOE – Wisteria (JK I made the land up)
Q- If people want to read other work, what should they read next?
A – If you like Fantasy Romance, the Power of Four series. If you are a hard-core Romance reader, start with SOD, but for a little darker fantasy (without an HEA) you can start w/Twist of Fate.
Greek Mythology Retelling – The Goddesses in Love series – Start with Love for All Seasons – Book 1
And to check out my short stories & poetry head to my blog www.dahenneman.com
What is next
I have exciting things planned that I can’t wait to share, and if you aren’t following me already, now would be a perfect time to start! You can join my newsletter here: https://www.subscribepage.com/a1n0u1
In the meantime, feel free to check out my other short works here: https://dahenneman.com/welcome/about/current-thoughts/short-stories/ and for posts about my writing journey, you can check out my Writing Cave here: https://dahenneman.com/welcome/about/current-thoughts/
Thank you so much for joining me and happy reading! XO
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce, distribute or transmit in any form or by any means. For information about subsidiary rights, please contact the author at saraybooksllc@gmail.com.
D.A. Henneman - Romance Author 
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