RJ Hervey

NEWEST RELEASE

Winter's Child

Set against the colorful backdrop of 15th century Florence, RJ Hervey tells the stunning tale of Amadora Trovatelli, a workshop apprentice who, after miraculously escaping from a horrific fire, swears to kill the nobleman who took everything from her.

With nothing but her harp, Amadora dives headfirst into the charged political landscape of Florence. Caught with the Medici on one side, the Salviati on the other, and the constant reminder that higher powers are in control of her destiny, she uses her mastery of music to maneuver ever closer to her goal. Meanwhile, she must escape notice of the inquisition, who have named her a witch for surviving the fire she can’t remember escaping.

And all the while, she’s carrying the child of the man she has sworn to kill.

WINTER’S CHILD is an evocative new style of historical fiction, brimming with rich language, emotional turns, and a view of the Italian Renaissance you won’t soon forget.

ABOUT ME

RJ Hervey

Published author, freelance editor, and pajama aficionado living in the Pacific Northwest, where the rain and tall trees make everything smell like home.

I want to tell stories, and I want my stories to be a toolbox for those who seek to build themselves up.

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And just to show my appreciation, I’ll throw in the first three chapters of Winter’s Child for free!

Blog

The Yellow Oxalis

Blog, Poetry, Portfolio, Storytelling

The Yellow Oxalis

By RJHervey30th August 2016

A traditionally inspired sonnet, written in the style prevalent during the Elizabethan period.

The Eyes of a Writer: Where is the Story?

Blog, The Creative Process

The Eyes of a Writer: Where is the Story?

By RJHervey12th July 2015

Every story of fiction was built from something real. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings was a partial response to what he witnessed as a soldier in the Great War. Severus Snape from JK Rowling’s Harry Potter series was based upon an old chemistry teacher. Two Years Before the Mast, a nautical tale by Richard Henry Dana Jr., was inspired by his time as a sailor. In some ways, we as writers have no choice but to draw from our own experiences or relationships — they’re all we really know. It’s not a realization to battle against, but rather one to make use of.

So Your Story is a Fixer-Upper: Editing and Rewriting

Blog, The Creative Process

So Your Story is a Fixer-Upper: Editing and Rewriting

By RJHervey12th April 2015

Too many young writers think that their story is finished when they finally type “the end.” Unfortunately, the truth is far less romantic. There’s no final clip of the typewriter, no satisfying shuffle of papers as you set the last page in place. Imagine yourself crafting a great cake — three tiers, strenuous attention to detail, carefully placed fondant — yet when you set the last bead of icing in place, there’s nothing left but to cut into it and eat it. And there’s nothing pretty about that.

The Lightning Bug: Word Choice in a Thesaurus-Driven World

Blog, Blogging, Portfolio, The Creative Process

The Lightning Bug: Word Choice in a Thesaurus-Driven World

By RJHervey20th November 2014

With the advent of new technology, there is an undeniable shift in the techniques and themes of literature. This is a trend that has permeated history. With the replacement of typewriters by digital word processors, we were introduced to a new ease of revision; with the invention of reading tablets like the Nook or the Kindle, we saw an alternative to spacious personal libraries; and with the increasing accessibility of the internet we’ve experienced the obsoleting of physical dictionaries and thesauruses.

Featured Image_Dance of Style and Content

The Dance of Style and Content

Blog, Blogging, Portfolio, The Creative Process

The Dance of Style and Content

By RJHervey4th October 2014

For each new story, a writer must make a slew of stylistic choices. What’s the literary perspectice? Should the language be in low or high diction? How will I dictate internal monologue? All too many writers assume these choice are arbitrary, yet a seasoned author will tell you that these decisions are hardly choices at all.

Reading for Writers

Blog, The World of Creative Writing

Reading for Writers

By RJHervey5th September 2014

One of the most common questions I get asked by beginning writers is, “What can I do to better my style?” Well, the obvious answer is to practice at it; write, write, then write a little more. Aside from that, it’s really quite simple: read, and read the sort of things you’d like to write.

The Process of Pen and Paper: How Do You Write Best?

Blog, The Creative Process

The Process of Pen and Paper: How Do You Write Best?

By RJHervey31st August 2014

Learning how to write is probably the most obstructive roadblock of a blossoming writer’s journey. I’m not talking about the commas and clauses; I’m talking about the physicality of it–the very real process of sitting down in a chair and putting words onto paper. In my experience, every writer is different and so uses a different method. Discovering your method is something only you can do; it can’t be taught, but the knowledge of how other writers overcome this challenge can definitely help.

Fanfiction: The Art of Recreation

Blog, The World of Creative Writing

Fanfiction: The Art of Recreation

By RJHervey9th May 2014

Fanfiction is a relatively new style of creative writing – one that has been faced with adversity from long-time players in the field who struggle to find respect for what they see as a juvenile and shallow genre. Although the term “fanfiction” is loosely defined, it can be understood as any writing which makes use of popular, preconceived characters or settings. Typically, the style manifests as a short story that extrapolates upon movies, video games, or original works of fiction, using the characters and settings from the original work to create alternate plotlines and new interpretations of the initial concept.

What to Expect from a Content Editor

Blog, The Publishing Process

What to Expect from a Content Editor

By RJHervey13th April 2014

While attending the University of Washington, I was given the unique and wholly valuable opportunity to intern as a slush pile reader for a local literary agency. I can’t pretend it was a glamorous experience, but I neither wished nor expected it to be. It was like a child peering under the hood of a car for the first time. Suddenly, the vehicle runs on gears and pistons and spinning contraptions rather than magic. For me, I saw the processes, the communications, and the submissions — cogs of the literary machine. I was surprised, enlightened, and in some ways disappointed.

Creating Organic Characters

Blog, The Creative Process

Creating Organic Characters

By RJHervey31st March 2014

As I’ve alluded to in previous posts, all well-written stories are character driven — the progression of events is fueled almost entirely by the thoughts and actions of the characters therein. This isn’t to say that there aren’t times in which something might happen to your protagonist, just that the responsive actions of your protagonist should be the driving force behind how those events evolve. A simpler way to put this idea is by way of equation.

How to Start Your Novel

Blog, The Creative Process

How to Start Your Novel

By RJHervey25th March 2014

It is altogether too common for a story to remain uncompleted solely because it was never actually begun. Folks often say that they do not understand how to begin to write, and thinking back to the first days of my own writing career, I can absolutely sympathize. While there is no one correct method to begin a story, below I have outlined several ways you can plan your narrative and feel confident when you finally put pen to paper.

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A Writer's Reading List

There’s absolutely no reason to ever use the ‘f’ word in a book.

- Jeanie Venema (disappointed grandmother)

I promise I’d tell you if I didn’t like it.

- Kesslan Hervey (wife)

OH MYYYYYY HOOOOLLLLYYYYY FREEEEAKIIN CRAAAP! THAT IS LITERALLY THE MOST AMAZING THING I HAVE EVER SET MY EYES ON. I CAN’T CATCH MY BREATH!!! Call 911!!!

- Tammy Hervey (sarcastic mother)

I don’t really like reading.

Winter's Child

RJ Hervey

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- Jeanie Venema (disappointed grandmother)

- Kesslan Hervey (wife)

- Tammy Hervey (sarcastic mother)

- Jacob Habel (brother-in-law)