Interview with J.J. Hebert, author of The Backwards K

What can you tell us about your new release, The Backwards K?

The Backwards K, my latest inspirational novel, follows aging baseball great, Jet Brine, as he tries to get past the awful defining moment of his baseball career – striking out looking in the World Series — and reclaim his life.

What or who inspired you to become an author?

My love for telling stories drove me to get into writing initially. I started writing seriously in middle-school. I tried my hand at writing a sci-fi manuscript on my father’s computer. I saved everything on a floppy disk. I wrote about 50 pages of that book as a 13 or 14 year old and gave up on it. Fast forward a decade, after reading a couple Harry Potter books: I picked up the pen once again to write a fantasy novel. I wrote seven drafts as an adult, learned a lot through the process, but decided to move on from that manuscript as well. In 2006, I started writing Unconventional. I found a literary agent to represent me, but I ultimately self-published Unconventional and sold over 100,000 copies as an indie author. The Backwards K is my second published novel.

Say you’re the host of a literary talk show. Who would be your first guest? What would you want to ask?

I’d want to interview J.K. Rowling. Her Harry Potter series is one of my favorites. I really want to know if she’s going to write another series of Harry Potter books. I know we got Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, a screenplay, but I’m referring to more Harry Potter novels…

What’s your favorite thing about writing?

Creating something from nothing. Every writer starts with a blank page.

What makes your world go round? Why does it bring you joy?

My family, of course, but I also love reading a good book and/or watching a good film. I enjoy being entertained and I love entertaining as well. I’m also a huge sports fan, I’m sure you guessed.

BAM. You’re a superhero. What’s your superpower?

Time travel.

What scene in The Backwards K was your favorite to write?

There are a few. I don’t want to insert any spoilers here, so I’ll just say that one of my favorite scenes to write included Jet with his estranged son in a diner.

Do you have a motto, quote or philosophy you live by?

The Golden Rule is a philosophy I generally try my hardest to follow.

J.J. Hebert is the author of the new book The Backwards K. 

Connect with J.J.:
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