PHOTO: Rebecca Cole, author and entrepreneur, radiates warmth and wisdom, blending creativity with compassion in every aspect of her life.
Heartfelt Romance Rooted In Real Life
Rebecca Cole discusses the inspiration behind Montana’s Heart, her commitment to emotional authenticity, and how personal experiences and research enrich her storytelling with depth, resilience, and hope.
Rebecca Cole writes with a tender grace that captures the timeless essence of love, resilience, and renewal. Her stories unfold in the everyday moments of ordinary people—those who carry pain and hope in equal measure, who falter and rise again, whose hearts are capable of both breaking and healing. In Montana’s Heart, as in her broader body of work, she weaves emotional authenticity with a keen sensitivity to life’s quiet triumphs.
A devoted wife, mother, and grandmother, Rebecca’s world is rooted in deep familial bonds and a grounded sense of purpose. Her voice as a storyteller is unmistakably shaped by the life she leads—one of compassion, creative endeavour, and hard-won wisdom. Whether tending her garden, running her businesses, or exploring the delicate lives of her characters, she approaches each task with sincerity and care.
What sets Rebecca’s fiction apart is not just the romance itself, but the emotional landscapes her characters must journey through to reach it. Her protagonists face challenges that are at once deeply personal and broadly relatable, and her nuanced approach ensures that every tear and triumph feels earned.
In a world that often rushes past quiet strength, Rebecca Cole reminds us of its power. Her novels are more than tales of love—they are affirmations of healing, growth, and the enduring human spirit.
Your novel Montana’s Heart has clearly resonated with readers—what inspired its setting and characters, and how did you approach developing its emotional arc?
I honestly do not know where the idea came from. The idea just seemed to pop into my head one day. The characters seemed to develop as the story unfolded.
Can you describe the writing process behind Montana’s Heart, especially any memorable challenges or breakthroughs during drafting?
Honestly, the biggest challenge was ensuring that the issues the characters faced were genuine. I spent time talking to real people who had experienced similar trauma. I did considerable research into the health issues that Montana faced as well.
Your characters often navigate heartbreak and hope—how do you balance these themes while keeping the emotional tone uplifting?
I believe everyone has experienced heartbreak of some kind – some more than others. My characters feel pain, but they push through the pain and become stronger for it. Even though things may appear hopeless, they always make it through and find their happy ending.
What research or personal experiences informed the portrayal of resilience in your protagonists?
Because the main character has a heart condition, I had to do considerable research within the healthcare fields – how the disease would present, how it would affect her daily life, what physical and emotional limitations she would face, etc.
As a romance author, how do you innovate within the genre to offer readers something fresh and compelling?
I write because I enjoy the process. I honestly have not spent any time worrying about whether my ideas are fresh or compelling, they are simply my stories. I hope that they resonate with my readers, and I do my best to ensure that the characters appear real and relatable.
Social media suggests Montana’s Heart explores complex love dynamics—how did you ensure authenticity in your characters’ relationships?
I’ve spent a lifetime observing people and how they react to situations in real life. I tend to put my characters in intense, emotionally charged situations, but I help them find their way through these situations and come out better and stronger. I want the readers to connect with the characters and share in their struggles and triumphs.
How has reader feedback on your most popular book influenced your subsequent writing or character development?
I don’t believe that any reader feedback has actually influenced my writing, but it has played an encouraging role. I’ve been very fortunate to receive only positive responses so far, including requests for a sequel. I love to hear that a reader has become emotionally invested in the characters and story.
What advice would you give aspiring authors hoping to create emotionally rich, resonant fiction in today’s publishing landscape?
Write because you love it. If you are writing for any other reason, you won’t be successful. My idea of success is not in financial gain. (although that would be a nice benefit) I consider a novel successful when my readers become emotionally connected. That tells me I’ve done a good job of developing the characters.
