The Love-Hate Inspiration Behind Immortal Heart

Is it weird to be fascinated with movies and TV shows about the antebellum period, which was basically, slavery times?

I kinda hate to admit this, but I’m that history buff who actually enjoyed the tourist bus rides through Charleston, SC and Savannah, Georgia. The ones where they tell you stories about what life was like back then, and walk you through those big, lavish plantation houses.

Now, don’t get me wrong, hell no, I would NOT want to go back and live during those times. I know life back then was hard for my people, but it was also the only life they knew. And I can’t lie… the history of the antebellum south, the plantations, some things about that way of life — it all intrigues me.

This love-hate relationship with the antebellum period is what gave birth to Immortal Heart.

The idea for my main character, Harriet, came from many inspirations, but I knew I didn’t want her to be the “pretty girl who had it easy.” People often assume beauty means an easy life, Harriet’s story will prove otherwise. She’s beautiful, yes, but her life is rough, complicated, and messy in all the ways that will make her character unforgettable.

I wanted her to be strong and smart, with grit in her soul. She feels pain deeply, but she’s not the type to stay down. And yes, her love and sex life? A little chaotic. Because I don’t write fairy-tale romances that make sense from beginning to end. That ain’t real life. I also want to share something about the visuals you see on my site and in my videos. All of the character portraits and scene imagery come from my imagination first, and then I use AI as a tool to bring those visions to life. I only use AI to create visual scenes from my books for reels, trailers, and promotional images. Every AI image is built from detailed character profiles and excerpts from my drafts. For me, creating these profiles isn’t just fun, it’s part of my writing process. Having something visual to reference makes the characters and settings feel even more real as I write.

Basically, Immortal Heart is the movie I always wanted to see. Rich with culture, complexity, and a woman who refuses to be defined by the times she was born into. I hope readers love her as much as I do when the book releases August/September 2025.

And if you haven’t already, check out my other book My Lover, The Hitman — a whole different kind of messy love story, lol!

If you love stories that mix history, heart, and just the right amount of messy romance, you’re going to want Immortal Heart on your shelf when it drops August/September 2025. Until then, grab my other book My Lover, The Hitman for a taste of the drama I bring to the page — available now at www.EricaStrawberry.com and on Amazon Kindle.

Follow me on TikTok @WriterEricaStrawberry for sneak peeks, behind-the-scenes looks, and the occasional history-nerd rant.