Today I am very excited to have Laura Hawks visiting the blog! Laura is someone I met online before either of us were published, so this is a special treat. First, a brief bio from Laura herself...
I
have always been interested in writing in some form or other. A few years back,
I was involved with and then ran a Star Trek Interactive Writing Group which
was successful for a number of years. Yes, I am a trekker and proud of it.
I have directed tours around the country
and continue to do so to pay the bills. Maybe one day, I can travel for fun and
let the books I write pay the bills instead. I can only hope.
Then a few years back, I got my Master's
Degree in Ancient Civilizations, Native American History and United States
History.
It was at this time I got involved in
role playing on FaceBook, which gave me ample opportunities to grow and hone my
writing ability.
Taking the leap forward, I decided to try
my hand at writing a novel. That novel came out on October 13, 2012
published by Midnight Hour Publishing Company.
Laura, how did you get started writing?
Outside of what I already mentioned above, I actually went back to
school to get some education on Native Americans. I had this idea of telling
the Native American History with books. One day, I was doing a tour to Agawa
Canyon. It was rainy that day, so most of the people stayed on the train. I
walked the trails and had such an overwhelming peacefulness settle on me and I
wondered if I could write a piece of fiction that would be paranormal as well
as relate some real historical events. I sat down on that train and started
writing. I finished that book in three months, but I admit it needs major
fixing and editing. I will be working on that as soon as some real life issues
settle down and I can concentrate on that.
Being an avid Trekker myself, I’ve got to ask how it was
writing your own adventures in the Star Trek universe.
It was a lot of fun.
Now you have to understand, we started this pre-facebook and stuff. We had to
do it by snail mail once a month before the story could continue and we did not
have or were not able to have extreme outlines for anything major other than
the general idea, but it was a wonderful writing experience and a great group
of friends who were very innovative during a time when it was not quite so easy
to be as such.
You are still an avid role player and have been for some
time, taking characters that have been started and giving them a depth and
personality beyond what we’ve seen from them before. What from that experience are you able to
translate into writing for publication?
Role playing has given
me a chance to develop different personalities with the characters. I hope that
it has allowed me to improve upon the background depth of those characters in
my book, allowing the reader to understand a bit of their thought processes and
actions.
What about being published and the book industry in general
has most surprised you?
All the hidden things
you just don’t think of or don’t know about. Just as printing costs, editing
costs, artists costs, marketing. It seems each time I think I know something, I
find out I am like a babe in the woods... totally lost and need to learn more.
So you’ve got your first publication, the novel “Demon’s
Kiss” which came out in October of last year.
Tell us about how this book came to be and what it’s like becoming
published for the first time.
The book came from
role play. A bit of background I kind of played with for my character for a
bit. Then I was asked to write a short story. I used that bit of background as
the basis. When the short story was refused, I showed it to another publisher
who asked if it could be made into a novel. Since I had a much broader idea for
the short story, it seemed easy enough to do. Being told that it was going to
be published is uber-exciting and cannot be described in any words. To HOLD
the book in my hands, something that I created, is just a bit of nirvana.
You also have a short story published, “Snow White and the
Seven Cannibals”, in the anthology “Fairly Freaky Fairytales”. How did this effort come to be?
I was asked by a friend in the publishing company to contribute
a short story for the anthology. When I heard what it was about, I just went
through fairy tales. The idea just went from there. A side note, the hero,
Donnigan, is based off a friend who I am proud to say is joining the Marines
and will be a real life hero.
Do you have any other upcoming works or even just ideas
bouncing around in your head?
I have a
few ideas, I also have a couple of other works in general. The publishing
company that published Demon’s Kiss, has accepted the manuscript for the sequel..
Demon’s Dream. I am really excited about what developed with that book. I also
have a book I wrote about four years ago, and have had sitting in a drawer. I
would like to see that finished and hopefully published. If it does, it will be
a series. I have a couple of other ideas, both for the series, as well as an
anthology or couple of novellas of stories bouncing around in my head.
What does your family think of your writing career so far?
They are very proud of me. Mostly, my mom,
which means the world to me. Although I was nervous about her reading the
sexual parts, she admits it was well written and that means the world to me,
just as she does in general.
You also have another career in the Travel industry. Can you tell us a little about that?
I take groups of people out on their vacations around North America. I
love it for several reasons. One.. it exposes me to several cultures and
peoples. I enjoy broadening my horizons. Two.. it gives me a chance to really
get to know people. There is so much living history in people’s lives and what
they have experienced.. no two can or will ever be the same. Three.... I am
afraid I have a bit of gypsy in my soul, I like to be out and about, and
traveling allows me to do that. I am not inside looking at four walls, each day
is a challenge and fun and something to look forward to. Finally, I get to
enjoy places I would never be able to have seen or visited or even experienced
if not for this industry.
To close the interview, I have ten questions for you, plus
one. Here they go!
- What is your favorite word? Dark Chocolate. How can that not make someone smile. :D
- What is your least favorite word? any word that is racially derogative.
- What turns you on? Being pushed up against a wall and ravished with kisses.
- What turns you off? Hurtful, inconsiderate people.
- What sound or noise do you love? The sound of horses hooves.
- What sound or noise do you hate? Scraping of metal against teeth and Screaming/screeching children. Why do they have to scream about nothing?
- What is your favorite curse word? Shit
- What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? Chef. I love to cook and the smiles, oohs and aahs from others as they enjoy my cooking.
- What profession would you not like to do? Medical.. Don’t want to deal with blood and guts.
- If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the pearly gates? Welcome.
- What question have you never been asked, that you wish someone would ask you? This is a tough one...
Purchase at:
Barnes and Noble:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/demons-kiss-laura-hawks/1113316051?ean=2940015567366
Smashwords.com: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/243778
Kobobooks.com:
Follow at:
or
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Rudy and Trish are the main characters in our two published short stories in the "Evernight: Romance in a World of Darkness" anthologies. You can get to know them as well as get 23 other great stories! Here's where you can find them:
Another great interview, Aaron & Laura! And how I envy your 'other' career as a travel expert. Well done, you!
ReplyDeleteGreat stuff, Aaron and Laura!
ReplyDeleteI'm intrigued, Laura, by the way you've been able to spin from role play to character development in your writing. Seems that's something we should all try, just to see how it affects the way we create unique people. In that way, we're like Gods.
I, too, have been interested in native Amerind topics and may just write something on that subject one of these days. Best of success to you!