Interview & Giveaway: Kersten Hamilton

UFI welcomes Kersten Hamilton Author of The Goblin Wars series. Thanks for Joining us!!

What can you tell my readers about yourself that they might not know from looking on your bio or reading in another interview?

Let’s see…I’ve shared about the shrapnel in my arm…I’ve discussed my dysgraphia…it is easy to see that I hunt dinosaurs and write all kinds of books… I’ve said repeatedly that if a movie is ever made of my life, Jonny Depp should play the part….I don’t know that I’m interesting enough to go on and on about. Oh, how about this: when I was six and living in Alaska, I went hunting grizzly bears with a single shot twenty-two. By myself. Fortunately, I didn’t find any. 

What do you enjoy doing on your down time?

Down time? What’s that?:)

What is your Favorite part of writing? 

Character creation. I’m not satisfied until I know them well enough to slip into their skins and live their different perspectives. I picture each scene as a dance where the ‘voice’ of each character must be clearly and honestly portrayed. I like the end result of writing this way, but it is emotionally exhausting. I dread having to write the scenes with bad guys. I can’t force myself to slip inside them, so I model them on evil people I have known.

Do you have any certain routines you must follow as you write?

None, and that’s a good thing because I live a rather chaotic life. If any order or routine were necessary, the books would never get written!

What are some of your Favorite books or Authors in the Urban Fantasy/ Paranormal Genres?

There are so many Urban Fantasy/Paranormal books being published right now, so many excellent authors; I wouldn’t want to leave anybody out!  Can I just mention some of my older favorites that people might not have read in hopes that they will track them down? I like Charles De Lint, who was writing in the dawn of the Urban Fantasy and is writing still. I love the mythic elements in his books. I liked Zenna Henderson’s The People stories. I love Neil Gaiman’s writing especially his short stories and novels such as Neverwhere or The Anansi Boys. I like Charles Williams, who wrote unsettling paranormals such as All Hallow’s Eve long, long before Paranormal was a genre....This list could go on forever. But then, I wouldn’t get any more books written!

How would you pitch The Goblin Wars Series to someone who has not heard of it before?

I feel awkward talking about my own book, and never know what to say. So I’d cheat, by letting other people talk about them. Like this: “…a fast-paced adventure with a backbone of Celtic myth and heart of romance.” Pat Esden “One of my favorite things about your book is Teagan and Finn and they’re relationship. Teagan is smart and brave and doesn’t do dumb things that make you want to pull your hair out. Meanwhile Finn is absolutely sexy and cocky and sexy and brave and sexy… They’ve got great chemistry.” Ello from The Inkpot “Hamilton is a wizard at creating tension, building on characters’ strengths and weaknesses until the plot really takes off.” Kirkus “I loved the characters, the dialogs that had that witty and querky feeling I adore, the world-building…. I loved it because it was so utterly different from other YA fantasy novels. It was all at once touching, hilarious, action-packed and fast-paced.” Roxanne, The Honeyed Knot

Can you tell us a little bit about the world that The Goblin Wars Series is set in? 

This book, like the author, is comfortable with certain ancient Celtic sensibilities. The ancient Celts built no walls between the natural world and the supernatural, the secular and the sacred. In the Celtic world, no hero journeys alone, and you learn who you are through the journeys you choose to take.

Do you have a favorite scene in Tyger Tyger?

I like so many scenes in that book. I laughed a lot while I was writing it. I laughed really hard when Teagan met Finn, and when she was explaining to him where the phrase “warmed the cockles of my heart” came from. I love any scene with Aiden or Mr. Wylltson in it. I like the scene where Mamieo, Finn’s tiny grandmother, takes on the arrogant young goblin who has come hunting them…. I guess I’d have to say I love the whole book!

Which character was your favorite to write about? What about the hardest to write about? 

In Tyger Tyger, it was Finn. He has lived a very exciting life. It was fun learning about it, and understanding why he is the way he is. In the second book, In the Forests of the Night, I really enjoyed writing about Teagan. It is very clear why Tea and Finn love one another.

What Other Projects can we look forward to reading from you?

After the Goblin Wars series is done?:)

I have just sold a very fun steampunk chapter book THE MESMER MENACE, set on the eve of the Great Mesmer War of 1901, featuring a boy inventor, President Teddy Roosevelt, evil hypnotists, robots, a lightning harvester, and a dashingly brave and loyal dachshund named Noodles. It was extremely fun to write. I am finishing a “Holes”–esque older MG dealing with suicide, Catholicism, immigration issues and one undead school administrator. After that, I have a TOP SECRET YA project in the works. I can say that it has something to do with an ancient poem and an awesome hero…. 

:) Thank you for interviewing me on your blog, Stacy!

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Find Kersten and her books

Website / Twitter

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Tyger Tyger
Goblin Wars #1
November 15, 2010

Teagan Wylltson's best friend, Abby, dreams that horrifying creatures--goblins, shape-shifters, and beings of unearthly beauty but terrible cruelty--are hunting Teagan. Abby is always coming up with crazy stuff, though, so Teagan isn't worried. Her life isn't in danger. In fact, it's perfect. She's on track for a college scholarship. She has a great job. She's focused on school, work, and her future. No boys, no heartaches, no problems.
    Until Finn Mac Cumhaill arrives. Finn's a bit on the unearthly beautiful side himself. He has a killer accent and a knee-weakening smile. And either he's crazy or he's been haunting Abby's dreams, because he's talking about goblins, too . . . and about being The Mac Cumhaill, born to fight all goblin-kind. Finn knows a thing or two about fighting. Which is a very good thing, because this time, Abby's right. The goblins are coming.

 
Book 2 In The Forest of the Night will be released October 22, 2011



Are you a Librarian?? If so you can enter her Book Trailer contest for a copy http://home.comcast.net/~kerstenhamilton/Trailer/IFN_trailer.html

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