- Q. How far along are you on the third book?
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IT IS FINISHED! The third novel in the Blood Legacy series, "Heir to the Throne" (ISBN 978-0-9766231-1-3) is now available from Amazon.com,
and as always, at the Official Blood Legacy Store. It will be available in retail outlets sometime towards the end of May 2009.
- Q. Are you writing any more "Darkness" novels?
There are three novels in the Darkness series. For those unfamiliar with the property, the books are based on the popular comic and video game put out by Top Cow. It is my understanding that the second and third books are slated for release Summer 2009.
- Q. Will you be releasing Blood Legacy in any type of digital/e-format?
The Story of Ryan, The House of Alexander, and Heir to the Throne
are now available for Amazon's Kindle.
- Q. How did you become a writer?
Writing has been the one consistency in my life. I started writing poetry at age six, short stories by age ten, and my first (poor attempt at a) novel at 19. Writing is both therapy and an obsession with me, and sometimes I think it's the only thing that keeps me sane.
- Q. Where do you get your ideas?
A lot of time my ideas start with a single question. For example, Blood Legacy started when I began musing, if vampires did exist, what would they really be like? Who (or what) are the real creatures behind this myth? What type of anatomy would they have? What makes them strong? What makes them immortal? These are all questions that I wanted to answer.
The story itself kept circulating in my brain for several years before I finally just sat down and wrote it all out. By that time, it was incredibly complex. The creatures in Blood Legacy have an entire society based on power and social relationships (kind of a "who's doing who" in the vampire world). But these creatures aren't vampires, who to me always seemed a little simplistic.
- Q. What inspires you?
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I can say without equivocation that music is my #1 muse (hmmm--I'm noticing some word etymology here). There are songs that are literally soundtracks to the movie in my head. Right now I'm really enjoying Breaking Benjamin, 30 Seconds to Mars and Matchbook Romance.
- Q. Do you really answer all of your own email?
Why don't you email me and find out. (Okay, the answer is yes. I also reply to MySpace and Facebook messages, as long as they're not too strange.)
- Q. Is Blood Legacy historically accurate?
I try to keep my writing both historically and scientifically accurate. I think reality (or at least some version thereof) is sometimes more interesting than fiction. I realize there are a few errors in the books (trust me, people have let me know) that I hope to have corrected upon reprint.
- Q. Are you an atheist?
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Er, no. I was raised Southern Baptist, actually. Which probably explains a lot. I practice Zen Buddhism, but I don't really consider it a religious affiliation.
- Q. Are you going to write more comic books?
I am currently working with my brother, Matt Hawkins, on a Top Cow comic book called Monstrosity, kind of a horror story type project.
- Q. How does one get published?
I have a cynical response. I can think of three things, and surprisingly talent is not on the list (probably not surprising if you read as many books as I do). 1) You have to know someone, 2) you have to be lucky, or 3) you have to be persistent as hell. And most of the time, it takes all three.
- Q. How do you sit down and write 80,000 words?
Um, I have a very strange way of writing. Generally by the time I start a book, I already know the entire story, including its ending. Details fill themselves in as I write. I would not advise this methodology.
If you're looking for encouragement, the best advice I can give is the most simple and painfully obvious: if you want to be a writer, sit down and write. Every day. Even if it's bad. Hopefully it will get better (mine usually does).
- Q. Is there ever going to be any real sex in Blood Legacy?
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Yes. See The House of Alexander
