KYRA HALLAND
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Kyra Halland

Strong Women, Honorable Men, Worlds of Magic

Author Spotlight: Donna Hawk

5/31/2013

10 Comments

 
Picture
Today I'm very pleased to introduce you to Donna Hawk, as part of Donna's blog tour with Saskia Book Tours. Take it away, Donna! 

1. Tell us a little about yourself.
My name is Donna Hawk. I’ve been a middle school teacher for 33 years. I taught Reading, mostly, but also I’ve taught a variety of things: yearbook, photography, creative writing, social studies… the list seems endless. I truly enjoy that age kids. I retired two years ago because I wanted to devote time to writing. I live in a small town, on a farm with my husband, a dog, and a whole bunch of cows. I know everyone in town, so writing is a good way to escape! I am also an avid photographer.

2. When did you start writing, and why?
I don’t remember liking or not liking to write as a child. I was pretty normal as far as my attitude toward school. In college, I became an avid reader. I often thought: I think I can do this, when I read a book I really liked. Between college and my boys leaving to go to college themselves, I wrote several full-length manuscripts, but for a long time never had the nerve to send them off to anyone. Sometimes I go back and reread them just to make myself laugh. The early ones were pretty awful.

3. What do you write? What do you like about writing it?
At first, and this includes my old ones, I wrote mainly romances because that’s what I was used to reading. Recently, however, I discovered that because I was a teacher in a small town, I wasn’t comfortable saying too much that dealt with sex or anything too adult-related. I guess I cared what my middle schoolers would think. So I thought: why not write for them? My new trilogy is awesome for anyone 12 and up. Now I can sleep at night!! J (And I can let my mom read it!!)

4. What is your latest book?
My latest book is called Where Darkness Walks; it is the first book of my Mortgatha Trilogy. I’m really happy with it. It’s the first truly Young Adult book I’ve written. I kept asking myself what I’d seen my students read. That’s what I wanted to write.

5. "Welcome To My Worlds": Tell us a little about the world of your latest book.
The story begins in our Earth world, but soon Clarie finds herself being shoved against a set of dark, magic doors into the shadow realm of Mortgatha. In some ways, it’s very Earth-like, but there are a lot of scary things about it. Mortgatha has been taken over by the Darkness, which has done everything in its power to extinguish the Light. There are not only scary animals, but dark entities that pester her and try to take Clarie’s life. Many of the “bad guys” are not actual characters that she can see, but still try to hurt her and take the Light away from her. The sun is never bright, the stars are too timid to shine, the moon rarely appears. It’s like living in smog.

6. Introduce us to some of your characters. What do you like about them?
The main character is Clarie Perl. She is sixteen and very sweet. I like her because she has a good relationship with her dad, she is loyal not only to the people she knows but also to the Earth world.

Patrick is the main minor character. He picks Clarie up when she is dumped by her boyfriend and, like Clarie, is very loyal. He is romantically interested in Clarie. He bullies his way through the dark doors in an attempt to “rescue” her.

The third main minor character is Joseph. He is a resident of Mortgatha, but is from the Earth world. He loves Clarie, to Patrick’s annoyance.

7. A fun fact you would like your readers to know about you or your book.
Imagine what it would be like to own your very own flying carpet… I know I want one!

8. Blog/site link, and where your book is available.
My book will be available on Amazon, Barnes & Nobel, Smashwords, iTunes, or wherever eBooks are sold, plus on some sites it will be offered in paperback. You will also be able to find it and link to it on my website: http://donnahawk.net/

EXTRA SUPER BONUS!! If you'd like a chance to win an ebook of Where Darkness Walks, leave a comment below. Everyone who comments by the end of the day (11:59 pm Pacific Daylight Time) today (May 31) will be entered into a drawing for a giveaway of one free copy of the book!

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Where Darkness Walks (Mortgatha Trilogy Book 1) By Donna Hawk

Clarie’s world is about to change for the darker. Rand broke up with her at the prom, she uncovers a secret in the hidden back of an armoire, and she meets Patrick, who is determined to help her forget her broken heart.

As Clarie evades classmate Bulldog’s stalking, she and Patrick explore the dark halls of an abandoned cement plant. After following Clarie and Patrick deep inside the cement plant, Bulldog confronts Clarie as he fights with Patrick. When she is accidentally pushed against a set of dark doors into the shadow realm of Mortgatha, everything she fears is set into motion to keep her away from her beloved Earth world. 

Even with Patrick’s help, the doorway home moves randomly, evil characters beset them at every turn, and the way home seems farther away than ever.

Where you can purchase this book:
Paperback Createspace
E-Book Amazon

About Donna Hawk:

I have been a teacher in Kansas for 33 years. I enjoy writing, riding my bicycle, and spending time with my husband. I am an avid photographer and Photoshop user. Currently, I am working on a dark trilogy for young adults, the first of which I am hoping will be completed by the end of the summer 2013. 
If you have any questions for me, you can email me at: bydonnahawk@gmail.com


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10 Comments
nikki broadwell link
5/31/2013 01:21:54 am

thanks, Kyra, for the great interview with Donna!

Reply
Tricia Zoeller link
5/31/2013 03:42:30 am

Great interview ladies. Congrats to you Donna!

Reply
Donna Hawk
5/31/2013 05:42:53 am

Thanks! I'm really having a good time with this blog and I really had a good time writing my book. I hope everyone enjoys it!!

Reply
DaraLynn
5/31/2013 03:09:46 pm

Enjoyed the interview, ladies! Speaking as a middle-aged woman, I was leery of reading YA novels due to imagined excessive amounts of teen angst. My 20-something daughter assured me I was wrong. Well, she was right; it was all in my in my imagination! I've found several good YA authors and I look forward to reading Donna's Where Darkness Walks in the near future.

Reply
Kyra
5/31/2013 04:24:30 pm

Thanks to everyone who stopped by today! (and those still to come!)

The winner of the free copy of Where Darkness Walks will be chosen in the morning thusly: I will write the names of everyone who commented today, May 31, on or before 11:59 pm Pacific Time (except for me and Donna - sorry, Donna, you're not eligible ;D) on slips of paper and put them in a bowl, then my son (who doesn't know I'm going to ask him to do this and will probably be rolling his eyes the whole time) will draw one name. The winner will be announced here, and we'll put you in touch with the book tour organizer, who will send you your free ebook!

Reply
Kyra
6/1/2013 03:21:06 am

and...Tricia Zoeller is the winner! Tricia, if you'll let me know your email address (either here in the comments, or send me a message via the contact form) I'll send it on the the tour organizer so she can send you your free ebook.

Reply
Kyra
6/2/2013 12:40:26 pm

Last call for our winner before I pick a runner-up in the morning...

Reply
Kyra
6/3/2013 06:15:30 am

Since the prize hasn't been claimed, I'll announce the runner-up...

DaraLynn!

Let me know your email, and I'll set you up with the tour organizer so she can send you your free book!

(Tricia, if you decide you want to claim your prize, let me know and I'll see what I can do for you :) )

Reply
DaraLynn
6/3/2013 08:13:29 am

Hey, that's great! Thank you so much! Can't wait to read it!

Reply
Kyra
6/3/2013 08:24:04 am

You're welcome :) Just let us know where to send the book - you can use the contact form to email me!


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  • Home
  • Blog
  • Books
    • Daughter of the Wildings >
      • The World of Daughter of the Wildings
      • Map of The Wildings
      • Map of Bitterbush Springs
      • Beneath the Canyons Sample
    • Defenders of the Wildings >
      • Mages' Home Sample
    • Mage of Storm and Sea
    • Tales of Tehovir >
      • Chosen of Azara >
        • Cast of Characters-Chosen of Azara
        • Reviews of Chosen of Azara
        • Chosen of Azara Sample
      • Source-Breaker >
        • Source-Breaker Sample
      • Heir of Tanaris >
        • Heir of Tanaris Sample
      • Map of Tehovir
    • Urdaisunia >
      • Cast of Characters-Urdaisunia
      • Map-Urdaisunia
      • Reviews of Urdaisunia
      • Urdaisunia Sample
    • The Lost Book of Anggird >
      • Reviews of The Lost Book of Anggird
      • Lost Book of Anggird Sample
    • Sarya's Song >
      • Sarya's Song Sample
      • Sarya's Song Glossary
    • Short Fiction
    • Boxed Sets
    • Still to come...
  • Read Right Here!
    • Home on the Range
  • About
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