Author Spotlight: Donna Hawk

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

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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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