Ask the Author: Hazel B. West
Answered Questions (14)
Hazel B. West
I would either love to go to Middle Earth and visit Bilbo Baggins or I would go to the Inkworld in Inkheart and just explore. Such beautiful places!
Hazel B. West
Yes! It has four planned books in the series. Book Three is going to be coming out at the end of August this year, so keep an eye out for it :)
Hazel B. West
Well, I wrote it, so I'm rather partial ;) I can promise lots of action and brotherhood themes with a modern fantasy setting.
Hazel B. West
I'm glad you enjoyed it! The second book *should* be out in October, it's technically a Halloween book, so I thought it would be fun to bring it out then. I will be getting a page set up for it here on Goodreads soon, it's going to be called "An Earthly King"
Hazel B. West
I don't know if the plot was inspired by anything really, it's just the sort of thing I enjoy reading. A story about people who are thrown together, starting out at odds with each other and ending up friends, and stories about the bond of family and friendship.
Hazel B. West
That's an interesting question because I'm not even quite sure where they came from haha. In part, they're more based off of maybe the dark elves from Scandinavian folklore than what you would typically consider goblins, but they also take after the Court Fae of British and Irish folklore, though not as powerful. Really, I was just trying to create a version of goblins no one has hopefully ever really seen before.
Hazel B. West
Firstly because I love Irish folklore and have loved the idea of Na Fianna and the stories around them since I first read them. (I personally think they're cooler than the Arthurian knights). I also love urban fantasy and putting folklore into a modern setting, so the idea of putting them together made sense. Actually, my first ideas for Blood Ties had no connection to Na Fianna, I just wanted sword fighting warriors and goblins driving fast sports cars in the Irish countryside, but later I thought it would be really cool to incorporate the Fenian folklore cycle into it.
Hazel B. West
Pretty much everything I write is my favorite historical era, it's hard to choose, but I think in particular, I really like Celtic Britain and the Victorian era. The Victorian era is probably the one I would choose to live in.
Hazel B. West
My current project, which is actually complete and in the editing stages right now, is the first in a series called "The Modern Tales of Na Fianna" and if you know your Irish folklore you'll know what that is. If not, it's about this group of warriors who are descended from the characters of legend like Fionn Mac Cool and it's set in modern day as an urban fantasy, and there's fast cars and faeries. In this world, they are in a very tremulous peace with the Goblins and the protag, Ciran and others, have just lost some of their family members on a scouting mission, fearing they were taken captive by the goblins. The story is pretty much them going to take them back with lots of adventure, and obviously brotherly moments because I can't help myself. I'm really excited about it, and you can read excerpts on my blog if you want to see what it's all about!
Hazel B. West
"Wolfsblood" which just came out (Yay!) was an interesting one. Like normal, it just kind of popped into my head. I think the idea was a combination of reading Rosemary Sutfliff and "The Sea Wolves" by Christopher Golden & Tim Lebbon. While not totally fond of what they have done to werewolves in the past decade or so, I have always kind of like werewolf stories, especially historical ones and I thought, 'Hey, I could do a werewolf story!' Hopefully it turned out into something other people might enjoy reading. I know I really enjoyed writing it!
Hazel B. West
Everywhere. I don't even have to try anymore. It comes from life, it comes from books, movies, tv shows, music, places, people, coffee. Everything. I've never been without some idea to write about. Sometimes I wish it would stop!
Hazel B. West
Write, re-write, and re-write again. Your story is never going to be perfect the first time round, and that is always the most important thing to remember. Get good critique partners (not just family!) and read as many books as you can. You can't do the trade if you don't know it! Writers who are also avid readers always seem to do a better job of it in my experience. And read the classics, because they are a good base for everything.
Hazel B. West
Being able to be a completely strange person and being liked or understood for it instead of just thought of as weird. Plus you get to use your imagination and come up with stories and people as your job. How is that not awesome?
Hazel B. West
I don't know if I suffer so much from writer's block as just getting stuck on something that needs to be figured out before the story can be finished. Sometimes characters refuse to talk to me and sometimes I just can't figure out how to get someone out of a certain situation. When it comes to that, I might start something new, or more commonly, I turn to reading similar books. Watching tv series is also a way I deal with writer's block. Anything to inspire!
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more