Interview with A.L. Hawke, Author of Nectar of Ambrosia

What’s the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Nectar of Ambrosia?

I love writing Medusa stories. My books are all about characters and Medusa’s struggle as a split character as a shy librarian transforming into a snake-haired monster is a joy to write. Like the cover, I think you’ll find this story to be funny, a bit loony, and just plain fun.

In the last book, Medusa was visiting Portofino, Italy, guarding her spider friend Arachne: The Guardian. In this fourth one, Medusa returns home to Sunland Florida, USA. But not only does she have to protect her boyfriend from secret agents in dark shades again, she has to guard a new short blue character, or actually a very old character, Engel, a Mandrigel dwarf from the mythical Isle of Azure Blue in Atlantis. Inspiration for all the series came from my desire to take all that world building from my epic fantasy books, The Azure Series, and turn it into urban fantasy modern romances. I had a whole treasure trove of stuff from my former characters, their memories, and Greek mythology that I could use in more modern times.

My epic fantasy books take place four thousand years ago on the mythical continent of Atlantis. They center around the goddess Persephone, Cora. Well, Persephone stars in one book in the twentieth-first century, Cora. And Medusa’s best friends with her in her own modern world adventures with the rest of the series.

What’s your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

Fantasy and romance. I suppose it’s exactly the same genre I write.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

I’m currently enjoying Shiftless by Aimee Easterling. I like her MC’s internal dialog. Recently I’ve also been checking out some classics. I was listening to Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carol. Yeah, really. I’ve been listening because I’m finally delving into audiobooks of my own and I wanted to get a better sense of them (audiobooks are new for me as a reader too). Well, I’m excited ‘cause I just converted my entire witch series to audio after discovering the absolutely perfect narrator and performer, Alexa Elmy, for it!

I also recently picked Of Mice and Men up again. Sometimes I like snatching and skimming old classics. I feel like I can say I read them after I do that. I didn’t really care for the middle of Of Mice and Men, but I was floored by the ending. Medusa likes the book too, by the way. She mentions it in Nectar of Ambrosia. Ah, what a perfect segue…

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

The pacing of this book probably moves faster than any other book I’ve ever written. So if you want to read action, this is the one to check out. There’s one particular scene of chaos that’s very memorable. Medusa jumps in a car protecting a drunk woman being chased by bad guys as she transforms into her snake-haired alter ego. The woman she’s protecting didn’t know she was a monster. And she hates snakes. Oh, and Medusa doesn’t know how to drive. There’s lots more pandemonium, but I don’t want to give too much away. It’s a fun scene. It’s funny too.

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

You’ll find me in coffee houses every day sipping nitro brews. Or writing at home in the dark with headphones. Any way I can escape and write. Sometimes I write outside—still with headphones. Just as my readers escape reading books, I escape writing them.

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

Nectar of Ambrosia was really made for fun. I hope readers laugh and smile. And I hope they have a wonderful time enjoying it.

A.L. Hawke is the author of the new book Nectar of Ambrosia

Connect with A.L. Hawke

Buy The Book