Interview with A.L. Hawke, Author of Broomstick

What can you tell us about your new release, Broomstick?

Broomstick was born out of a whim to create a romance for Halloween. That’s it. Simple, huh? But as I worked on the project and studied other books out there (and witchcraft), I endeavored to create something that felt real. So there’s a lot of real stuff mixed with Cadence’s voice that I think gives the novel a little extra creepiness amid her charm.

This novel is about a college sophomore, Cadence Hawthorne, introduced to a special “honors” program. She’s hesitant to join because of its dealings with the occult, but her best friend and this hot teaching assistant enroll. Students are warned that if they join they will be uncomfortable and there’s a consent form that they must sign. But none of that deters Cadence as much as learning that she has to offer her blood.

What or who inspired you to become an author?

I love the thrill of creating magic and romance out of the ordinary. That is why all my novels center on magic and attraction in a contemporary setting. I also write science fiction mixing my medical science background with fantasy.

There are so many amazing authors that I admire out there like Stephen King or E.L. James and many of us want to aspire to have their success, but I’m most driven by the sheer fun of creating a fanciful world and sharing my art with my readers.

What’s on your top 5 list for the best books you’ve ever read?

1. Catcher in the Rye
2. Twilight
3. Carrie
4. Frankenstein
5. The Mists of Avalon

Say you’re the host of a literary talk show. Who would be your first guest? What would you want to ask?

I would never be a talk show host because I’m much too shy, but if we were to fantasize: Mary Shelley. I’d ask her: Did you really write Frankenstein in one night? I don’t believe it. And then I’d ask her how she did it. What a genius.

What’s your favorite thing about writing?

Breathing life into characters. It’s like being a sculptor. If you think of writing as art, some artists are painters, others are sculptors. I’m a sculptor chiseling and breathing life into my characters. That’s more important to me than painting a scene. They’re both vital, of course, but I write to bring my characters to life. If I don’t have an interesting character, I don’t have a story.

What is a typical day like for you?

Work mostly. I write an hour or two in the early morning, at lunch, or in the early evening. I prefer to write in coffee shops during the day. Sometimes I like to write in the dark at night with just a dim computer screen. In between, there is my busy day job.

What scene in Broomstick was your favorite to write?

The flying one. This witch scene was transformative for Cadence and pivotal for the novel. It was weird, a touch erotic, and just plain fun.

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

Live life to the fullest and, if you can’t, write about it.

A.L. Hawke is the author of the new book Broomstick.

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