Interview: Faith Hunter

Faith HunterFaith Hunter is not only a fantastic novelist, but she is a super nice person as well! I consider myself super lucky to have had the opportunity to interview Faith. *grin*  Faith has just released the third novel in her Jane Yellowrock series, Mercy Blade.

Jane, a shapeshifting vampire-hunter-for-hire, crosses paths with a stranger who has arrived in New Orleans, enlisted to hunt vampires who have gone insane-or so he says…

Make sure you stick around to the end. We’ll be giving away signed copies of her Jane Yellowrock and Thorn St. Croix series to two lucky individuals.
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Literary Escapism: How did you get into writing?

Faith: From the time I was a kid, voices in my head were telling me stories. Sometimes it’s easier to write down the stories than try to banish the voices. And my 10th grade creative writing teacher told me I had talent. That was a gift I’ll never forget!

Literary Escapism: How many novels or pieces of work had you written before you finally got published?

Faith: Only one full length novel. It’s still in a box under the bed. I still have hopes for it, but it’s a crazy world! Who knows?

Literary Escapism: Jane is such a unique character as she has Beast within her because of who and what she is, where did the idea for this character come from?

Faith: I really have heard voices since I was a child. The story-telling voice, not the other kind. Well … maybe the other kind too.  And Beast evolved from thinking analytically about that voice. What if it really *did* talk back?!? Once the idea came to me, I tried out several ways of getting the Beast-voice across. Then I read Temple Grandin’s first book, and Beast was born!

Literary Escapism: If you could go back and change part of the storyline now, would you? If so what would that be?

Faith: No, I wouldn’t. Jane is on a road of discovery, though her road is more like parallel tracks, hers and Beast’s. I am enjoying the discovery of why they are and who they are far too much. I’ve also learned that rethinking can spoil the forward motion of a story.

Literary Escapism: Considering the differences from your Rogue Mage series, was it difficult at all for you to get into Jane/Beast’s head when it came down to writing them?

BloodringFaith: Jane Yellowrock and Thorn St. Croix are very different in physical description, personality, and fantasy worlds, yet they are both have secrets which force them to make their way in the world alone, in danger, and seeking a place of safety. However, any time they think they have found that sanctuary, they are yanked back into danger. They kill their own snakes, they are warriors, and they are singularities in their worlds. As a writer, the fact that both are in hiding and neither has a haven of rest is important. It forces them to be in conflict constantly, always on edge, and, from a writer’s viewpoint, that is a great character because there is much to work with.

Beast was an added twist, and though I make fun of the storytelling voices in my head being the reason for her, I have to admit that in many ways, she was just suddenly *there* and full of life and telling me her story, on top of Jane’s story. It got a little crowded inside my head for a while until I learned how to separate them all out!

Literary Escapism: Who are your writing influences?

Faith: Oddly enough, I adore men’s thriller writers, men’s action adventure writers. I like early Tom Clancy, for instance, for his techno-actions scenes. I enjoy Elmore Leonard for his varied narrative voice and economy of words. I love Anne Rice for her poetry of words and rich evocative writing style. I adore Charlaine Harris and Janet Evanovich for their humor and sex scenes—they do so much with so few words. Tasteful and still HOT!

Literary Escapism: We all have our favorites…what is your favorite book for 2010?

Faith: Oh wow. Just one??? No. No way. I have three. Sorry. Got to be 3:

  1. Jim Butcher: Changes
  2. Charlaine Harris: Dead in the Family
  3. Kim Harrison: Black Magic Sanction

Between the three books, all my buttons got pushed!

Literary Escapism: All writers get writers block from time to time, how do you deal with that when it comes up?

Faith: I don’t believe in writer’s block. (Sticks fingers and in ears and sings Lalalalalalala to block out sound of evil words.) LOL. Actually, I just ignore it and it goes away, like the imaginary monster under the bed. It isn’t real. It isn’t! I push through it until the words start to flow.

Literary Escapism: How do you relax from the stress of deadlines and edits and more deadlines?

Faith: Hot baths with mineral salts, candles, aromatherapy. Massage. Stretching. Prayer. Paddling a fast-moving Class II and II river. Cuddling with the hubby and the dogs in front of the TV. Life is hard enough without taking time to relax and renew inside and out!

Literary Escapism: Any words of wisdom for future writers out there?

Faith: yes. The website www.magicalwords.net. Read everything you can get your hands on (even outside your genre). And BIC (butt in chair). If you don’t write, you won’t write. If you don’t do the time, you won’t see your books in print.

SkinwalkerQuickies!
Literary Escapism: What is your favorite color?

Faith: Blue, green, black. Sorry. I can’t do just one of anything! Blame it on all the people inside my head.

Literary Escapism: What is your favorite time of the year?

Faith: Fall.

Literary Escapism: Cats or Dogs?

Faith: Domesticated dogs, wild cats.

Literary Escapism: What is your favorite scent?

Faith: Right now it’s hazelnut. But I have an appreciation for orange and for cinnamon. Actually my scent loves change from season to season. In spring I adore chocolate mint!

Literary Escapism: What is your favorite holiday?

Faith: Anytime I can get away with the hubby and dogs in our RV, and get out on a river to paddle, I call it a holiday! And it was a holiday talking with you today! Thank you for the great questions!

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Louisiana native, Faith Hunter, likes horses, dogs, fishing, crabbing, whitewater rafting, and RVing. Fascinated by history and ancient writings, she can trace her roots to William the Conqueror’s invasion of England in 1066, to Sehoy III, an American Indian princess, and to the gens de couleur libre, the New Orleans free men of color, before the Civil War.

As a girl, she read five books a week, wishing she, “could write that great stuff.” Teachers in high school convinced her she could, and she’s been writing ever since, with a desire to see ultimate good fight and defeat ultimate evil, and humans as part of the battle. Her books to date are BLOODRING (2006), SERAPHS (May 2007) and HOST (Nov 2007). Faith shares her life with her Renaissance Man and their dogs.

To find out more about Faith, go to www.faithhunter.net

Contact Info
Website: www.FaithHunter.Net
Social Media: Facebook / Twitter

Want to purchase Faith’s novels

Thorn St. Croix / Rogue Mage

  1. Bloodring at Amazon or the Book Depository
  2. Seraphs at Amazon or the Book Depository
  3. Host at Amazon or the Book Depository

Jane Yellowrock

  1. Skinwalker at Amazon or the Book Depository
  2. Signatures of the Dead (in Strange Brew) at Amazon or the Book Depository
  3. Blood Cross at Amazon or the Book Depository
  4. Mercy Blade at Amazon or the Book Depository

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Mercy BladeContest Time! Faith is giving away a signed copies of her Jane Yellowrock and Thorn St. Croix series to two lucky individuals.  All you have to do is answer this one question: What do you enjoy most about the Jane Yellowrock series?

As always, there’s more ways of getting your name in the hat (remember, these aren’t mandatory to enter, just extra entries):

  • +1 for each place you post about today’s contest on your blog, social network, or anywhere you can. Digg it, stumble it, twit it, share it with the world. Wherever you share it, make sure you add a link to it along with your answer.
  • +1 to any review you comment on, however, comments must be meaningful. Just give me the title of the review and I’ll be able to figure it out from there.
  • +1 If you are a follower of Literary Escapism on Facebook and/or Twitter
  • +10 Purchase any of Faith’s ’s novels (listed above) or any novel through LE’s Amazon store or the Book Depository sometime during this contest and send a copy of the receipt VIA email for your purchase to: jackie AT literaryescapism DOT com. Each purchase is worth ten entries.

The winner must post a review of the novel someplace. Whether it is on their own blog, Amazon, GoodReads, LibraryThing or wherever, it doesn’t matter. Just help get the word out.

The contest will stay open until January 11th, at which time I’ll determine the winner with help from the Research Randomizer and the List Randomizer.

I have not been contacting winners, so you will need to check back to see if you’ve won.

18 Comments

  1. I haven’t read this series yet so I can’t say what I enjoyed but Jane sounds like a really interesting character.

  2. I love Jane Yellowrock because Beast is so much a character in her own right…and she seems to keep some secrets from Jane!

    I have to say I love Jane’s witch’family’ (Molly, Evan and the kids)
    Any chance of a book or more short stories based on them at some point? I loved Signatures of the dead!

    Facebook follower as well.

  3. Hi :)
    Thank you for the interview with Faith & to Faith for sharing here.
    Congratulations on MERCY BLADE being Released today!
    And what an amazing giveaway contest… ALL the Jane bks SIGNED!
    Wow.
    I like Jane because I like a strong female main character.
    All the best,
    RKCharron

  4. I like books that incorporate Native American legends/culture/aspects, and also find intriguing the scenes in which Beast comes out to play, and the symbiosis of her and Jane.

    follow LE on facebook bethany cardone and twitter bcardoo79

    b(dot)cardone(at)hotmail(dot)com

  5. I’m so sorry, but I can’t answer the question, because I haven’t read the books yet *shameonme*… but I’ve heard a lot of fantastic things about it and the series is already on my wishlist – I really hope to read it before the German translation of book #1 will be released in summer, btw congrats on that!! I saw the cover of Skinwalker and it’s incredible!
    wish you all the best, Melanie

  6. I haven’t read the Jane Yellowrock series yet, so I can’t really answer the question. I did, however, read Ms. Hunter’s short story in Strange Brew which features Jane as a supporting character. Ever since then I’ve wanted to read the series because Jane seems like such an interesting person.

    Follower on Twitter and tweeted about the contest http://twitter.com/lesleyboogie/status/22753311975284736

  7. I haven’t read this series yet. but I do have the first one in my tbr pile and I love the covers and blurb.
    I follow you on facebook and twitter +2

  8. I’ve had this on my wishlist for awhile, but I haven’t read it so I can’t comment on what I like about Faith. I will say that the blurb for the first book definitely grabbed my attention. I think it’s because of the use of Native American legends for the paranormal aspect of the story. Looking forward to reading the series.

    +1 commented on Make Mine Midnight
    +1 commented on Hunted by the Others

  9. What do you enjoy most about the Jane Yellowrock series?
    I have not had the pleasure of reading them as of yet but I will let you know when I have!
    +1 for each place you post about today’s contest on your blog, social network, or anywhere you can. Digg it, stumble it, twit it, share it with the world. Wherever you share it, make sure you add a link to it along with your answer.
    http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http://www.literaryescapism.com/15699/interview-faith-hunter&t=Interview:%20Faith%20Hunter

    +1 If you are a follower of Literary Escapism on Facebook and/or Twitter
    FB Follower Michele Clark Powell
    Twitter Follower MichoJolie

    nedsped (at) verizon (dot) net

  10. I love the Jane Yellowrock series. In fact, I’ve been reading the first two books over again so that I can review them in time for the Mercy Blade release. What I most enjoy about Jane: she’s tough and competent, but willing to ask for help/ be kind/ create a life. In short, she isn’t a bitch because it makes her tougher, she knows she can kick your butt and still be a nice person. At least that’s how I see her. I found her willingness to grow and make connections refreshing. I can’t wait for Mercy Blade to come out!

    I hadn’t heard of the Thorn St. Croix books, but I’m looking them up right now.

    Jennifer (An Abundance of Books)

    contest tweet link:
    http://twitter.com/#!/AbundanceBooks/status/24149366453305344

  11. What do I enjoy most about the Jane Yellowrock series?
    – I love the Native-American background/culture and the interaction between all the characters…from katie’s girls, Jane/beast, leo, bruno to rick :D

    +1 twitted: http://twitter.com/#!/vanpham88/status/24207448621453312
    +1 commented on your review of The Iron King
    +1 commented on your review of Hunted by the Others
    +1 LE facebook fan and twitter follower @vanpham88

  12. I love Jane! I especially love how she is so tough, and I love her Beast — But what I really love is that with all of that she can still be a girl — put on a skirt and go dancing!
    I am a Facebook follower
    troublelore at gmail dot com

  13. Faith, I haven’t read your series yet, but a good friend of mine became ecstatic and obsessed with it, she kept yapping about how fantastic it is, and ever since I put it on my TBR/wishlist. Hopefully I’ll read it soon and will be able to tell you what I like about it the most ;-p

    +1 tweeted: http://twitter.com/Stella_ExLibris/status/24568475909361665

    +1 posted on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=189736991038216&id=100000899165880

    +1 Like LE on facebook

    +1 also follow you on Twitter (@Stella_ExLibris)

    Thank you for the giveaway!

    stella.exlibris (at) gmail (dot) com

Comments are closed.