Interview with J. Hawki, Author of Elephants and Chopping Blocks Retain Their Natural Color and Catch an Elephant by the Tail
Author’s Bio: Author J. Hawki was born in Baltimore. Inspired by her love for books, thrillers in particular,
she began writing more than twenty years ago.
She published her first book, Elephants and Chopping Blocks Retain Their Natural Color in 2012, and
released its sequel, Catch an Elephant by
the Tail, in April of 2018. Retired
after an extensive career in Health Care Administration, she lives with her
family in Maryland.
DL: How long did it take to write your book?
JH: My first book took much too long, almost twenty years. When I began writing, cell phones were not commonly used devices, but by the time I completed Elephants and Chopping Blocks, they were, so I had to go back and add instances where my protagonist, Kirsten, used her cell phone.
It’s been a pleasure having you here with us today. I know my readers will enjoy getting to know you and your work.
DL: What’s the inspiration for writing your book?
JH: I love to read a good
book that captures my imagination and carries me into another world. Thrillers
in particular provide the type of adrenaline rush I crave most.
DL: Is there any particular author or book that influenced you in any way
either growing up or as an adult?
JH: Three books and seven
writers influenced me more than any others. The books are Durango Street, The Other
Side of Midnight, and Trinity,
and the authors whose style I most desire to emulate are Walter Mosley, James
Patterson, Stephen King, J. California –Cooper, Dean Koontz, Ken Follett, and
Diane McKinney-Whetstone.DL: How long did it take to write your book?
JH: My first book took much too long, almost twenty years. When I began writing, cell phones were not commonly used devices, but by the time I completed Elephants and Chopping Blocks, they were, so I had to go back and add instances where my protagonist, Kirsten, used her cell phone.
DL: Do you write with an outline, or just let it flow organically?
JH: My stories are usually
developed in my head and reside there for some time until I have time to
write. When I do, the stories pour out
of me easily and flow quite naturally, but on rare occasions I may use an outline to carry me through
difficult segments when I get stuck.
DL: Do you listen to music when you write? If yes, is there a theme song
for this book?
JH: No, I do not listen to
music, in fact, I prefer silence when I’m writing, and tend to write at times
when my house is quiet.
DL: What are the keys to success in marketing your book(s)?
JH: Soliciting the help of
experts. Most new authors make the
mistake of thinking we know what we are doing relative to every aspect of our
book. We do not. Experts at editing and proof-reading and
marketing are invaluable in guiding writers to marketing in a more professional
way.
DL: What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
JH: The first thing I would
advise aspiring writers to do is to learn as much as you can about the craft of
writing first. Know sentence structure, grammar, descriptive writing, hooks,
plots, character development and pacing.
Read books and notice what good writers do to hold your interest, and
then try to use what you’ve learned when you start to write. Have a plot in
mind or story line in mind, know your characters, and know how your story ends
before you begin.
DL: How about sharing an excerpt from Catch
and Elephant by the Tail?
The
old man splashed and struggled to no avail. He wasn’t strong enough now to
impose his will on anyone, but he had been once. He was the cause of so many
heartaches, this ignorant, weak-willed, simple-minded man who enjoyed passing
himself off as a kindly old doting grandpa. Later, Malcolm would remember him
with disdain. Now he was drowning him to death.
Magda
would not have approved, and neither would Benita, which was why he had to make
it look like an accident. He held the old man under the water until he stopped
struggling, until the fight and spirit had left him. Then he pulled him out,
wrapped his arms around his grandfather’s saturated, limp remains, and wept
uncontrollably.
He
carried the old man back to the house and pushed open the screen door. Benita
shrieked when recognition of the dire situation eclipsed her usually joyful
mood, the one that always infected her when she was surrounded by family.
The
house had been lively with nonstop music and dancing just before Juan entered.
All of her sons and their families were there, plus his mother and him, and he
had ruined it for them all. They surrounded him, removed the body of his
grandfather from his arms, and wailed as they worked in vain to revive him. As
they did, Magda stood off by herself and watched.
DL: What’s next for you?
JH: I intend to continue
promoting and selling my first two books but have started two other projects
that I hope to devote some time and attention to. One is a biography of my son,
Michael, and his struggle with a rare and debilitating illness, Metachromatic
Leukodystrophy, which he was born with, but which wasn’t diagnosed until he was
twelve years old. I am also working on a
new novel tentatively called, In a Green
Tree, and have plans to write the third installment of Elephants and
Chopping Blocks series tentatively called,
Foxes Have Holes.
DL: Where can readers find out more about you and
your book(s)?
· Website: http://www.authorjhawki.com/
It’s been a pleasure having you here with us today. I know my readers will enjoy getting to know you and your work.
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