Today it gives the Speculative Fiction
Showcase great pleasure to interview A.L. Hawke, author of The Hawthorne
University Witch Series.
Welcome
back to the Speculative Fiction Showcase. We’re meeting to discuss the latest
instalments in your Hawthorne University Witch Series: a new box set
featuring volumes 4-6 and a preorder for your Xmas witch story Candy Crone
(Book 6.5). For starters, what can you tell our readers about the Hawthorne
University Witch Series? How did it begin?
Well,
my witch series is all about the college student Cadence Hawthorne. It’s really
her story about her growth—not only her transformation into a witch, but into a
woman. We follow her as she falls in love with Bryce starting in her Freshman
year, Beltane Fire, all the way up to her studying in graduate school in
Candy Crone (my upcoming Xmas new release).
Cadence
narrates the books in first person present tense. I chose this for the cinematic
effect. It’s a writing technique rarely used because it assumes the reader is talking
to the narrator while the action is happening, something not possible in
reality (unless, as in the case of my stories, your reading from a magic book).
So the reader intimately joins Cadence, falling in love with Bryce, exploring
why the town was named after her, learning why her enigmatic teacher, Alondra, is
so interested in her, and all sorts of other witchy fun stuff along the way. And,
all the while, we learn all about witchcraft and the occult.
The
impetus for starting all this came from simply wanting to write a Halloween paranormal
romance story. That was it, nothing glamorous. After I discovered Cadence’s
voice, the first book, Broomstick, was born.
Let’s
talk about volumes 4-6 of the series. Why are you releasing this box set now?
It’s
Halloween. I had planned the release of books 4-6 as a personal goal in 2024.
There’s nothing like having a book finished and I envisioned expanding my most
successful series with another trilogy with Cadence in graduate school. So, I
buckled down and got it done. Now I’m releasing all three in a discounted collection,
Books 4-6, for the Halloween season. And with every eBook come audiobook
versions narrated by the very talented actress Alexa Elmy.
The
Hawthorne University Witch Series comes under the heading “Witches and
Paranormal Romance” but the university setting is very important. What can you
tell us about that.
I
loved reliving college. When I describe Cadence and Maddie’s dormitory, that’s
my dormitory. The dining commons and library are how I remembered it back in school.
I went to college in both a suburban and a small rural town, so Hawthorne in
Georgia is sort of a mix of my two experiences and I loved reliving it all with
Cadence.
The
protagonist of the University Witch Series is Cadence. How much can you tell us
about her and what stage has she reached in her training - and her life?
You
know, Cadence starts out as a very sweet and innocent girl in Beltane Fire.
Her magical journey changes that. One of my favourite books in the series is
Book 5, Ravens, because it’s so transformative. She learns the darker
side of witchcraft—black magic. But it’s through learning the darker side that
she becomes more balanced as a person and eventually helps the town. Through
the journey, from Beltane Fire/Broomstick to Shadow Cast, Cadence
goes from very innocent and naïve to a pretty powerful witch.
How
do you go about researching the magic for the books and creating something both
imaginary and convincing?
When I set out to create these stories, I wanted
the university setting to be a believable place. Somewhere readers can believe students
go to lecture, but then gather for Friday sabbaths to practice real
magic around a bonfire. My fictitious Georgian town Hawthorne is a small
college town surrounded by trees in a forest, and I think that dark shadowy
background helps set the mood. It’s similar to Forks, Washington in Twilight.
And the realism in settings certainly fits Forks in Twilight more than Hogwarts
from Harry Potter. So my books are intentionally more realistic with most of
the “flights of fancy” in the books being hallucinatory and psychological. Even
in my newest book, Candy Crone, which has illusions from the Hansel and
Gretel fairy tale, the story is more focused on the psychology of what Cadence
sees in her mind over what actually is happening. That’s all to keep it realistic.
Much of my research is from the internet, but I’ve
read a few books here and there, like some of Aleister Crowley’s books and
Denise Alvarado’s books on voodoo. Incantations and spells in these books are
authentic Latin. And many occult practices are from real pagan practices.
What
can you tell us about the antagonists Cadence encounters in volumes 4-6? What
tests and trials does she face as a young witch?
She
fights an insane Samhain Witch named “mud” who lives like a hermit alone in the
forest casting spells to hunt down the witches in Hawthorne. She also fights her archenemy Enora. But, honestly,
Cadence’s biggest antagonist is herself. Book 5 is her journey into learning about
the evil within herself. She faces real satanic rites and learns the evil side
of witchcraft and her that of her shadow in Book 6, Shadow Cast.
Let’s
talk about Candy Crone, which is a standalone Christmas short story. Who
is the Candy Crone and what trouble does she bring for Cadence?
Well,
as Cadence says in the book, the Candy Crone is a ‘textbook’ witch. She is
a crouched over brown-clothed old crone with a black headdress and a large wart
on her nose tempting children with candy and sweets. This appearance is adapted
from Grýla,
of Icelandic witch folklore, who takes children and boils them in her pot
during Christmas time. So the short story is a mix of Christmas, Icelandic and
Germanic folklore, and Hansel and Gretel.
The
idea was to have Cadence face the witch from Hansel and Gretel in Hawthorne
during the yuletide. It was loads of fun to write. It’s way out there with
hallucinatory scenes and it’s full of candy. Lots of cakes and candy.
What
treats can your readers look forward to in Candy Crone and what will new
readers enjoy?
Cakes,
cupcakes, éclairs, donuts, tiramisu, ice cream dishes, cookies, macaroons,
brownies, mixed berry parfait, raspberry, powdered sugar, snickerdoodle
cookies, chocolate mousse, pina colada lasagna, chocolate soufflé, and some
yummy treats that are covered in chocolate and vanilla swirled frosting.
(excerpt from Candy Crone).
The
Hawthorne University Witch Series is one of several series and
standalone novels that you have written. What can you tell us about your other
books and do they share the same universe?
No,
my other books are completely separate. My Azure Series and Furies series take
place in the same Greek mythological world focusing on Cora, the Greek goddess
Persephone. The cool thing about the contemporary Medusa books in the Furies
series is that they’re linked with my epic fantasies taking place 4000 years ago
in the Azure Series. So Cora in the 21st century is the same Cora
character in the bronze age. Those two series are connected in the same world.
Why
is the subject of witchcraft (and magic generally) so fascinating in modern
(post-scientific) times?
Great
question. Well, let me start with books. Not only are witches in, but paranormal
romance books are still popular since Twilight. I think readers love
paranormal romance for its realism and excitement. Vampires are scary but sexy.
I loved the Twilight series and there’s no question I was influenced by Bella in
my series. I wanted to bring that vampire allure to witches in college.
As
far as society, I think witches are popular because we live in a spiritually
challenging time. Many feel like science, and even organized religion, hasn’t
solved our problems. So many are turning to magic. In my witch series, Cadence
struggles with her own spiritual beliefs. She calls herself Catholic, but she’s
constantly studying different religions, Celtic rites, Theosophy, Thelema, Sufism,
Buddhism, etc. She’s not only trying to find out who she is, but what she
believes in.
What
do you think of the term “romantasy” and does it describe what you write?
Sure.
Some books are more romance directed than others. I think Windstorm and Alondra
are the most classic structured paranormal romances in the bunch. Others like Samhain
Witch are a bit more focused on the fantasy side.
Romance
is so fun to write. It’s another tool, like action, that breathes life into
characters. You can throw a stray glance, or a wave of one’s hair, or even
watching another arrange a desk. It infuses attraction into the story. I found
it easy to focus on Cadence’s love life with Bryce as a major part of her this
witch story. As Cadence struggles with witchcraft, she also struggles with her
newfound lover, Bryce, who’s a male witch himself.
Will
there be more adventures for Cadence, her allies and her enemies?
I don’t know. I’m playing with
returning to the Alondra prequel and possibly adding a few more books there to
create another trilogy. I wanted to continue this story years ago, but I wasn’t
as confident over my knowledge of the occult as I am now.
The trouble with continuing books
about Cadence is that the series centered on her growing up. Well, as she’s living
happily ever after with her husband, the only way to move the series forward in
that same light would be to either write companion books in the past or to
focus on a new heroine. To me, the main adventure in these witch stories are
characters ignorant of magic and discovering it. This is why I’m considering
returning to Alondra. Liam is still discovering witchcraft through his
love for Alondra in that 20-year prequel. So… maybe with Alondra.
Thanks so much for the
opportunity to talk about my witch series!
SFS: Thank you, it's been great!
Buy Hawthorne University Witch | Pre-order Candy Crone
About A.L. Hawke:
A.L. Hawke is the author of the bestselling Hawthorne University Witch series. The author lives in Southern California torching the midnight candle over lovers against a backdrop of machines, nymphs, magic, spice and mayhem. A.L. Hawke writes fantasy and romance spanning four thousand years, from pre-civilization to contemporary and beyond.
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