HK Savage Interview - The Path ~ JeanBookNerd

Photo Content fromm HK Savage

HK Savage lives in the frozen hinterlands of the far North. The long, cold months provide ample opportunity to hunker down with her computer and create adventures far more enticing than scraping ice and getting frostbite.

Between books (she writes under two names), HK reads voraciously. Anything with a good plot and compelling characters are her broad parameters. One is as likely to catch her with a copy of Don Quixote as with the latest in Gail Carriger’s steampunk series.

HK practices martial arts, rides her horse, gardens and plays with her family every chance she gets. Next winter she intends to brush up on her Spanish and escape the cold for somewhere more tropical.

As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?
First I wanted to be a jockey, then a soldier, eventually I decided something that let me travel. Writing, it turns out, lets me do all of those things without getting shot (my husband appreciates that).

What’s one thing that readers would be surprised to find out about you?
I can't carry a tune.

What does your family think of your writing?
They're very supportive and my husband recently told me that I'm not allowed to stop because I keep getting better. No, I didn't pay him to say that.

How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?
Under the name HK? The Empath Trilogy (obviously three there), Life Blood, The Path have been released as of March 2012. In the hopper I still have two more complete manuscripts and I write under a different name which I've been contracted for 5 years to write a series (paranormal romance of an adult nature). My favorite would have to be the trilogy because it was the first and I had the longest to get to know my characters.

What was your inspiration for The Path?
My husband and I were talking about a hole in the genre right now. Witchcraft for adults that treats it as a spirituality and not necessarily the magic of Harry Potter (not that there's anything wrong with that). Recently I've seen another new one come out called A Discovery of Witches that treats it similarly and I'm very excited to read that.

What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating Cassie?
That Cassie had to be flawed but feel real to enable readers to relate to her. Given the alternate reality I think that helps to bring people along with her when we need them to suspend their belief of what is real.

Do you have plans for a new book? Is this book part of a series?
Well, I have two books that could launch a series and yes The Path is one. Now that I'm getting feedback from readers, that is cementing my commitment to a series for this one. It's hard to justify writing if no one cares (although it's still fun).

What question are you never asked in interviews but wish you were?
Are the hours and heartache worth it. The answer is of course, yes.

What is the name of your most recent book and if you had to sum it up in 30 or less words, what would you say?
The Path. Veritas is charged with educating magick users and punishing abusers. Cassie, one of their agents and a mixed blood witch is on a mission. Her last chance to prove herself, to untangle her magick before her employer cuts her loose. Cults, dark magick, family loyalties and love will either tear her apart or bring her the life she wants.

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
Well, my family is of course a lot of fun to hang with and we live on a lake so swimming often happens in the summer and walks in the winter. When I'm on my own I'm practicing karate, in which I've recently earned my First Degree Black Belt or riding my horse.

Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?
Listen to every constructive bit of advice but keep the soul of your project. It's yours, right? And never mind the bitter ones or anyone who posts an anonymous review.

Are there any new Authors that have grasped your interest and why?
Yeah, Staccato's new people are Jay Mims (The Five Santas, Sept 2011 and The Cult of Koo Kway Fall 2012) and Donna Milward (Thoeba, June 2012). Then there's Kendall Grey (Inhale, out now), Penelope King (Demon Made Me Do It) and Rachael Wade (Amaranth). I'm in love with indie authors right now. There hasn't been anything commercially popular that's really grabbed me but I admit it might be the titles I've been reading.

What is your favorite food?
A good steak or hot plate of pasta

What do you normally eat for breakfast?
Toast and tea

What is a movie or TV show that you watched recently and really enjoyed?
Friends with Benefits.

Where can readers find you?
Other than in my hometown? Facebook is probably best, I have an author page under HK Savage or I'm listed on Goodreads and folks put their reviews up on my books there. I don't usually post much there other than titles though. I had to stop blogging though. It got to be too much and, I'm afraid, not very interesting.

Magick is real. And there is a secret world complete with its own agency, Veritas, to control those who would wield their power over “regulars”, or threaten the secrecy that keeps them all safe from the persecution that nearly destroyed them. For Cassie, a mixed blood witch, it’s the only world she’s ever known though she’s never embraced her role as agent for Veritas. For Drew, a witch born to a non-magickal family, it answers so many of his questions. It is also the cause of so much loss and pain. And now, as he and Cassie attempt to find his missing brother, rumored to be working with a rogue witch and cult leader, it threatens to take the last of his family. Or will magick save it?

You can purchase The Path at the following Retailer: