Owl's Eye View with Kersten Hamilton

Welcome to the return of Owl's Eye View at Starting the Next Chapter!  Today I have for you an interview with the author of one of my favorite book series, Kersten Hamilton.  Kersten is the author of The Goblin Wars, a truly magical series of books that swept me along from the first.  I hope you enjoy this interview with Kersten as much as I did.

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Marla: Hi, Kersten! I'm so thrilled to have you on Starting the Next Chapter today.  The paperback edition of When the Stars Threw Down Their Spears will be out very soon. For those among my readers who haven't read your books yet, how would you describe them in 140 characters or less?

Kersten: It is good to be here, Marla! I am not good at the 140 character thing. How about this: The books are my heart, poured out on paper.  That won’t coax or inspire anyone to read the books, of course. But it does explain why they were so hard to write.

Marla: We all have our quirks and little surprises.  What would your readers be most surprised to learn about you?

Kersten: After a long day of listening to my own ‘voice’ while I write, I chillax with a good Korean drama. I don’t understand Korean (I watch with subtitles) but the language works like music on my tired brain. I really enjoy the stories as well, because I am not as familiar with the Eastern mythology. I can pretty much predict what will happen in stories from my own culture. One of my favorite characters in Arang and the Magistrate (Spoiler Alert!) was reincarnated as a beloved Heavenly goat. I did NOT see that coming!

Marla: Who or what was your biggest inspiration while writing The Goblin Wars series?

Kersten: A writer named George MacDonald, who’s books have ‘baptized the imaginations’ of much greater writers than I will ever be.

Philip Pullman deserves a mention as well. I was reading Pullman’s Dark Materials series when I realized that I disagree with his worldview so deeply and completely that I just had to write a fantasy trilogy of my own.

Marla: You have some truly amazing characters throughout your series.  What are your favorite aspects of Teagan and Finn?

Kersten: Thank you for saying so, Marla! My characters are like family to me.  One of my favorite aspects of Finn is how he embodies love. Teagan is more of a thinker; but what I love best about her is that Teagan never gives up. Ever.

Marla: What is your most recent read and how would you describe it in a sentence?

Kersten: Faith, Hope and Poetry by Malcolm Guite. I don’t need a whole sentence. A phrase will do: Literary awesomesauce!

Marla: What are your top 3 favorite books?

Kersten: Gah. How could I choose? As I type this, there are about 1,200 books on the shelves around me looking over my shoulder. Probably a third of them have been my favorite at one time or another; I have felt at least a sincere attachment to the others. A couple hundred of my favorite favorites are waiting quietly upstairs in my office.

Since I don’t want to offend my printed friends, I’ll just talk about the ones I am reading right now.

My morning book is: A Preface to Paradise Lost, by C.S. Lewis (brilliant!); my afternoon book is: Blake, by Peter Ackroyd (sobering and sad, for sure), and my bedtime book,: The Mind of the Maker by Dorothy Sayers.

These are the kinds of books I read when I need courage and inspiration.  Last night, they seems to have inspired and all–night–long dream fight with the Dynamation cyclops from the seventh voyage of Sinbad: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a77pycC78Q0

The cyclops did not win. I take courage from this.

Marla: Which of your characters do you most identify with?

Kersten: There are actually two characters that I identify greatly with in The Goblin Wars: Finn, and Mamieo Ida. They both have large chunks of my soul in them. I do loan little bits of soul to my good guys. I steal the souls of wicked dogcatchers to animate my bad guys, though. I’m not lending anything to a bad guy.

Marla: Any advice for aspiring authors out there?

Kersten: Read old books. I mean really old books, the more the better.  Read books from other cultures, the more the better.

Also, if you write fantasy, read some Tolkien. Specifically, read The Return of the Shadow https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15351 which is about the writing of The Lord of the Rings. It shows just how difficult the making of great books is – even for a brilliant writer.

Marla: One last questions, just for fun: You suddenly look up to find yourself in Mag Mell.  Who or where would you most like to visit there, and who or what do you most want to avoid?

Kersten: I sincerely believe that we all look up at one point or another and find ourselves in Mag Mell, or something very similar to it: a world much bigger than the one we think we are living in; the real world. I like the way George MacDonald describes it in his novel Phantastes: A Faerie Romance for Men and Women, which is about a young man named Anodos who stumbles into the world I am talking about. This is from the final pages of MacDonald’s book:

“I had lain down under the shadow of a great, ancient beech-tree, that stood on the edge of the field. As I lay, with my eyes closed, I began to listen to the sound of the leaves overhead. At first, they made sweet inarticulate music alone; but, by-and-by, the sound seemed to begin to take shape, and to be gradually moulding itself into words; till, at last, I seemed able to distinguish these, half-dissolved in a little ocean of circumfluent tones: "A great good is coming—is coming—is coming to thee, Anodos;" and so over and over again. I fancied that the sound reminded me of the voice of the ancient woman, in the cottage that was four-square. I opened my eyes, and, for a moment, almost believed that I saw her face, with its many wrinkles and its young eyes, looking at me from between two hoary branches of the beech overhead. But when I looked more keenly, I saw only twigs and leaves, and the infinite sky, in tiny spots, gazing through between. Yet I know that good is coming to me—that good is always coming; though few have at all times the simplicity and the courage to believe it….”

Thank you for having me on Starting the Next Chapter today, Marla!

Thank you, Kersten!  If you are unfamiliar with these wonderful books, check out this link to see the list.

About the Author

Kersten Hamilton is the author of several picture books and many novels, including the middle grade Gadgets and Gears series and the critically acclaimed YA paranormal trilogy The Goblin Wars. When she's not writing, she hunts dinosaurs in the deserts and badlands near Albuquerque, New Mexico, where she lives. For more about Kersten, please visit www.kerstenhamilton.com.

See all of Kersten's books HERE.
Follow her on TWITTER.

Waiting on Wednesday #45

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event from Jill at Breaking the Spine. To participate, simply share that book(s) you are eagerly awaiting the release of and report back to Breaking the Spine with the link to your post. Clicking the link above will take you straight to her post and widget.

This week I'm waiting on the third book in The Goblin Wars series, When the Stars Threw Down Their Spears by Kersten Hamilton.  It will be released on June 4, 2013 from Clarion Books and I simply can not wait!  I've enjoyed the series more and more as it has progressed, so I am really looking forward to seeing what happens next.

 “People will die.”

Locked doors are opening, and uncanny creatures are tumbling through mysterious portals from Mag Mell, the world-between-worlds, into the streets of Chicago. The Dark Man has marked Aiden with a new song that’s scared him badly, and a frightening new group of sídhe is lurking nearby.

Teagan knows this is war, and she must protect her family. She leaves her flesh and bones behind to join Finn in hunting the evil beings across the city. Meanwhile, their relationship is heating up—almost faster than they can control. But he is still bound to fight goblins his entire life . . . and by blood she is one of them now.

Then the gateway to Mag Mell cracks open again, and the Wylltsons find themselves caught in a trap. As her loved ones begin to die, Teagan realizes that she must destroy the Dark Man and his minions once and for all in order to save those who remain . . .

. . . before it is too late.

Pre-publication Book Spotlight - When the Stars Throw Down Their Spears

In case you didn't know it, I really, really enjoy The Goblin Wars series by Kersten Hamilton.  I really liked the first book, Tyger Tyger, and absolutely loved the second, In the Forests of the Night, so when I got an email showing off the cover for the third installment, When the Stars Throw Down Their Spears, I was beyond excited and am more than ready to get my hands on it.  Just take a look-see at the cover and description!

“People will die.”

Locked doors are opening, and uncanny creatures are tumbling through mysterious portals from Mag Mell, the world-between-worlds, into the streets of Chicago. The Dark Man has marked Aiden with a new song that’s scared him badly, and a frightening new group of sídhe is lurking nearby.

Teagan knows this is war, and she must protect her family. She leaves her flesh and bones behind to join Finn in hunting the evil beings across the city. Meanwhile, their relationship is heating up—almost faster than they can control. But he is still bound to fight goblins his entire life . . . and by blood she is one of them now.

Then the gateway to Mag Mell cracks open again, and the Wylltsons find themselves caught in a trap. As her loved ones begin to die, Teagan realizes that she must destroy the Dark Man and his minions once and for all in order to save those who remain . . .

. . . before it is too late.

Don't forget to add When the Stars Throw Down Their Spears to your Goodreads TBR lists.  In the meantime, I'm going to share the awesomeness with a giveaway!  I'm going to give away 1 copy of Tyger Tyger (or In the Forests of the Night if you already have it) to 1 lucky US reader.  You know the drill.  Enter via the Rafflecopter widget below and good luck to you all!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Mythology Behind Kersten Hamilton's Goblin Wars Series, Plus a Giveaway!

Today I have something special for all of my readers here at Starting the Next Chapter.  It is November 22, meaning that the latest installment in Kersten Hamilton's Goblin Wars series, In the Forests of the Night, has just hit store shelves!  I recently received an email from Kersten Hamilton who has been so kind of offer up a special prize for one lucky STNC reader.  More about that later, though.  First up, I have written a little something regarding the mythology behind the characters and places in the Goblin Wars books.  Having long been a mythology and folklore buff, especially when it comes to mythology of the Irish persuasion, I thought I would prepare a little glossary of some of the names and terms found within the series for all of you so that you will have a better idea of just what the inspiration of Tyger Tyger and In the Forests of the Night is.  Remember to keep reading, as there will be a giveaway announcement at the end of the post!

photo from The Ireland Newsletter

Finn MacCumhaill - pronounced Finn MacCool; hero of the Fenian cycle of Irish lore; legendary chieftain in charge of the Fianna Éireann, a band of warriors renowned for their hunting and battle prowess and whose purpose was to protect the Ard Rí na Éireann (high king of Ireland); said to possess gifts such as poetry, second sight, and healing; often portrayed as a giant and is associated with the creation of the Giants' Causeway in Northern Ireland, which he is said to have created in order to aid other giants in making the crossing between Ireland and Scotland


Mag Mell - "plain of joy;" believed to be a paradise that plays home to the dead; described as either an idyllic island or a grand place found at the bottom of the ocean; believed to be ruled by Mannanan mac Lir, a sea god associated with the Tuatha dé Danann; also known as Tir na n-Og ("land of youth")

photo from Mike's Blog

Phooka -  Irish goblins known for their shape-shifting capabilities that are often believed to take on the form of a goat, dog, or bull; also known for being vicious tricksters with destructive ways; it was believed that to leave a crop unharvested after Samhain (pronounced "sow-wen" and the basis for what is now known as Halloween) was to lose the crop altogether, as it was then believed to belong to the phookas; to attempt to cut a phooka's crop was to invite the death of one's cattle





Fear Doirich - "dark man;" the druid known for having turned Finn MacCumhaill's future wife, Sabdh, into a deer; though Finn spared her (having been alerted to her human status by his once-human hounds) and returned her to her human state, Fear Doirich turned her once again into a deer, after which she vanished; she gave birth to their son, Oisin, during this time, who Finn was later reunited with after seven years


Fir Bolg - "bag men;" known in Irish mythology as one of the races to have inhabited Ireland prior to the arrival of the Tuatha dé Danann; fought in the battle of Mag Tuired against the Tuatha dé Danann, where they were defeated and granted possession of either Connacht or the Aran Islands


Amergin - name of two famous Irish poets; one was a druid, bard, and judge, the other, a warrior poet; credited with having supernatural talent; the first Amergin is that who is credited with the creation of "The Song of Amergin," one of Ireland's most prized poems; the second Amergin is described as having a honeyed tongue and was the chief bard of Ulster (Northern Ireland)

photo from Sluagh

Sluagh - a flock of evil spirits said to have been barred entrance into the afterlife; often described as dark birds that fly from the west in an attempt to capture the souls of the newly dead; thought to be the Irish version of the Wild Hunt








What do you think?  Pretty interesting stuff, huh?  There is so much more to learn about Irish mythology and folklore.  I highly recommend seeing what is out there!  You're probably wondering what the big giveaway is, though, so why don't we move along with things?  Kersten Hamilton has offered up something special for one lucky reader.  I will be hosting a giveaway for Kersten, for which the prize is one, brand new copy of her book 1 of the Goblin Wars series, Tyger Tyger.

Very generous, no?  This is another US only giveaway, as Kersten will be taking care of the purchase of the book.  What do you have to do?  Simply enter via the handy Rafflecopter widget below the page break.  I have given you several chances to earn entries, so good luck to all of those who will be vying for this prize!  However, be sure to enter your GFC name in the main entry box, otherwise I have no way of verifying readership. 

P.S. Don't forget to check out my reviews of both books.  Comment on one or both and earn extra entries into the giveaway!  You can find my review of Tyger Tyger HERE and my review of In the Forests of the Night HERE.

Special Note

For a limited time, you can get the ebook format of Tyger Tyger for $2.99 from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Apple.  Step lively, all you ereader aficionados!  Make sure you don't miss out on this one, because it will be gone after November 29th!

Review: In the Forests of the Night

by Kersten Hamilton
publisher: Clarion Books
date of publication: November 22, 2011
format: ARC
pages: 288
source: from the publisher
Amazon / Goodreads / B&N

From Goodreads:

Teagan, Finn, and Aiden have made it out of Mag Mell alive, but the Dark Man's forces are hot on their heels. Back in Chicago, Tea’s goblin cousins show up at her school, sure she will come back to Mag Mell, as goblin blood is never passive once awoken. Soon she will belong to Fear Doirich and join them. In the meantime, they are happy to entertain themselves by trying to seduce, kidnap, or kill Tea’s family and friends.

Teagan knows she doesn’t have much time left, and she refuses to leave Finn or her family to be tortured and killed. A wild Stormrider, born to rule and reign, is growing stronger inside her. But as long as she can hold on, she’s still Teagan Wylltson, who plans to be a veterinarian and who heals the sick and hurting. The disease that’s destroying her—that’s destroying them all—has a name: Fear Doirich.

And Teagan Wylltson is not going to let him win.

What I Thought

In the Forests of the Night is the continuation of the story surrounding Teagan Wylltson and Finn McCumhaill, whom we met in the first book of the series, Tyger Tyger.  As the pair tries tirelessly to evade everything from ferocious goblins to spiteful social workers, they come to important realizations that will shape everything they are... and everything they will do.  What will they sacrifice in order to keep Tea's family safe and stay together?  Only time will tell.

Having come to terms with the issues I had with Tyger Tyger, I very thoroughly enjoyed this book.  Almost from the first page there was something going on, which made for a very energetic story line.  There are wonderfully funny examples of dialog between the characters that kept me smiling and laughing (at least, when there weren't moments of great peril).  Each character has a distinct personality.  None come off flat through Hamilton's words and I felt as if I knew them already.  I still haven't figured out who my favorite is between Tea and Finn.  I suppose we can call it a draw.  They are both that well done.  The world-building is as strange (in a good way) and mystical as ever.  It is even enhanced further by the addition of never before seen places for Tea and Finn to discover.  The main problem encountered by Tea and Finn is just as dire as you would expect and I became very nervous for them as they set out to solve it.  I was definitely kept guessing at every turn, which is something I adore in a book.  I couldn't have been happier when the book ran its course.

I can not say enough just how much I loved In the Forests of the Night.  I flew through the book in a matter of hours due to just how enthralling it was.  Kersten Hamilton has begun something wonderful with this series and I can not wait to see just where it goes.  Even though this book hasn't hit store shelves yet, I am already eager to read the third!  If you're a fan of fantasy and mythologically-based books, you should definitely give this series a try.  With In the Forests of the Night, things just keep getting better.

Obligatory legal statement: This ARC was provided to me free of charge by the publisher. No monetary compensation was received in exchange for this fair and unbiased review.