The Spark
of Inspiration
by Karissa Laurel, author of Midnight Burning
Although I
can’t say I thought a lot about it at the time I started writing, it seems
natural, now, that Midnight Burning
should be an Urban Fantasy. Urban Fantasy is fantasy set in the real world,
usually in the modern era. I particularly like the genre’s contrast of magic or
paranormal versus technology and modern weaponry, and magical or ancient beings
versus modern people. At its foundation, Midnight
Burning tries to answer those questions of contrasts: What would ancient
beings from Norse mythology be like in the modern world, today?
Let me
back up a little, because that’s not really where Midnight Burning started. I guess it really started years ago when
I was researching for another book (a book that will never come out of the
trunk I’ve locked it in). On a fluke that research lead me to Norse mythology
and the legendary event called Ragnarok: an apocalyptic battle that killed off
most of the Norse pantheon, including Odin and Thor, who are arguably the most
famous Norse gods.
Fast
forward a few years and Thor started getting popular again as the Marvel movies
took off. I remember watching Thor’s movie (I pretty much love all Marvel
movies) and thinking: Hey! Thor’s supposed to be dead. Why do people keep
bringing him back to life as if Ragnarok never happened? I’m sure that only proves
what a humongous dork I am. As if anyone else in the theater was the least bit
concerned about the movie’s historical/mythological accuracy in the face of
Chris Hemsworth’s incredible, um… talent.
But that
was the birth of the idea, really. If Ragnarok did happen, then were there survivors (yes), and what would they be
doing now (keeping a low profile, obviously)? The great part about the
survivors of Ragnarok was that they were lesser known and not as clearly
defined in the legends, which left me a lot of flexibility to mold them into
who I wanted them to be. After that, I struggled with how I could bring more
female characters into the project. Unfortunately, Ragnarok also cancelled out
most of the goddesses and female deities other than Hel, or Hela, ruler of the
underworld. According to legend, she survived the annihilation, for which I’m
forever grateful, because she makes an excellent antagonist.
From the
start I wanted a strong female protagonist. And I liked the idea of including a
solid sibling element (call it the wish fulfillment of an only child author). So,
when I investigated the myths looking for sibling lore, I found Sol and Mani
and their tragic story, and I knew I had the last piece of my puzzle. Throw in
a dash of reincarnation, and a writer’s power to create (and destroy) as she
pleases, and Midnight Burning was
born.
Solina
Mundy lives a
quiet life, running
the family bakery
in her small
North Carolina hometown. But one
night, she suffers a vivid nightmare in which a wolfish beast is devouring her
twin brother, who lives in Alaska. The next morning, police notify her that
Mani is dead. Drivento learn the truth, Solina heads for the Land of the
Midnight Sun. Once there, she begins to suspect Mani’s friends know more about
his death than they’ve let on. Skyla, an ex-Marine, is the only one willing to
help her.
BOOK TRAILER:
Karissa
Laurel always dabbled in writing, but she also wanted to be a chef when she
grew up. So she did. After years of working nights, weekends, and holidays, she
burnt out and said, “Now what do I do?” She tried a bunch of other things, the
most steady of those being a paralegal for state government, but nothing makes
her as happy as writing. She has published several short stories and reads
“slush” for a couple of short-story markets.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Solina
Mundy lives a
quiet life, running
the family bakery
in her small
North Carolina hometown. But one
night, she suffers a vivid nightmare in which a wolfish beast is devouring her
twin brother, who lives in Alaska. The next morning, police notify her that
Mani is dead. Drivento learn the truth, Solina heads for the Land of the
Midnight Sun. Once there, she begins to suspect Mani’s friends know more about
his death than they’ve let on. Skyla, an ex-Marine, is the only one willing to
help her.
As Solina and Skyla delve into the
mystery surrounding Mani’s death, Solina is stunned to learn that her own life
is tied to Mani’s friends, his death, and the fate of the entire world. If she
can’t learn to control her newfound gifts and keep her friends safe, a
long-lost dominion over mortals will rise again, and everything she knows will
fall into darkness.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Karissa
Laurel always dabbled in writing, but she also wanted to be a chef when she
grew up. So she did. After years of working nights, weekends, and holidays, she
burnt out and said, “Now what do I do?” She tried a bunch of other things, the
most steady of those being a paralegal for state government, but nothing makes
her as happy as writing. She has published several short stories and reads
“slush” for a couple of short-story markets.
Karissa
lives in North Carolina with her kid, her husband, the occasional in-law, and a
very hairy husky. She loves to read and has a sweet tooth for speculative
fiction. Sometimes her husband convinces her to put down the books and take the
motorcycles out for a spin. When it snows, you’ll find her on the slopes.
Karissa
also paints and draws and harbors a grand delusion that she might finish a
graphic novel someday.
Follow
Karissa Online:
Web page: http://www.karissalaurel.com/
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/karissalaurel
Twitter: @karissalaurel
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/KarissaLaurel
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/karissalaurel
Youtube Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0YLj4g3Di0
Thanks for hosting me, Mary!
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