Interview + Giveaway || Gaia by Karen Ann Hopkins

Want to know more about Gaia or Embers? What about some behind the scenes and extra details about the book and the author herself? Well, read on! Because I've had a Q&A opp with Karen Hopkins!

I forgot to ask her one important question, what is Gaia? So, I searched online and found this:
From the Greek word γαια (gaia), a parallel form of γη (ge) meaning "earth."

1. Where did you get the idea for Gaia and/or Embers?
          The idea of a group of supernatural beings living within a walled compound in the mountains of Tennessee had been a daydream of mine for many years before I even began my writing career. The scenes ran through my mind like images on a movie screen. When I finished the Temptation series, I was ready to take a break from Amish fiction and decided to make my dream a reality.

2. How long did it take for you to write Gaia (and Embers?)
          Initially, it took me a few months to write Embers, but another year or so of edits and revisions to the story before it was finished. Gaia took about nine weeks, plus a month of editing.

3. Why paranormal romance?
          I don’t necessarily consider the Wings of War series as a paranormal romance. It definitely has elements of that genre, but it’s also a fantasy, urban fantasy, straight paranormal, and dystopian. It also crosses the age barrier. Adults and even older adults are falling in love with the series.

          After I published Forever, the final book at the time in the Temptation series, I was also working on my Amish mystery series, Serenity’s Plain Secrets. I needed a break from Amish fiction and since my own favorite genres were fantasy and paranormal, I decided to delve into those genres. It was so very different at first, but once I hit my groove, I realized that a good story is a good story, regardless of the genre.

4. Do you believe in angels?
          Yes, I do. Angels are biblical creatures and there are numerous references of them in the bible, but there are also mentions of celestial winged creatures in almost every other religion and in ancient writings as well. Personally, in times of great need, I’ve felt their presence in my life.

5. What's the most surprising thing you learned while writing Gaia?
          When I began Gaia, I thought it would take a lot longer to write. I had even delayed starting it for that reason. But from page one, the story took on a life of its own. Events unfolded in the book that weren’t planned, shocking even me.

6. What would you do if your book/story [angel apocalypse] came true?
          It would be a scary world indeed. But since I haven’t finished it yet, there is room for hope. Actually, I’m one of those people who is constantly thinking about and even planning for an apocalyptic situation. I live on a farm and pride myself and family in being able to survive off the land if society as we know it broke down for any reason. I keep a constant store of canned goods and non-perishables on hand. Our horses could easily be used for transportation and even though our goats, ducks and chickens are strictly pets nowadays, we could raise them for food easily enough if needed. We also have guns and ammunition and know how to use them. We have cisterns that catch rainwater from the barns and house and a small lake on the property. If my books came true, we’d have a fighting chance for a while anyway. But if you’re a believer in Revelation, no amount of preparation is going to help—except the spiritual kind.

7. Is there anything you want to change in Gaia/Embers?
          Most authors will attest that with every book, their writing improves. Unfortunately, it’s not feasible to go back and change those earlier books, making them even better. If I could blink and make it happen, I’d keep the main core of Embers exactly like it is, but I’d make some editorial changes for sure.

8. Who's your favorite character in the book?
          Ember, Sawyer and Ivan all are very special to me, and I love them equally for different reasons, but Horas and Insepth are both intriguing characters to write about too.

9. Will Wings of War be a duology/trilogy/quartet/series?
          You can expect a total of five books in the series. The next installment is Tempest. It will be available late spring 2016!

Thank you for being a part of Gaia’s blog tour! I love to connect with readers on my Facebook page, Twitter, Instagram or at www.karenannhopkins.com. Please be on the lookout for the release of SECRETS IN THE GRAVE, the third installment in my mystery series, Serenity’s Plain Secrets, in early September! Thanks for reading!

Karen Ann Hopkins