Interview With Author Joel Hopkinson
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have published two books "Shadow Beneath the City – Book 1 of the Secrets of Shadow" and "The Lion's Roar – The Wisdom of Buddhism. I have published "English Language Hopes and Dreams", "Hodmim's Hold" and "Devil of Dark Dreams" before but I have taken them down to work on them. I have also been a ghostwriter for English-language textbooks. I am currently working on "Shadow Before the Dark Night – Book 2 of the Secrets of Shadow", which should be out before Christmas, and finishing the changes I want to make on "Devil of Dark Dreams" after that.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Shadow Beneath the City. I read an article about how homeless people, especially women, have a pet dog for company and protection. The article said that the unhoused will sometimes give up their own food to make sure their pet eats, and sleep rough because emergency housing does not provide for animals. So, I began to wonder about a houseless vampire woman, who has a pet dog. This dog guards them during the day when they are weakest. It is not like a human minion who serves while secretly hoping to be made a vampire. The pet loves the vampire as any well-treated dog does. Then I began to think of ways to develop that relationship of loyalty and family-like bonds, as well as add my own twist to the story, which I think readers will be pleasantly surprised by.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I listen to different music depending on what I am writing. For example, with Shadow Beneath the City, I listened to a lot of classical piano, cello, and violin. For Devil of Dark Dreams, I listen to Dark Country and Southern Gothic, especially Colter Wall, The Dead South, The Builders and the Butchers, and Johnny Cash. For Hodmim's Hold, I listen to traditional music from Central Asia like Mongolian Throat singing like Black Horse, Khusugtun Ethnic Ballad Group or the Altai Band, Otyken from Siberia, the Hu (more like Mongolian heavy metal), and Aryuna Nimaeva from Buryat. When writing the Lion's Roar, I listened to Buddhist sutras being sung. For other things, I listen to Celtic folk music, Pink Floyd, and Country.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Dune (all of the original series), Lord of the Rings, Hobbit, Dracula, True Grit, the Dark Tower series, Wolf Totem, Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Norse Eddas, Celtic mythology, the Bible, the Journey to the West, Tao de Ching, Buddhist sutras (Diamond, Platform, Heart especially), Riders of the Sidhe (and others in the series), 1984, Brave New World, the Tain, the Irish Book of Invasions, the Mists of Avalon, other Arthurian myth, the Dark is Rising, Station Eleven, World War Z, and We Can Remember It For You Wholesale.
What are you working on now?
The second book of the Secrets of Shadow – Working title: Shadow Before the Dark Night, is in production. I've got it written, just need to run my gauntlet of test readers. Then, I'll move on to the third book in that series. I plan to spend the Christmas break working on Devil of Dark Dreams. It is finished but I wanted to do some tweaks in the story based on feedback that I got. I would really love to do more work on Hodmim's Hold then. I've been working on that for 30 years but it is a big, complex story and I'm not sure the world is ready for it yet. After that the Saga of Thor's Children or Escape from Xanthius.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Honestly, I am no expert in this area. All the social media and promotion stuff is my least favorite thing to do. Amazon offers Kindle Unlimited and advertising services.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
It is great to get feedback from friends and family, but then move on to professionals who can offer in-depth suggestions and criticisms. This will be the whetstone that sharpens your writing skills.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Live and let live.
What are you reading now?
The Witcher – Blood of Elves by Andrzej Sapkowski, Words of My Perfect Teacher by Patrul Rinpoche, 101 Zen Koans, and Musashi by Eiji Yoshikawa. Yes, I am reading four books at the same time. No, I don't have a book problem.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Go back to work (my day job) and make some money so I can pay my Beta Readers and Line Editors. All the boring stuff like keep trying to lose some weight and going to the gym regularly. Keep making YouTube content, get my mailing list organized, work out my webpage, add content to my other social media, and more writing (that's the most important one).
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
There are a lot of layers to this question. Books on how to survive on a desert island without any resources for one (for example, SAS Survival Handbook). I love survival shows like Alone so, this is right up my alley. At least one book with soft pages too if you understand my meaning (is that too much information?). Probably something that can be read and reread like the Bible or the Silmarillion.
Author Websites and Profiles
Joel Hopkinson Author Profile on Smashwords
Joel Hopkinson’s Social Media Links
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