Jordan L. Hawk's Blog, page 19

Master of Ghouls Now in Audio!

Attention audiophiles–Master of Ghouls, narrated by the fantastic Brad Langer, is now available on Audible and iTunes, with Amazon coming as soon as it makes its way through their system (I’m sensing a trend here).

Here’s a sample via Soundcloud, where Gray tries to explain to silly mortals that this is the demon, hello:

And if you missed Hunter of Demons, here’s a clip of the first conversation between Gray and John:

Like Print? The Second Half of the SPECTR Series is Now on Dead Trees

SPECTR: Volume 2 contains:

Eater of Lives, Destroyer of Worlds, and Summoner of Storms

What happens when an exorcist falls in love with the demon he’s supposed to destroy?

After becoming possessed by the vampire spirit Gray, telekinetic Caleb Jansen thought he’d hit bottom. But between the hunt for a cannibalistic killer and the increasingly sinister actions on the part of SPECTR, the situation is rapidly going from bad to worse.

Caleb’s boyfriend, SPECTR agent John Starkweather, has suspicions of his own. With the help of his friend Sean and a shadowy organization known only by their symbol of a moth, John intends to save Caleb and Gray at any cost.

When divided loyalties threaten his last chance at exorcism, Caleb discovers love may come at a price higher than he’d ever imagined.

At the moment it’s still wending its way through the inner workings of Amazon, but should be available there by the end of today. But you can also purchase the print version from Createspace right now!

Update: it’s now live on Amazon as well!

Or if you’re still catching up on the SPECTR series and like to buy in bulk, you can also grab the accompanying ebook:

Buy it here:
   

GRL Preorders

Just a quick note to let everyone know I‘m taking preorders for paperbacks for those attending GRL. I will have a limited number of books on hand to sell at the signing, but keep in mind I sold out of some titles last year, and preordering guarantees the books you want will be waiting for you at my signing table.

New Whyborne & Griffin Goodies for You!

First things first: feast your eyes on this fabulous Whyborne & Griffin art by the incredible Catherine Dair!

How gorgeous is this?! I may have swooned a little when I saw Griffin the first time. I loved the design so much I’ve put it on a bunch of t-shirts and bags, and made it into FREE wallpapers and icons for your desktop, iPad, or iPhone. Grab some goodies and enjoy!

Bloodline (W&G 5) Cover

If you missed it over at The Novel Approach Reviews the other day, here are the blurb and cover for Bloodline, Whyborne & Griffin 5!

Between his bullying father and dissolute brother, Percival Endicott Whyborne has quite enough problematic family members to deal with. So when his sister returns to Widdershins asking for help solving the mystery of a derelict ship, Whyborne is reluctant to get involved. Until, that is, a brutal murderer strikes, leaving Whyborne and his lover Griffin no choice but to take the case.

The investigation leads them deep into a conspiracy of blackmail, murder, and darkest sorcery. But worst of all are the secrets held within the family itself, one of which will destroy everything Whyborne believed to be true, not only about his family, but about himself.

Bloodline will be released October 7, 2014
Add it to your Goodreads TBR shelf!

Hunter of Demons – Now Available on Audio!

SPECTR fans: you asked for it, you got it! Hunter of Demons is now available as an audiobook. Right now it’s only up on Audible, but should be available via Amazon and iTunes ASAP.

Want to listen to a sneak peek? The sample I picked was part of the audition I put out for narrators. I got chills when I heard “I hunt them. I eat them.”

Bloodline – Coming this Fall!

(And no, that’s NOT the cover – I just wanted an excuse to use this picture for something. :D)

SPECTR Q&A

I asked on Facebook, this blog, and my newsletter if anyone had lingering, or even not so lingering, questions about SPECTR now that the first series is complete. And you certainly did! Be aware that there are *SPOILERS* in this post, so if you haven’t finished the series, you have been warned! And if you haven’t started the series yet, the first installment, Hunter of Demons is FREE just about everywhere, including Amazon and ARe.

Which is easier, writing contemporary or historical?

Both have their challenges, but on the plus side I can actually visit present-day Charleston to do research, whereas visiting Massachusetts in 1899 is a bit more difficult.

Taken from atop the Battery Huger. The wall on the left with the wooden barrier on top is where the Vigilant entered the fortress.

Do you have Gray’s number?

This question made me imagine what a phone conversation with Gray would be like. “Hello? Gray?” “I do not have time for this mortal nonsense. There are demons to hunt.” *click*

Which was your favorite book in the series to write?

Destroyer of Worlds, because there were a number of scenes in it that I’d been planning since the very beginning of the series, and I finally got to write them. I was grinning like an idiot when I typed “Gray kissed him.”

What makes 40 days the “magic number” for exorcism–is there something behind the number, or was it a random choice?

One of the books I read when initially developing the series was The Encyclopedia of Vampire Mythology by Theresa Bane. The 40 day (sometimes 40 year) number kept cropping up, usually in relation to how long you had to destroy a vampire before it became immortal. What the cultural context was that made the 40 day deadline significant, I don’t know, but it was the perfect “ticking clock” for poor Caleb (and the other possessed people, of course).

I’ve only gotten to read the first book – and I know it’s a weird detail to get hung up on – but in the house where Gray first possesses Caleb, Caleb’s described as wearing a hand-knitted sweater. Does he knit?

The sweater was a gift from a friend back in Charlotte. Gray would probably enjoy knitting, though.

Of all the otherworldly beings, which do you find the most satisfying to write and which wouldn’t you write if we paid you?

Huh. I can’t think of any I would flat-out refuse to write. As for most satisfying, I’ve always been a sucker for a good possession story, so I’ll go with our favorite drakul as most satisfying.

What was your inspiration for the drakul?

For years I wanted to do a vampire story drawing from the original folklore, which was very different from that invented by the Victorians. Here’s a blog post I did on the folklore, and another on the Victorian take on vampires.

That said, I was trying to figure out how to make it actually work in a story. I finally had a breakthrough when I wondered what would happen if the body the vampire possesses was revived by modern medicine. The snacking on demonic energy in the form of blood came along shortly thereafter during the world-building phase.

Did you always intend for Gray to survive and for John to love both Gray and Caleb?

Yes! That was the love story I set out to tell from the beginning. I think it surprised some people, though.

Will SPECTR 2 feature the same two (three) main characters or will there be new main characters??

Gray, Caleb, and John will still be the main characters in Series 2.

Thanks everyone for your questions! Oh, and if you haven’t checked out the SPECTR Pinterest board, you can do that here.

SPECTR Announcements

If I had to list the two most frequent questions I get from SPECTR fans, they would be “will the books be in audio” and “will you please, please, write more.” So today I aim to answer both of those questions!

I’m pleased to announce I’ve opened auditions for a narrator for Hunter of Demons. Now, how long it will take to find the right person I can’t say. Julian G. Simmons was literally the first person to audition for Widdershins, but the chances of getting a perfect match so quickly a second time seem slim. Which doesn’t mean it won’t happen, of course!

Now on to the second question! I’d always toyed with at least the possibility of doing  SPECTR Series 2. While SPECTR doesn’t have as many fans as Whyborne & Griffin (so if you know anyone who might like the series, let them know Hunter of Demons is now free on Amazon, ARe, Smashwords, and just about everywhere else), you guys are VERY vocal about what you want. And what you want is Series 2!

So consider this my official announcement: SPECTR Series 2 will debut some time in 2015. I can’t be more specific date-wise at the moment, but as soon as I have my 2015 schedule in a few months, I promise I will let everyone know.

Now that I’ve answered the two big questions, what others do you have? Next week I’m going to post a SPECTR Series 1 wrap-up blog where I answer any other lingering questions. So please leave all of your questions in the comments below! Please note I am taking questions about Book 6, but if yours is spoilery, please put *SPOILER* at the beginning of your comment so readers who haven’t finished the series will know to skim past.

Summoner of Storms is Now Available!

Summoner of Storms (SPECTR 6) is now available for your reading pleasure!

Federal exorcist John Starkweather’s life is in tatters. His best friend Sean betrayed him.  SPECTR, the agency he viewed more as a surrogate family than an employer, wants him dead. His only allies are members of the mysterious organization called the Vigilant, whose motives remain in question.

The only thing keeping John together is the presence of his lovers: Caleb Jansen, a powerful telekinetic, and Gray, the vampire spirit possessing Caleb.

Together, they must not only evade capture, but somehow stop SPECTR from building an army of demon possessed soldiers. If they are to succeed, John must question everything he’s ever believed about SPECTR and spirits. And Caleb and Gray must decide how far they’re willing to go—not just for John’s love, but for his very life.

Find it on: