Featured Interview With Wodke Hawkinson
Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
Karen: I was born in Nebraska, but raised in various small Kansas towns until we settled in a mid-sized city when I was about eight years old. I currently reside in Kansas with my husband. My children are grown. I do have a pet: a cat named Ivy. She is quite interested in my writing and apparently likes to add her own two cents as she walks across my keyboard on occasion. Unfortunately, I have to delete her additions to the project.
PJ: I was born and raised in Kansas and live less than fifteen miles from my childhood home. I have two cats, Lucitoo, a torte, and Shaden, a grey tabby. We didn’t pick them, they chose us, but we were happy to have them. I’ve been married for 39 years this coming March. My husband and I love to fish. We can’t get enough of New Orleans. We have 4 children, 7 grandsons, and 1 granddaughter.
At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
Karen: About the time I had access to a good library, which coincides with our move when I was eight. I devoured books, so much so that I overheard my parents one night wondering if I was reading too much. I started writing in high school, but mainly funny stories for the amusement of my friends.
PJ: I discovered a love for books when the bookmobile visited our elementary school. Also, getting to choose books from the Weekly Reader magazine was so much fun and I always loved the books that came.
Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
Karen: I am a huge fan of Stephen King and JRR Tolkien. But I am also inspired by any author who has a way with words that I find intriguing. I’m also inspired by situations and dilemmas found in real life. And I have to mention the excellent contributions to the process made by my co-author. Many times when struggling with a thorny bit of prose, PJ will come up with the perfect solution. At times like those, I always say, “This is why I have a co-author.”
As far as reading is concerned, I prefer suspense and science fiction.
PJ: JRR Tolkien won my heart with The Hobbit. You can never go wrong with Agatha Christie. I also thoroughly enjoy JK Rowlings, JA Konrath, Stephen King …I would take way to much space to pay homage to all the writers I like.
My favorite genre would have to be mysteries, preferably set in New Orleans, Alaska, or Maine.
My coauthor Karen is my biggest inspiration. We met when we were 16 and wrote several short stories (she was really the writer, I just tossed in suggestions). We reconnected and began writing together in 2009. Aside from Karen, my husband, children, and grandchildren inspire me like no others.
Tell us a little about your latest book?
Karen & PJ: Our most recent published book is Dark Longings, which is a mystery/suspense. It features a young college student named Ruby whose ex-boyfriend Kenny goes missing after a mysterious phone call. Ruby is a young woman filled with determination. Though she is unsure if Kenny has fallen back into his old ways of using or if he’s been the victim of foul play, she refuses to give up her search. Ruby doesn’t believe the police are taking his disappearance seriously. Every clue she uncovers brings her closer to the truth, and to danger.
The title Dark Longings is pretty much indicative of the book’s content, a noir tale about deviant yearnings and twisted thinking that lead to criminal behavior. It took us approximately nine months to finish.
Our current project is a small town cozy mystery series. It’s a new genre for us, but one we are tackling with our usual enthusiasm.
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