Fantasy and Adventure with Tom Hansen's debut #UF A MOONLIT TASK #newread...

Jami January 26, 2017

Today I want to welcome debut author and friend, Tom Hansen to my humble abode. His upcoming Urban Fantasy, A MOONLIT TASK, hits shelves on Feb. 7th, so I decided to lure him in with coffee before pestering him with my questions. Now that he's happily hooked on caffeine, I give you Tom…

Hey Everyone! My name is Tom Hansen. I met Jami over two years ago at a critique group back in August of 2014.

I’m a new author with my first book, A Moonlit Task coming out in on February 7^th. Jami was invaluable as a beta reader on this book and I can’t thank her enough for all the insights she gave to help me fine-tune many parts of the story.

I write fantasy of all types (even my science fiction has elements of fantasy.) I currently write urban fantasy with an epic plot starring two older ladies as the two protagonists. Having read a lot of fantasy over my lifetime, I was tired of teenagers always being the heroes and I wanted something different.

So without further ado, may I introduce Tom's debut novel: A MOONLIT TASK!

It is currently on pre-order for a February 7^th 2017 launch date.

Retired librarian Nancy Moon never expected a tiger to jump on the hood of her car, nor did she expect to meet a dying witch in an alleyway. But when this widow agrees to fulfill the expiring woman's last wish, she must face her fears and venture into a world she knows nothing about.

As Nancy delves deeper into a world of magic, mayhem, and monsters, she finds herself caught between saving herself and those she cares about.

A Moonlit Task is an urban fantasy mystery novel with an epic plot set in a world of hidden magic and paranormal creatures. It is the first book in the End Gate Series by Tom Hansen. Readers of Patricia Briggs, Jim Butcher, and those who want an older protagonist in their fantasy will love this new twist on a familiar tale.

A Moonlit Task is currently on sale for pre-order and will remain at its lower price for a week after it goes live: http://a.co/044rKJg I hope you check it out!

(If you want a preview of Tom's stories, he has a steampunk short story for sale: http://a.co/h1KaUJX)

Now back to grilling Tom…

So with all that said, let’s get on to the Q/A:

Growing up, what was your favorite book, comic, game or movie and did you create a character/player that might resemble you?

As an adult male, it’s a little embarrassing to admit that my favorite book growing up was Where the Red Fern Grows, by Wilson Rawls.

I’ve read that book at least ten times in my life and each time, I could barely read the ending due to the tears streaming down my face. I will never forget the punch to my heart that burying those dogs did to me, and I’m not even a dog person! (I know, the blasphemy, right?)

While I don’t have a character that is based on Billy Coleman, I will never forget the impact that simple children’s book had on me. My hope as a writer has always been to create relationships in my characters that have as much impact as those dogs were to Billy. I know I’ll have reached that goal when I can barely see the screen as I type out the last chapter of my book.

Jami may remember the first short story I ever submitted to our critique group was a story about a dog that gives its life for that of his master. I often wonder if we ever truly leave our childhood behind. When we aren’t so caught up in daily adult life, being there for each other is truly the ultimate sacrifice, and Old Dan and Little Ann’s death is a lingering lesson for us to all be there for one another.

–I'm a firm believer that the stories we create can give credit to the stories that we found such imaginative shelter in when younger, so no, I don't think we ever truly leave our childhood behind.

As children, we tend to have an idea of what we want to be by the time we’re ten. Before you decided to pursue the artistic dream of being a writer, what did you want to be and why?

Space had always fascinated me, but sitting in Mrs. Anderson’s class in the fourth grade, watching the Challenger launch in 1984 cemented in my mind my desire to be an astronaut. Something about witnessing a national treasure become a tragedy had a profound impact on my life and I knew from that point on I needed to be an astronaut.

Many writers have that first novel which will never see the light of day. Out of curiosity, do you have one stashed somewhere? Inquiring minds want to know: what was your first attempt at writing and how old were you?

These are called trunk novels, and I have four of them!

I knew I wanted to be a writer when I was 15, and I wrote a lot of stuff back then, but becoming a responsible adult and having children forced me to put my dreams on hold to provide for my family.

Six years ago, I started writing again and I wrote four entire first drafts of books before I finally deemed A Moonlit Task worthy to take to publication. The first was epic fantasy, the second was a modern coming of age story, third was fantasy again, and the fourth, well the fourth was the precursor to the book I have now. Once written, I realized I needed to tell the story of Nancy Moon a little earlier, so A Moonlit Task was borne. The other book is currently in my queue to revisit and publish as book three in the End Gate Series.

Whether we’re plotters or pantsers (outlines not needed), creating our stories takes us on very memorable journeys. Sometimes we may be part way through before we realize some major aspect of our story is just not working (plot, character, setting). Have you ever hit this sharp, pointy snag and if so, how did you escape? We’re you battered and bruised or a bloody mess?

I’ve always loved the character of Gilderoy Lockheart, from Harry Potter. Lockheart was famous among the wizarding community for his grand adventures and run-ins with dangerous creatures. He was awarded many awards for his adventures, looks, and inventions.

Yet he never did any of those things. Here was an opportunistic man who embellished his accounts of heroic deeds, taking the fame and fortune for himself and using memory charms to leave a trail of false memories in his wake.

His story stuck with me all these years and I always wanted to write a short story series from the point of view of a similar character: detailing his amazing deeds, only to find out that they were, if not downright false, at least greatly embellished.

However, when I sat down to write the story, what I had planned refused to come out. Instead, I had a dwarf, the last of his kind. While the first few pages of the story tried to retain the whimsy and flamboyancy I’d always envisioned, I eventually had to give in to the darker, somber mood that wanted to flow onto the page.

It was frustrating, but invigorating at the same time. The story wanted to come out in its own way, and if I had fought to shoe-horn in the story I thought I wanted to write, I would have probably abandoned the project mid-story in frustration. Sometime you have to go with what the story wants.

–Yeah, creative muses can be a real witch to deal with. Curse those characters for having minds of their own!

What is some of the best advice you were ever given?

There ain’t no such thing as a free lunch.

Famously penned by Robert Heinlein in The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, I first heard this phrase when I was in High School by our new Principal, Dr. McLarney. He was a droopy old man whose scratchy bass voice was haunted by too many decades of smoking. No one in my class respected him or paid him any attention as we sat in the auditorium flirting and giggling as he droned on at our back-to-school assembly.

But of all the advice I ever got from any teacher or faculty, his story stuck with me through the years and colors everything I do. Many of my stories involve loss and sacrifice, a price that must be paid for the world to continue as it had for the rest of us. I think some of the most compelling stories ever made use this phrase as a core statute, even though they may not spell it out in so many words.

Time for the infamous bullet list. Ready, Tom? 3….2…1…go!

Blades, guns, fists or feet?

Blades, for sure. I think they all have their time and place but something about a good knife or sword fight is a joy to behold. Fists and feet can do damage but also sustain damage themselves, and guns can miss, or kill to quickly. Being up close and personal while still wielding a weapon ratchets the personal danger to a new level.

Favorite Fairy Tale of all time?

This is a tough one as I never really got into fairy tales when I was a kid, but if I had to pick one it would be Rapunzel. I’ve always loved long hair on women and in high school, my (then future) wife had long blonde hair down to her waist. Maybe it’s just rose-colored memories but that one stuck out at me as I thought through the different stories.

Three titles and their authors sitting on your nightstand/bookcase/table/floor waiting to be read?

I hope I don’t upset too many people by admitting that my bookcase is mostly digital at this point, but let me check my iPad:

Cooked by Michael Pollan – after seeing the miniseries on Netflix I wanted to read this book about how food and humans evolved together.

The Magician’s Land by Lev Grossman – I love the first two books in the series and can’t wait to see how it ends with this book.

Rogue One by Alexander Freed – After seeing the movie, I just had to read the book. One of the best Star Wars movies I’ve ever seen!

–I have to agree with you on that one. Rogue One is definitely the best SW movies out there!

Greatest one liner of all time?

“Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.”

Sarcastic witticism, Southern sweetness or Geeky disdain?

I love sarcasm, possibly a little too much.

–There's no such thing as too much, sir!

Strangest item currently taking up space in your writing cave?

My man-cave is as you would expect. Hunter green walls, computer with big speakers, three fantasy paintings on the wall. I have a globe sitting on a bookshelf, and Aragorn’s first sword hanging up in the corner. I guess with all this manliness, the two things that might strike a visitor odd would be the two cats curled up on the couch in the corner.

Favorite supernatural creature?

Faeries. I think they are fascinating little creatures and I wish they had more use in mainstream media than being relegated to little girl’s cartoons or cute little creatures.