Today we are lucky to have a new and fresh voice in the Urban Fantasy world: Kevin Hearne. Kevin is the author of the new Iron Druid Chronicles featuring Atticus, the 2000 year old Druid with his trusty sidekick, Oberon the wolfhound.
The first three books in the Iron Druid series have all released in quick succession: Hounded (review here) on May 3rd, Hexed on June 7th, and Hammered on July 5th. Kevin recently announced that Del Rey has purchased the next three books in the series as well, so we can expect to see more of Atticus and Oberon in 2012!
Welcome to The Book Pushers Kevin!
Kevin: Happy to be here! I like your blog title. It’s kind of edgy, like you’re going to become violent if people don’t read.
Book Pushers: LOL, we can get a little crazy when it comes to books!! Congratulations on your success so far with the Iron Druid Chronicles. Tell us a little about yourself!
Kevin: I’m a mild-mannered English teacher by day and a milder writer by night. I love trees and doggies and baseball, and I have this odd sense of humor that’s found an outlet in these books.
Book Pushers: What is your writing process like?
Kevin: Most often I’m writing at the kitchen table, but sometimes I adjourn to a coffee joint in an attempt to feel cool. I write chapter outlines and then feel free to ignore them. Sometimes weird stuff happens and I just let it. Like those Hammers of God that show up in HEXED? They weren’t in my outline. They just walked into my manuscript and wouldn’t leave. Something similar has already happened in book 4. My editor is going to freak out when I turn this in because she has no idea it’s coming. But I couldn’t warn her, since I didn’t know it was coming either.
Book Pushers: What do you have in store for Atticus and Oberon in Hammered?
Kevin: Atticus has to follow through on promises he made in HEXED: he has to steal a golden apple from Asgard and help Leif Helgarson kill Thor. Kind of a major to-do list. Meanwhile, Oberon thinks the mermaid on the Starbucks cup is smiling because she knows where the bacon lattes are.
Book Pushers: Fans are comparing your series to Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files. Did you ever expect/hope/dream to be compared to such a prominent series and author?
Kevin: I kind of expected a comparison because we’re both males writing about male protagonists, but I didn’t expect the comparisons to be quite so favorable. It’s been very flattering, because Jim is frickin’ awesome.
Book Pushers: What is it about the Irish mythology that you enjoy so much that it drives so many of your story lines?
Kevin: I love that the Irish gods are edgier than most of their counterparts in other pantheons. Look at the Greek Artemis, a goddess of the hunt who’s rather militant about her virginity and kills dudes for thinking of her sexually. Compare that with Flidais, Irish goddess of the hunt with an insatiable libido. I’ll take the Irish version, thank you.
Book Pushers: How many books do you have planned for the Iron Druid Chronicles?
Kevin: Seven or nine. Eight is simply impossible.
Book Pushers: Is there any genre you would love to write in other than Urban Fantasy?
Kevin: Epic fantasy! I have a project that’s been on my back burner for a while and hopefully I’ll get some time to finish it up.
Book Pushers: Do you find that you get a lot of ideas, inspiration, or great pop culture references from your students?
Kevin: I definitely get some of the mutating slang from them. When I was in high school, we went around calling cool things “rad.” These days cool things are either “sick” or “legit.” It’s fascinating to watch the language change from year to y ear.
Book Pushers: If you were going to set up a tour of Arizona hosted by its resident Druid, where would he take the tourists?
Kevin: If it’s in season, we’re going to a D-backs game at Chase Field. Fish and chips at Rúla Búla. A hike in the Superstitions, then hikes on the Mogollon Rim and in the forest near Flagstaff. Monument Valley, Petrified Forest, the Grand Canyon—the biggies.
Book Pushers: If Oberon could be the trusty doggie sidekick for any historical figure, who would he choose?
Kevin: Well, I could make the argument that figures don’t get much more historical than Atticus. And with any other figure he’d just be a dog, not a sidekick; Atticus was the one who taught him language and made him unique.
Book Pushers: If Atticus could team up with other heroes, past or present, real or fictional who would they be?
Kevin: He’d team up with the Green Arrow, because that beard and mustache combo is legit. Atticus would let the Green Arrow wear all the tights though.
Book Pushers: Atticus seems to be pretty popular with the ladies. *RAWR* Who would his ideal date be, and where would he take her?
Kevin: You’ll have to read HAMMERED to find that out; he was married for two centuries once and was still in love at the end of that time, so I’d say that particular woman was his ideal date and he’d never take her anywhere except where he found her.
Thanks so much to Kevin for being here today! He has been gracious enough to offer a giveaway of an Australian copy of Hounded, as well as a signed bookmark. Open to US residents only. Please just leave a comment or question for Kevin to be entered! Giveaway will end on July 15th. Good Luck!
(I’m not entering the contest)
Great interview! I read and really liked Hounded. It was just so entertaining. I look forwad to reading the rest of the series! Thanks, Mr. Hearne!
I’ve been seeing these around and I must admit that my curiosity is piqued 😉
I keep hearing GREAT things about this series! I want it like yesterday, so I’m putting my name in the hat to win! Thanks so much for the giveaway!
All I can say is this… Don’t stop writing Kevin. I never thought I’d have another favorite Urban Fantasy after The Dresden Files, but The Iron Druid Chronicles are just too dang good to resist.
Somehow I missed this series. It sounds like awesome reading.
Fun interview. This sounds like a great series and right up my alley, so I’m adding it to my TBR list. My oldest son, who is 13, shares my love of fantasy novels. He also loves mythology. Anyone who’s started this series: would this be appropriate for a mature eighth grader?
I am so excited to hear that there will be several more! I haven’t talked up an author/book this much in a LONG time 🙂
@Mary Beth If your not against him reading the occasional violent sword/sorcery fight and a tad bit of sex scenery then yes it’s fine. He more implies sex than goes into detail about it, it’s not very graphic.
Very cool sounding series!
Mara
Thanks for the info, Dustin. I think we’ll give this series a try.
I’m reading Hounded right now, but I borrowed it from a friend and I would love to have a copy of my own. I love this book and I can’t wait to read the rest of the series! And Kevin, I would definitely go with 9 or more books instead of a mere 7! This series is too good to stop at 7, and of course, 8 is impossible! I love the sense of humor in the book, it makes it a really fun read. Thanks for the chance to win my own copy of this awesome book! To anybody who has not started this series yet: Start now!! You won’t regret it 🙂
I would love to try this. I love learning about mythology I’m not familiar with. Thanks for the giveaway!
I’ve seen these around and thought several times about getting a set.
Kevin, If you were to make the newspaper front page, what would the headline read?
People know my weakness for druids (not enough books out on them!) and I have had several people ask me if I seen these. I am seriously going to have to get them. I think my friend and her mother would like these too.
Love Celtic mythology
Sounds great and I enjoyed the interview. And I remember use of the word “rad” – someone should bring that back. And Irish Gods are much cooler.
Thanks for the giveaway!
Been reading the series from the local library, and it’s just awesome. I love how it’s so action-packed, while being funny. Hoping for more novels and short stories on Atticus and Oberon to come!
Thanks for the giveaway!
I so wanted Atticus to sleep with the Morrigan…
Kevin’s posts have been so fun to read, that I’m sure I would love his books. Plus, I’ve got to admire an author who decides to have his 2000 year old druid hero make his home in the Arizona desert. Thanks for the giveaway.
8 or 9 in the series? Oh I so need the first then!! I’m so curious about the druids you have in this series. I want to see where you take them.
Thanks for the giveaway!
I am SO in love with the covers for this series! One of my most favorites! 🙂 Thanks for the giveaway!
Ooooh, pick me, pick me, please? I’ve been twitter-stalking Kevin for a few weeks waiting for this opportunity!
And, if it helps, I promise to blog my review…
Jane