Interview & Giveaway with Steve McHugh

1. When did you first start writing, and was there something in particular that inspired you?
I’ve been writing since I was 8 or 9. I always loved telling stories, but I didn’t get really serious about it until my daughter was born 9 years ago. Before then, I’d just dabbled here and there and always said I wanted to write someday. I decided that ‘someday’ was today and never looked back.

2. What first attracted you to your genre when you began writing?
I like reading urban Fantasy and I always enjoy the darker characters, so it was always going to be a given that I would find myself writing in that genre. I do have ideas for stories in other genres, but for the moment I’m a one-genre writer.

3. In regards to your own characters, who is your favorite to write and why?
Nate is the easiest to write. He’s been in my head for so long, I can switch him on without really thinking about it. He’s a lot of fun to write too as he’s very sarcastic and smart-mouthed, so I get to enjoy that. Tommy (Thomas Carpenter in Crimes Against Magic) is a huge amount of fun to write, he’s funny and bounces off Nate very well. There’s a mythological character I enjoy writing too, I can’t say who he is it’s a pretty big spoiler, but he’s introduced in Born of Hatred and is just a complete badass and very different personality wise to his greek origins.

4. What other genres (besides your own) do you enjoy reading?
I read a lot of fantasy, horror and some sci-fi. But I read a load of comics, which encompass a huge number of different genre’s, but I’m partial to the crime stuff by people like Greg Rucka.

5. As a reader I know how difficult it can be to name a ‘favorite’ book, would you mind listing your top three? (Past or present authors)
My top 3 books change daily, so this is probably going to be a different answer every time I get asked.
1. Terry Pratchett – Men at Arms. The first Pratchett book I read and never looked back, it’s funny and silly, but still an excellent crime book. He’s probably one of the best writers in the world.
2. Gareth Ennis – Preacher. A totally different kind of comic that just shows what the medium is capable off. Probably some of the funniest stuff I’ve ever read, but also some of the most serious too. An incredible series.
3. Neil Gaiman – American Gods or Richard Morgan Altered Carbon. This would very much depend on the day. American Gods is a wonderful modern day fantasy book, but Altered Carbon is probably the best Sci-Fi book I’ve read in years.

6. What are some ‘must haves’ when you sit down to write?
I can write in most places, so long as I can block out all the noise around me. I do like a pot of tea nearby and a notepad and pen.

7. If you became trapped as a character in a book or series, which would you choose and why? (Any book, any series, new or old).
I’d like to be trapped as Batman. Although the whole, murdered parents, villains killing those you love thing would be indescribably awful, at the end of the day you can look in the mirror and know you’re making a difference. And that you’re Batman. That last bit is pretty important.

Crimes Against Magic:
It’s been almost ten years since Nathan Garrett woke on a cold warehouse floor with nothing but a gun, a sword, and no idea of who he was or how he got there. His only clue … a piece of paper with his name on it. Since then, he’s discovered he’s a powerful sorcerer and has used his abilities to work as a thief for hire. But he’s never stopped hunting for his true identity, and those who erased his memory have never stopped hunting for him. When the barrier holding his past captive begins to crumble, Nathan swears to protect a young girl who is key to his enemy’s plans. But with his enemies closing in, and everyone he cares about becoming a target for their wrath, Nathan is forced to choose between the life he’s built for himself and the one buried deep inside him.

Crimes Against Magic is an Urban Fantasy set in modern day London with Historical flashbacks to early fifteenth century France. It's book one of the Hellequin Chronicles, a series about Nathan (Nate) Garrett, a centuries old sorcerer.

Born of Hatred:

There are some things even a centuries-old sorcerer hesitates to challenge…

When Nathan Garret’s friend seeks his help investigating a bloody serial killer, the pattern of horrific crimes leads to a creature of pure malevolence, born of hatred and dark magic. Even with all his powers, Nate fears he may be overmatched. But when evil targets those he cares about and he is confronted by dire threats both old and new, Nate must reveal a secret from his recently remembered past to remind his enemies why they should fear him once more.

Born of Hatred, set in modern London with historical flashbacks to America’s Old West, continues the dark urban fantasy of Crimes Against Magic, the acclaimed first book in the gritty and action-packed Hellequin Chronicles.

About the Author:
Steve McHugh lives in Southampton on the south coast of England with his wife and three young daughters. When not writing or spending time with his kids, he enjoys watching movies, reading books and comics, and playing video games.

Find the Author:
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