Description:
Paige Donovan is an ambitious college graduate who aspires to reach the top of the corporate ladder. She’s climbing fast when given the promotion of a lifetime at a prestigious fashion magazine in New York City. Her bright future comes to an unexpected halt after news of her father’s death. She inherits his old cabin in the Colorado Rockies, and just when she thinks her luck couldn’t get any worse, she has a car accident in the mountains and awakens in the small, remote community of Black River.
Soon, she’s engulfed in the mystical world of Varulv---wolves descended from 13th century Scandinavia and blessed by Norse gods with the ability to appear human. Paige is desperate to return home, but never expects to fall for her rescuer, Riley Gray, a charming young werewolf from England who offers her an alternate future with his pack.
Now, she must choose between the career she’s always wanted and the love she’s always dreamed.
MB's INTERVIEW
Thank you, Mrs. April Bostic
You said that Alex Pettyfer, Blood and Chocolate and Wolf Lake inspired you to write The Howling Heart. How your author’s mind worked? How did you connect your “inspiration sources” to obtain a new story?
I’ve always enjoyed werewolf books and films, so after watching “Blood and Chocolate” and “Wolf Lake”, I liked the idea of werewolves being actual wolves and living in a secret community. I’ve never written a story about werewolves, so I decided to give it a try with The Howling Heart. I wanted my werewolves to be different, because the market is flooded with werewolf romance books. So, I started out by making them wolves with a human guise and a human mentality, so they could survive in our world. In most werewolf fiction, they are typically three archetypes: a wolfman, a wolf-like beast or lycan, or a human who can transform into a wolf. I’ve been a fan of Alex Pettyfer for years, and I always wanted to see him play a werewolf in a film. Following his career, it didn’t look like he’d be playing one anytime soon, so I decided to create my own character with Riley Gray. I always tell people if my book is ever adapted for film, I’d like Alex to be approached for the role first.
In The Howling Heart we meet elements of Norse mythology. Do you think there are limits in which we can modify/ alter the old mythology and create new stories? What is the public reaction to those changes?
Yes, I think there are limits. I believe if you’re going to use Norse mythology in your original fiction, you should keep some of the myth intact along with your unique additions. I think the public is open to it as long as you don’t stray too far from the original myth.
From what I understand from your way to find inspiration that you are a visual person. How important is and what role plays the visual in your books?
I think being a visual person helps me be more detailed when I write stories. It also helps me to write the physical characteristics of my characters, since most of the inspiration comes from real people I’ve seen.
I read some reviews of The Howling Heart and the general opinion is that readers wanted more. Are there any chances for a sequel; did you leave some open doors for it? And what is opinion about continuing a story that was initially conceived as a stand alone?
I didn’t purposely leave the door open for a sequel when I originally wrote the book in 2009, but when it was published, I noticed some readers had questions. It was then I realized there was more room to finish the story and answer those questions. I might write a sequel, but I haven’t finalized a decision yet. There are many things I have to consider before I make the commitment. Most importantly, I have difficulty getting motivated to write novels, so I’d have to overcome that.
What do you think about a sequel that is a POV of a different character? Is it a need, a public wish or a commercial requirement (from the publisher)?
It’s a need. The Howling Heart was about Paige’s experience in a foreign environment, living among Varulv, and her relationship with Riley. In the sequel, Paige and Riley will be living in New York City, so everything will change in Riley’s life this time around. It’s more appropriate to tell the sequel from his POV. Plus, I think readers would enjoy getting inside his head.
What is your favourite (and why): novel or short story?
I don’t have a favorite single book, but my favorite series are the Sookie Stackhouse books by Charlaine Harris. I like the way she created a believable yet fictional world where humans and other supernatural beings co-exist and vampires don’t live in secret. I’m not from the US South and I’ve never visited, but her books gave me a fun, little glimpse of life down there.
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About the author:
April Bostic is a New Jersey-based, Adult Romance author who enjoys unleashing her creativity and letting her imagination run wild. Her love of romance books inspired her to become not just a reader, but also a writer. In December 2008, she self-published her first novel, a contemporary romance with a supernatural twist entitled "A Rose to the Fallen".
Her first short story, "Right Here, Right Now", released in January 2012, is an erotic romance with a dash of S&M. The following year, she released two more short stories: a romantic urban fantasy inspired by the Greek myth of Eros and Psyche entitled "Eros, My Love", and a sexy romantic comedy entitled "Love Addiction".
After five years, she released her second novel, "The Howling Heart" in August 2013, a paranormal romance that delves into the mystical world of werewolves and Norse gods. To end her busiest year in publishing, April will release her fourth and final short story in December, a historical vampire romance entitled "A Dark Scandal".
Thanks for interviewing me and participating in my tour!
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