Interview with A.L. Hawke, Author of My Evil Eye

What’s the story behind the story? What inspired you to write My Evil Eye?

Ever since writing CORA in 2019 (Cora is the Greek goddess Persephone), I’ve wanted to revisit Cora’s world of Greek myth and romance in our modern times. But I was looking for something new and fresh. I came up with Cora’s friend, Gorgiana. Gorgiana (aka Medusa) narrates this book and my new release novella The Guardian.

In My Evil Eye, Gorgiana enjoys an uneventful life shelving and reading books in Florida, until she falls in love with a handsome college student named Asher. But to pursue her new crush, Gorgi has to hide her disabilities from him. She can’t reveal to him that her gaze turns people to stone. She can’t get too angry or she’ll transform into a monster. She can’t go outside under sunlight or her snakes will appear in her hair. And she has to guard Ash from harm in her never-ending ancient war with the Greek gods.

The direct inspiration for Medusa, of course, came from her origin myth. Thousands of years ago, Medusa was a model priestess in Athena’s temple. One day she was raped by the sea god Poseidon. When Athena found out, she didn’t punish Poseidon, she punished Medusa. This injustice is still going on today in my story. It became a new focus for these two novels in my Furies series.

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of My Evil Eye, what would they be?

I’d pick two. “Somebody Someone” by Korn. Music from the band Korn reminds me of Gorgiana/Medusa. One minute it’s calm, the next the singer sounds like a total psycho (which I love). That shifting of personalities is very much like Medusa.

The second would be “Anyone” by Justin Bieber. Gorgiana loves Justin Bieber. She even sings one of his songs in the novel!

What’s your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

I read many different genres—from horror to classics to epic fantasy. But all of the stories have to be an escape from everyday life. Mostly, I read what I write: fantasy romance.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

I’m writing a paranormal romance about angels. This will be something new for me. We’ll see. The main manuscript is done and I’m very excited about the upcoming project.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

I enjoyed writing all the action and mayhem from the battle scenes, but I probably had the most fun writing character dialog. I loved the scene where Cora meets up with Gorgi in a coffee house; another great one is the interrogation of Gorgi by Hades. These scenes were fun because I watched the action unfold just like the reader will. The characters sort of wrote the chapters for me.

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

Music and nitro brews. I often have coffee… but I always have music. Music provides inspiration and mood.

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

No. I’m looking for one…

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

I think we all have a monster deep inside us. So Gorgiana’s struggles really are our own. But, here’s the kicker: I discovered that although Gorgiana’s a monster, she’s probably the greatest heroine I’ve ever created. Perhaps her challenges and sufferings make her heroism all that much greater.