Interview with Author Karyn Pearson

For the Hellfire Trilogy, I wanted to have a fire motif that carried across the three titles of the series. For Embers, with it being the last novel of the trilogy, it also signifies the final stage of a fire, when it’s burned down to glowing embers. In a way, the title’s also symbolic of what’s left of human society by the end of the final battle–smoldering remnants of what once was.

I tried to pick Latin-like names for most part. “Noxius” is “deceiver” or “trickster” in Latin, which I felt suited him, since he is a deceiver demon. The “Amon” part of his name comes from the name of a demon in the Lesser Key of Solomon who, like Noxius, is ranked seventh in the demonic hierarchy. Ardentia’s name came from the root, “ardent”, which has to do with fire or flame. I wanted to keep with the fire motif, not to mention the fact that Ardentia has fire in her too, both in looks and personality. Darius’ last name, Bellatore, translates to “warrior.” Commander Athena Pallantias Thorne is a nod to my favorite Greek goddess (and likely god parent if I was ever a demigod). The “Thorne” part just sounded cool, so it stuck. There’s a few other names that I can’t think of at the moment, but I’m sure if you looked, you’d find the others.

Nothing really prompted me to write in this genre. I’ve always had a interest in paranormal/supernatural things, and ending up in this genre was by sheer coincidence. My brain took various elements of pop culture (Supernatural, Priest, and Dragon Nest) and threw it together, and what came out was what we now know as the Hellfire Trilogy. 

Sometimes I have to tell the voices to shut up and leave me alone if I have to focus on real life for a period of time. For the most part, they behave themselves and sit quietly until I’m ready to talk to them. But other times, they don’t behave, and suddenly I find myself speaking in character voices to myself in public spaces and I end up looking like a crazy person. In those instances, I kind of wish I had a t-shirt that read, “I’m not crazy, I’m an author.” As for my characters, they don’t really reflect attributes of maintaining my sanity, rather, they’re amplified aspects of my personality that in time, take a life of their own. The aspect is the foundation block, and once that character finds their voice, they do the rest and invent themselves.

Well, for one, I had to look up demonic summoning rituals, and I ended up on Satanic websites–thanks, Google. So I suppose I’m fortunate the NSA hasn’t showed up accusing me of  being a psychopathic devil-worshipper that does blood sacrifices. Another thing I had to look up was angelology, specifically Lucifer-centric angelology. I learned Lucifer’s history, even his seal, his rank in the angelic hierarchy, and various other things.

Watching my two dogs slip and slide on the hardwood floor in our house. It’s always hilarious to watch them go splat! as long as nobody gets hurt.

Most recently, the mid-season finale episode of The Vampire Diaries. Sheriff Forbes, whyyyyyy? I had to hug my mom afterward.