Welcome to WOLF NOTES, where interview questions stray from the rest of the pack. It’s nice to know the usual stuff like where an author gets their inspiration and why they write, but sometimes we need a little fun in our lives.

H.L. Brooks writes contemporary fairy tale and paranormal romances with an emphasis on strong female characters. Her Red August series is available at many major online retailers. She is also an artist and photographer. Her coloring book “The Yoni Coloring Book” can be found on Amazon and other online retailers. You can read her sensual observations and micro-fiction in the Sensual Sunday series at her blog. H.L. is currently developing a series of short bedtime stories for adults, in collaboration with William Hardy, to be released as podcasts.

Wolf: Let’s get to know you a bit more. Describe a meal you would be served while visiting another world.

H. L.: I’ll go ahead and choose this funny little flatbread I saw on an episode of Stargate once. It was so obviously an attempt at something “exotic” but it came off more like “hey, kraft service has some of these little personal sized flatbreads, run over to the caterer next door and buy some edible flowers, the props master forgot to design food for this shot.” And DESPITE that, I enjoyed the aesthetic and, clearly, still remember it. Also, the food had some special properties.

Wolf: I remember that episode. If you could be any animal in the universe, what would it be and why?

H. L.: I think maybe a cat. I feel a bit like I’m already a cat. I’m fluffy and I like sunny little spots to nap.

Wolf: Sun. Warm & cozy. Sleep… If you had to pick a weapon, what would it be and why?

H. L.: Broadsword for close combat. I enjoyed swinging the big “waster” (wooden practice sword) around. It felt pretty badass. But for further away, the bow and arrow. I took some classes to study for my Red August series, because I wanted to know what it was really like to shoot. Write what you know and if you don’t know it, learn it. When you can. Some things you can’t ever know, but you can have good guesses. I like to write as authentically as possible.

Wolf: I don’t think I could lift a broadsword, but love bows and arrows. While walking in the woods you come across…

H. L.: A lot of rocks. And mosquitos.

Wolf: Must be damp in your part of the woods. You’ve just been turned into a plant. Describe yourself.

H. L.: I’m soft and long-stemmed. I don’t like full sun, but I can bare it if I have to.

Wolf: We better take this interview inside. There is a door at the end of a dark, damp corridor. You hear rumbling. What do you do?

H. L.: I would likely never been by myself at the end of a dark damp corridor. You know, the rumbling might be there and I’m not about that.

Wolf: How about disasters? What five items would you want to have in a post-cataclysmic world?

H. L.: I assume you mean aside from water and such. Lip balm, Advil, matches/lighter, sewing kit, multi-tool.

Wolf: Good choices. What is your favorite body of water and why? (river, ocean, waterfall, puddle, bottle…)

H. L.: A brook. Bonus for a little arching footbridge.

Wolf: Of course it is. What story are you working on now?

H. L.: I’m working on the third book of my Red August series. Book one is “Red August” and book two is “Red Archer.” Book three will be “Red Hunter.”

Wolf: Do you have a favorite character?

H. L.: That’s really hard to say. Of the secondary characters I love Brigid and Abel. But the best parts of Faolan is based on my husband, so clearly, he’s my favorite.

Wolf: It’s so hard to choose. What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

H. L.: I like to connect to other women writers. I started a book salon for women writers. I really love the idea of women supporting each other instead of tearing each other down. I couldn’t find a local writing group that was strictly for women so I started Women Authors of Maryland group on Facebook. Then shortly after I decided to create The Write Women Book Fest, which will be at Marietta House in September. Other than that, I like hanging with my sweetie, cooking, checking in with my kids, and fighting the patriarchy.

Wolf: If this question were any question in the world, what question would you want it to be and how would you answer it?

H. L.: Inception question! A mystery wrapped in a riddle. I think that it would ask me why I write. And the answer is, because I like making lemonade from lemons.

Wolf: Thanks for visiting. You can find H. L. Brooks on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook – @hlbrookswrites

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