Bitten by Books
The excerpt below is from my fifth book, Lies Ripped Open. I got to say that three years ago when I published my first book, Crimes Against Magic, I had no idea that I’d be on book five. To be honest, I wasn’t even sure if I’d be doing book two. And four years ago I had no idea I’d ever be published, no matter how much I wanted or worked toward it.So, yes a lot has happened in the three and bit years since my first book was published. But although there have been a lot of changes in my life (including a new baby), the one thing that never changed is the love for writing. The love for telling stories and entertaining people, to put words on a page that create a whole new world for people to explore, and for people to enjoy the craziness that comes out of my head.
Book five is out and I’ve still got lots more stories to tell, both in the Hellequin Chronicles and with new characters. In fact the more I write, the more my brain creates new stories, like some bizarre perpetual motion machine. I for one wouldn’t have it any other way, and I hope you join me.
Excerpt from Lies Ripped Open:
“New Forest, England. Now.
There are people out in the big wide world who don’t believe in luck. They don’t believe that luck plays any kind of part in our lives. These people are, if I’m brutally honest, fucking idiots.
The idea that luck plays no part in our day-to-day existence on this massive rock ignores the fact that it played a part in us being able to exist in the first place. Luck is evident in our lives wherever you look. Sure, ability, coincidence, and just downright hard work all play a massive role, but luck can sometimes mean the difference between being in the right place at the right time and, well, not.
Case in point, it was clearly a little bit of luck, whether good or bad, that saw me in the living room of my house, turning on the large HDTV and switching to one of the twenty-four-hour news channels at exactly the same moment as they cut to a clean-shaven, young man with short, dark hair, wearing a dark suit and talking in somber tones about a hostage situation that was taking place in the Southampton shopping center, West Quay.
I went to the kitchen to grab a bottle of water from the fridge and returned, taking a seat on my leather couch and increasing the volume of the TV.
“We’re now entering hour four of the standoff,” the man said.”
Read a 5 star review of Lies Ripped Open by clicking here.
Buy a print copy of Lies Ripped Open from Amazon by clicking here.
Buy a Kindle copy of Lies Ripped Open from Amazon by clicking here.
Books in the Hellequin Chronicles in the order they should be read:
Crimes Against Magic
Born of Hatred
With Silent Screams
Prison of Hope
Lies Ripped Open
About Steve McHugh
Author Bio:
Steve McHugh is the author of the popular Hellequin Chronicles. The fifth book, Lies Ripped Open, is out now. He 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.
Connect with Steve
| Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Books by Steve McHugh
| Reviews of Steve’s Books |
CONTEST INFO: Open to readers worldwide.
Prize: $25.00 Amazon Gift Card
Be SURE to TWEET and FACEBOOK this link using the SHARING is CARING buttons below so your friends can enter too.
Do you have a time of day you prefer to write?
Not really. I just sit down and start. The time of day doesn’t bother me.
Who are some of your favourite authors?
Terry Pratchett, Kelley Armstrong, Robin Hobb, Jim Butcher, Warren Ellis, Alan Moore, and many, many more.
If you could only give ONE piece of advice to newbie authors and writers, what advice do you think is the most important one to give? One PRO to becoming an author? One CON to becoming an author?
One piece of advice is write what you love. People will say you can’t do this or that, and if those things work for the story then do them. Nothing worse than writing something you don’t love.
One positive: It is literally the most awesome job I can imagine that isn’t ninja or astronaut.
One con: It’s a very lonely job when you get right down to it. Long hours alone while you learn your craft, while you write your book, while you edit or research. I don’t mind it myself, but it’s an acquired taste.
Thanks very much for having me here for the…well it’s evening here.
1) What’s your favourite place to read? My bedroom.
2) If you could be any superhero, who and why? Isis: she possessed numerous powers, has her roots in Egyptian mythology, and always fought evil.
3) If you could live in any one movie universe, what one and why? Stargate: I would love to travel through a Stargate, find another hospitable planet, and go there.
Hello! Are there any new fall releases that you are excited about?
Star Wars: Aftermath by Chuck Wendig
Shadows of Self by Brandon Sanderson
The Aeronaut’s Windlass by Jim Butcher
Those are the big three off the top of my head.
1. I like to read wherever it is quiet. Standing in the kitchen while making dinner is a favorite.
2. I’d love to be a kick butt Valkyrie.
3. I don’t have a movie universe in mind. If Chris as Thor is there, I’ll be happy :).
When you write do you picture actors as y our characters or envision them all totally new?
Mostly totally new. In my head I think Nate looks like Lucas Hood from Banshee. Other than that I don’t really see them as anyone famous.
Hi. Congratulations on your new release. What is your favorite book or series that you have written so far and why????
Thanks very much. My newest, Lies Ripped Open is my favourite. It’s the one I felt the least pressure on, and the one I had the most fun writing.
If you have been waiting fora book in a series to come out but are busy when it is published would you save it to read when you have more time or keep reading bits every chance you get?
Read bits when I got the chance, which would turn into read the whole thing in 2 days. As is what usually happens.
Welcome, Steve!
Thanks for having me!
You are a huge inspiration for me. I find your style of magic lovely and the spellslinging use that the Hellequin utilizes to be incredibly entertaining. Something I think lacks among most urban fantasy.
How many books do you have planned out at the moment?
Thanks for the kind words. They mean a lot.
The number of books is about 20ish. I’ve got a few offshoots and mini series with other characters I’d like to do too.
Thank you for being the writer I need
What’s your favourite place to read?
—- Sometimes my favorite places to read depends on how I am feeling at the time. There are moments when I want fresh air and feel the wind on my person. I use to have a lawn chair that I would sit in the shade and read (but my sons broke my chair! Even if it was a dreaded ugly pink color it was comfy). Other times I will lay on the couch, surrounded by my pack of Weiner dogs (they see someone laying and they have to cuddle up)
If you could be any superhero, who and why?
— Honestly? I am not too impressed with the Superheroes out there. Yeah, I like Tony Stark’s snark.. but none that I would want to be… Now book heroes, I would LOVE to be like Tamra from Mercedes Lackey’s Valdemar books. She is so kick ass! She tells people how she sees it and damned with the consequences. Even though her voice box was damaged she still tries to sing. Sadly, I get beat down too easily and talked over.
If you could live in any one movie universe, what one and why?
—- Would anime work in the “movie universe”? Lol. I am really into the fantasy world, like Middle Earth and Fearun (Forgotten Realm/DnD/Wizards of the Coast, whatever you want to call it). I think it might be fun to live in the Slayers universe. Although I don’t think I would want to worry about running into Lina Inverse and her band. It would be interesting to visit the Aquarion world… there is so many fun characters! Oh man, I would totally love to visit Fairy Tail’s world just so I can witness Grey’s subconscious stripping. LOL. See so many bad ass wizards..
Interesting answers. And yes, anime totally works.
Yay!
When do we get to meet Morgan Le Fay?
Sorry, Pam, my reply is below this and not replied to you directly. My apologies.
I don’t know if you’ve read the books, but Morgan was in book 1, Crimes Against Magic, and she’s not going to be in it just yet, but I do have plans for her to return.
Yes I read the book (pre-order for kindle is dangerous) looking forwards to meeting her in the present rather than the past
You will get to meet her in the present. It’s probably not going to be the happiest of reunions though.
Ooohhhh! That will be fun!
Congratulations on the release of Lies Ripped Open! The Hellequin Chronicles sounds like a fascinating series. Who is your favorite character from the books you have written ? Was this character easy or difficult to write?
Thanks very much. Nate’s the easiest to write, because he’s been in my head for so long, but my favourite is probably Tommy the werewolf because he’s a big geek who happens to be able to rip people’s arms off and I find him a lot of fun.
With your stories flicking backwards and forwards in time what ideas tend to come first, the past scenario or the one set in the present? How much research do you have to do with each novel?
Finally (sorry!), these books are so competent, well written and just plain good, these can’t have been the first you wrote. Even if your first attempts aren’t for publication do they still exist and what are their themes?
Thank you for your kind words.
Always present first. It’s easier to figure out the past stuff once I know where the present is going to take place.
My first book was called For Past Sins and it’s awful and sits on a memory stick in a drawer. I wrote bits and pieces before that, but never completed anything. So Crimes Against Magic was the 2nd full book I ever wrote.
1) Favourite place to read - anywhere really bit probably in bed when it’s pouring with rain outside. A glass of wine doesn’t hurt:-)
2) Superhero - I’d be Violet Parr from the Incredibles (grown up tho!)
3) Film universe would have to be Star Trek’s, it assumes a good future for the human race and we ultimately beat the Borg so win-win.
Star Trek would be pretty cool.
Hey Steve!
Thanks for writing such an engrossing series. My question is:
How far have you planned out the storyline of Hellequin? Is the endgame, and eventual “big bad” already planned out? (and is it the Merlin?)
I don’t want to say who it is, but it’s all planned out, yes. I know exactly who the big bad is, why they’re doing it and what happens to them.
Hello Steve, your books sound amazing! Looking forward to reading them. What are some of your favorite horror movies?
Hi Linda, thanks very much. I like Nightmare on Elm Street, Halloween, Tucker and Dale vs Evil, You’re next, lots of Asian horror too, like I saw the devil, which isn’t technically horror, but is more terrifying than a lot of horror movies.
Do you have a favorite stand-alone novel?
Good Omens. Wonderful book.
Who’s your favorite SIMPSONS character and why?
Sideshow Bob. The early seasons episodes with him in them were my favourite.
I tend to read on the couch, in bed, or on a bus or train!
I’d be Super Grover-after all, he’s Grover, but with super powers! I’d finally get to see Sesame Street, and as a bonus, the problems are all cute and low-stress!
The BILL AND TED’S movie universes would be fun…kind of daffy, with cool intersections. They pretty much had me at the “playing catch with Socrates” scene in the first one…
Awesome choices!
How long did it take you to write your first story? How long did it take to get published?
From the day I decided to get serious about writing, it took me 3 ish years to finish the book, which was rubbish. Probably another 4 to write Crimes Against Magic and get it published. So, about 7 years in all.
How do you decide if a book is going to be a stand alone or part of a series?
If I can think of more than one story then it’s a series, or a trilogy, or something. Otherwise it’s standalone.
1) What’s your favorite place to read?
My bedroom.
2) If you could be any superhero, who and why?
Batman, because he is still human
3) If you could live in any one movie universe, what one and why?
Dune, love the idea
Do you have full control over what the titles of your books will be?
My Publisher has always let me keep my title without changing it.
Hi Steve and Congratulations! It’s so nice to chat with you again! Your book sounds awesome!
Do you find it difficult to name your characters?
My answers:
1. What’s your favourite place to read? My favourite place to read is on the porch in nice weather and in the living room in the winter. However, I do read every night in bed and I also read using my Kindle while I use my treadmill.
2. If you could be any superhero, who and why? Wonder Woman because I like her Lasso of Truth.
3. If you could live in any one movie universe, what one and why? Star Trek so I could say “Beam me up, Scottie”, for real!
Sometimes, yes. The major characters can be quite hard work if I want something that suits them, or if their names aren’t even human. I tend to change names a lot before I’m happy with them.
Thank you, Steve! I thought it could be a difficult process, akin to naming a child.
if you could go anywhere in the world on a Vacation where would you go?
Tokyo. Always wanted to go to Japan.
What things inspired you to write books ?
My wife and kids inspire me to write. But I also wanted to write books t hat I’d enjoy to read.
What book or books are you currently reading?
1) What’s your favorite place to read? Living room
hi Steve,
what types of movies do you like?
I like all kinds. Lots of Asian thrillers and the like. Anime, comedy, horror. Not a big fan of romance movies, which thankfully my wife feels the same about so I’m not inflicted too often.
Do you have any writing or reading rituals?
Nope. I just sit down and get on with writing. Same with reading. My only ritual for writing is probably closing my office door.
1. What’s your favourite place to read?
My deck or my bed
2. If you could be any superhero, who and why? I would love to be Catwoman or Black Widow because they’re both badass ladies, they don’t need men to save them, and they’ve both been described as being on the knives edge of good and evil.
3.If you could live in any one movie universe, what one and why?
Wizarding World of Harry Potter because I just love the idea of being around magic and that amazing world…after Harry Potter saved the world that is.
What do you like to do for exercise?
I used to do Kung Fu and Kickboxing, but they fell by the wayside a while ago, so now I mostly just go to the gym do some weights and cardio.
who is your favorite author?
Today it’s Terry Pratchett. Tomorrow it’ll be Stephen Kind, or Robin Hobb. It changes almost daily.
Have your job experiences ever found a way into your books? What was the worst job you ever had?
Worst job I ever had is a hard one. I worked for a shipping company about 10 years ago, which sucked, mostly because everyone there was a massive bellend.
I would like to get some old work experience into books, maybe just to destroy the places.
1) The kitchen or my bed.
2) Superman, or rather Superwoman:) Superstrength, flight etc
3) Star Trek universe. They have transporters:)
Are there any other genres you would have an interest in writing?
I’m currently writing a sci-fi book, and I have plans for a fantasy series and a thriller. So a few, yes.
Wheres your favorite place to write?
My office. It’s lockable and full of all my stuff. It’s awesome.
Hi Steve and everyone. I’m sorry I am late to join the discussion. I have been in class both days. I finished reading Lies Ripped Open, and I loved it. You really upped the ante, but also made a serious labyrinthine story with this one. I was exhaused just by reading it. I couldn’t imagine how Nate and his posse must have felt! My questions:
Without spoiling overmuch, I’ve noticed that Merlin isn’t portrayed as a kindly old wizard in the books. What was the process you underwent in crafting Merlin in his persona in the Hellequin series?
another question:
What movies/stories were you inspired by in writing Lies Ripped Open? Specifically the prison scene.
Sorry for the late reply, last few days of school holidays have been crazy. Glad you enjoyed the book.
I always knew the kind of person Merlin was going to be in the present day. That’s not to say he was always that way, but he’s definitely become less friendly as he’s aged.
I don’t know if there was a movie that inspired the prison scene, although Raid 2 probably played a part, I just wanted a scene where Nate was pushed to the brink of loosing control over helping his friends. And I needed someone to bring him back from that.
Name your top 3 favorite things (other than writing) to do and why
Be with my family.
Play video games.
Read.
The first is always going to be spending time with my family. My wife and 3 girls are the most important things to me in the world, so there’s never any doubt about that. I love videogames, have done since i was 10 years old. They relax me.
I read a lot. Books and comics mostly, but I find it nice to chill out with a good story for a few hours.
Is there going to be any change in the conflicted relationship between Nate and Merlin?
How much research on myths, folklore and legends do you do for each book? Do you do it as you go?
I’ll answer the second part first. There’s quite a lot of research that goes into myths and the like. Even if I’m going to ultimately change the character from the original stories (like I did with Hades or the griffins), I still want to know the ins and outs of that character before I make any changes.
As for Merlin and Nate, that’s going to come to a head. And probably not in the, “everyone happily makes up” sense.
That confrontation between Nate and Merlin was intense. I had a knot in my stomach. I always liked Merlin, but he’s a tool in your series. Well done!