Fiction Fans
- Feb 15

Book Tour Q&A: Ghostly Howls by Stephanie Hansen

Today we're taking part in the book tour organized by Escapist Book Tours for Ghostly Howls by Stephanie Hansen! Continue reading for the book blurb and a Q&A with the author.

About the book

Irish folklore meets small town USA

A heartbroken half banshee, a cockle selling soul possessor, and a town haunted by mysteries…if they don’t find the killer, Orla and Molly might die before finding their soulmates.

Orla and Dave’s love has been unrequited for as long as they can remember. Cormac and Molly are used to drawing outside the lines. None of them are prepared for the new ghostly neighbors.

In a town that’s always ostracized them, can Molly and Orla finally use their powers openly in order to save the citizens?

On to the interview...!

Thank you so much for joining us for this Q&A! We’ll start off with one of our standard podcast opening questions–tell us something great that’s happened recently.

Recently surgery and treatment brought back my hearing in my non dead ear after the eardrum in it ruptured and I became deaf in that ear too. It was a reminder not to take things for granted and to celebrate stories of overcoming. It also gives further meaning to Molly’s story in Ghostly Howls. I hope when readers read her story they’re reminded of a time they overcame something too.

What are you currently reading or what’s up next on your TBR? What made you pick up this book?

I’m currently rereading The Whispering Dark by Kelly Andrew. It has many of the things I enjoy: deaf representation, parallel worlds, love interest, and mystery. The Memory Librarian by Janelle Monáe is next up on my TBR. as my first book for Black History Month. Not only is it by a local artist but it also full of imagination and inspiration.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and what inspired you to start writing?

My name is Stephanie Hansen, and my world revolves around books. Professionally I’m a literary agent. I help authors land traditional publishing deals as well as subsidiary rights (audio, foreign translation, film, etc.) deals. When I’m not doing that, I’m reading or writing while waiting in the school pick up line. As a child I loved to read but moving around a lot caused me to lose two years’ worth of English in school. Luckily, my grandmother was a reading teacher and she helped me catch up. In part of that process, I put together a picture book (including my own drawings) about a girl saving a horse from an abusive owner. My grandma laminated the book and I still have it to this day. Through my teen years, I found poetry to be very cathartic. My love of writing has evolved through the years and I don’t think it’s something I’ll ever stop.

If you could collaborate with any one author, who would it be and why?

I think it would have to be Seanan McGuire. Her words teleport me to another world. Her books are full of haunting intrigue. Her stories are full of adventure that astonish me every time.

What is one book you want to shout about to the world? What about it makes you love it so much?

I absolutely love One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston! It’s like National Treasure meets Ghost wrapped in an LGBTQ hug. It was one of the most pleasant books to read.

How much do you plan when you write? What’s your writing process like?

I put together a working outline before writing but then I let creativity flow. Same with my characters. I often find actors/roles as examples but adapt the character worksheet based on experiences that pop up during the writing process. I remapped my most recent book quite a bit. Revisions are the most difficult but often also the most rewarding. At first feedback can be daunting but once you’ve had a chance to let it soak in and review it with a professional eye, it’s fun to creatively remake your work.

How much of yourself do you write into your stories?

I think every author writes themselves into their stories a bit whether they mean to or not. “Write what you know”…what can you know better than yourself? All that being said, my characters tend to take over me when I’m writing. I get so into character that my family notices.

What comes first to you when you’re writing, the world, the characters, or the storyline?

Often it’s just an idea that comes to me first. For Ghostly Howls, the constant 90 dB ringing in my severely deaf ear had been bothering me and an idea came to mind…what if this ringing could be a power? From that, scenes begin to take place. They include the characters’ relationships and how they get along, inside jokes and all. The world around them begins to filter in as the scene unfolds.

Describe your book in 3 adjectives.

Rapid, Exhilarating, and Affectionate

Is there anything you can tell us about any current projects you’re working on?

It's a thriller that includes a unilaterally deaf character like me. It's about two young friends going rogue to take justice into their own hands. After both of their siblings are brutally murdered and the crimes go unsolved for far too long, Ezira and Sasha have had enough. Their investigation begins by luring in possible suspects under the guise of potential dates. They quickly find themselves within the enemy's crosshairs.

Thank you so much for taking the time to answer a few questions for us! Do you have any parting thoughts or comments you’d like to leave for our readers?

Thank you for reading! Where would authors be without readers? I hope you enjoy my tale about two young women overcoming danger and finding love. It’s a fast paced novella and a quick read. Please keep supporting the book community. We greatly appreciate you. If you are drawn to writing as well, I hope you follow your dreams.

And finally, where can you be found on the internet if our readers want to hear more from you?

You can find more about me and my books on my website https://www.authorstephaniehansen.com/

TikTok https://www.authorstephaniehansen.com/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/stephaniehansenauthor/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/writer.stephaniehansen

BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/authors/stephanie-hansen

Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/writershansen/

Twitterhttps://twitter.com/hansenwriter