Paranormal Romance/Romantasy
Date Published: 02/06/2024
DEMONS DON'T DO LOVE...
Lust and lies? Now those, Jovi can handle.
But falling for a demon hunter like Nash Rogan?
Really dumb move for a succubus on the run.
ROGAN'S NO FOOL...
But he's acting like one. Breaking rules, spilling secrets—touching her.
He lives in the shadows. But the more Jovi lights him up, the less he wants to go back to the dark.
Sparks fly when Jovi and Rogan are forced to flee—and fight—as an unwilling duo in HOLY SMOKE, the first in the HELLBOUND series by Gin Griffith.
Interview with Gin Griffith
Have you read anything that made you think differently about fiction?
When I read the first book in JR Ward’s BLACK DAGGER BROTHERHOOD series, my mind was blown. I was already a devourer of romance and fantasy, but I’d never read anything with that much…attitude. It opened up the world of urban fantasy/paranormal romance for me and gave me the confidence to use my voice and express myself freely (aka use a lot of F-bombs) in my own writing. I am still a superfan and incredibly grateful to the Warden for that!
How do you select the names of your characters?
Haha, by spending WAY too much time on baby name websites! I usually have a visual of my characters before anything. I know their ethnicity and personality and I go from there. I try not to use names that are super common in my genre, and it’s also really important to me that my names are easy to read, visually appealing on the page, and (FFS) pronounceable. In my opinion, nobody should question how to say a character’s name—it’s too important!
Do you hide any secrets in your books that only a few people will find?
Yep! If you know me, you’ll spot them. Street names, weird little phrases that I personally use, etc.
What was your hardest scene to write?
Rogan’s Dark Night Of The Soul.
Do you want each book to stand on its own, or are you trying to build a body of work with connections between each book?
Both. I am, first and foremost, a reader. It’s super important to me that my readers feel two things at the end of my books—satisfied and eager for more.
What were your goals and intentions in this book, and how well do you feel you achieved them?
I think people get really caught up in categorizing themselves. We all want to feel like we belong, but I think we get carried away trying to identify ourselves as Something. It drives me insane to see people reducing themselves or others to One Thing. I don’t believe anyone can be defined by just one aspect of their being. There are layers and dualities to everyone, and I wanted to explore that in a really literal way. I hope I achieved that!
What inspired you to write HOLY SMOKE ?
Honestly, I was reading a romance book that I found truly terrible. (I don’t remember what it was, don’t ask!) I tossed it down and said to myself, “I could do so much better.” I’ve been writing since I was old enough to hold a pen, and was honored to learn from some amazing fiction writers during my undergrad career, but I’d never attempted a full-length novel before, much less an entire series. I finally told myself to nut up and do it already.
Can you tell us a little bit about the next books in the HELLBOUND series or what you have planned for the future?
Each of the Demon Eradication squad members will get their own book. We’ll get to watch them find love while the overarching story continues to evolve and expand. Our squad is in for some crazy times!
Can you tell us a little bit about the characters in HOLY SMOKE?
The story revolves around the Demon Eradication squad, a group of six people who have become a family while fighting demons in secret. We’ve got a few shapeshifters on the team, a couple mages with various magical abilities, and our broody leader Nash Rogan, a human with no powers at all (and a chip on his shoulder because of it).
Rogan is super Type A, very focused and controlled. He’s constantly trying to prove himself, so when he gets thrown into Witness Protection after witnessing a magical mafia crime, he’s pissed that he can’t accomplish the team’s latest assignment. He’s also pissed that he can’t seem to keep his hands off the woman in WITPRO with him.
Jovi is Rogan’s complete opposite—wild, brash, gluttonous—and a demon in disguise. She loves pushing his buttons, and it’s super fun watching them get closer and closer while irritating the hell out of each other. Jovi isn’t really evil, though she has no problem torching enemies with her fire magic. She has some other surprising abilities that come to light and exemplify the duality of her nature. Watching them fall for each other is so much fun.
What did you enjoy most about writing this book?
When your characters shove their way to the forefront and say/do things you didn’t intend, they become so freaking real. That’s my favorite part. It can be really irritating when they don’t follow your plan, but I think it always makes for better characters and a deeper story. Some of the shit that comes out of Jovi’s mouth literally made me laugh out loud while I was writing it. I mention in my Afterward that I don’t know where half of this book came from—when you’re in the zone, you don’t feel like you’re driving, you’re just along for the ride. That’s the best part.
About the Author
Social Media Links
Author on Instagram / Twitter / Facebook - @gingriffithofficial
Publisher on Instagram / Twitter / Facebook - @harborlanebooks
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