Michelle Hamilton
What’s behind the minds of Lily and Will, lead characters in recently published book by Dragonfly Media Publishing, Windigo? Find out in this recent interview with author Michelle Hamilton.
Q: The heroine in your most recent novel, Windigo, is a witch. Why foray into the mystical for this character?
MH: The mystical world has always fascinated me – adding it into my books isn’t new for me. In Child of Chaos, the statue of Seth, the Egyptian god of chaos, is imbued with mystical qualities, and in that book’s sequel, Child of War, which I’m currently writing, that mystical world will be even stronger. I wanted to explore that world even more with Lily in Windigo. I wanted to portray a modern “kitchen” witch, her day-to-day activities and thought processes and then contrast her with the person she becomes: a witch with substantially more power.
Q: Will is an interesting blend of soldier, labourer and woodsman. Which do you feel identifies him most closely?
MH: It was kind of the point with Will to show a split persona. That’s part of his struggle in the novel, a fact that’s highlighted in Chapter 12 when he tells Lily about the “skin name” his Native American uncle had given him: Man-split-in-two. Part of the resolution in the book has to do with his ability to find a balance with these two people within him – just as Lily needs to find that balance between being a witch and being an everyday citizen of modern-day Munising, Michigan.
Q: The reader learns right from the start that there is a history between Will and Lily. Why is this important to their adult characters?
MH: I’m not sure if it was necessarily important to the characters when they became adults – it definitively affected their relationship when Will and Lily met again but I think they would have been drawn to each other regardless. They both have old souls.
Q: What did you like the most about Lily? Least?
MH: I think what I liked most and least about Lily is the same: her ability to self-sacrifice. She is constantly sacrificing herself for those around her – even those who do not think well of her – because that’s the kind of person she is. While noble, at times I wanted her to chuck all the responsibilities and simply tell the ignorant townspeople to deal with their own problems. But then she wouldn’t have overcome those issues later on. I think it is a good lesson in perseverance and acceptance.
Q: Is Will your favourite male lead in your books?
MH: That’s hard. There are parts of him that I like better than Jozef in The Sleeping Assassin or Alex in Child of Chaos, but then parts of those characters I like better than Will. For example, I like Will’s steady calm and the way he woos Lily, but then I also like Alex’s temper or Jozef’s commanding presence.
Look for more upcoming Q&A with the authors or check out these novels.
