Faith Hunter Q&A: Rift in the Soul “Adding magic didn’t make anything easier for anyone.”

The urban fantasy author of the Jane Yellowrock series stops by as part of her blog tour for her latest novel!

Faith Hunter talks to Monster Complex™ about the fun—and challenges—of writing a magical story that is also a police drama.

Urban fantasy author Faith Hunter continues her paranormal procedural Soulwood series with the latest novel, Rift in The Soul (Ace). Nell Ingram and her team face a dire, supernatural evil in this newest thrilling paranormal procedural in the New York Times bestselling series.

Currently on a blog tour to promote the new book, the author was kind enough to answer some questions for us. Hunter talked to Monster Complex about what inspired her to write a supernatural police series, the challenges of writing something from two genres at the same time, and how Soulwood exists in the same universe as the Jane Yellowrock books.

Note: Want to know more about the previous books in the series? You can find info about all the books in the Soulwood series here.

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About Rift in the Soul (latest in the Soulwood series):

Nell Ingram and her team face a dire, supernatural evil in this newest thrilling paranormal procedural in the New York Times bestselling Soulwood series.

Nell Ingram draws her powers from deep in the earth, and uses them to help Psy-LED, the Psychometric Law Enforcement Division, which solves paranormal crimes. When a local vampire calls to report a dead body on her compound, Nell knows she and her team have to be ready for anything.

But the dead body is just the beginning of a mystery that involves supernaturals of all kinds, including some of the most powerful vampires in the country. As Nell gets closer to the truth, she begins to understand that the perpetrator is tracking her too—and that there is something personal about this crime. Something with roots that go almost as deep as those in Soulwood.

Find Rift in the Soul on Amazon

About author Faith Hunter

Urban fantasy writer Faith Hunter, born in Louisiana, was raised all over the south. Hunter fell in love with reading in fifth grade, and best loved sci-fi, fantasy, and gothic mystery. She decided to become a writer in high school, when a teacher told her she had talent. Now, she writes full-time: In addition to her Soulwood books (paranormal procedural series), Hunter’s fiction also includes the Jane Yellowrock urban fantasy series, the Rogue Mage series (also urban fantasy), and the Junkyard Cats books (dystopian-esque sci-fi).

Faith Hunter Q&A: Rift in the Soul

Q: The Soulwood books are like a supernatural police series. What inspired this whole setup? (Are you making a “cop series” and ADDING the supernatural elements… or vice versa?)

I started out in police procedurals and thrillers over 30 years ago, in another life, and under another name. I transferred to fantasy, not because writing thrillers was boring, but because I wanted the challenge of adding a world of magic, where every magical act had consequences, some deadly. It wasn’t so much that I added one genre to another, but that I braided two genres together into a paranormal police procedural. It was huge fun! Fingers crossed that I still succeeded in Rift In The Soul.

Q: What are the challenges of setting up the rules for the Soulwood books when they essentially represent two different genres at the same time?

Challenging, but fun. I had to abide by generally accepted police procedures, while allowing some characters to have paranormal gifts—and each gift had dangers associated with it. I had to combine man-made weapons and defenses with magical weapons and defenses, and the countermeasures to both!

Adding magic didn’t make anything easier for anyone. Instead, it added a layer of difficulty to the writing and it was a lively dance to keep from painting myself into a corner.

Q: With the Soulwood books set in the same universe as your Jane Yellowrock books, what are the pros and cons of these series coordinating yet also being separate?

The series are interlaced in the sense that there are some crossover characters and the timeline is interlaced. It was easy when I had a continuity and timeline editor, but she passed away at the end of 2021, and that is the main reason that the Jane Yellowrock series ended. It was too much for my brain to keep up with! The Soulwood series is shorter and more possible and so I was able to write a new one: I hope you enjoy Rift In The Soul!

Q: What are the best ways for readers to connect with you and keep track of your books and other news?

I can be found at FaithHunter.net and at Facebook.com/Official.Faith.Hunter.

Fans can join the fan page at Jane Yellowrock and Faith Hunter’s Worlds Discussion.

Goodreads, Instagram, and Twitter are also available, but I’m there less often.

Monster Complex ™