December 2012 Bewitching Book Tour Magazine

Interview With Crista McHugh What is the Soulbearer trilogy about?

The trilogy focuses around Arden, a witch who accidentally becomes the Soulbearer for Loku, the disembodied God of Chaos. Suddenly, a girl who’s spent most of her life trying to avoid attention is at the center of all kinds of trouble.

Tell us about this book, A Soul for Chaos. What is it about? How does it tie into the trilogy?

A Soul For Chaos is the second book in the trilogy. In this book, Arden finally gets to Gravaria to start her training on how to control Loku (or more appropriately, learn how to keep Loku from controlling her). She’s still torn between two men—her sexy but duty-bound protector, Dev, and the handsome romantic Prince Kell. But she has bigger things to worry about. A group of powerful mages are trying their best to destroy Loku once and for all, and she’s caught in the crossfire.

What inspired you to write this trilogy?

I got struck by a plot bunny that involved a character who constantly heard the voice of someone trying to influence her and get her into trouble. The rest of the story evolved from there.

Is the mythology in this series inspired by real-life mythology? (For example, is Loku based on a mythological chaos god such as the Norse Loki?)

Yes, Loku is loosely based on Loki. He’s a trickster, which made him an excellent God of Chaos. However, he threatened to destroy the world a few centuries before the series takes place by opening door between this realm and the realm of chaos (which I picture to be like Tartarus from the Dreamworks film, Sinbad). So, like the misbehaving gods of ancient mythology, he was punished by the other gods. In Loku’s case, his body was destroyed, and his powers were locked along with his soul inside the Soulbearer.

Do you have a favorite scene and/or character?

I admit I do have a soft spot for Loku. He has no problem telling Arden exactly what’s on his mind—the good, the bad, and the ugly. He also borders on slightly insane, which is always a tension breaker when needed.

What inspires and motivates you to write stories?

Um, those little voices inside my head? Seriously, I often find myself thinking about a character so much that I just HAVE to get their story out or it will drive me nuts.