Interview with Norah Lukens

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To seventeen-year-old Norah Lukens, the Cobbogothians were just a myth. But after her archeologist uncle's brutal murder, and being asked to translate one of his old research journals for evidence, she begins a journey to discover the truth for herself.

Chasing the myth her uncle was obsessed with, Norah learns that his murder was a cover up for something far more sinister. If she hopes to save others from suffering the same fate he did--including the peculiarly magnetic James Riley--she must head to Iceland in order to find out the truth once and for all.

If she succeeds, she'll gain the one thing she's always longed for.
But if she fails, not even the gods can help her.

Does your interest in history stem directly from your uncle or do you think you'd be interested regardless? 

It’s actually mythology that my uncle was interested in—he was a myth-chaser.  I think he loved the idea of searching for the kernel of truth that started a myth in the first place.  As far as my interest in mythology, I’m not sure if I would still be drawn to it were it not for Uncle Jack.  He did raise me, and I suppose anyone’s life would be drastically different if they were raised by different people.  But so much of my childhood and who I am is wrapped up in Uncle Jack’s myths and legends, that I can’t really separate what I picked up on my own, from what he gave/forced me to study. 

What was your first emotion when you started to find the meaning behind the notebook?

Fear.  I’m pretty sure fear part is my first emotion for most things.  In my defense, though, I think anyone would be afraid to discover that their entire life turned out to be completely different than they always thought.   But, finding out that the one thing I’ve wanted more than anything was not only possible but probable for me—well, that made all of the fear worth it.

Was there anything you would have done differently within your journey?

No, I don’t think so.  I think it all turned out the way the Gihara meant for it to.  I don’t, however, like to think of what could’ve happened had I done things differently during the blood sum. 

What drew you to James?

The first time I noticed James was when he and Gram moved in across the street.  I spent that entire day up in my cherry tree spying on them.  But I didn’t actually meet James until last summer when Gram collapsed in the driveway because of her cancer.  From that moment on, it was almost like James and I had always been together—like we belonged together.  So I suppose it was just him that drew me in.

What was the most interesting sight you found in Iceland?

Gee, that’s a tough one.  I think flying through the giant crystals to get to Old Cobbogoth was probably the most extraordinary—that and meeting the Gihara, of course.  But really, it was all seriously insane, and I have a feeling I’ve only just gotten started.

Categories: Guest Post