Interview with Ingrid Koivukangas, Author of Hunters of the Dream

When the summer holidays begin, Aurora thinks she’s just a normal teenager about to have another boring summer. Then, for her seventeenth birthday, Nana Brin gives her a long-silent Oracle that has been passed down through their family for generations. The mysterious Oracle soon awakens in response to the creeping Darkness that is escaping and destroying all worlds. Aurora must quickly find the courage to come to terms with her calling as the Huntress of the Dream.

Interview with the Author

How did you become involved with the subject or theme of your book?
Working as an environmental artist I enter a world of wonder. I communicate with the Earth, the Spirit world, and the Animal, Insect and Plant worlds to create work that connects viewers to natural sites and the energy, and memories, they contain. I was called to expand upon the way that I work; to communicate messages from the Earth and Spirit worlds, with a wider audience–especially with youth. In writing Hunters of the Dream I want to invite readers, through story, into a world of wonder where they can begin to access their own innate memories of ancient mysteries and our deep connections to all beings, both seen and unseen.

What were your goals and intentions in this book, and how well do you feel you achieved them?
Hunters of the Dreams, weaves together the way that I work, both as an artist and Reiki healer, with the magic of writing and calling forth characters and stories. As an artist I work in this magical space where I walk between worlds. I work with, and through, dreams as well as meditations. In this way my environmental art practice is similar to the work of shamans and healers. Through the Hunters of the Dream trilogy, I want to encourage readers to begin to imagine that they too can affect the world around them with their thoughts and emotions. I want to invite them to remember a time when they too were deeply connected to the, Earth and to remember the magic they felt in the presence of, Nature.
I’ve had some great feedback from readers who have tried some of the teachings that Aurora receives from Nana Brin in Book One: The Gathering…they tell me they work J I’ve also been told the same thing about the Eco Heart Oracle, the Oracle guides the character’s journey – the cards in the deck speak to people.

What was the hardest part of writing this book?
The hardest part of writing Hunters of the Dream was overcoming my own blocks and fears of becoming a fulltime writer and author. Sometimes when you’ve held a dream so close to your heart, and for so many years, it becomes challenging to move forward into the unknown. It can be very scary to begin to walk into your dreams, trusting that your intuition is leading you in the right direction. I encourage anyone who is struggling with this to, just keep writing. Keep believing.

What did you enjoy most about writing this book?
I love writing. I love the magic that takes place when I begin to receive the story. When the characters arrive and introduce themselves. I love weaving threads of history into the present, into the book, and into the future. I love adding threads of some of my personal experiences working with Nature and Mystery to the story.

How did you get to be where you are in your life today?
A lot of hard work and determination, combined with trusting and following my intuition! I was a graphic designer and loved my work. But after a few years I began to question what I was doing with my creative gifts. I didn’t think I came here to make ads, logos and magazines for the rest of my life – it felt like I was copping out. So, I quit my job and returned to school, as a single parent with two children. I completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, which included electives in Creative Writing, and then a Master of Fine Arts degree, and then I started a PhD. I was two years into my PhD work when I realized that I just loved researching and exploring new ideas and didn’t need another degree. I dropped out of my program – it was extremely hard to let go of that, but I didn’t think I came here to be an academic. After I graduated from my MFA program I got a teaching job, at the college I started at, and became a professor. I was honored to be there and, I loved working with students and watching them blossom into artists. I did not love the politics of teaching, and quit after six years. Letting go of teaching, and taking a break from being an artist allowed me the time to begin to really move towards my first love – being a writer and author. I will always be an environmental artist – it’s part of who I am – and it informs my writing. My artist skills also allowed me to create the Eco Heart Oracle deck.

For those interested in exploring the subject or theme of your book, where should they start?
I am in the process of creating a membership website where readers can continue their journey into the world of Hunters of the Dream. Membership is free to readers, and gives them access to complimentary art and writing projects. Paid modules are also available for a nominal fee. The paid modules will be especially appealing to youth, parents and home schoolers who are interested in developing a deeper understanding of our sacred connections to the natural and Spirit world through a variety of teachings and videos. Signup to become a member here:
bit.ly/EnterAWorldofWonder
 
Thank you for inviting me to your blog, Angela!

Thank you, Ingrid, for joining me today on my blog for a very special interview. I can't wait to read Hunters of the Dream!

Ingrid Koivukangas, BFA, MFA, is an award winning environmental artist, writer, designer, Reiki Master and educator.
 
As an artist Ingrid works intuitively at sites creating new works in response to sites and their energies and histories both natural and human. Her work encompasses many media including site specific ephemeral, large scale public works, writing, video, photography, sound, web, sculpture, painting, drawing and printmaking.
 
Ingrid's artworks have been exhibited in Canada, the USA, Europe and Asia. She's been featured as an artist in residence on CBC-TV; has had numerous gallery exhibitions; has many site specific ephemeral works left in situ and large scale permanent public art projects.
 
Ingrid's artworks have been included in many publications and books including: Art in Action: Nature, Creativity and Our Collective Future, published by the Natural World Museum and the United Nations Environmental Programme and Art + Science Now: How scientific research and technological innovation are becoming key to 21st-century aesthetics by Stephen Wilson, Professor of Conceptual and Information Arts at San Francisco State University. One of her favourite publications to be included in is Scholastic Book's Now See This! Art That Influences.
 
Ingrid has a Bachelor of Fine Arts, with Distinction, from the University of British Columbia Okanagan and a Master of Fine Arts, Environmental Sculpture, from the University of Calgary. You can view her work at: www.ingridkoivukangas.com
 
Ingrid lives on Salt Spring Island with her husband Robin, two dogs, Lucy and Scout, and a fierce cat named Hunter.
 
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Links:
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13548228.Ingrid_Koivukangas
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IKoivukangas
Twitter: https://twitter.com/HuntersTheDream
Website: www.IngridKoivukangas.com
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Hunters-Dream-Book-One-Gathering-ebook/dp/B0194J80JA
Chapters/Indigo:https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/hunters-of-the-dream-book/9780973632767-item.html
 
NOTE: Hunters of the Dream will be available at Amazon from February 22 to March 20 for only $0.99
 
Get a free online Eco Heart Oracle reading. http://bit.ly/FreeEcoHeartOracleReading
 
Visit the World of Wonder membership site. This site is for Hunters of the Dream readers. Continue exploring the world of Hunters of the Dream: http://bit.ly/EnterAWorldofWonder

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​Ingrid Koivukangas will be awarding an Eco Heart Oracle Deck valued at $28 US, (the Eco Heart Oracle is an integral part of the Hunters of the Dream trilogy) to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour (International Giveaway).

a Rafflecopter giveaway

For more interviews, book excerpts, and giveaway chances from Ingrid, check out her book tour.