Read. Write. Rebel.

An Interview with Dan O’Mahony, author of the Horror in Harmony series.

So without giving away any spoilers, what can readers expect from Welcome to Harmony?

I’ve always had a thing for werewolves, and I wanted a protagonist that was a young one. I think it can be a potent metaphor for adolescence, going through a “change” that you can’t quite understand or control. I also think it can be a metaphor for alienation, you know, feeling different on the inside than everyone else.

I like it. Very literary.

Thanks. I prefer to write very character-centered stories. If that qualifies as literary, I’ll take it.

What else can we expect from Welcome to Harmony? No spoilers!

It takes place in a small town that is filled with secrets. Let’s just say there are different supernatural communities living in Harmony, and my protagonist, Dillon, is introduced to them so he learns he is part of a larger supernatural world.

He finds a place to fit in. I like it. That’s very important for kids that age.

I think that’s important for everyone at every age.

True. So acceptance and belonging are some themes in the book. What are some others?

No spoilers. Dillon becomes part of a very diverse group of friends that cross the supernatural-spectrum: werewolves, witches, vampires, and even a ghost. So I guess friendship and diversity can be considered themes as well.

Nice. Anything else?

Family too. Dillon’s parents aren’t exactly thrilled to have a son that’s a werewolf. There are other family dynamics to explore in the book as well.

I like it. Where do you expect to go from here?

There are two more Harmony books for sale. Gwen Gladstone and Bloodline. They’re not sequels. They’re companion pieces. Since the town of Harmony has such a diverse supernatural population, I want to explore to explore each group further but through the eyes of another protagonist.

So no more Dillon?

No. The characters will crossover from book-to-book, so you haven’t seen the last of Dillon. And sequels aren’t out of the question. Dillon’s story has just begun. Welcome to Harmony is just his coming-of-age story.

Great. Well thank you for your time. I loved Welcome to Harmony and can’t wait to dive into Gwen Gladstone and Bloodline. I encourage our readers to check them out as well. They may be intended for middle-grade readers, but I know of many teens and adults who have enjoyed it as well.