LUCY BURDETTE: I’ve loved all of Leslie Karst’s books, and today she’s here to celebrate the beginning of a new series, the Orchid Isle mysteries. Hurray Leslie, we’re dying to hear about your fascination with volcanoes!
LESLIE KARST: I’ve lived half-time on the Big Island of Hawai‘i for sixteen years and have been visiting the place since 1990, and one of the primary reasons I keep returning to the “Orchid Island” is the presence of two active volcanoes (three, if you count Hualālai, which looms over the tourist town of Kailua-Kona and last erupted in 1801—just yesterday, in geologic terms).
You see, I’m a bit of a volcano junkie. Which is the reason the plot of my new Orchid Isle mystery, Molten Death, revolves around hot lava.
Leslie at the 2022 eruption of Mauna Loa
So, why, you may ask, would anyone love volcanoes? Aren’t they destructive...and scary?
Yes and yes. But an active volcano is also one of the most awe-inspiring things one can ever see—and feel, hear, and smell, for that matter. Because it’s an experience that truly involves all of your senses:
The mind-boggling sight of the red-and-orange lava beast slithering down the slope towards the ocean.
The intense heat upon your skin, as if the door to a gigantic oven had been opened wide.
The sizzle of the rain on the hot lava, the crackling of the molten rock as it cools, and the explosion of methane gas when the flow overtakes and ignites a small tree.
And finally the acrid smell—and tang—of the sulfuric gas, causing your eyes to sting and your breath to catch.
One of the most memorable volcano experiences I ever had occurred during my first visit to the Big Island, when my volcano-junkie parents (yes, I come by it honestly)—who were spending several months on the island—took my partner (now wife) and me out for a pre-dawn hike to see the current lava flow. After walking for an hour or so over an arid, black landscape more reminiscent of the moon than of a tropical paradise, we spied a red glow and steam rising in the distance and cautiously approached. There at our feet was a gaping hole some ten feet wide that had opened up in the hardened rock.
It was a volcanic skylight: a view down into a lava tube in which a river of molten rock flowed immediately below us, its orange-white magma so bright that it was impossible to stare at for more than a moment. Frightened by the sight—and scalded by the searing-hot steam rising from the hole—we jumped back quickly. Would the rock we were standing upon crumble, too, and send us tumbling into the river of lava?
But the sight proved far too compelling, and as one, the four of us crept forward once again to gaze in awe down into the fiery depths, below.
Leslie and Robin at the lava tube
It was in that moment that I knew I needed to spend more time in this amazing—almost magical—place. A place where the earth is still in flux, growing and breathing before our very eyes, and where we humans bend to the will of the volcano, awed by its majesty and beauty.
Yes, the Big Island was calling out to me to make it my part-time home.
And, okay—I’ll admit it—the tropical flowers, warm, azure ocean, and balmy trade winds are pretty darn compelling, as well....
sexy pink heliconia
Readers: What’s the most awe-inspiring natural phenomenon you’ve ever witnessed? Comment below (with your email address) for a chance to win a copy of my new Orchid Isle mystery, Molten Death! (US residents only)
About MOLTEN DEATH: Retired caterer Valerie Corbin and her wife Kristen have come to the Big Island of Hawai‘i to treat themselves to a well-earned tropical vacation. After the recent loss of her brother, Valerie is in sore need of a distraction from her troubles and is looking forward to enjoying the delicious food and vibrant culture the state has to offer.
Early one morning, the couple and their friend—tattooed local boy, Isaac—set out to see an active lava flow, and Valerie is mesmerized by the shape-shifting mass of orange and red creeping over the field of black rock. Spying a boot in the distance, she strides off alone, pondering how it could have gotten there, only to realize to her horror that the boot is still attached to a leg—a leg which is slowly being engulfed by the hot lava.
Valerie’s convinced a murder has been committed—but as she's the only witness to the now-vanished corpse, who’s going to believe her? Determined to prove what she saw and get justice for the unknown victim, Valerie launches her own investigation. But, thrown into a Hawaiian culture far from the luaus and tiki bars of glossy tourist magazines, she soon begins to fear she may be the next one to end up entombed in shiny black rock . . .
Leslie Karst is the author of the Orchid Isle Mystery Molten Death, of the Lefty Award-nominated Sally Solari series, and of Justice is Served: A Tale of Scallops, the Law, and Cooking for RBG. When not writing, you’ll find her cooking, cycling, gardening, and observing cocktail hour promptly at five o’clock. She and her wife and their Jack Russell mix split their time between Hilo, Hawai‘i and Santa Cruz, California.
It is a bit of a toss-up. I was in Manila, Philippines when a 6 or 7 earthquake hit. The paved street was rolling in waves bouncing cars around like toys. Pieces of concrete were falling off the facades of the buildings. Building did collapse, but luckily not where I was. The other was climbing an active volcano in Indonesia. It erupted every 30 or 40 minutes. I looked down into the mouth of the volcano and could see the hot, red matter at the bottom. The rumble prior to eruption, gave me time to get away from the rim and get behind a boulder so I could avoid the hot ash, gases, and rocks that flew up into the air.
ReplyDeleteYowza--those both sound awe-inspiring, indeed, Patricia! You might want to consider moving to Hawai'i, where you can have earthquakes and eruptions in the same place. :)
DeleteCongratulations on the new series, Leslie . . . it sounds amazing and now I can't wait to find out how Valerie makes out trying to track down the murderer.
ReplyDeleteThe most awe-inspiring natural phenomenon I've ever witnessed? It's a toss-up between seeing Haley's Comet and an eclipse . . . .
Thank you, Joan! I got to see Halley's Comet, too, but it was a few days before I got my first pair of glasses, alas, so it was rather blurry....
DeleteWaterfalls are pretty awe inspiring to me. Just falling like that all the time. I know it's not destructive/rebuilding like you are talking about, but it still inspires.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the new series! I enjoyed this debut (so no need to enter me in the contest).
Water is one of the most powerful forces on earth, Mark, so I'd say it can be equally awe-inspiring as lava! (And just so you know, the sequel to "Molten Death" is called "Waters of Destruction.")
DeleteI saw the geyser gush at Yosemite
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your book release which I enjoyed.
I remember seeing that years ago--it was amazing! Thanks, Dru Ann!
DeleteLeslie congratulations! The new series sounds wonderful. I loved my visits to Hawaii and the Big Island is simply amazing. I was awed by the volcanoes creating more "land' every day.
ReplyDeleteI was on a ship during a gale. It is unusual to feel that out of control and at the mercy of nature. Of course, a rough plane ride can give you the same panicked feeling.
I think being on a ship in a gale sounds truly frightening--but it must have been quite the experience, Judy!
DeleteI do find the idea of being close to an erupting volcano, not to mention a LAVA TUBE, scary! But you used it to great advantage in the new book, which I loved, as you know.
ReplyDeleteI've lived through a few fiercesome blizzards, and the Sylmar (CA) earthquake in 1971 was pretty bad, too.
Blizzards, and earthquakes, and lava--oh, my! (Yes, reading about all these things is making me feel a little like Dorothy in Oz, lol.) And thank you, my dear!
DeleteWe survived a Category 4 Hurricane in 2022 the day after coming home from a trip to Hawaii. Hurrying to put away everything that could blow away. I kept watching the day of the biggest storm I've ever been through and it was amazing and scary. Watching neighbors roofs fly off, all kinds of debris floating down the street which was like a river. Listening to the roaring winds. The next day we found that our fence had blown away, we lost a few of the solar panels and something sharp had pierced the roof over the garage. We were the lucky ones. Thank you so much for this chance at your giveaway. pgenest57 at aol dot com
ReplyDeleteNow THAT truly reminds me of The Wizard of Oz--yikes! So glad you were okay, Paula!
DeleteThe most awe-inspiring natural phenomenon I've ever witnessed? My wife's smile. Naturally.
ReplyDeleteAww.
DeleteAww, indeed!
DeleteI have been to Iceland twice and the Big Island of Hawai'i once but I saw no active volcanoes!
ReplyDeleteThe large geysers in Iceland were pretty impressive.
Dang, Grace--the timing was just not right! But I bet those Icelandic geysers are amazing!
DeleteWe have been to the lava field at Volcanoes National Park, but I'm way too chicken to get as close as you and Robin did to that incredible volcano skylight, Leslie! But your description of a booted leg slowly vanishing into 1000-degree lava gave me the willies! I know I'll enjoy revisiting the Orchid Island with you.
ReplyDeleteProbably the most incredible natural phenomenon I've seen was part of the Great Migration in Tanzania. It's impossible to describe clearly enough the literally hundreds of thousands of animals that stream in an endless and relentless procession for a hundred miles through the Serengeti. Zebras and wildebeests, crossing the Mara River, thousands at a time, with crocodiles yanking individuals down into the water to save for later, vultures waiting for the leftovers, and the rank smell of death everywhere. What a privilege to get to witness that ancient recurrence.
Wow, that sounds truly incredible, Karen! I've see film of the phenomenon, but I can imagine that seeing it in person is simply astounding! Lucky you!
DeleteThe most frightening and aweinspiring phenomenon is a toss up: was caught driving through a flash flood at night or the earthquake that shook my CT office.
ReplyDeleteYikes to both of those! Though--being from California--I'll take most earthquakes over a flash flood. Yowza!
DeleteHi Leslie, Congratulations on the new series! I've greatly enjoyed your Sally Solari books.
ReplyDeleteYour description of the Big Island is so compelling--my sister has done several amazing volcano hikes in Hawai'i, but I have not. I do have vivid memories of the eruption of Mt. St. Helens in 1980 and the powerful devastation it brought. Our view on clear days in Portland was forever changed because that perfect mountain literally blew her top.
I've been lucky enough to spend a lot of time in nature over the years and so have many images in my head. One that truly took my breath away was watching sandhill cranes return to a little lake in Texas. We drove out to this place where they spend the winter. At sunset, the sky filled with them as they came back for the night. It was the most amazing sight and sound, with the orange light and the silhouettes of these prehistoric creatures, thousands of them, flying in from all directions, their cries filling our ears.
Thank you, Gillian! What a beautiful description of the cranes--how I would love to see that! The closest I've come is seeing the bats fly out by the thousands from Carlsbad Caverns (which was pretty darn amazing). And Mt. St. Helens--that would have been something to see!
DeleteHi Leslie. Great question! I've been sideswiped by earthquakes in California, hurricanes in Puerto Rico, and a tornado in Indiana, but never hit, thank God, so I guess the most glorious natural phenomenon I ever experienced was a pod of orcas swimming and leaping along with a boat I was in near Vancouver Island!
ReplyDeleteWhoops, this is Kim Hays
DeleteYes, those are all pretty amazing, but how marvelous to get to see those orcas!
DeleteKim, so cool... we used to sail up in the Gulf Islands and also saw orcas up close and personal. It was unforgettable.
DeleteCongrats on your new series. I sounds wonderful. We visited the Volcano National Park on the Big Island and it was so interesting.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! I love that Park--so many great hikes and things to see!
DeleteCongratulations on your volcano series. Volcanoes would freak me out, but all best luck on many good books from this.
ReplyDeleteThe most awesome nature experience I've had? Probably the first time I saw the Grand Canyon. It was so endless.
Yes, the Grand Canyon is definitely something you need to see person--it is indeed GRAND!
DeleteOh, this is so wonderful! Absolutely riveting, and I cannot even imagine. Trying to think what the best thing has been… Maybe a massive pod of dolphins leaping outside our fishing boat on George’s Bank. I remember being so thrilled that I was actually jumping up and down. It just all started in a flash, and even the experienced and savvy fisherman were enchanted.
ReplyDeleteWow--that sounds absolutely magical, Hank! How marvelous! Lucky you--and the fishermen!
DeleteLESLIE: Congratulations on your new Volcano series! One question, though. Is it true that new islands are formed from the lava after a volcano eruption?
ReplyDeleteTrying to recall a natural phenomenon. I remember the wonder when I sat on my tricycle seeing the sky change from blue sky with sun shining to clouds within minutes. Grew up with earthquakes my whole life living in California.
Diana
The Hawaiian islands are floating on top of a hot spot in the earth, from with the magma rises up and forms the islands. Since the islands are slowly moving north, as they move away from the hot spot, they cool, and then the volcanoes eventually erode. That's why Kauai is so much more rugged looking than the active volcano Mauna Loa on the Big Island, which looks like an enormous pillow.
DeleteI love your memory about being on your trike--so vivid!
thanks, Leslie!
DeleteCongratulations on your volcano series. Looking forward to visiting the Big Island.
ReplyDeleteAwe inspiring natural phenomena - several and it's hard to chose among them. In Florida, it was driving over the causeway to Miami Beach and spotting a lineup of waterspouts. The sky above them was deep grey, the sky behind them a robin egg blue. Unfortunately, it was pre-cell phone. The only photo lives in my mind. Also in Florida, the day before a hurricane when everything is calm and the sky a heartbreaking blue. Hurricanes suck all the weather into them. The day before is usually quite lovely. There's also the knowledge that in twenty-four hours, the world is going to be a far different place.
Now that I live in Maine it has to be the Northern Lights. We see them frequently when conditions are right. Usually green, but the last one was blue-purple-pink-green. Again no photos. There's an art to good northern lights photos and I don't seem to have acquired it yet.
Such a lot of beautiful memories, Kait! I love the phrase "heartbreaking blue." We got to see the Aurora when we spent several months in Fairbanks, Alaska--truly amazing! And yes, difficult to photograph!
DeleteCongrats on the book release, Leslie. I'd imagine seeing a live volcano is pretty awe-inspiring.
ReplyDeleteFor me, it's always Niagara Falls. I grew up there and kind of took it for granted. But there are few things as awesome as standing at the bottom of the gorge watching hundreds of thousands of gallons of water per second come over the lip 700 feet above you.
Thanks, Liz! Niagra Falls is indeed magnificent! The power of water is truly awesome....
DeleteThe most awe inspiring sight that has captivated me for many years is The Thousand Islands. A natural and extraordinary locale that I first experienced when I was a young girl. Absolutely special and amazing.
ReplyDeleteI had to Google the Thousand Islands, as to me it was always simply a salad dressing, lol. Wow--they're beautiful! I can imagine it would be amazing to get to visit in person!
DeleteLeslie, my kids and I spent the day before Christmas visiting Volcanoes National Park back in '17. It was awe-inspiring, and things were very active. Thank goodness we got to see it then, because less than five months later, Kīlauea erupted, closing the park for months and most importantly, wiping out a good portion of the town of Puna and the Alhalanui State Park, where we had spent the day of our departure swimming and picnicking.
ReplyDeleteI have to admit, when I was looking at the pools of hot magma at the park, I also thought, "That would be an excellent way to get rid of a body..."
Ha! Great minds think alike, Julia! You visited just months before the events in MOLTEN DEATH take place, as it occurs during that volcanic eruption of May, 2018! I so miss that warm pond....
DeleteIn this country, the Grand Canyon, Glacier Bay National Park and many other glaciers in Alaska. Peyote Lake and Moraine Lake two glacier lakes in the Canadian Rockies.
ReplyDeleteIn other countries, Geysers in Iceland, Postonja Caves in Slovenia (by the way, they are called karst caves), fjords in Norway, and Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia where a series of upper lakes flow by waterfalls into lower ones. I use an image of Plitvice Lakes as the wallpaper on my computers.
Yes, I love that I share the name with a geologic formation! All those places sound glorious!
DeleteNothing that dramatic, but I am always in awe when in the middle of the ocean, with no land in sight. Sunrise and sunset also inspire. As for wilder adventure, I'd rather do it "in a book" and MOLTON DEATH fills the bill splendidly. -- Storyteller Mary
ReplyDeleteSo true, Mary, about being in the middle of the ocean, with no land in sight. (I was just in that situation on Tuesday, flying back to California from Hawai'i.) Truly amazing. And the Pacific Ocean is so vast!
Deleteer, MOLTEN . . . ;-)
ReplyDeleteThe idea of seeing a leg disappearing into fresh lava is an amazing one! Well done, Leslie.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Libby!
DeleteHi Leslie! Aside from enjoying your Sally Solari books, last summer I had the pleasure of talking with you for a couple of minutes at Bouchercon.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was 15, my family visited the Big Island. At the time Kilauea was active, but not erupting. So there we were, walking across the rough (cool) lava so we could peer into the caldera. It was so amazing, seeing the rivers of lava moving and shooting upwards. I took pictures with my little Kodak camera, but have no idea where they are today. I vividly remember the bright orange of the lava (or is it magma when it’s not flowing?) and the sulfur smell. Hindsight and age also help me understand how poorly dressed I was for the hike across rough terrain: a sundress and brand new little thin-soled sandals! The folly of youth! Best of luck with your new series! — Pat S
Thank you, Pat, and hopefully we'll get to talk again at Bouchercon (or another convention) this year! It's called magma before it reaches the surface of the earth, and lava once it's on the surface. And yes, one needs thick soles to walk on that lava rock!
DeleteI was fascinated by the Arenal volcano in Costa Rica years ago. Perfect cone shape and spewing rocks that you could see hitting the ash and tumbling down. At night you could see the lava glowing on the sides. Just gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteWow, that sounds amazing, Pat! I'd love to see it!
DeleteCongratulations, Leslie!!! Love the pics and, as you already know, I love love love this new series! Now I need to book a trip to Hawaii.
ReplyDeleteThank you again for your beautiful blurb, my dear! Come visit us in Hilo! xoxo
DeleteI did see some smoke from the Volcano Natural Park viewing area when I was in Hawaii in 1977. I think the Horseshoe Falls on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls was more impressive because I could feel the water spray and hear the noise of the waterfall. Thanks for the chance to try your new series.
ReplyDeleteI remember the spray and noise from those falls--amazing!
DeleteA Hawaiian mystery sounds great! My "awe-inspiring natural phenomenon" are many as since I retired travel has been my focus: Down below in a submarine in the Bermuda Triangle watching the fish, coral and the sunken ships. Walking through the lava tubes in Hawaii just before our ship sailed off by an orange lava flow about 20 miles out. I should not leave out the thrill of The Road to Hana including the hills, twists & turns as well as the waterfalls. Panning for gold at a working mine in Dawson City, Yukon where the water was below 32 degrees, but still flowed! Watching a calfing in Alaska. Transiting the Panama Canal from sunrise to sunset. Putting my thumb in the stone indentation at St Kevin's Glendalough as well as the Giant's Causeway in Ireland. The ruins of Pompeii. The waterfalls, geysers and pure drinking water of Iceland in addition to the Blue Lagoon. Second to last on my list is the New England Blizzard of 1978. And at the top of my list is my recent viewing of the aurora borealis in Lapland, Finland about 10 miles from Russia!
ReplyDeleteOh, my goodness, Alicia, you might win the prize for the most amazing travel adventures! And I agree about the Aurora--we got to see it some years ago in Fairbanks, Alaska, and it is indescribable, and impossible to convey through photos.
DeleteThe most amazing natural phenomenon I can remember is from my childhood, so it had to be amazing if I still remember it. It happened before we had the great weather forecasting we have now. I remember my Dad coming in the house from work and saying there was going to be a tornado. I remember him holding my little sister and I was standing next to him and watching the tornado from the front window. It hit two miles from our house.and it looked like matchstick flying in the air. It demolished the homes and buildings in a matter of minutes.
ReplyDeleteYikes! Visions of "The Wizard of Oz"! We had tornado warnings when I lived in Ohio as a kid, and it scared the heck out of m having to go down into the basement and hunch against the wall waiting for the all clear to sound.
DeleteLiving in Oregon we were able to observe an almost complete solar eclipse. It was amazing, so much more than I had anticipated. The change in the atmosphere, the way the birds stopped singing, the sudden drop in temperature by approximately twenty degrees. It was astonishing. I was so thankful for science, because otherwise it would have felt like the end of the world, or the announcement of an alien arrival. It was just amazing. (Although, really, sunsets are amazing. We just get used to them because they are amazing on the daily.) etalmage@earthlink.net
ReplyDeleteWe're going to Texas next week to see the eclipse, as I've never experienced a total eclipse (fingers crossed it's a clear day!). And I was just thinking the exact same thing the other day--how freaked out people must have been by such things before the advent of the science of predicting them.
DeleteI went to college for a semester on a ship. At night in the Atlantic, on the way to Sierra Leone, we sailed into a huge school of florescent jellyfish. The wake of the ship glowed for yards. The marine biology professor dropped a bucket. It looked empty until he stirred it, then it glowed like special effects. Magical!
ReplyDeleteWow, that sounds incredible! What a glorious sight that must have been!
DeleteSo looking forward to this new series, Leslie! The most fascinating and inspiring visual experience I recall is standing on the seventh deck of a cruise ship in Alaska's College Fjord and watching the jellyfish. It was as clear as if they were inches away.
ReplyDelete