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Ivan Obolensky is an award-winning author known for his Eye of the Moon series, a captivating blend of American Gothic, mystery, and high-society family drama set in the 1970s. Raised in elite social circles, Ivan was regaled with mystical and ghostly tales of his aristocratic and trailblazing ancestors—stories that profoundly influenced the atmospheric world of his novels.

Initially a writer of nonfiction, Ivan honed his storytelling skills through articles on language, economics, and history. In 2015, he transitioned to fiction, studying under bestselling author Tom Hyman. Ivan’s debut novel, Eye of the Moon (2018) drew critical acclaim, winning more than 10 distinctions including an IndieReader Discovery Best First Book Award, a Readers’ Favorite International Gold Medal for Fiction: Intrigue, a Feathered Quill Silver/2nd Place for Mystery/Thriller/Suspense/Horror, and a Next Generation Indie Finalist for Paranormal. The series continued with Shadow of the Son (2021) and Dark of the Earth (2024), expanding its international reach with Latin American Spanish translations, El ojo de la luna (2020) and A la sombra del hijo (2022). An audiobook of Eye of the Moon was released in 2023. Known for his intricate plotting, psychological depth, and seamless weaving of history, mysticism, and suspense, Ivan continues to enchant readers worldwide.

Ivan lives in Central Florida with his wife, first reader, and publisher, Mary Jo. When not writing, he enjoys photography, music, and exploring the unknown—both in literature and in life. This one-on-one interview shares Ivan Obolensky’s background and experience writing Dark of the Earth, Book 3 in the Eye of the Moon series.

Tell us about Dark of the Earth.

Percy never expected his weekend to start with a chilling phone call—his closest friend and business partner, Johnny Dodge, lies unconscious in a hospital bed after a mysterious car accident. The doctors aren’t sure about his recovery, but Percy refuses to give up hope.

Determined to wake Johnny, Percy turns to an unconventional method: storytelling. As his investigation continues, another chilling realization emerges—the accident wasn’t an accident. The evidence points to the powerful Cushman family, but with nothing concrete, Percy hatches a dangerous plan. He invites the suspected assassins to the lavish Rhinebeck estate for a weekend of high-stakes deception, all while racing to bring Johnny back to life.

With time running out and a killer among his guests, Percy must outmaneuver a ruthless enemy before they strike again. The game is set. The players are in place. The truth awaits—if Percy survives long enough to uncover it.

Blending psychological intrigue, the occult, and an atmosphere thick with gothic suspense, this novel will keep you riveted until its stunning conclusion.

What inspired you to write Dark of the Earth?

With Dark of the Earth, I set out to reimagine the hero’s journey for a modern world, a story that did not devolve into the all-too-familiar dystopian drama, where evil is met with greater evil and victory goes to the stronger, the more ruthless, and the more mercenary. The answer was different from what I expected, and because it was, readers will be equally surprised.

This novel builds upon the intrigue and action of the first two books, weaving mystery, the occult, and psychological depth into a gothic atmosphere. My inspiration comes from many places—stories passed down through my family, fleeting ideas that demand to be explored, and a fictional world so vivid that I sometimes wish I could step into it.

I write to captivate, to delight, and to forge a connection with readers. The first reader I must satisfy is always myself. Then, my wife. And ultimately, you.

How did your background and experience influence your writing?

The world of my novels isn’t just imaginary. My family was part of America’s aristocracy, with my grandmother, Alice Astor, leading a life filled with intrigue, glamour, and mystery. My grandfather, Prince Serge Obolensky, shared mesmerizing stories of Russian nobility, tracing our lineage back to Rurik in 862 AD. Their tales, filled with history, ghosts, and secrets, became the foundation for my storytelling.

Reading has been a passion of mine since childhood, as well. Outstanding literary fiction writers including Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, Joseph Conrad, Edith Wharton, Raymond Chandler, P. G. Wodehouse, and O. Henry shaped my love for storytelling—not just for the narratives they told, but for the way they told them. Their mastery of style, structure, and the art of surprise has been a lifelong inspiration. Many of their works have great depth and can be read and understood from several different points of view, which is intellectually powerful and stimulating.

With Dark of the Earth, I’ve drawn from these influences to create a novel rich in depth, mystery, and unexpected twists and turns.

What is one message you would like readers to remember?

Life is complex and surprises lurk around every corner. What we see is not always what it appears to be. Dark of the Earth is set in a time before there were cell phones and computers and Rhinebeck becomes a secluded world where guests are forced to engage with one another face-to-face. Meals rule the day and night, and the result is dialogue and conversation. Conversation, when raised to the level of fine art, hides much, reveals more, and can unravel even the most tangled mysteries given time.

Purchasing the Book

The Eye of the Moon series has received positive reviews from well-known literary organizations, authors, and reviewers around the world.

About Book 1, Midwest Book Review writes, “A deftly crafted and simply riveting gothic mystery by a master of the genre…unreservedly recommended for community library Mystery/Suspense collections.” In addition, Kirkus Reviews writes, “Obolensky conjures a remarkably imaginative tale, seamlessly juxtaposing the quotidian and the magical in a way that renders the latter mesmerizingly plausible … ingeniously constructed.”

The series is available for sale as ebooks and paperbacks on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple iBooks, Kobo, Nook, Google Play, and other online and physical bookstores. The books may be requested via Ingram, Baker & Taylor, and other distribution channels at local libraries or stores: https://books2read.com/darkoftheearth.

To connect with Ivan and learn more about his work, visit: https://ivanobolensky.com/. You can also find him on Instagram and Facebook.

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