All posts in category Amaranthine Interviews

Interview with Kateesha


 

Hello! My name is Verchiel and I’m from Joleene Naylor’s Amaranthine series. Using state of the art-mumbo-jumbo-author magic crap, Jo usually has Katelina interview other authors’ characters but now we’re finally interviewing fellow Amaranthians. Even better, the questions come from you, the readers!

There was quite a debate about who should do this interview. I think Katelina would have been a fun choice, but no one else agreed. Then there was gloomy boots Jorick but… anyway, I volunteered, so here I am! Yay!

Verchiel: Why was there a discussion? Because, today we are interviewing Kateesha! *bum bum*

Kateesha:  Verchiel. Well, it has been awhile. Thank you for that… introduction.

V: Aw, come on, it was pretty good. Would you prefer something about being the dark queen of the night, with eyes that sparkle with menace and power?

K: Yes, well. What have you been doing?

V: Ah, tut tut. This interview is about you, my dear. So let’s see what our discerning readers want to know, shall we? This comes from Juli, “You obviously are/were a woman of great power. What are some of the challenges you faced on your journey?”

K: My biggest challenge has always been the ignorance of men. And I don’t mean “men” as in humans, or “men” as in mankind, but rather men as in the male of the species. Their superior attitudes towards women have been, and remain to be, the biggest bane of my existence. Over the centuries I have met thousands whom I could crush with the merest effort and yet they believe themselves above me because I am a woman! And a “woman of color”, as they once called it, no less. One of my greatest amusements has always been to make them squirm! To grind them under my heel and then ask “who is superior now?”

V: You know not ALL men are like that. “Blinks eyes innocently*.

K: *laughs* No, my pet. You always did know your place. *chucks him under the chin* And what is next?

V: Here’s one from Donna. (hello, Donna!) “I think you’ve got a real attitude – want to tell us why?”

K: Ah! What a question! It is an attitude of superiority, nothing more. Next.

V: Mmm-hmmm. Ah. Juli says, “*I believe that I read that you had worked in a brothel.* If that’s correct, how did you end up in a place like that? What happened?”

K: *smile disappears* Someone has been telling stories, have they? Well! *lifts head* Yes, perhaps I was in such a place, long ago. Though brothel isn’t the word they used for it, but the definition is… similar.

V: That’s not much of an answer. Where was it and how did you end up there?

K: The Ottoman Empire is as good a name for it as another, and how does any woman end up in such a place? I was taken of course, or sold by my… biological father. It’s hard to say which, for each man has his own story that absolves him from guilt and blames another. I was not the only one taken from faraway lands in the night to be dressed like a queen and used like a whore as some exotic plaything to those foreigners who could afford the “delights of the East”. Next question.

V: Really? That’s it? After all the hours our amazing author spent researching the history of prostitution in the Ottoman Empire, that’s it?

K: What more do you want? Next question!

V: Fine, fine.  Here’s the last one from Juli, “Did you have difficulty, after you were first turned, overcoming your human past?”

K: No. I was quite ready to let it go and move on to something better; a life of power. Take a starved, beaten child and hand them the whip. Do they cringe and cry, or do they turn on their oppressors?

V: Lovely visuals there, sweet one.

K: Well, I haven’t heard that name in a long time. You’re getting nostalgic.

V: Oh, just buttering you up before the next question. *smiles innocently*  From Donna, “I also think you really want Jorick, so you must feel totally upset that he isn’t interested, right?”

K: Hmph. And who says he isn’t interested. I can read his thoughts, you know.

V: *coughs* So can I…

K: And?

V: Oh, nothing. I was just saying.

K: Are you trying to imply something?

V: Only that ol’ Jorick seems pretty happy with Kately-

K: Does he indeed? Let me tell you of a time long before your dear little friend was born, shall I? Jorick was not always so prim and proper! His high ideals of morality are a recent addition to his personality. I have been with our dear Jorick, more times then you can count. I have tasted his skin and his blood and I have feasted on his deepest, most inner thoughts, something which that petty, pathetic creature he now calls his consort will never know! So which of us is more qualified to say what our Jorick does or does not like?

V: You know, that’s something I admire about you. You just won’t admit defeat. And for our last question from Sue, “do you have any regrets?”

K: Oh yes, there are things I regret. Allowing that ridiculous human to live is one.  Malick is another.

V: Malick?

K: Yes. I gave him too much loyalty. I should have known that in the end he was a man like any other. I should have gouged out his heart early on and then Jorick and I would have been freed of him. Had we never come to this accursed ‘New World’ things would have been very different.

V: Speaking of Malick, there is an unofficial question from Bonnie. You know, she thinks that you and Malick… well, you know….

K: *Laughs* She wants to know if I and Malick were lovers? Mmm. Perhaps. And then again, perhaps not.

V: That’s not very specific.

K: And it is not an official question, is it? Do you have anymore?

V: Nope, that’s it. I was really surprised, I thought for sure they’d bombard you with questions about me!

K: Why would they?

V: Well, since you turned me and all that. But I guess no one thought about it, or else they like me being mysterious.

K: You’re hardly mysterious. Strange, perhaps, but mysterious? No.

V: You wound me! *clutches heart* But alas we are out of questions, and so ends our interview series! Next week Katelina will interview a character from a different author and then… Well, I don’t know. If you guys want anyone interviewed then I suggest you appeal to our illustrious author and perhaps she’ll do it.

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4 Comments
by Joleene Naylor on July 29, 2012  •  Permalink
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Posted by Joleene Naylor on July 29, 2012

http://joleenenaylor.wordpress.com/2012/07/29/interview-with-kateesha/

Interview with Loren


 

Hello! My name is Micah and I’m from Joleene Naylor’s Amaranthine series. Using state of the art-mumbo-jumbo-author magic crap, Jo usually has Katelina interview other authors’ characters but now we’re finally interviewing fellow Amaranthians. Even better, the questions come from you, the readers!

Micah: I’d say I was filling in for Katelina, but frankly she hasn’t done most of these damned things. That Executioner twit with the red hair has probably done half of them.

Loren: And I did it last week!

M: My point. Anyway, today I’m interviewing this pipsqueak named Loren who has no taste in super heroes, by the way.

L: Yes I do! X-men rules!

M: Fuggedaboutit. Hulk would pound their sissy faces in. But enough of that. We got some new questions for you. Eh, let’s start with Sharon’s, “What does he want out of life (or undead life) now? Where does he see himself in 10, 50, 100 years?”

L: Yeah, just start with the hardest one, thanks! Hmmm. I don’t know. I never really thought about it. I guess I’ve just been kinda floating around, waiting for something to, I don’t know, drop from the sky or something. Wow. I need to think about that.

M: Don’t think too hard, huh? Okay, we’ll move on for now. From Sue, who, by the way, also comments that she really likes you-

L: Really? You mean I have a fan?

M: Yeah, evidently. Anyway, she asks, “Does it bother you that you’ll be a teen forever?”

L:  Nah. If you’ve ever played video games you’ll know that it’s always the teenagers who save the world. And it means I can scope out more chicks. Old dudes like this guy look creepy checking out a seventeen year old, but I can get away with it, and older ladies love young guys.

M: Really? Like you know anything about that shit.

L: I’ve had girlfriends! I had one chick stalk me in fact, so there.

M: Yeah, yeah. Sue also asks, “Do the big boy vampires treat you as a lesser vamp?”

L: Eh, not really. Well, Jorick does sometimes, but it’s not just me. He kinda treats everyone he likes that way – like they’re little kids and he’s their dad.

M: Well hell, you are a little kid. You’re like what? Twenty?

L: I’m over thirty!

M: Oh, excuse me, ancient one. *snickers*. Ah, I been there. I used to be the new kid on the block, and don’t think they didn’t all remind me.  You just gotta start hanging out with someone younger. But we got more questions. This one’s from Donna – I like her. She’s got good taste in characters. You shoulda seen her comment last week.

L: *rolls eyes* I did.

M: Hey, I didn’t say anything about you havin’ a fan, huh? Now where was I? Oh, yeah, “You seem to always get stuck baby-sitting Katelina. Does that make you feel like the lesser of the group?

L: Nah, I don’t mind it most of the time. I mean someone’s gotta keep an eye on her, you know? It makes me the last line of defense. Like if something happened to Jorick or whatever then I’d be all that was left. So it’s actually kind of a big thing. I think it means he trusts me – not just for that, but not to do anything to her. He doesn’t just leave her with anyone.

M: He sent her with me.

L: Only because I was there. He wouldn’t let you spend time alone with her. Especially not after all that stuff you said last week about making her into a real vampire.

M: Yeah, well, offer still stands. Speaking of Katelina, Sue wants to know, “Do you wish you could have a girl friend like Katelina some day? Would you care if she was human or not?” Fuck, I hope it’s a less annoying one that Lunch!

L: *looks uncomfortable* Well, um, yeah, I guess. I mean, sure, a girlfriend would be cool. And nah, I don’t care if they’re human or not. Maybe it’s better that way. Then it makes you the stronger one, you know? You get to be all manly and save her and stuff.

M: You’re just a little soppy-sappy romantic, aren’t you? Here’s another feely question. This one’s from Donna again, “do you still miss your parents? You lost them at so young an age.”

L:  Yeah, sometimes. If they hadn’t gotten killed then things woulda been really different, you know? I think about that sometimes. Ashton never would have started hanging out with Jessie and those guys, so he never would have been a vampire, so he never would have had to turn me…

M: And you’d have never met me. Depressing idea, huh? Well, Sharon wants to know, “What do hate about life as a vampire?”

L: The no sunlight thing blows, especially in the summer. I grew up on the beach; you know, swimming and the whole nine yards, and now I can’t go out in the daytime. Sure, I can do it at night, but it’s not the same thing. Also the food. I’d kill for a twinkie, dude! Or some mustard flavored pretzels.

M: Mustard and pretzels? Are you kidding me? Is that a real thing?

L:  Yeah. You get them out of vending machines.

M: Yuck! The only place mustard belongs is on a fuckin’ hot dog. Seriously, you modern people!

L: You sound like Jorick.

M: You didn’t just compare me to that prick, did you? Coz if you did…

L: What? Huh? You’ll ask me another question. *snickers* Our author told you that you had to be good or she’d pull the plug on the interview, so I’m not scared.

M: Oh yeah, hide behind the author. You wait ‘til this is over. Last question from Donna, “Who frightens you more – Micah or Jorick?” I can answer that one: Me, coz I’m a scary sumbitch.

L: Nah. Not really. I think Jorick’s scarier.

M: What the hell? First you compare me to him and now you’re saying he’s scarier?

L:  Sorry, but he is. You’re all noise, but he’s quiet. Your kind just punches someone in the nose and walks off. His kind takes a machine gun to the post office.

M: Yeah, he is kinda nuts, I guess. But I’m still scarier. All right, and here’s the last question of the interview and it’s from Barb, “You wanted to fight in Oren’s war so badly, do you still think this was such a good idea? Would you have waited?” Hell yeah it was a good idea!

L: I dunno. Jorick was kinda right about some things-

M: What the hell?

L: It was a lot… gorier than I thought it was gonna be. Watching it on TV is one thing, you know? But actually being in the middle of it with blood flying and people screaming…

M: You’re killing someone for cryin’ out loud. Of course it’s gonna be gory!

L: Yeah, I know. I guess… I dunno. I mean, I was there for Ashton when they… when Jessie and them killed him but… It’s kinda different when you’re doing it yourself. I don’t regret it, well, except for what happened there at the end. *looks at Micah* Are we allowed to do spoilers out of the newest book?

M: I dunno. Our “esteemed” author didn’t say nothin’ to me about it. But if you’re worried about it then just leave it at that.

L:  I just don’t want to spoil it for anyone. I hate when someone tells you the end of the book ahead of time.

M: Okay, okay. Well, I guess that’s it-

*POOF* the amazing author enters*

Jo: We have one last question.

M: No we don’t.  *waves paper* I asked them all.

Jo: Juli was a late entry. Here *hands Micah new paper* now be good or I’ll kill you off.

*POOF* the amazing author disappears*

M: What the fuck? Oh well, I like Juli, so I guess. I was kinda wondering why she hadn’t asked you anything. “Do you ever think about what you want to do with your future? You’ve got unlimited time on your hands, what are some of the things you’d like do?” Hah! Looks like you’re not getting out of this one!

L: I don’t know. It would be kinda cool to learn to play the guitar. We could make a vampire band.

M: That’s been done. Ever hear of Lestat?

L: Yeah, but he sang vampire music. We could just do regular music. I’m just saying, it’s something. I’d also like to get the top score in every game I own. How cool would that be? They’d all have LorIzTheShiz in the top spot. That’s my user name-

M: And you think Jorick’s nuts. Okay, enough of this. Next week is the last of these interviews, and someone will be interviewing Kateesha.

L: Not me! She scares the crap out of me!

M: Ah, she ain’t that scary, but I don’t feel like doing it, either. I can’t imagine Lunch handling it, all things considered.

L: *snickers* That would be kinda funny.

M: yeah, it would, wouldn’t it? My money is on Jorick or the redhead. Either way, we’re outta here. Come on pipsqueak, I’m gonna show you who really is the scariest mo’ fo’ around here.

If you’d like to leave questions for Kateesha, please check out this blog and leave them in the comments section. Thanks!

  

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8 Comments
by Joleene Naylor on July 21, 2012  •  Permalink
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Posted by Joleene Naylor on July 21, 2012

http://joleenenaylor.wordpress.com/2012/07/21/interview-with-loren/

Interview with Micah


 *Profanity warning (it’s Micah, are we surprised?)

Hello! My name is Loren and I’m from Joleene Naylor’s Amaranthine series. Using state of the art-mumbo-jumbo-author magic, Jo usually has Katelina interview other authors’ characters but now we’re finally interviewing fellow Amaranthian’s. Even better, the questions come from you, the readers! How cool is that?

Loren: As I mentioned, I am filling in for Katelina because I wanted to. It’s about time I got to do one of these interviews. That Verchiel guy has hogged way too many of them. Anyway, today I’m interviewing none other than… *drum roll noise* Micah!

Micah: Ta-da!

L: *snickers* So, you ready to answer questions because there’s a bunch of them… though some of them are kind of similar.

M: Lemme guess, it’s chicks wanting to know if I’m single, right. Well, honeys-

L: Um, no. Actually it’s kinda like… well… it’s mushy stuff. Not like romantic mushy stuff, but-

M: Oh, just spit it out, kid!

L: All right. Like Sharon asks, “What are you hiding behind all that macho bull shit? Who hurt you?”

M: Ah. *regains composure* Pfffttt. Who says anyone hurt me? I’m just macho, you know? I’ve always been pretty damn tough.

L: Well you had to be. After your master just dumped you like that.

M: Well… yeah. I was tough before that, though. But yeah. Look at that. Some weak ass punk woulda just rolled over and whimpered in the corner, but not me. No sir, I got off my ass and fuckin’ figured this shit out myself. You can’t always rely on someone else, ya know? They just let you down and, fuck, even if they don’t they won’t be around forever, anyway. I mean look what happened to Benjamin. Everyone thought he’d be around forever but no, he got whacked-

L: Who’s Benjamin?

M: What the fuck? Are you serious? He was this – he was this crazy vampire who owned a motel. We used to go play poker with him sometimes and he’d fucking take big ol’ swigs of booze and spit the shit in a bucket. Talk about disgusting! Jorick and them stashed Arowenia at his hotel and when the bitch pulled her shit-

L: Ah, he’s the guy who got killed.

M: Damn straight. He’s the reason I joined up with this pansy ass war in the first place. I wanted to beat the fuck outta that bitch for it!

L: That kinda goes with Donna’s question. “Your personality is so different from Jorick and Oren, so why do you hang around with them?”

M: Hey, yeah it is! I don’t hang out with them – fuckin’ ex-Executioner dog and his boy wonder. Eh, I suppose Oren ain’t all bad. He’s had some shit, you know? But I was hanging out with Herrick and Des and Benjamin and them until this mess. Des and Oren were buddies – or actually Torina and Des were, if you get my drift, and so he was helping Oren out, and that’s how Benjamin got dragged into it all. Since then I’ve just been enjoying the ride.

L: Amy asks, “Do you remember anything from “before?” You seem to be a pretty complex guy (the anger issues, along with the intense loyalty), makes me wonder what your human life was like.”

M: You want a biography, sweety, come see me after class *winks* Eh, I was living over in New Jersey in a shit town fixin’ bikes at Lo Dog’s shop. Dog was pretty all right and he was fuckin’ huge, man. Seriously, one look at him and you’d have shit yourself, he was that scary. Then some money went missin’ and a course since it was me, Dog and Dog’s piece of shit son Trick workin’ there, you know who got blamed. Wasn’t nothin’ new, though so I said fuck this and left town. That’s when I ran into him and got turned into this.

L: Juli says, “I’m fascinated by tattoos. There’s always a story behind the ink. What’s the story behind your tats?”

M: Now there’s a decent question! Well, see the mermaid over here, Left arm? She was the first. Fuck, I was seventeen and drunk outta my mind, so this guy Carl I was hanging with says to me, “you got virgin skin, we better fix that” and drags me to his uncle’s house, right? Well turned out his uncle was a tattoo guy. Well, he used to be. Lost his license over some bullshit. Anyway, so he did her. He also did this one here, right above her. See, it’s two moons, right? Like the crescent moon here on the bottom, then the full moon here on top, and then you can’t see the fuckin’ new moon, so there’s nothing for it. But it’s like the phases of the moon, coz even back then, man, the night time was way better than the fucking day time. Then this thing over here on my right arm that looks like a fire ball? Yeah, so I was working at this bottling plant, right, bottling soda. Well there was this idiot there – Curtis – fuck, can’t believe I remembered his name. Anyway, Carl and I had split by then so this dude Curtis says he can lay ink. Yeah, well guess what? He fucking couldn’t. Made such a mess I had to pay someone to try to cover it up and this was the best they could do with it. Not that he was much better. Shit. Carl’s uncle was way better than that clown.

L: What about the one on your face?

M: That was the last one I got. Lo Dog and I went in on my birthday and got this. It was like a fucking statement, you know? All these guys got these tear drops and shit, meaning that they killed someone or did time in prison, or whatever, like that makes them tough or some shit? Just coz they got one don’t mean they ever really killed no one, and just coz someone ain’t got one don’t mean they ain’t fucking killed a dozen people. So I say look at this shit and tell me what it means. It don’t mean shit. It’s just a bunch of wriggly weird symbols that some tat guy came up with. Though if someone asks me about it in a way that pisses me off I fucking tell them it’s part of the cult I’m in. *laughs* shuts ‘em up every time.

L: This seems like a good place for Sue’s question, “Not only who hurt you but why are you always so angry?”

M: Fuck, honey, I ain’t angry. You wouldn’t like me when I’m angry! Ha! *pokes Loren* You ever see that? Incredible Hulk. Now that was the shit.

L: I dunno. I like X-men better.

M: X-men? No way! Too much whiny bullshit!

L: No there’s not! And Wolverine is way cooler than some huge green guy!

M: Huge green guy? Man, at least get the name right! Fuck, you got a lot to learn kid! But come on, what’s the next question.

L: All right! Jonathan says, “I bet deep down you are sensitive. It’s okay, but appearances are important, right?”

M: Sensitive. Pffft. Yeah, my ass is sensitive. What’s with this? First I got anger issues and now I’m sensitive!

L: That’s because you are. Deep down you’re like a widdle cuddly teddy *dodges fist* Call X-men whiny bullshit again, will ya, asshole!

M: Just get on with it, ya’ whussy-wolverine-lovin’ nit wit.

L: There is nothing wrong with Wolverine! He’s awesome! From Donna, “You are so kind to Loren. Have you adopted him as a little brother?”

M: I’m gonna un-adopt him in about three point o. Ah, what can I say. The little punk needs someone to look after him, and that prick Jorick ain’t doing such a good job.

L: Eh, Jorick’s not that bad.

M: Says you. I say he’s a royal douche. His type always are; know-it-all jack asses who think they can scare everyone off just by lordin’ over their great ancient fuckin’ age and their status. *in high squeaky voice* “Oh, look at me! I’m a thousand years old and I got a shiny necklace! Whoo-hoo! Run in fear!”

L: You better watch it. If Jorick hears that he’ll kick your ass.

M: Him and what army, huh? What else you got, boy?

L: I have one more from Donna, “Micah, you tease Katelina so much, but let’s face it, if given the chance you’d want to be the one to change her, wouldn’t you?”

M: Ha! Why not? As I said, Jorick can’t even manage this punk *points at Loren* and we’ve all seen what he did to Oren. He’s got no idea how to raise a fledgling. Let me get my hands on Lunch for a month and I could turn her into a real vampire. You wouldn’t even recognize her when I was done, guaran-fucking-teed.

L: Uh, You better not let Jorick hear you saying that either.

M: *snorts* Like I said, him and what army? So that it, or what?

L: Yeah, that’s all of them.

M: Good deal. Then here’s where I say that we’ll see you next week when it’s Loren’s turn to sit in the hot seat and my turn to ask the questions.

L: Katelina’s not going to interview me?

M: Fuck no! It’s my turn, punk.

L: I’m not so sure that’s a good thing…

If you’d like to leave questions for Loren, please check out this blog and leave them in the comments section. Thanks!

  

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12 Comments
by Joleene Naylor on July 15, 2012  •  Permalink
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Posted by Joleene Naylor on July 15, 2012

http://joleenenaylor.wordpress.com/2012/07/15/interview-with-micah/

Interview with Torina


 

Hello! My name is Katelina and I’m from Joleene Naylor’s Amaranthine series. Using state of the art-mumbo-jumbo-author magic, Jo has had me interview other authors’ characters but now I’m finally going to interview my fellow Amaranthian’s. Even better, the questions come from you, the readers! So let’s get this party started!

Katelina: Today we are interviewing Torina, Oren’s slutty – erm, I mean… no, that’s what I mean. Oren’s slutty sister. Hello Torina, how nice of you to come.

Torina: I’m only here because our illustrious author promised me shoes. Lots of shoes.

K: Right. Well let’s get on with it then, shall we? Unbelievably, people actually want to know things about you. Let’s start with Sue, “You’re such a slut. Were you one when you were alive too?”

T: Aww, is that jealousy you’re both oozing? I can’t help that I was born with certain God-given charms, now can I? And I prefer the phrase “woman of adventure” to “slut”, thank you very much.

K: I’m guessing that’s a yes. And while we’re on that topic, Amy asks, “I have only one question, and a burning question at that…Micah or Loren??? (Loren, please! Make a man out of that poor boy!)” Oh brothers…

T: *laughs* Now that would be telling, wouldn’t it. *winks* In all truth either one might be fun for a moment, but Loren would be the kind to cling afterwards. His kind always do; the nice-guy, momma’s boys. They get their first taste of real sex and can’t let go because it’s all wrapped up in romantic idealism. Micah on the other hand… well, he’s just an animal. *smirks*

K: *rolls eyes* I can’t believe I’m listening to this!

T: you could have let Jorick do this interview, you know. You’ve flaked on some of the others.

K: *mutters* Over my dead body. *ahem* Next question comes from… I think we’ll skip that.

T: *grabs paper* Oh! I see! *delighted laugh* From Sue, “What did happen between you and Jorick?” Let’s just say I’ve been there and done that. *smirks at Katelina’s outrage* Oh, come on, ice queen, you can’t really imagine he was a virgin when you got him? He wasn’t even one when I did. *waves hand haughtily* It was brief, though. It was after I’d been turned. He was nice enough, but he’s so grim and serious. Who can stand that for long? Present company excepted, of course.

K: *grabs paper back* You better watch it-

T: Or what? I’d be interested to see what you’d do without Jorick here to bail you out. *snickers*

K: I’ll show you – you, you, slutty, trampy-

*Verchiel saunters in*

Verchiel: Well hello, ladies. Do I smell a cat fight? I wouldn’t want to miss that!

K: Oh go away! I’m trying to do an interview.

V: Then perhaps you should ask some questions. *snatches the paper* From Donna – awww! Hello there, Donna, dear! *waves*. Anyway, she says, “Have you ever been in love and wanted to devote yourself to just one person?”

T: Pffffpt. Once. Long ago.

V: That wasn’t a very good answer, you know. She really deserves more details.

T: *rolls eyes* His name was Armus… He… I turned him myself, my only fledgling. Yes, sad, I know. We were… happy for ten years and then Kateesha… She claimed she caught my Armus with Shawnine, a cheap, lowly, hussy that Kateesha had taken up with. I never believed it but Kateesha… She pushed the issue and eventually exacted her ‘revenge’. She had him burned, if you can believe it. So cliché.

K: I’m surprised you didn’t just join in with him and Shawnine.

T: That would have been impossible since, as I said, Kateesha fabricated the entire thing. I imagine she made advances that he rejected. She was always such a vain bitch that she couldn’t handle rejection. But enough of that. Next question, Verchiel, dear.

K: *jerks paper back* I’m doing this interview!  From Juli, “Do you ever think about striking out on your own? I know you care about your brother and you owe him a great deal, (plus you probably still have a blood debt to fulfill)…but do you ever think about creating your own coven? What fears are perhaps holding you back?”

T: Oh, it’s not fear, just too much work. You have to organize everyone and repair all the little squabbles and ugh! I watched all the work Jesslynn did, and no thank you, honey! Oren can play coven leader and handle all the boring garbage. I much prefer to worry about myself. It isn’t as if I don’t make sure that I get what I want now that Jesslynn’s gone.

V: You don’t seem very broken up about that.

T: Should I be? You forget, she was my sister-in-law. They don’t improve with age.

K: This is also from Juli, “I sometimes think you were born in the wrong time period, and perhaps live in the wrong area. The way I see it, you’re more of a glitzy, “Sex in the City” sort of vampire. You seem like the kind of gal who craves passion and adventure rather than hanging out in the sticks. Am I right?”

T: Yes and no. There is one advantage to being in the wrong place; you’re the only one of your kind. Much less competition. Not that I need to worry about competition, but, you know…

V: You don’t need to be faster than the bear, just faster than the people you’re with.

T: Exactly. *winks* I had no idea you were so smart. Why do you waste your time hanging around that annoying little human?

K: *ahem!* from Donna, “Torina, how can you dress as you do and battle too? Wouldn’t it be easier not to be so dressed up?”

T: Maybe. I wouldn’t know, I’ve never tried it. When I was human women dressed to the teeth – layers and layers! – just to go to the garden! I guess I never got out of the habit. Unlike some people *coughs and looks at Katelina*

K: Excuse me if I dress like a normal person!

T: I’d use the word ordinary, but whatever.

V: *ahem* Donna has one more question, ladies. “I felt so sorry for you in ‘Ashes of Deceit’, but you are feeling better now that you had the news about Oren, aren’t you?”

T: *looks uncomfortable* Well… yes… of course… *clears throat*

V: It’s all right, I think we all understand. *pats her hand*. There is one final question from Juli – with no e – hello there, Juli! *winks* She says, “Oh! And the stories you could tell! I can only imagine. Would you care to share something juicy? I’d love to hear it!!!”

K: Well I wouldn’t!

T: No one asked you, dear. Though since you’re so over sensitive I’ll keep the stories about Jorick to myself. Oh! I know one! You might remember Jesslynn’s brother, Fabian? One evening Jesslynn had a party, I think it may have been Oren’s birthday. I don’t remember now what she did or said, but she made me angry, so I found it quite amusing to drag her “precious little brother” into the basement where I had my wicked way with him in Jesslynn’s coffin! Ha! Of course once the initial rush faded he was suddenly terrified she’d find out. Naturally she would not approve. It wasn’t her fault, she was always so plain and rigid and boring, I suppose. Nor his that he was so fussy. Someone described him as a yapping Chihuahua and that fits him perfectly. He was always fussing about this or that. But, I derived great pleasure for several months in taking him to the basement whenever Jesslynn annoyed me. *laughs* I can still see the look on her face when she found out! Oh! It was beautiful – pinched and sour and furious! Ha! Of course it was Fabian’s fault. He got too excited and made a mess. And Jesslynn would have to have a velvet lined coffin. Have you tried to get blood out of velvet? This was before all the fancy cleaners and convenient chemicals. When she saw it she demanded to know where it came from and I took great pleasure in telling her.

V: *tsk*tsk* You are naughty.

T: Why don’t you come with me and I’ll show you just how naughty I can be. In fact, I think I’ve been a very, very bad girl and need an Executioner to punish me. Thoroughly.

K: Oh my God. I think I may throw up. How can you say that crap with a straight face?

T: You should try it, dear. You’ll find that men like it.

V: *snickers* Speaking of things men like, you were saying? I think I have a window in my schedule right about… now. And I’d be more than happy to punish you until you repent of your wicked, wicked ways.

K: Ugh. You’re both disgusting.  Just go! I’m sick of this interview already! And speaking of interviews, next week we’ll interview Micah. That should be something to look forward to!

If you’d like to leave questions for Micah, please check out this blog and leave them in the comments section. Thanks!

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by Joleene Naylor on July 8, 2012  •  Permalink
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Posted by Joleene Naylor on July 8, 2012

http://joleenenaylor.wordpress.com/2012/07/08/interview-with-torina/

Interview with Jamie


 

Hello! My name is Katelina and I’m from Joleene Naylor’s Amaranthine series. Using state of the art-mumbo-jumbo-author magic, Jo has had me interview other authors’ characters but now I’m finally going to interview my fellow Amaranthian’s. Even better, the questions come from you, the readers! So let’s get this party started!

Katelina: Today we are interviewing Jamie, one of the Executioners. He was a write in vote, but he got voted for none the less, so here he is. Hello, Jamie, thank you for stopping in.

Jamie: Hello.

K: Though we only had a couple of people ask questions, we got a LOT of questions, so we’d better get started.  Bonnie and Donna both asked “Why are you an Executioner?”

J: Someone must be one. Originally Malick recruited only those whose skillset was similar to his own, and as I am also a whisperer, he recruited it me. It never occurred to me to say no.

K: Of course it didn’t. *under breath* Perfect Executioner material. *louder* Bonnie asks, “You don’t seem to be as nasty to humans as some of the others, why is that?”

J: I see no need to apply extraneous force. There are those who need to prove themselves and their own worth, basically to prove that they are strong enough to be in the position they’re in. I don’t need to prove anything.

K: I can think of someone who uses extraneous force. Speaking of your fellow Executioners, Bonnie also asks, “Who is your favorite Executioner to work with? Your least favorite?”

J: Of all time? There have been changes to the “line up”, if you will. For instance Bren was never a favorite of mine, and neither is Greneth. They remind me of one another.  Kateesha was also very troublesome to work with. As for my favorite… If I could choose a partner for an assignment  I suppose it would be Ark. However, of all the Executioners, Bryn was the one I was fondest of.

K: What happened to him – or her?

J: He died. Senya replaced him.

K: Ah. I can tell you, she is my least favorite of them all. Bonnie also asks, “What did you think of Malick?”

J: What does anyone think of Malick? He simply is.

K: Simply is a sadistic lunatic, you mean!

J: He’s very old. With age comes…

K: Insanity?

J: A certain attitude. The longer you live, the more superior you feel to everyone and everything.

K: That’s putting it mildly. All right, from Donna, “do you ever hate the way everyone seems to favor or center on Jorick?”

J: No. Malick favors him, obviously, because he is like his son, and he has a certain “legend” quality because he was the first Executioner in the New World, he and Kateesha, that is, and of all of us he is the oldest. He was older even than she was. A vampire who lives a long time is one thing, perhaps they have spent their life, as Malick does, sitting in the background and allowing others to face danger. But a vampire who fights and has lived a long time is something else. It means that they have beaten all of their opponents.  Not to mention that Jorick has a certain grim attitude, which lends itself well to the job.

K: I thought you were as old as he is? As Bonnie asks, “How old are you?”

J: No, there is nearly a century between us. I was turned in 1650 and he is the late 1500’s, if I remember correctly.

K: Um, yes, something like that. Bonnie is full of questions, it seems. “Who turned you? Was your master kind or cruel?”

J: She is full of questions. It was my sister Caitrin. She was turned by her husband, whose name I’ve forgotten. We all fell under the “ownership” of a vampire who called himself Eagan. He was neither particularly cruel nor kind, like many, he simply was. It was to him we paid our blood debt. When mine was finished, I left for America, though my sister stayed behind.

K:  And as Bonnie asks, “When did you come to America?”

J: 1668, if I recall. Or somewhere very near to that.

K: So you were here awhile before you became a… before you joined Malick?

J: Yes. It was… 1715, when I joined them? Yes, I think that’s correct, it was the year Carolina went to war with some group of Indians or another – sorry, I believe it is Native Americans, now, isn’t it?

K: Yeah, that’s the PC term.

J: PC?

K: Politically correct.

J: How interesting that it’s so used it needs to be abbreviated.

K: Um… right. Anyway, the last several questions kind of go together. Donna asks, “Is there someone you love?”

J: If you mean am I in a romantic relationship, then no.

K: I don’t think that was exactly what the question was. But all right. Bonnie asks, “Have you ever been married? If so, how many times?”

J: Yes. Once.

K: I don’t suppose there’s more coming? *waits, but nothing happens* All right. Then here’s the last question from Bonnie, “Have you ever considered having a human as a lover?”

J: *clears throat* Why are you asking?

K: No! It’s not me! I already said it’s Bonnie!

J: Of course it is. *clears throat again* Where is Jorick, again?

K: No! You have the wrong idea! I swear! It’s – oh just forget it! Never mind.  Thanks to Bonnie and Donna for their questions and to everyone for reading! Next week we’ll interview Torina. That should be something to look forward to!

If you’d like to leave questions for Torina, please check out this blog and leave them in the comments section. Thanks!

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by Joleene Naylor on June 16, 2012  •  Permalink
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Posted by Joleene Naylor on June 16, 2012

http://joleenenaylor.wordpress.com/2012/06/16/interview-with-jamie/

Interview with Malick


 

Hello! My name is Jorick and I’m from Joleene Naylor’s Amaranthine series. Using state of the art-mumbo-jumbo-author magic, Jo normally has Katelina interview other authors’ characters but now we’re interviewing fellow Amaranthian’s with questions that come from you, the readers.

Today I am filling in for Katelina because we are interviewing Malick, and she didn’t feel up to the task. his interview is suspiciously well timed, as the fourth book, Ashes of Deceit, has just been released, and guess who is on the cover?

Jo: *interrupts* I would like to note that I have “capped” Malick’s special abilities for the space of this interview, so no one needs to worry about having their brains melted or anything. Being an author I can do that.Also, it was just luck that his interview was today. Okay, back to you, Jorick.

Jorick: MmHmm. Yes. Thank you. As I was saying, I am interviewing Malick, who is the head of the North American Guild.

Malick: And also your master, I believe. It is interesting that you neglected to mention this.

J: It didn’t seem important. These things drag on long enough without superfluous conversation.

M: You do not enjoy your moments in the lime light? Your chance to speak, unrestrained, and give out your version of all events? Ah! But I suppose the novels already carry your version, don’t they? So perhaps it is unnecessary.

J: There are questions for you. I suggest we get started. From Juli, “rumor has it that you’re ‘the oldest vampire in North America.’ I’m curious, what century were you turned in?”

M: Ahh! The curiosity of the young! So refreshing. You have asked for a century, my child, but I can give you better. It was in the sixth year of Nabonidus. Though perhaps by your modern dating conventions that does not tell so much. I imagine that you would say that it was between 600 and 500 BC. The exact date in your calendar eludes me.

J: From Bonnie, “Are the vampires in Munich older or stronger than you are?”

M: Ah! Munich and the True Council. Such an interesting question, as I do not believe the esteemed author has shown it to you yet. I understand that she plans to in the next volume. Are they older than I? Perhaps. As for strength, who can say. The contest would be a worthy one, assuming any of the ancient masters would stir from their slumber of indifference long enough to give one.

J: *clears throat* Yes. Moving on, another question from Juli, “Would you please tell us about the circumstances in which you were turned and a little about your sire. Is your sire still alive?”

M: An inquisitive mind, this Juli. How interesting. I have not spoken of my “sire” in many centuries. His appearance was of a beautiful youth, you would perhaps go so far as to call him a child by the standards of this time, but his age exceeded my own by nearly two hundred years. He had wearied of the company of those whose outward appearance matched his own, and so looked upon me as a nearer equal. When necessary, we passed ourselves as an old slave and young master, but as time progressed we turned to the more practical charade of father and son. As to his current existence, I could not say. If the rumors were true, then he is dead and has been for over a thousand years.

J: A final question from Juli, “It must be difficult to form friendships/relationships, when everyone around you is SOOOO much younger than yourself. You must feel as though you’re surrounded by “children” by comparison! Do you have anyone in your life that you can turn to, someone that you would consider a confidant or a friend?”

M: How very astute! Ah, but to have friends, child, one must have equals, and those are harder to find.

J: This question comes from Roger. “Don’t you ever get tired of blood? How about nice well done steak with chilli sauce?”

M: *laughs* A sense of humor, I see. How delightful. I can tell that he has never enjoyed the subtle bouquets of a well lived life. Can there be nothing better? For each person’s blood is as unique as they; teaming with their experiences, their turmoil, their fears, desires, the flavor of their environment. If one were tired of such a meal, it could only be because they have forgotten how to enjoy it.

J: As you say. Next is-

M: You seem to be in a rush, my son. Have you no comments to make? No witty banter to fit the spaces between the questions?

J: Not particularly, no.

M: Then why, I wonder, have you been sent to conduct this interview at all? Could I not have read the questions myself?

J: Yes. I suppose our… author wanted to make sure you didn’t skip any.

M: Did she? How interesting. I wonder which topics she felt I might shy away from? The question Bonnie asked about Kateesha, perhaps? Yes, let us have that one next.

J: *makes sound of annoyance* from Bonnie, “Did you and Kateesha have a thing going?”

M: “a thing”. What an interesting choice of words, Bonnie! Though you have not been specific, I can see clearly what you mean. No, we did not have the kind of romantic relationship you are imagining. I had hoped that Jorick would supply that for her.

J: You knew how I felt about her! A relationship of any kind with her would have been impossible!

M: *laughs lightly* Ah! How you like to pretend now! But you did not always spurn her advances so hotly. You have many virtues, my son, but chastity is not one of those. I believe this will lead nicely into the next question?

J: *growls low in throat* Also from Bonnie, “Why did you choose to turn Jorick?”

M: Aha! Even at an interview for another, it is Jorick who is the topic of interest! But I digress. The decision to give him immortality was not made lightly, for it should not be. Only the best and most interesting should be handed such a prize.  Look at him. Is he not beautiful? It was this that first caught my attention, but so many have been beautiful before and found wanting in other aspects. When I first clapped eyes on him, he was, of course, ignorant after the fashion of his people. Peasant stock, you might call him, but his lack of formal education did not diminish the intelligence that shone through his eyes. The potential was there. He lacked only the hand to guide his mind to the paths of knowledge that he so craved. But it was not just knowledge that he wanted, for it is not the virtues that makes one an intriguing companion, but the faults. My son is greedy. He wants it all – everything. He wants knowledge, and power, and strength, and what he has is never enough. Though he spouts the wisdom of old ones and claims to have cooled through his misery, he has not. The passion still burns in him, the hunger for more – more of everything. It is not enough to have loved, he must love more – longer, more fiercely, more completely. It is not enough to be strong, he must be the strongest, he must be feared-

J: if I want to be feared it’s only so others will leave me in peace!

M: Even in that you are greedy, for you want both peace and life at the same time. The thrill, the excitement, and yet you wish to have it at no personal cost, with no sacrifice on your part. You, my son, are a mass of greedy contradictions and THAT is why, when you came to me, demanding in your fury that I give you my strength, I honored your request.

J: Enough! There is another question from Bonnie-

M: But you have skipped dear Donna’s question, have you not? I believe that it follows this stream of thought. Since you will not ask it, I shall do so myself. Donna has asked of me, “Will you ever truly let Jorick go? You still seem to have some hold on him.” My answer must be this, does any parent let go of their child completely? Is there not always a pull, caused by the common blood, even among those parent/child sets who would claim to hate one another? His original biology is thanks to another, but was it not I who raised him from peasant to something greater? In all but the most biological, I am his father, and so he will always remain tied to me in that inexplicable way that a son can never be free of his parents.

J:*through clenched teeth* I am not tied-

M: Our dearest Donna has another question, it seems. Perhaps you would care to read it to me? Or shall I finish the interview on my own while you storm away in a fit of anger?

J: *growls* She wants to know what you think of the idiot.

M: I don’t believe that those were her exact words. “What do you think of Verchiel?” is her precise question, and an interesting one at that. Ah! Verchiel! What can one think of him? Just as I enjoy Jorick’s contradiction, so do I enjoy Verchiel’s seeming unpredictability. It is as if even he does not know what he will do from one moment to another, though there is more of a pattern than he thinks. I know which orders he will obey and which he will disobey, the interesting part is watching HOW he will do these things; how will he get from point a, to point b, as it were. Perhaps because of his mixed cultures, his mind is most intriguing.

J: He’s easy to predict. Just imagine the stupidest, most annoying, haphazard, imbecilic way of doing something, and that’s the path he’ll take.

M: You are unfair to him! Ah, but we all know why. Will you ask the next question?

J: I fail to see the obsession with the idiot, but Bonnie asks, “Why did you make Verchiel an Executioner when he is so unpredictable?”

M: For precisely that reason, my child. A little chaos is necessary if one wishes to maintain order, for just as you can not have light without dark, neither can there be discipline without its opposite. We are drawing to a close now, I see. But we have a final question.

J: It wasn’t for you. Barb wanted to ask it to Katelina-

M: And am I not equipped to answer it? Imagine even, that it is outside of my expertise, have I not seen her every thought and feeling, painted like figures on a sidewalk?

J: *growls low* I don’t think this is appropriate.

M: No, I imagine that you don’t. But I will answer it all the same. Barb has asked about sharing an intimate relationship with a vampire. She was kind enough to share a link (http://kenradaniels.com/2012/05/08/your-guide-to-sex-with-1/) and has asked, “-can [you] tell us if [Jo’s] vampires are like that?” Since the post it links to has a “checklist” of sorts, I shall do the same as it pertains to those living in the Amaranthine universe. I can not, however, speak for vampires in any other universe.

  • Point 1 – horny vampires bite – yes, this is true.
  • Point 2 – Vampires must be well fed or suffer a crisis of performance – yes and no. If you were to drain them dry, then the answer would be yes, however it is not necessary that they have fed immediately before, or even the same night of. It would be preferable for a human, however, for many reasons, one of which is that a hungry vampire is less likely to stop drinking.
  • Point 3 – the vampire’s bite is pleasurable – yes, of course it is, if this is what the vampire has in mind, which, during intimate associations, one would assume would be at the forefront of his or her intent.
  • Point 4 – vampires are pale and cold – they are paler, yes, but not necessarily white. I am not white. I was not white in mortal life, and so I am not so in immortality, either. The cold, however, is true unless they have fed on warm blood. Once they’ve fed, they’ll hold the warmth for several hours.
  • Point 5 – vampires have increased stamina – I imagine so. Especially since it is not even necessary, for a vampire, to have the traditional “sexual contact” in order to have what is, in effect, sex. This leads back to points 1 and 3, as the sharing of the blood (or drinking of the blood if it does not go both ways) and the mental and para-physical connection are the actual ‘sexual act’ itself, while the more traditional physically “sexual” contact is superfluous and could even be viewed in the same light as “foreplay” – merely there to add to what is already taking place, or will take place.

J: I think that’s enough. You’ve answer the question… thoroughly. Thank you to our readers. Next week we’ll interview Jamie-

M: An odd choice. But, I believe he was a write in candidate, wasn’t he?

J: Yes. If you’re not sure who he is, he’s one of the Executioners. And with that we’re finished here. Hopefully I will NOT see you next week, and Katelina will return to her interviewing duties, or I’m going to demand a raise!

If you’d like to leave questions for Jamie, please check out this blog and leave them in the comments section. Thanks!


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by Joleene Naylor on May 26, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Amaranthine Interviews
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Posted by Joleene Naylor on May 26, 2012

http://joleenenaylor.wordpress.com/2012/05/26/interview-with-malick/

Interview with Oren


 

Hello! My name is Jorick and I’m from Joleene Naylor’s Amaranthine series. Using state of the art-mumbo-jumbo-author magic, Jo normally has Katelina interview other authors’ characters but now we’re interviewing fellow Amaranthian’s with questions that come from you, the readers.

You may wonder WHY I’m filling in for Katelina. It’s because today’s interviewee is my fledgling Oren-


Oren: Yes, and I have no interest in answering questions, let alone from her. Why are we doing this?

J: It was part of the ridiculous contract that our hack author roped us into, if you’ll remember. Let’s get this over with, shall we? *shuffles papers*. I assume I’m supposed to pick through these…

O: No, I think you have to ask them all.

J: Wonderful. I’ll warn you, they’re an unruly lot. You should have seen the things they asked me – my underwear, for God’s sake!

O: I’m not answering underwear questions.

J: That’s a pity, because you have one. From Sharon S., “Did he bring his big girl panties to the interview?”

O: I assume that’s clever slang.

J: Yes, I think so. Oh, here’s one, from a Jonathan – Oh, I know who HE is. He’s that writer who keeps pairing me and Katelina with that ridiculous Vampire Willy. Anyway, he asked, “Can I have his sister’s phone number?”

O: *rolls eyes* She doesn’t have her own phone, and this is precisely why. We have one cellphone which we share and no, you may not have the number. She’s a big enough -I think you can imagine the word – already.

J: A lot of words fit, but they all have essentially the same meaning. Moving on, here’s one from Sue, “I’ve read about your life in the south during the civil war. Granted it wasn’t your war but was all the blood shed (yummy) worth it to the humans?”

O: They thought so. To be honest, I was on the southern side, for the most part. I wasn’t really interested in the bureaucrats in the north telling us what to do. On the other hand, the Vampire government has been doing the same thing since it started. They have one centralized location and tell everyone, hundreds of miles away, what to do, even though they aren’t there and have no idea of the individual circumstances. I will say that the war between the states made it easier to find food. If you waited, it would walk to your door wearing blue and carrying a gun.

J: Yes, it did, didn’t it? I remember once I found some in the barns. They were quite surprised.

O: *snickers* I imagine. All right, what’s next?

J: Let me see. We have this from Juli, the first part is not really a question, but I think you should hear it anyway, “First of all, I wanted to say that I am SOOO sorry for your losses. I can’t even try to imagine how difficult it would be to lose a spouse and children as violently as you lost yours. Again, I’m so sorry. You also had a great deal of losses when you were human. I’ve read that illness took more of your children before you were transformed. You’ve experienced so much sorrow in your long life. It must be very difficult for you. Again, I can’t even imagine!”

O: Erm. Well. Yes. *looks uncomfortable* Jesslynn gave birth eight times though only Alexander and Tristan lived to be older than five months, but of course, we know how that ended.

J: *clears throat* Well, yes. Here’s the question part of it, “I would like to think there must have been SOME happiness in your life, once, even if it was long ago. Do you ever look to the future and think that, maybe someday, you will find happiness again?”

O: Oh, there’s been happiness. No one can live and have all of only one thing or the other. I remember when I married Jesslynn and we were… happy. My mother wasn’t, of course. Jesslynn wasn’t… what’s the word I want? Flouncy enough? She didn’t giggle and bat her eyelashes and flirt over her fan. As to whether I see future happiness… I don’t know.

J: Time heals all things.

O: Does it? *looks away* Next question. I’d like to get this over with.

J: Yes, of course. While we’re on the subject, there are a couple more from Juli. “Sometimes talking about our deceased loved ones helps. Would you mind sharing a memory or two concerning your family?”

O: Is this necessary?

J: Since your fan club president isn’t here, Juli has been the only understanding commenter so far, in fact she said, and I quote, “he’s grown on me throughout the series. Over the years, (months in Amaranthine time) he’s become one of my favorite characters!”

O: In that case, all right. I remember when Alexander was born. It was storming… Hmm. No. That’s not very interesting. Let me think. I remember the summer Bethina came to stay with us.  She was still human then. She talked Alexander into wanting fireworks, and he spent a month relentlessly asking about them. He never whined or threw a tantrum, but at every turn it was, “Father, have you thought about the fireworks?”  Of course he got them, in the end. Jesslynn forbade his lighting them, so Bethina did it for him. He would call out which one he wanted next and she’d send it up. He was quite enchanted with them and after that we had to get them periodically. Though they changed the laws shortly after to limit what was available. Alexander was especially sad to see the “Cherry Bombs” go, though I never understood why. They were just noise.  At least the roman candles had colors and such. The interesting thing was that even after Bethina went… well, after she was turned and things went a bit wrong, she still lit the fireworks for him. It was one of the things she’d held onto, I guess.

J: Ah. Here’s another question, “What did you love most about your wife?”

O: She was strong. She could survive on her own. She didn’t need me, or anyone else to coddle her, or protect her, or take care of her. She was intelligent, sharp witted and knew her own mind without needing me to tell it to her, as so many women did – and still do, for that matter. I see stories on television even of modern, supposed enlightened women who will allow men to do atrocious things to them rather than be alone. Jesslynn would never have stood for that. I raised my hand only once to her – it was accepted in those days – and that was over my mother. She’d insulted her to her face. Of course, you can’t have that, wife or no. Jesslynn hit me back, harder than I had ever hit her, and told me if I ever so much as considered that again she’d bury me in the cemetery next to my father. I believe she meant it.

J: Hmm. Yes, very enlightened for a woman of her times. This is from Sue, and seems to go along with the general theme, “And really – you wanted to keep your family with you always, but a vampire baby, or even your older son, to be a child forever? It wasn’t fair to them. But then you were only thinking of yourself I guess, as you usually do.”

O: No, I wasn’t thinking of anything because I didn’t do it. That was Jesslynn. I told her not to, but she was convinced they would both die the way the others had if she didn’t do it immediately. I believe Alexander would have lived to adult hood, but she was right about Tristan. He was already showing the same symptoms as the others. He had no more than a month left. It’s a complex question – was it right or wrong – and at the moment I don’t feel philosophical.

J: You know my opinion on it.  

O: As a matter of fact, I do. And you know my opinion on some of your choices.

J: Like Katelina, perhaps? Interesting you brought that up, as Juli also asked, “Do you ever think you’ll be able to accept Katelina in Jorick’s life?”

O: Do I have a choice? She is ALWAYS there, like a bad penny or a skin blemish. It wouldn’t be as bad if she wasn’t so mind numbingly weak! The simplest tasks elude her, and she can never, ever defend herself, or anyone else for that matter!

J: And who else should she defend?

O: Next question.

J: All right, then here’s the last one from Juli, “You managed to keep your family “under the radar” from the Executioners for many years. Do you blame Jorick for leading them to your home? What about Katelina?”

O: Honestly? No, I don’t blame Jorick or even her for bringing them there, that was Patrick’s fault for telling Michael where Arowenia was, they’d have come even if Jorick wasn’t there, but I do blame the insipid human for what happened after they arrived. How hard is it to hide in a concealed room? It isn’t difficult, and yet she couldn’t manage it because Jorick wasn’t there to do it for her!

J: I understand you’re still emotional about it, but be careful where you tread.

O: It’s true. You insisted we put her in there with the children and Bethina what happened? They found them! We both know it was her scent that attracted them! You said they wouldn’t notice with all the human servants running around – we sacrificed them, Jorick! We willingly left all the servants out in the open as a distraction and yet the Executioners still found the children and your pathetic little human and-

J: Enough! Moving on, there are two final questions from Donna. “You’re kind of a grumper, like a diabetic without enough insulin. Have you thought about increasing how often you ‘eat’?”

O: I’ve thought about changing my diet, if that’s what you mean. I can think of someone who would make an excellent dinner and afterwards I’m sure the world would seem a far rosier place.

J: What did I say?

O: About what?

J: Don’t play stupid. I know what you meant.

O: Of course you do! You know everything! I imagine you know the answer to the final question, don’t you?

J: Yes, I do. The question is, “You’re so damned good-looking. Why haven’t you found some new lover?” And the answer is because no woman would put up with you.

O: With me? Ha! I’m far easier to get along with than you are! You’re overbearing and condescending!

J: Only because you need to be told what to do, not to mention you’re whiny, melodramatic, and you talk everything to death!

O: Excuse me if I want to make sure that there is a viable plan in place first.

J: Viable? Hardly! The plans are never viable! They’re always halfcocked and ridiculous, but we talk about them for hours anyway, we just don’t ever improve them!

O: Do you think you could do better? If so, you’re more than welcome to try!

J: Of course I could-

*Katelina interrupts* No, he couldn’t. *she grabs Jorick’s arm*. He’s not joining anything, planning anything, or helping in anything. There. Was I being a strong enough woman for you?

O: *glares*

K: *shoves Jorick through the door.* Unfortunately Jorick must leave and we’re out of time, anyway. Thanks to Oren for bothering to show up.  Join us next week when someone interviews Malick!

O: *mutters* What? Not committing to that one, either?

 

If you’d like to leave questions for Malick, please check out this blog and leave them in the comments section. Thanks!


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by Joleene Naylor on May 12, 2012  •  Permalink
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Posted by Joleene Naylor on May 12, 2012

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Interview with Claudius


 

Hello! My name is Verchiel and I’m from Joleene Naylor’s Amaranthine series. I am filling in for Katelina because…well, I’ll get into that in a moment. But, using state of the art-mumbo-jumbo-author magic, Jo has had Katelina interview other authors’ characters. Now she is interviewing our fellow Amaranthian’s. Even better, the questions come from you, the readers! So let’s get this party started!

As I said, this is Verchiel, filling in for Katelina. You see, today’s interviewee is Claudius, who some of you might remember has devoted time to… well, let’s just say he’s been out to get her. Because of their, erm, past, she refused to interview him, so I stepped up – again!

Aren’t they lucky to have me?

Claudius

Claudius: Oh, it’s you. Wonderful.

V: Don’t sound so excited to see me! Geeze! The enthusiasm-

C: Can we get on with this?

V: Oh, all right. Despite the fact that most of the readers hate you, there were a few questions for you.

C: They only hate me because they’ve been force fed the story through Jorick and his human’s eyes. If they looked at it the other way around, one assumes they would be intelligent enough-

V: Hey, hey, let’s not insult the readers, huh? I happen to be quite fond of them!

C: I wasn’t insulting them. I was merely stating that they haven’t been permitted to see the other side of it. Let me kidnap their mate and see how they feel about it then.

V: You know, there’s a school of thought out there which says you didn’t really love Arowenia, anyway…

C: And who’s made that determination? Who has the right to decide what is love and what is not or who loves and who does not?

V: You know, if you’d just SAY it, it would go a long way towards convincing people.

C: I don’t need to “convince” anyone! What I feel or do not feel is of no consequence to anyone but myself! *narrows eyes* Why are you here again?

V: Because it was me or Kately, and after… well, you know…

C: Oh. Her. Jorick’s annoying human. Or Patrick’s. Or whoever she belonged to. It gives me a headache trying to decipher it. If given the choice between the two of you, then I must say you’re the better option, though only just. Ask the questions and get on with it.

V: I’m going to pretend that was a compliment! First from Sue, “You became a vampire in the 1500s, I believe. What advances in the world today amaze you the most?”

C: An interesting question. One is not so much an advance, but a shift in social attitude. I find it intriguing that in the New World bloodlines don’t carry the value they did, or even still do, in the more civilized world. That paternity, or even maternity, no longer matters is an interesting concept with both pros and cons. As far as advances, such as technology, I find most of it too noisy and distracting. There are televisions, cellphones, radios. Every moment is bombarded with noise and the pouring out of someone else’s ideas, thoughts or feelings. It’s no wonder that the modern world is stilted and unoriginal. One can not have an original idea because their mind is too overrun with everyone else’s ideas.

V: I don’t know. I rather like TV. But for the sake of the interview let’s move on. From Donna, “Claudius, so many are afraid of you and you act like a tough guy, but in reality, without your body guards around, you seemed like a frightened squirrel. Was there a time when you were really ‘tough’?”

C: *opens mouth*Snaps it shut*takes deep breath* Ah yes, more of Jorick and Oren’s propaganda, I imagine. Like so many things, tough is subjective, but if you mean was I ever forced to ‘take care of myself’ then the answer is yes. Francoise, my maker, was little more than useless in many ways, and her coven – which was scarcely more than a pack of dogs – was even less so. I spent many years fighting, not only for my position, but just to exist, as I had when I was mortal. There comes a point when one wearies of having to fight. The intelligent person then creates a group of people to do the fighting for them…

V: Speaking of your maker, from Juli, “Claudius, I assume that you murdered your maker, but tell us “officially” how you parted company with Francoise?”

C: Ah. Yes. Francoise. You are correct that I “removed” her when it proved necessary to do so. She was… how shall I say it? She was common, yes, but she was also condescending and she had all the qualities of a large anchor, weighing me down and holding me back from achieving any kind of lasting greatness. Not only by her ridiculous rules, but also because she was determined to remind me on a nearly nightly basis of exactly where I had come from. Eventually the time came when she needed to be reminded where SHE came from. The fact that she shared immortality with me only stretched so far. Should a child shower praise and devotion on an unworthy parent?

V: That’s an interesting example, but they don’t usually KILL them…

C: You deal with it your way, and I shall deal with it mine. Next.

V: Whatever. This one is also from Donna, “Picking on a human to get even with Jorick, knowing Jorick’s personality, wasn’t that rather, um, dumb?”

C: What was dumb was not killing her. Had I known that Jorick was really as attached to her as he is, I would have done so. Not that it would have equaled what he did to me. Perhaps you’ve forgotten what he did to my mate – who had been with me for centuries? Though because I’m not the main character the death of MY companion doesn’t matter, is that it?

V: Um, actually, we can’t get into too much of this or we’ll spoil the plot.

C: For whom? Hasn’t everyone who’s ever going to read those dreadful books already done so? I can’t really imagine that a hack author like this could continue to draw new fans.

V: Weirdly enough, it does happen. Wait, I don’t mean it’s weird. Our author is great. So great, in fact, that she should quit doing book covers and start writing full time. I’m seeing a “Verchiel” spin-off series.

C: Please. What would that entail? “Verchiel breezed in, made a few comments that failed to be amusing and then breezed out again, all the while doing nothing of any importance.” There. I’ve completed the series for you. You and our hack author are both welcome.

V: That wasn’t very nice. We’re running out of time, but I have a final question before you go. Though you’re not in the newest book, Ashes of Deceit (to be released May 2012), some former members of your coven are. How do you feel about their new affiliations?

C: Which ones? That Hectia refused to submit is cheering to a point, but that Kale and Joseff… Well, there are laws, aren’t there? If one puts aside their personal feelings, they can acknowledge that Kale was forced to follow the laws and his newest alliance, while it is enough to make my blood boil, is advantageous for him. One must always choose the most advantageous path and not allow sentimentality to cloud one’s judgment, so in that respect he has done well.

V: And with that we’re out of time! The next interview is Oren (and Katelina will finally return to interviewing!) so leave your questions for him on this blog and as always thanks for stopping by!

Aside from reading about Claudius in the Amaranthine series, he also guest stars in the short stories Arowenia  & Michael and of course stars in his own story Claudius

 

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by Joleene Naylor on May 5, 2012  •  Permalink
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The Resurrection Ceremony

This was written by request – I was supposed to be in bed hours ago (I am still up from yesterday) so that explains the weirdness. Sorry for the annoying present tense, but it seemed fun at the time ;)

(This is the Resurrection ceremony wherein Patrick was summoned for his interview.

**************

Two red candles

by Till Westermayer via flickr under CC license

It is a small, dark room. In the center is a circle of scarlet candles. Flames flicker from their tips and cast dancing shadows on the bare walls. Outside, lighting flashes and thunder follows. The rolling boom echoes like a timpani drum in a macabre symphony.

Someone enters through a low doorway. Slightly stooped, the woman straightens and looks around, checking to be sure everything is as it should be. The resurrection ceremony can begin!

The woman shuffles across the room to a large, dusty book. She hefts its bulk and flips the worn pages, seeking the right words to bring back the dead. Lightning flashes again, and the thunder follows. As the last echoes die, she begins a low, eerie chant-

“I don’t know if I can actually find Patrick! He’s only had – what? Two sentences up to now? And that was a flashback?” Insanely, her voice changes pitch, as if there is a second person talking through her, “Oh come on, Jo! You can do it! You’re already a week late! Suck it up!”

With a heavy sigh she waves her hand and mumbles unintelligible words. A shimmery form begins to materialize before her. It takes shape and becomes more solid. Soon, a character can be seen. A young man in his early twenties with messy blonde hair and a lip ring. He is dressed all in black and looks a bit confused.

“What? Where am I?”

The woman snaps the book shut and drops it back to the stack of random papers in the corner. “Don’t play the mystified character to me. Let’s just get on with this, huh?”

The young man takes a step back. “Get on with what?”

“Your interview.” She blows out the candles one by one. Smoke curls from the dead wicks in little black puffs. “There was a poll. Some people voted for you, blah, blah, blah, now they want to ask you questions.”

His eyes are suddenly guarded. “What people? Who are you?”

She stops, hands on hips, her expression one of annoyance. “Quit playing dumb. I’m your author, as you well know. And the people are your readers. Well, sort of. They’ve read about you. I realize you haven’t gotten to do much because I killed you off on page one, so now’s your chance.”

Patrick scowls. “Why the hell did you kill me off, anyway?”

The author shrugs. “I don’t know. I was trying to come up with something for nano-wri-mo and I was reading Anita Blake at the time, and she had all these gleaming spinal columns and I thought ‘Hey! I need a gleaming spinal column’ so – poof! – you were born so you could be dead. Besides, it gave Katelina some turmoil, and explained what she was doing at a deserted house.”

“Not really. What was she doing there?”

“Meeting Jorick, of course! Now listen, I’m going to send you in to be interviewed in a minute-”

“What in the hell was she meeting him for?!?”

The woman frowns and taps an impatient foot. “She couldn’t hook up with him if she didn’t meet him, now could she? As I was saying-”

“What!? Katelina and Jorick hooked up?! How the hell did that happen?”

The woman grumbles to herself and shuffles through the pile of books and papers. “Here,” she says as she hands Patrick a copy of a book titled Shades of Gray. “If you want the nity –grity details read that. Meanwhile, I need to get you prepped for your interview.”

Patrick ignores her and flips absently through the book. His eyes dart over the pages and catch stray words, sentences; scenes. Then, he shouts, “What in the fuck? He’s having sex with her? Are you serious?”

storm clouds

by me :)

The author snatches the book away and flings it back into the pile. “Yeah, they had sex. They’ve had sex several times. They’re living together, all right? Now can we get to the important stuff?”

“That IS important!” His words break off into an unintelligible tangle that sounds like “ergh!”

“As I’ve been trying to say, Verchiel is going to interview you. He’s a… well.. I don’t know if he’s a good guy, but he’s a good character. You could learn a lot from him. He wouldn’t stand there and shout ‘ergh’ at me. He’d nod along and say I was brilliant, and then add a plug for his own spin off series – which he isn’t getting, by the way.”

“Spin offs? You’re talking spin offs with some Vermicelli guy and you killed me on page one? What the hell?”

A buzzer sounds.

The author grabs Patrick by the arm and hauls him towards the low doorway. “Yeah, yeah, you can bitch later. Right now you have to go on. So get out there, answer the questions and for the love of God watch your mouth. I know the kind of stuff you’re capable of saying!”

He turns to her and asks coldly, “How can you know? I’ve never had a chance to say anything!”

“Call it author’s intuition.” And with those words she shoves him through the door.

***********

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by Joleene Naylor on March 10, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Amaranthine Interviews

Posted by Joleene Naylor on March 10, 2012

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Interview with Patrick


 

Hello! My name is Verchiel and I’m from Joleene Naylor’s Amaranthine series. I am filling in for Katelina because…well, I’ll get into that in a moment. But, using state of the art-mumbo-jumbo-author magic, Jo has had Katelina interview other authors’ characters. Now she is interviewing our fellow Amaranthian’s. Even better, the questions come from you, the readers! So let’s get this party started!

As I said, this is Verchiel, filling in for Katelina. You see, today’s interviewee is Patrick, who some of you might remember is sort of Kately’s ex, in a manner of speaking, and we all thought it would be a bit out there to have her interview him. Okay, not all of us. I was for it. I thought it could be really fun, but I got outvoted, so here I am.

So, please welcome Patrick who, I can safely say without spoiling the plot for anyone, is dead. Yes, this should be an interesting interview.


Verchiel: Hello Patrick, and welcome back!

Patrick: Who are you, again?

V: Let’s just say I’m the cool guy and get to the questions. Wait, you do know what’s going on, right?

P: Yeah. Jo prepped me after the resurrection ceremony, so just ask the questions.

V: Resurrection ceremony? Why didn’t I get invited? Moving on, our first question comes from Juli (with no e – hey there! *winks*) “Which vampire first approached you and your brother, and how exactly did you get involved with Claudius and his coven?”

P: Oh, that. My stupid brother, Michael, got involved with them. He’d just got out of jail for meth possession and Mom said if he wanted to live with her he had to work, so he got a part time job mowing the yard for Claudius’s big mansion. There was hardly anyone around when he was there, so he started casing the place out. He had this insane plan to try to rob them. I dunno exactly what went down, but my brother disappeared for like six months, then popped back up and was suddenly a vampire. He’s the one that got me dragged into the whole mess because he hated being Claudius’s servant and wanted out, only they wouldn’t let him out. I dunno what he thought I was gonna do about it, but I couldn’t tell him no. He was my younger brother, you know? And then we ran into Asshole *scowls*.

V: Asshole?

P: *pulls out a cigarette and lights it* Yeah, Jorick.

V: Ah, I guess you’ve heard.

P: Heard about what? That Kate’s fucking that prick? Yeah, I heard. But what the fuck ever. Next question.

V: Here’s another one from Juli, “What was your reaction when you discovered that vampires were real?”

P: I dunno. I got drunk for a few days. I mean how do you deal with the idea that there’s these blood sucking monsters and your stupid ass brother is one of them? It was just unreal. I don’t think anything felt real from that moment on.

V: With that in mind, here’s one from Donna, “Patrick, why didn’t you break off with Katelina once you were involved with vampires?”

P: I was already tangled up with them when I met her. That’s part of why we never had a real relationship, coz I kept waiting for the fucking bomb to drop. I kept thinking it was just a matter of time before Claudius turned me into one of them or killed me or something. He’d already marked me by then, too, like I was his property. I know, I shoulda walked away from her after that first night.

V: Why didn’t you?

P: I dunno. She was just so… normal. I was trapped in a fucking nightmare with Claudius and Michael and when I was with her it was like suddenly waking up and finding out all of that shit was just a bad dream and that the world really wasn’t all nighttime and blood and dead girls in fountains. And she didn’t ask any questions or demand anything, even when I disappeared for weeks. I guess she probably thought I was on some kind of drug binge or something.

V: You kind of look the part. Ahem. Sorry, you’re just the complete opposite of old’ gloomy gus. I have a hard time imagining you and Kately together. How did you meet her, anyway?

P: It was in a bar. I was hitting it hard – fuck I don’t even remember why – something to do with Claudius and that shit – and she came up and talked to me. I think she was trying to piss off her friend. She was there with that Sarah chick. It worked, and Sarah left, and somehow I ended up back at Katelina’s place. Her friend never liked me coz I wasn’t like her straight laced, rod up the ass boyfriend “Bwad”. But I’m used to that. I never fit in in that stupid town. I didn’t dress right, didn’t listen to the right music, didn’t do the right things. Fuck that. Fuck all of them.

V: You certainly have some anger issues. Is that how you and old Mr. Grumpy-Boots got to be friends?

P: *takes violent puff of cigarette* Yeah, whatever. We met him while he was out hunting – it wasn’t even two weeks since I’d found out what Michael was. I think I was still drunk. Anyway, he came off as this strong type and so a couple weeks later when Michael and I were talking about how we could get him away from Claudius, Michael thought of Jorick and since we knew he wasn’t one of Claudius’s gang we went looking for him. Ironic now that I think about it. We basically ASKED to get fucked over.

V: Speaking of Jorick, here’s another one from Donna, “Why, of all vampires, did you ask Jorick to keep an eye on Katelina?”

P: Because I was a retard, that’s why! I trusted that asshole! He was like those strong silent types from all the cowboy movies my grandpa used to watch and, I dunno, I guess I just expected him to be some kind of hero.

V: *snickers* No comment. From Sydney Cordova, “If you could go back, would you have warned Katelina?”

P:  I’ve had some time to think about this and though I want to say yes, the real answer is no. I wouldn’t expect her to believe the stories without some kind of proof and there’s no way I’d have shown her any. It’s stupid but, dragging her into the world with the vampires would have defeated the purpose of being with her. She was like that little blip of sanity. If she was there in the nuthouse with me, then what? We’d both be fucking lunatics trapped in a mess. Yeah, so maybe that’s a selfish attitude, but the truth is usually selfish. It’s no worse than Asshole’s excuses.

V: Well here’s a goodie from Bonnie, “Did you ever imagine your brother would betray and kill you?”

P: Who the fuck ever thinks that? Depending on how you look at it, though, you might say I betrayed him. I’d had enough, you know? Claudius was going to kill us, the fucking vampire guild or whatever was going to send their goon squad to kill us, Troy had already been sniffing around after Kate on Claudius’s orders, it just wasn’t worth it anymore. I was going to go to Oren’s and get Arowenia and give her back. Michael showed up and was trying to stop me, then he called Asshole. I had no intention of hanging around for him to get there, too, so I tried to leave and that’s when Michael attacked me. Truth told, I don’t think he meant it. I think he was just a lot stronger than me. I dunno. Maybe it’s the way they all wanted it. I was just the noisy wheel. You note Jorick didn’t waste any time or tears.

V: Here’s another one from Donna, “Looking back, do you see the big mistake threatening to expose vamps?”

P: I think it was a big mistake ever listening to my brother. The minute he flashed those fangs I should have turned around and walked the other way. *takes a puff* Yeah, it was a mistake trying to cross Claudius. We never should have spied for Oren and Jorick, and we never should have agreed to help kidnap Arowenia. She was Claudius’s obsession. I should have known better. I should have known he’d come after us. Looking back on it, the whole plan was stupid anyway, and if I hadn’t been stoned, or drunk, or worried about Kate I would have told them all to go to hell, but Kateesha made it sound like such a good idea and Asshole was willing to go along with it….

V: You must have really valued his opinion.

P: Who? Asshole? Yeah, I looked up to him. He was kind of like that reluctant father-figure, you know? And then-

V: And then as Bonnie so eloquently put it (God, I love her for this!) “You seem to have been betrayed by everyone. Jorick betrayed your trust and fell in love with your girl and she fell in love with him right after you died, acting like you’d never existed.”

P: Yeah, exactly. How the hell can she be in love with him? I get that she moved on from me because we were never “official” or any of that shit, but a MONTH!? A fucking month later she’s falling into bed with that jerk! God, couldn’t she have waited a couple months at least and gone for someone better? I got mixed up in the shit with kidnapping Arowenia because I wanted to keep her OUT of the vampire’s world and what the hell does she do but throw herself in it! It was like all those months of effort were fucking wasted! Hell, it was like I died for nothing, you know? I spent all those months keeping secrets, sneaking around, having Asshole keep an eye on her and taking Claudius’s fucking shit and for what? So she could bang Mr. Hero and fall madly in love with him? It just pisses me off!

V: I can see that. And here’s a final question from Juli, “If you hadn’t gotten involved with Claudius and died, do you think that you and Katelina would have stayed together?”

P: *takes final drag on cigarette and stomps it out* I dunno. I dunno if we’d have even been together if I hadn’t been mixed up with them. I like to think so. I like to pretend that we woulda met somewhere else and gone out a few times and then later moved in together and done all that normal shit. And maybe I woulda cleaned up some and quit tweakin’ and drinkin’ and got a real job and maybe she woulda decided she loved me… Truth is she’d have probably kicked me out before it got to that point. But then at least she wouldn’t be with him. *spits on floor*. He better fuckin’ hope I don’t run into him in the afterlife. That’s all I’m saying.

V: And with those profound thoughts, I think we will end this interview!

Next week is Claudius, so leave your questions for him on this blog and as always thanks for stopping by!

Aside from reading about Patrick in the Amaranthine series, he also guest stars in the short story Arowenia.

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by Joleene Naylor on March 10, 2012  •  Permalink
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Posted by Joleene Naylor on March 10, 2012

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