All posts in category Weekend Interview

Interview with Trillman

Hello! My name is Katelina, and welcome to Weekend Character Interviews. Using state of the art-mumbo-jumbo author magic, Jo has temporarily bent the laws of fictional space and time to allow various literary universes to converge long enough for me to ask different characters a few questions. Since I spend a lot of time in the Amaranthine series quizzing vampires on what they’re doing, where they’re going and why, Jo thought I would be the perfect interviewer.

Today we are interviewing Trillman from Jennifer Priester’s novel  Mortal Realm Witch: Learning About Magic.

Katelina: Hello Trillman and welcome! Can you tell us a little about yourself?

Trillman: I am currently a Golden Retriever living with my witch in the Mortal Realm.

K: Currently?

T: I wasn’t always a dog, there was a time when I was a warlock. Depending on what rule was broken, witches and warlocks are often turned into animals for punishment. (You will be able to learn all about the reason and read many familiars stories in, Tales of Familiars: The First Mortal Realm Witch Series Companion to be released between books Two and Three of the Mortal Realm Witch series.) The animals as you might have just figured out, become known as familiars. Familiars are described as talking animals that teach witches and warlocks magic, although they also teach other magic users as well. Their punishments usually end at some point, and mine did, but I chose to remain a dog rather than become a warlock again because I enjoy being a familiar.

K: Can you tell us what you did to be changed into a familiar?

T: The short version of my story goes like this. I was a young warlock living in the Mortal Realm. I was going to college to learn to become a teacher and was failing at this. A girl in my class offers to tutor me and I accept. We later become friends and one day she asks about me, where I come from. I come from the Other Realm and tell her this. I also tell her that I am a warlock. Neither of these things got me turned into a familiar but I was breaking rules by telling her these things. It was what I did next that got me turned into what I am today. The girl asked if she could see the Other Realm. One of the Other Realms biggest rules is no mortals allowed, and while I should have said no, I said yes. I couldn’t help it, I liked her. Well, Trom caught me bringing her into the Other Realm and practically turned me into a dog on the spot. Because I was a familiar now I ended up having to quit school and I never saw the girl again, but I did fulfill my dream of becoming a teacher. You can read the full version at http://www.mortalrealmwitch.com/extras/freetoreadstories.html

K: Can you tell us whose familiar you are?

T: Sure. DWW’s.

K: How did that happen? I mean did you get to pick, or did you get assigned or…

T: Upon becoming a familiar I was sent to familiar training in the Other Realm where I would learn how to do my new job. Trom gave me to DWW’s parents asking if I could live with them. DWW wasn’t born yet. Trom’s strategy was for me to become friends with my witch in training before becoming her teacher. The biggest challenge I faced at the time was acting like a normal dog and not talking to her until she became a witch. Another Other Realm rule is that familiars aren’t supposed to talk to mortals, even those that will be a witch one day, or current witches that have had their powers taken away as a punishment.

K: So you and DWW must be good friends?

T: Well, the first witch I teach is DWW but I end up quitting on her when she won’t listen to me anymore. Then when I end up becoming the familiar of the second Head of the Witches Council in the series, she expects me to constantly babysit a kid, just because I am the most responsible guy she knows. The kid never listened to or even liked me. In Book Two I learn that quitting on DWW was a mistake and regret it. Then in Book Five, my opinions of the kid begin changing when I learn why she doesn’t like me. (The reason had much to do with me and for so long I thought it was just her.) I guess you could say that by the end of the series I am much more patient and understanding. I also start trying not to just expect things, such as their becoming a hero or a villain, without getting to know them first.

the dog who did not like us.jpg

A golden dog by Jo

K: Do you have any enemies in the series?

T: Yes, Asantra, although by the end she isn’t one anymore. Asantra is the kid I was telling you about. We become enemies right from the start when I expect her to be something she isn’t and treat her this way.

K: I guess dealing with her must be pretty challenging, huh?

T: Yes. Getting past my prejudices against Asantra, and really getting to know her is hard. This might not seem like much of a challenge to many people, but Asantra’s dislike for me is so deep that at one point in the series she even goes so far as to try to kill me, so you can see we had much to work past.

K: Oh wow! That had to be a life changing moment.

T: Yes. The fight with Asantra and the reason it happened both were. (This is also the moment she attempted to kill me.) It all starts when she discovers a truth about me. Reflecting on what was said later I come to realize the kind of guy I had been to Asantra and this pushed me to make the decision to work at trying to improve our relationship as well as becoming a better guy…or dog, as it is in my case.

K: We’re getting short on time, so real quick I need to ask, The Mortal Realm Witch is a series, right? Which books are you in?

T: I first appear in Mortal Realm Witch: Learning About Magic, and am in all the books except for the First Companion (although someone mentions me), the Third Companion, and the Guidebook.

K: And with that we’re out of time. You can find Trillman in Mortal Realm Witch: Learning About Magic available at

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Mortal-Realm-Witch-Learning-About/dp/193878300X/  

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/mortal-realm-witch-jennifer-priester/1111957728?ean=9781938783005

Also check out the website for more info: http://www.mortalrealmwitch.com/meettheauthor.html

 

And a special thank you to Jennifer Priester for playing along!

If you’re an author and would like your character(s) to be interviewed by me, then check out this very cool page that has all the details:

http://joleenenaylor.wordpress.com/character-interviews/

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by Joleene Naylor on May 11, 2013  •  Permalink
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Posted by Joleene Naylor on May 11, 2013

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Interview with Trom

Hello! My name is Katelina, and welcome to Weekend Character Interviews. Using state of the art-mumbo-jumbo author magic, Jo has temporarily bent the laws of fictional space and time to allow various literary universes to converge long enough for me to ask different characters a few questions. Since I spend a lot of time in the Amaranthine series quizzing vampires on what they’re doing, where they’re going and why, Jo thought I would be the perfect interviewer.

Today we are interviewing Trom from Jennifer Priester’s novel  Mortal Realm Witch: Learning About Magic. 

Katelina: Hello Trom and welcome! Can you tell us a little about yourself?

Trom: I am a warlock and the first Head of the Witches Council that you meet in the Mortal Realm Witch series. I am short with black hair and dark brown eyes, and I am much older than I look. Specifically several hundred years older.

K: Like a vampire, huh? We interviewed DWW last week and she was telling us about this Other Realm…

T: Yes. I was born in the Other Realm where I was raised by my dad for the first part of my life. Then, as it was required by Other Realm rules for all witches and warlocks to spend at least a year in the Mortal Realm, I did so with my mom. Even though my parents lived separately they weren’t divorced or anything. What separated them was rules. See, my dad was a warlock and had a job in the Other Realm as the Assistant to the Head of the Witches Council which required him to live in the Other Realm. My mom was a mortal and one of the Other Realm’s biggest rules was, no mortal allowed. There were no exceptions to these rules.

K: I guess those rules have probably played a big part in shaping who you turned out to be.

T: Yes. Living in the Mortal Realm with my mom helped to shape who I am. I learned a lot from her and the mortals I went to school with. The reason had much to do with my second power which I discovered while I lived here that allowed me to see things in a whole new way.

K: I imagine asking about your second power would be too much of a spoiler, huh? Mortal realm Witch is a series, right? Which books can we find you in?

T: I first appearance in the Mortal Realm Witch series is in Book One, Mortal Realm Witch: Learning About Magic, but you will be able to discover my orgin story in the unnamed Fifth book in the series. I am in all the books of the main series (1-5).

K: How would you say you change during the course of the series?

fun with sparklers 5.jpg

photo by Jo

T: I learn that even as the Head of the Witches Council, who is in charge of everything and everyone with magic and is required to know a lot, there are some things even I don’t know about magic until DWW comes along. Up until that point I thought that I knew everything there was to know about magic.

K: What would you say is the biggest challenge you face?

T: Teaching DWW. It can be hard to teach a witch rules that has the ability to find ways around them almost every time!

K: So you don’t really have any enemies then?

T: The closest thing I have to one is Sampson, although I don’t really think of him this way. Sampson could be considered an enemy because this is how he sees me. The reason is that I was the one in charge of punishing him the first time and he doesn’t like me for that, but even as true as this is Sampson’s real enemy is DWW.

K: It looks like we’re running out of time, but before you go, inquiring minds want to know: are you involved in a romance?

T: No, I don’t really get out much and meet new people anymore.

K: And with that we’re out of time. You can find Trom in Mortal Realm Witch: Learning About Magic available at

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Mortal-Realm-Witch-Learning-About/dp/193878300X/  

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/mortal-realm-witch-jennifer-priester/1111957728?ean=9781938783005

Also check out the website for more info: http://www.mortalrealmwitch.com/meettheauthor.html

 

And a special thank you to Jennifer Priester for playing along!

If you’re an author and would like your character(s) to be interviewed by me, then check out this very cool page that has all the details:

http://joleenenaylor.wordpress.com/character-interviews/

 

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by Joleene Naylor on May 4, 2013  •  Permalink
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Posted by Joleene Naylor on May 4, 2013

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Interview with DWW

Hello! My name is Katelina, and welcome to Weekend Character Interviews. Using state of the art-mumbo-jumbo author magic, Jo has temporarily bent the laws of fictional space and time to allow various literary universes to converge long enough for me to ask different characters a few questions. Since I spend a lot of time in the Amaranthine series quizzing vampires on what they’re doing, where they’re going and why, Jo thought I would be the perfect interviewer.

Today we are interviewing DWW from Jennifer Priester’s novel  Mortal Realm Witch: Learning About Magic.

Katelina: Hello DWW and welcome! Can you tell us a little about yourself?

DWW: I can’t tell you what I look like at this time. I currently live in the Mortal Realm, your Realm, in a place called Fountain City. The Mortal Realm is not where I have always lived but I was born in it and this is where I learned that I was a witch and how to use my magic. Later on I lived in the Other Realm, the place where most witches, warlocks, and their familiars live, for a few hundred years, where I worked before moving back to the Mortal Realm. My first appearance is in Book One of the Mortal Realm Witch series, Mortal Realm Witch: Learning About Magic, and I am in every book after this one except for the Third Series Companion, Tales of Other Realm Creatures, and the Guidebook: The Guide to Other Realm Creatures.

K: So this book is the first in a series, right? From what I understand it’s a little bit different than a “traditional” novel.

D: Yes. Each book, with the exception of Books Three, Five, and the Guidebook, are told in short story form. Each short story builds off the last as a chapter would in a chapter book, but is told in different ways. Here is what I am talking about: In Mortal Realm Witch: Learning About Magic, I tell the first story. I tell about myself and it is the story of how I became a witch. In the next story my familiar, Trillman, takes over and tells about his teaching me magic and the challenges he faces as I learn more about what my powers can do. In the third story, the first Head of the Witches Council that you meet in this series, Trom, takes over my training after Trillman quits, leaving me with no familiar and no one to teach me magic. Trom tells this story from his point of view. In the fourth story I teach the wolf pups, Witch and Warlock. This story is told in third person rather than first to give you the feel as if you are watching me and these pups. It is also told this way to make the story feel more natural as you read about them learning to hunt as regular wolves as well as magical ones. The next story may feel out of place to some as it is about a witch living in the Other Realm, not me, who wants a dragon for a familiar. This story is told from her point of view. This story is told where it is because it shows you the impact I had on some of the rules and how it affects witches in both Realms. The characters in this story, the witch Ally, and the dragon Air Raid, also play a big role later in the series. The final story in the book is told in first person once again by me and tells the story of how I met Sampson and leads up to my new life in the Other Realm.

K: So what is the second book about?

D: Then the second book picks up where the first leaves off and Sampson’s story continues and his adventures with a new witch in the Mortal Realm begin. In this book I help the witch, Turtle, a lot, whether it’s dealing with Sampson, learning magic, or something else. She is also a big help to me when a battle breaks out between witches and witch hunters. In Book Two, Mortal Realm Witch: The Magic Continues (avail. this Spring.) you also get to go deeper into some events of Book One in an all new story featuring several shorter stories in one. One of these shorter stories tells what might have happened to lead up to Trillman’s quitting.

K: You said book three was different?

D: Yes. Book Three, Mortal Realms Witch: Realms Unite?, is one large story about my plan to unite the Realms, the challenges I face, and how I go about it. You will discover some big secrets in this book about Trom and myself. In the end of the book Trom will come to me with a message that will set off the events of Book Four, The Adventures of DWW2, with some stories about my daughter Asantra and her challenges and adventures leading up to my return to the Mortal Realm and setting off the events for Book Five (currently unnamed), the final book in the main Mortal Realm Witch series (there are three companions and a guidebook, as well as some upcoming free to read stories.)

K: What about the fifth book?

D: Because Book Five is the final book it is told as one large and fast paced story that answers many questions that were raised throughout the series, as well as setting off a big chain of events that hopefully leads to the final step in uniting the Realms forever and hopefully ends with both Realms fully united, but Five isn’t finished yet and knowing my author the way I do, anything can happen!

K: Wow! Sounds like it’s all fairly mapped out. Your author is way more organized than mine! How would you say that you evolve over the series?

D: I start out like any other kid or witch in training. I break some rules, find ways around others, don’t really take my duties seriously, and don’t always listen to the ones trying to teach me. This leads to many problems including my magic teacher, my familiar, quitting his job. Over time I learn to be more responsible, stop breaking rules and because of this I am given a big opportunity. It’s not the only reason but I was given the opportunity but if those things hadn’t changed I never would have been given it. Upon accepting the opportunity I get a new job and life in the Other Realm. Now I would be the one in charge of punishing rule breakers. Besides this I would get to do more enjoyable things as well, such as train new familiars. Throughout the series you will discover the good, the bad, and many of the challenges that came with my job.

pensieve

warlock accouterments by Jo

K: Do you have any enemies?

D: Yes, his name is Sampson. Sampson is a, or was a, power hungry warlock who wanted (and probably still does!) to control both the Mortal Realm and the Other Realm. We become enemies from the moment I refuse to help him with his take over plans.  Besides being power hungry, Sampson also has natural ability to twist things around so you believe he means one thing when he really means another. He gets me with this trick a few times throughout the series.

K: Oh wow! That sounds very “epic”. Hopefully you don’t face any other challenges!

D: .In the series I also face the challenge of uniting the Realms. It’s a difficult task that is only made more difficult with Sampson’s interference. And I also face the threat of witch hunters, black magic, an attempt by a warlock to rid the world of wolves, my daughter Asantra, and…I think that’s enough for now.

K: Wow! You’re author sounds as mean as mine. Did she at least involve you in a good romance?

D: Well, I was involved in one, once. It was very short and not really worth mentioning except my daughter, Asantra, was the result of it. Who was he? Someone who first appears in one of the first three books in the series. I won’t say who it is or which book because I think it is something that is best discovered for yourself rather than hearing it from me. I will tell you that I liked him because he was creative, smart, and ambitious.

K: Do you think that has helped to make you who you are, or is there another event that shaped you?

D: I actually believe it was when I became a full time teacher to two wolf pups, Witch and Warlock, for a year. As I was teaching them about their magical powers, how to use them, and also how to be regular wolves, I learned a lot about myself. There were some things that the two of them did that I didn’t agree with yet realized that I would have done the same thing. The biggest example of this is when the pups are protecting their territory from an enemy wolf.

K: What is the one thing you want the most in the whole world?

D: I would really like for mortals to see past all the predjudices against witches and see us as we really are.

Nature's magic

photo by photophilde CC via flicker

K: That sounds fair enough. It looks like we’re running out of time, so real quick, if you could say one thing to your readers, what would it be?

D: Sometimes you might fail at something that you really wanted to succeed at and might consider giving up. If it’s something you really want don’t give up. Just believe in it and try again. Depending on what it is, sometimes all you need to do is figure out what went wrong the first time and change your approach. If you get the chance, when the time comes, check out:  Book Three, Mortal Realm Witch: Realms Unite?, and you will see what I mean.

K: That is excellent advice! And if you could say one thing to your author?

D: I would say thanks for not giving up on my first story. If you had we would have missed out on a lot of great adventures together.

  

K: And with that we’re out of time. You can find DWW in Mortal Realm Witch: Learning About Magic available at

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Mortal-Realm-Witch-Learning-About/dp/193878300X/  

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/mortal-realm-witch-jennifer-priester/1111957728?ean=9781938783005

Also check out the website for more info: http://www.mortalrealmwitch.com/meettheauthor.html

 

And a special thank you to Jennifer Priester for playing along!

If you’re an author and would like your character(s) to be interviewed by me, then check out this very cool page that has all the details:

http://joleenenaylor.wordpress.com/character-interviews/ 

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by Joleene Naylor on April 27, 2013  •  Permalink
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Posted by Joleene Naylor on April 27, 2013

http://joleenenaylor.wordpress.com/2013/04/27/interview-with-dww/

Interview with John Hendry

Hello! My name is Katelina, and welcome to Weekend Character Interviews. Using state of the art-mumbo-jumbo author magic, Jo has temporarily bent the laws of fictional space and time to allow various literary universes to converge long enough for me to ask different characters a few questions. Since I spend a lot of time in the Amaranthine series quizzing vampires on what they’re doing, where they’re going and why, Jo thought I would be the perfect interviewer.

Today we are interviewing John Hendry, who is from Roger Lawrence’s horror novel Kongomato.

Katelina: Hello John! Can you tell us a little about yourself?

John: I’m an Exo-biologist which is just a fancy name for someone who searches for mythical or just extinct animals. I like the job because I don’t have to deal with people too often. I live in London now since I got fired from my job with a university which funded my research. I’m in my mid thirties. I’m no Brad Pitt but the girls seem to like my appearance and I am always keen to be with them when my research allows, which is not often. For some reason they don’t really get what I do.

K: Sounds safe enough. Not the kind of job where you have a lot of enemies, is it?

J: My biggest enemies are the government bureaucrats I managed to upset by breaking into that foreign embassy and stealing secrets. Oh, and calling the Prime Minister of Great Britain a rude word couldn’t have helped much. Compared to them, the monster currently roaming the skies of London and eating people, is relatively harmless.

K: Whoa! Monster? There’s a monster?

J: Yes, that’s what the Kongomato of the title is. A rather large, nasty monster.

K: Wow, so you’re fighting a monster?

J: Yes. I’m trying to end this madness before it’s too late by working with someone I hate and cannot trust while trying to work out what is really going on behind the scenes.

K: Do you hate the monster?

J: No not really. He’s just looking for food. But if it comes near me and I’ve got a gun, I’ll kill it.

wet rubble 3

photo by Jo

K: So, you mentioned government bureaucrats as enemies. I imagine there’s some kind of government cover up – or else it’s all their fault?

J:…

K: Are you saying you really don’t understand what the government is doing?

J: No I really don’t. Our government wouldn’t do anything to hurt us, then cover it up – would they?

K: Ah. I see. But you’re fighting the monster and fighting the government. Doesn’t that make you a hero?

J: To which I’d answer yes, but in reality, not really. I’m terrified most of the time.

K: Well there’s nothing wrong with that. I’m scared a lot of the time, and I’m just dealing with vampires! I don’t suppose there’s any time for a romance in all this, is there?

J: I have to work with my ex-girlfriend, whom it turns out, was working for someone else against me. So I never thought I would meet another girl that I could love. But now I’ve met a young doctor called Annie. My friend Carl has a thing for her. I can’t help myself. I think there could be something between us but it’s going to hurt Carl.

K: Man, nothing in your life is easy! What would you say is the one event that has helped to shape who you are?

J: My mum and dad’s money. I never had to work really hard and a result, I’m very selfish. It’s a bad trait and I hate it in myself.

K: Ah. Well how do you evolve during the story?

J: I’m a user. I’ve been doing it for years and hate myself for it. So now I am trying very hard to stop it and repay my friend, Carl’s kindness. I think I’m managing it, some of the time.

Graduated cylinders and beaker filled with chemical compounds

photo by Horia Varlan via Flickr

K: Well that’s good, right? You’re getting better. And you recognize the problems. They say that’s the first step to recovery. What would you say is the one thing you want the most in the world?

J: My own research project, where I discover the remains of the most fantastic mythical creature. A bit childish, I know, but we all have our dreams.

K: Nothing wrong with that. At least it’s a goal. It looks like we’re almost out of time. If you could say one thing to your readers, what would it be?

J: If you have true friends, don’t abuse them. I’ve done it all my life and now I don’t know who I can trust.

K: And finally, If you could say one thing to your author, what would it be?

J: I’d say: Can I have a bit more time with Annie. And why couldn’t she live in a different block of flats from Carl, and why did he have to know her? And of course – if you’re thinking of it – please don’t kill me off.

K: And with that we’re out of time. You can find John in Roger Lawrence’s Kongomato available at

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Kongomato-ebook/dp/B008GMVZ08/

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/276611

And a special thank you to Roger Lawrence for playing along!

 

If you’re an author and would like your character(s) to be interviewed by me, then check out this very cool page that has all the details:

 http://joleenenaylor.wordpress.com/character-interviews/

6 Comments
by Joleene Naylor on April 13, 2013  •  Permalink
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Posted by Joleene Naylor on April 13, 2013

http://joleenenaylor.wordpress.com/2013/04/13/interview-with-john-hendry/

Interview with Ker-ris

Hello! My name is Katelina, and welcome to Weekend Character Interviews. Using state of the art-mumbo-jumbo author magic, Jo has temporarily bent the laws of fictional space and time to allow various literary universes to converge long enough for me to ask different characters a few questions. Since I spend a lot of time in the Amaranthine series quizzing vampires on what they’re doing, where they’re going and why, Jo thought I would be the perfect interviewer.

Today we are interviewing Ker-ris from Barbara Tarn’s Sci-Fi/Fantasy stories Technological Angel and Mind Link. And can I just say he’s… um… nice looking. *cough* You’ll see.

K: Hello Ker-ris! Can you tell me a little about yourself?

Ker-ris: In Chantal’s words (you can read her journal in Technological Angel): Those Sire are real hunks! I mean, Ker-ris is gorgeous too! But he’s permanently dazed, as if he were on drugs. Except it’s not drugs, but a mind-controlling device the size of a grain of rice. Kol-ian told me it was injected in his brother-in-law’s veins on his wedding night. Talk about control freak! I mean, Lin-sun was beautiful, what was she afraid of? Jesus, I should stop drooling over handsome alien men! Now, that was the previous book, if you haven’t read it yet, go and get it now. I’ve been freed since, but according to both my late wife and my brother-in-law, I’m also the sexiest Sire alive, especially when I dance. Hope that will be enough for physical description! *grin*

K: Oh, yeah, I think that will do. *glances towards doorway in case Jorick is eavesdropping*. So, um, where are you from?

Ker-ris:  I’m stuck on Marc’harid (the Sire home planet) for the next 10 years, as I’ve been included in the Council of Five that took the place of the late Emperor. In Mind Link you’ll see me fall in love again, to the happiness of my son, the smartest boy in the universe.

K: In the first book you were minor character, right? How did you go from that to stardom?

Ker-ris: Yes I was a very secondary character in the original story. But being what I am and having finally a face in the Author’s mind (she has watched waaay too many Bollywood movies in the past couple of years!), I’m growing in importance as a character. Even my son is getting more room because he’s so smart! We’re stealing the spotlight from Kol-ian and his crew! *grin* She likes to blame me for her procrastination on other works (such as the Chronicles of the Varian Empire – the last book was late because she was listening to us. And actually, one hasn’t been written at all, haha!)… So I’ll keep pestering the Sadist Author until she writes also the story of my marriage (a very sad story, but you do like to cry, don’t you?)!

K: Well, sometimes I do. How would you say you evolve during the course of the series, besides gaining the spotlight?

Ker-ris: I first show up dazed, but now I’m back in control of my own mind and life. I’m a Sire aristocrat with a very special gift, which means I naturally do something that hasn’t been done in half a century – and only in my family, as the last to perform it was my aunt Lisa-mae. The mind link is wonderful, but can be deadly. Still, I think it’s something worth dying for.

K:  Do you have an enemy or nemesis? If so, who are they and how did they become an enemy?

space

photo by jram23 via flickr

Ker-ris: Not me, not really. It’s my wicked brother-in-law who has many. And as we happen to be very very very fond of each other, the fallback is on me. Okay, we’re in love. There, I said it. So it’s his enemy that comes after us in this book.

K: So you’re in love with your brother-in-law? I guess that answers whether you’re romantically involved or not!

Ker-ris: Yes, with my wicked brother-in-law. I guess I was meant to spend my life with that branch of the Vaurabi… I loved his sister because she was the most beautiful Sire alive. I love him because… I don’t know. He’s five years younger than me and he did things for all of us I can only dream of. He’s both strong and fragile and… well, the mind link did the rest!

K: Do you face a challenge making those around you accept it, or is there a bigger challenge?

Ker-ris: Not at all, the challenge is the mind link. Kol-ian is so traumatized, he almost kills us both.

K: What is the one event that you feel has helped to shape your personality?

Ker-ris: The mind link. Can you tell it’s something very important in a telepath’s life? *wink*

K: What is the one thing you want the most in the whole world?

Ker-ris: Leave in peace with Kol-ian and Shan-leo (my son). Not going to happen yet, I’m afraid.

K: Authors never let characters have peace! If you could say one thing to your readers, what would it be?

planets

by sezzles via flickr

Ker-ris: I’m easy-going and Mansion Shermac is very big, so if you happen to catch a starship that takes you to Marc’harid, feel free to come and visit. You’ll meet Shan-leo, Kol-ian and also his crew. And you can see the Falstelo (originally belonging to my family, but now it’s under Kol-ian’s name – he renounced his birthright, so I gave him a couple of gifts).

K: I just might do that if I ever escape the clutches of my evil author. Speaking of them, if you could say one thing to your author, what would it be?

Ker-ris: Stop torturing me and Kol-ian, please! I know you’ve got more for us! Have mercy! Kol-ian is right, you’re the true Master Sadist!

And with that we’re out of time! You can find Ker-ris in Barbara Tarn’s Sci-fi/Fantasy Mind Link at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AQMSFBS

 & Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/267058

Also stay tuned for book 3 – The Slave Trader, or maybe some Star Minds snippets on Barb’s blog that will give you insight into the characters past.

And a special thank you to Barbara Tarn for playing along!

If you’re an author and would like your character(s) to be interviewed by me, then check out this very cool page that has all the details:

http://joleenenaylor.wordpress.com/character-interviews/

5 Comments
by Joleene Naylor on December 22, 2012  •  Permalink
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Posted by Joleene Naylor on December 22, 2012

http://joleenenaylor.wordpress.com/2012/12/22/interview-with-ker-ris/

Interview with Kol-ian

Hello! My name is Katelina, and welcome to Weekend Character Interviews. Using state of the art-mumbo-jumbo author magic, Jo has temporarily bent the laws of fictional space and time to allow various literary universes to converge long enough for me to ask different characters a few questions. Since I spend a lot of time in the Amaranthine series quizzing vampires on what they’re doing, where they’re going and why, Jo thought I would be the perfect interviewer.

Today we are interviewing Kol-ian from Barbara Tarn’s Sci-Fi/Fantasy stories Technological Angel and Mind Link..

Katelina: Tell me a little about yourself.

Kol-ian: Hello, my name is Cole – well, that’s what I’d say if we met somewhere on your planet, actually. If we got to chat a little, you’d probably manage to find out my real name is Kol-ian and that I’m a Sire – or alien Humanoid. I’m a telepath. I reached your planet in 1933 and left in 1982. I’m currently orbiting around Earth and hacked through your internet to chat with you. My main physical feature is black bat-like retractile wings, hence the definition of Technological Angel. That’s me and the title of the book, the first of the Star Minds series by Barbara G.Tarn out at the beginning of December in e-book format – for the print version please be patient until the new year.

K: Did you enjoy your stay on Earth? How well do you get along with Earthlings?

Kol-ian: Yeah, I love Earth’s music. Do I get along with Earthlings? We’re very much alike. I blended in perfectly during my stay. Although I have “something” that makes me irresistible to you all – but don’t tell Daniele, he still thinks he’s Casanova, so he’d never admit he likes me!

K: Why did you come to earth?

Kol-ian: A broken heart. I had a crush on a winged being you’d call angel (he has white feathered wings, but he’s probably a little too dark-skinned for your Christian god) but is actually an alien hybrid (half Humanoid and half Carian – they’re the bird people, FYI). He’s gorgeous, but also heartless. But they tell me I’m heartless too, so I guess I deserve him…

K: So you’re not in a relationship, then?

Kol-ian: Not in this book. Okay, sort of. Before leaving Earth I met Chantal in Paris, France and she asked me to take her to the stars, which I did. She loves me, but I can’t say I love her. Hence they tell me I’m heartless. I’m not. I’m still recovering from my unrequited crush for the hybrid, that’s all.

K: Do you have an enemy or nemesis?

Protection pale color

Not quite Kol-ian but hot just the same – by me ;)

Kol-ian: In Earth years I was 20-25 when I lived on Earth, and my nemesis was my father, no, actually, my whole family, damn them! Heartless control freaks all of them!

K: So is your biggest challenge dealing with your family, or something else?

Kol-ian: It’s to try getting rid of invulnerable people – or better, people with genetically reinforced skin. You might end up chased all over the galaxy and killed by a bounty hunter like my sister’s father-in-law!

K: Wow, that sounds pretty dramatic. Are those events that helped shape your personality, or is there something bigger?

Kol-ian: That would be a big spoiler… When I left your planet, I wasn’t really thinking about revenge or anything, but then that happened and sent me on the warpath… I couldn’t forgive, no way!

K: What is the one thing you want the most in the whole world?

Kol-ian: I don’t know. At the moment I’m simply grateful they didn’t lock me in a prison forever. And I’m kind of sick of seeing people falling in love around me.

K: Well, maybe if you weren’t heartless *cough* no, no I didn’t say anything. Um.. where am I? oh, yes, if you could say one thing to your readers, what would it be?

Kol-ian: Please come and meet my crew! I stole an abandoned starship back in 1982, had a complete makeover done and called it Falstelo, which means Shooting Star. I have “hired” (we work together and I don’t really pay them, we earn our living as adventurers and rogues) a female cyborg, a mutant, two Earthlings (Chantal and the very Italian latin lover Daniele – actually, he’s a sci-fi geek, LOL) and more came on board later, so come over and visit. Of course you’d need a space shuttle, try asking the guys at www.citizensinspace.org, they look for volunteers for orbital flights – that’s all you need for now! But hurry, as we’re supposed to go back to Marc’harid (my home planet) soon…

K: Are they in the next book, Mind Link, too?

Kol-ian: Yes. If you enjoy Technological Angel, stay tuned. Star Minds is a series, so you will have more. We’ve been tormenting our Author to write it down for a few months now (hence her fantasy world suffers, mwhahahaha! We stole all her free time!). I mean, she already wrote a couple of versions in the past (in Italian), but she’s finally fine-tuning our adventures and finding more to say about us – better late than never.

In fact she might copy your author at some point, and add short stories about secondary characters when the main storyline is done. I’ll let my future lover answer these same questions and tell you more about the rest when book 2 comes out (just before Christmas, so not a very long wait)!

K: and speaking of authors, do you have anything to say to yours?

Extrasolar planet WASP-11b/HAT-P-10b

by Raven Vasquez via Flickr

Kol-ian: I know what you plan for me and my soon to be lover and I hate it! You’re the true Master Sadist, you wicked Author!

And with that we’re out of time! You can find Kol-ian in Barbara Tarn’s upcoming Sci-fi/Fantasy Mind Link as well as Technological Angel available at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Technological-Angel-Star-Minds-ebook/dp/B00AGHJO0O/

 & Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/260657

Also stay tuned for book 3 – The Slave Trader, or maybe some Star Minds snippets on barb’s blog that will give you insight into the characters past.

And a special thank you to Barbara Tarn for playing along!

If you’re an author and would like your character(s) to be interviewed by me, then check out this very cool page that has all the details:

http://joleenenaylor.wordpress.com/character-interviews/


13 Comments
by Joleene Naylor on December 15, 2012  •  Permalink
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Posted by Joleene Naylor on December 15, 2012

http://joleenenaylor.wordpress.com/2012/12/15/interview-with-kol-ian/

Interview with Sin

Hello! My name is Katelina, and welcome to Weekend Character Interviews. Using state of the art-mumbo-jumbo author magic, Jo has temporarily bent the laws of fictional space and time to allow various literary universes to converge long enough for me to ask different characters a few questions. Since I spend a lot of time in the Amaranthine series quizzing vampires on what they’re doing, where they’re going and why, Jo thought I would be the perfect interviewer.

Today we are interviewing Sin from Shaun Allan’s novel Sin.

Katelina: Hello Sin! Welcome! So the book is named after you?

Sin: Yep. The book I’m in is called Sin.  Yes, the same as my name.  That wasn’t my doing – I’m not being all self-obsessed or anything like that.  Blame the writer, some guy called Shaun Allan or something.

K: Must be nice. My series is named after a flower or a rock or something. I dunno, my lousy author found it on thesaurus.com. Enough of that, why don’t you tell us a little bit about yourself?

S: I’m just an ordinary guy.

Well, I wish I was just an ordinary guy.  Unfortunately I’m not.  People have a habit of dying around me.  As such, though I’m originally from Grimsby, an old fishing port in the UK, I’m now residing in a mental asylum.

I’m 5’9”, a few pounds more than I would like but not many and my hair is grey at my temples.  It’s been that way for years.  I can’t think why.  Oh, and I’ve got a nice bum.

Well, I may not have, but I thought I’d throw that in there.

K: Wow, well at least you have a sense of humor still. You say people die around you? Um… I’m not going to ask how. Heh-heh.  Though I’ve seen a lot of people die, and as someone with a …  maybe similar experience(No, no, I don’t want to know HOW they die… I don’t judge) I have to ask, are you haunted by those that have died? 

S: Yes.  I hear their screams every night and most days.  When it gets too much, I kick-off so they come and top up my drug levels.  Not that it works particularly well.

K: They give you drugs? What the heck! I don’t get drugs! Moving on, would you say you evolve through the story?

S: I do, yes.  In various ways.  At the start, people tend not to be keen on me, which is a shame as I’m actually lovely (honest).  As the story goes on, they realise that, although bad things happen, I do try my best to stop them.  Also, I do end up getting a handle on these issues (without giving anything away) and do my best to make good.

Asylum for Insane, Queen West, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (1910)

photo by Toronto Public Library Special Collections under CC license

K: Well, you seem okay to me. But then my boyfriend rips vampires’ hearts out, so you know. Speaking of that, do you have any enemies in this book?

S:  I do, though I don’t realise it to begin with.  There’s Dr. Connors.  To the outside world, he’s a talented psychiatrist whose only intent is to help and care for people.  Well, that’s not entirely true.  He knows what I can do and wants to use it for himself.

K: So is defeating him your biggest challenge in the book?

S: No. It’s accepting myself, I suppose.  Coming to terms with everything that I’d done.  And facing my sister, who died – although she might just be in my head.

K: In your head, huh? (Still not judging). So, how about the romance angle in the story? Are you involved with someone?

S:  I was, once.  But she used to take a certain bus to work…

K: Um… okay. I’m going to guess… nope, no guessing. So what would you say is the one thing you want most?

S: To be normal.  To be able to watch TV, walk down the street or eat a bacon butty and not worry if people will die.

K: I’ve heard of bacon butties, but what are they? How do you make them?

S: Don’t use smoked bacon, and make sure it’s just edging on crispy.  Then you only need bread and butter.  Why mess about with the taste by adding ketchup or brown sauce?

Commence Battle Bacon!

photo by Mafu under CC license

K: So it’s a bacon and butter sandwich? Interesting. That actually sounds kind of good.

S: Oh!  Why did you make me think of a bacon butty?  We only get slop in here, so the last thing I need to be thinking of is a crispy bacon butty… Thanks…

K: Sorry about that, though you did mention them first… You’re not a serial killer are you? No, never mind, don’t tell me. Let’s just go with this question: What event do you feel shaped your personality?

S: Probably being called ‘Sin’ by my parents.  It caused a lot of beatings in the playground and a lot of jokes from my father.  It meant I treat most things, good or bad, with a dry sense of humour laced with sarcasm.

K: Oh. I thought that was like a nickname. It looks like we’re running out of time, but I have two questions left. If you could say one thing to your readers, what would it be?

S: Don’t flip a coin you happen to find on the street.  See a penny, pick it up and all day long you’ll have good luck.  That’s what they told you.  They lied.

K: That’s a bit cryptic. And if you could say one thing to your author?

S: Couldn’t you have written for Disney instead?

K: That’s a good one! I’d ask mine that but she’s such a psycho Disney wouldn’t take her!

   

And with that we’re out of time! You can find Sin in his own self-titled novel Sin by Shaun Allan, available at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Sin-ebook/dp/B00883KV3C/

And a special thank you to Shaun Allan for playing along!

If you’re an author and would like your character(s) to be interviewed by me, then check out this very cool page that has all the details:

http://joleenenaylor.wordpress.com/character-interviews/

11 Comments
by Joleene Naylor on September 1, 2012  •  Permalink
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Posted by Joleene Naylor on September 1, 2012

http://joleenenaylor.wordpress.com/2012/09/01/interview-with-sin/

Verchiel Gone Wild – Blogjacking Day 5

Mysterious narrator: Yesterday we left Verchiel and Jorick fighting in the attic of the Amaranthine Character’s Complex. Apparantly during an interview, Donna dared Verchiel to give Katelina a birthday surprise. The idiot did it, and Jorick isn’t amused. Now, our hero… wait. Which one is the hero?

Ummmmm…

Anyway, Jorick has Verchiel by the throat and…

.

Verchiel: *choke*cough* But you can’t kill me! I’m too important!

Jorick: Says who?

*POOF*

A cloud of mysterious pink smoke appears and then dissipates to reveal… the author, who by the way is also the mysterious narrator.

Jo the Amazing Author: STOP! Jorick, you know better! *waves hand. There is the clicky clack noise of keys typing and suddenly Jorick is standing on the other side of the room* I’m sorry, but you can’t kill him.

J: And why not? He isn’t necessary to the series! There were two books before he came along!

V: *rubbing throat* but people love me.

Jo the Amazing Author: That may be, Jorick, but he’s here now, and he’s staying.  You might as well face it, he’s necessary to certain plot details. As for you, *turns to Verchiel* Is this the sort of thing you get up to when you think I’m too busy to notice? Is it?

V: Um… no? Ah, come on! It was just a bit of fun. It was Donna’s idea.

Jo the Amazing Author: Don’t you try to blame this on her! I saw your birthday dance, young man and I was appalled! Appalled! I taught you better than that didn’t I? To think one of my own characters would sing such a terrible rendition of happy birthday! I’m going to have to send you to voice lessons!

J: WHAT!!?!

V: Well, it was a bit rushed…

Jo the Amazing Author: Rushed or not, it’s obvious you need some professional help! And you! *turns to Jorick* And you. Some anger management would not be amiss. Alas, there’s very little time. Though you may be unaware, the rough draft of Patrick is finished and we are going to spend September together working on book five. I suggest that you BOTH have your issues handled by then because you’re going to be spending plenty of time together. Oh, and Verchiel? You might want some pants. Your natural hair color is showing. *snickers*

.

Mysterious narrator AKA the Amazing Author Jo: Once again the Amazing Author Jo saves the day! As was mentioned, Patrick, the full length novel, is now in beta stage and will hopefully be edited and released this autumn, with Heart of the Raven to follow this winter. Meanwhile, keep your eyes peeled for the upcoming Amaranthine two-fer Special Editions packed with extras like artwork and “deleted scenes”.

.

Special thanks to Donna for inspiring this blog series! 

PS – and because I KNOW you wanna see…..

by me ;)

10 Comments
by Joleene Naylor on August 29, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Verchiel's blogjacking, Weekend Interview
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Posted by Joleene Naylor on August 29, 2012

http://joleenenaylor.wordpress.com/2012/08/29/verchiel-gone-wild-blogjacking-day-5/

Verchiel Gone Wild – Blogjacking Day 4

Verchiel here, the hot redheaded vampire from Joleene Naylor’s Amaranthine series. If you’ve missed the last three posts let me bring you up to date. While interviewing me, Donna dared me to give Katelina a birthday surprise. So, I did. Apparently it’s upset Jorick a little bit, and I’m currently hiding in the rafters in the attic here in the good ol’ Amaranthine Character’s Complex, waiting for him to cool down.

Yes, that’s why I’m whispering. That and I don’t want to attract any bats. I’ve heard they nest in your hair. And since hair is all I’m wearing at the moment… well, you can imagine.

Oh crap! There he is!

Jorick: *shakes fist* Come down here now so I can kill you.

Verchiel: Hmm. The offer sounds tempting but, no. I’m afraid I have to pass. Sorry.

J: Then I’ll come up there. *jumps. Grabs rafter. Swings up and lands on the rafter next to Verchiel* Do you want to tell me what you were thinking now, or after I’ve ripped your heart out?

V: It’s going to be hard to talk then, isn’t it?

J *growls and reaches to grab Verchiel’s shirt, only, there is no shirt.*

V: I’m sure you don’t want to kill a naked man? *edges away* How would that look? People might think it was a lover’s tryst gone awry. You wouldn’t want that kind of reputation, now would you?

J: *growls and snatches at him again, only Verchiel jumps down too fast*

V: Oh come on, have a sense of humor. It was just a dare! I couldn’t very well back down and ruin my reputation, now could I? And Kately’s none the worse for wear. She’s been doing all those time travel scenes for that Patrick prequel lately, and I don’t see you beating Patrick up just because she saw him naked!

J: *drops down and feigns right. Verchiel hops left and Jorick grabs him by the throat* That’s different and if I had my way, I just might.

V: *cough*choke*Come on now, you *cough* know you can’t really kill me!

J: Watch me.

.

Mysterious narrator: Oh no! It looks like this is the end for Verchiel! Tune in tomorrow for “Smear of Vampire on the Wall” or “Verchiel’s Last Laugh”.

9 Comments
by Joleene Naylor on August 28, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Verchiel's blogjacking, Weekend Interview
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Posted by Joleene Naylor on August 28, 2012

http://joleenenaylor.wordpress.com/2012/08/28/verchiel-gone-wild-blogjacking-day-4/

Verchiel Gone Wild – Blogjacking Day 3

Mysterious Narrator: While being interviewed by Donna, Verchiel was dared to give Katelina a birthday surprise. Unable to resist, he has readied himself, and now we will see how it goes….

.

Katelina and Jorick were snuggled up on the couch in the character lounge, watching a movie. It took three hours to agree on one, and in the end they only reached an agreement because Katelina let Jorick have his way. The foreign film lived up to its promise. Five minutes in and she was already depressed. She didn’t understand why people made movies like that.

The voice that trilled through the air was almost a relief, or it would have been if it was anyone besides Verchiel.

“Oh, Kately!”

Katelina buried her face in Jorick’s arm and stifled a groan. It was bad enough that she’d had to pull time-traveling overtime the last month to appear in the Patrick prequel, and that she’d had no scenes with Jorick, but now, on her one day off…

Jorick snarled over the top of the movie, “Go away!”

The overly cheerful answer floated through the doorway, “Sorry, I can’t do that! Are you ready?”

Katelina groaned again. The only way to get rid of him was to humor him. “Ready for what?”

“Ta-da!”

As if by magic, Verchiel was suddenly in front of her, blocking the television. Perched on his head was a sequined top hat, and on his feet were matching tap shoes. The only thing in the middle was miles of pale white skin and a sign that hung around his hips and proclaimed “Happy Un-Birthday” in multicolored letters.

Her eyes bulged from their socket. “What in the-”

She didn’t get to finish before he shouted, “Go!” Music blared from the adjoining room and, in super-speed, he sang, “Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you! Happy birthday dear Kately, Happy birthday to you!”

Jorick was on his feet as the last word fell. He snarled and snatched at the redhead, but Verchiel was too fast. He disappeared and seemed to materialize on the other side of the room. “Sorry, I’m afraid I don’t know when your real birthday is. Though, if you tell me, we could do this again?”

“That will be hard, since you’ll be dead!”

Jorick lunged again and Verchiel tossed aside his sign with a wink and disappeared through the doorway. Jorick bounded after him and Katelina sat frozen in place, her eyes wide and her mouth gaping. There was only one thought running through her startled mind:

“Well, I guess now we know he’s not a natural redhead.”

.

Mysterious Narrator: Tune in tomorrow to see the disastrous conclusion.

16 Comments
by Joleene Naylor on August 27, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Verchiel's blogjacking, Weekend Interview
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Posted by Joleene Naylor on August 27, 2012

http://joleenenaylor.wordpress.com/2012/08/27/verchiel-gone-wild-blogjacking-day-3/

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