Interview with Rebecka Saberhagen

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 have Rebecka Saberhagen (I love her name!), the vampire heroine from Fledgling, the first book in the Coiree Guardian series by Mari Miniatt.  

A nice black cover 🙂

Katelina:  Hello, Rebecka and thanks for being here! Though I’ve had fun with my mortal guests the last couple of weeks, I have to say it’s great to get back to some vampires! (That is, vampires who don’t want to eat me!)

 Rebecka: You’re safe. I don’t plan on attacking you, or anything.

 K: *laughs* Always best to check. So tell me a little about yourself!

 R: Well, I live (ha!) in Deerbow City. You can see I’m a heavy girl, and I hate my hair. Although not as much as I used to.

 K: So when Fledgling opens you’re a mortal, right? And then you get turned into a vampire?

R: That’s right. Steopa bites me.  It was horrible, scary, and painful. But if he hadn’t, I would still be the “drama queen” as a friend put it.

K: “Drama Queen”?

 R: Yes. During the story I learn to be myself. I had a point in my life where people took care of me, and I expected it from everyone. Looking back, I was a real horrible person. But then I learned I was strong. I didn’t need people to look after me.

 K: Oh, I see! Would you say that’s your biggest challenge in the story?

R: No, the biggest challenge would be learning to be a vampire. It was a challenge in that there was so much to learn. But a fun challenge.

from Angie22arts

K: Hmmm. I dunno. I mean it’s such a commitment, isn’t it? Once you’re a vampire, you’re a vampire with no going back. Though, I guess it helps if you’re romantically involved with your vampire, huh? *wink*

R: Actually, it’s not romance. Hard to explain to non vampires. But Steopa and I are linked. I suppose it’s like that bond that couples develop after a few decades. It happened when he bit me. But luckily my friend stepped in and explained to me that Steopa wasn’t the monster I thought he was. He taught me a lot in the first few days. I know he is good looking. He could have been ravishing village women on horseback, if you know what I mean. But that is not what I… like about him. I like how he let me learn on my own, too. He never tried to control me, or tell me when or what I should do. He showed me and let me decide. Not since my real father, had someone done that.

K: Speaking of family, how did they take the vampire transformation, or do you see much of them now?

R: I see my brother John, yes. But then I found out before Steopa bit me that he had been feeding our friend Vincent. I had been living with a vampire in the same building and didn’t know it (I told you I was self-centered!). Anyway, Johnny didn’t seem to be too freaked out. So I can still see him. As for my mother, I am staying away. Too much temptation to harm her.

K: If she’s as annoying as my mother I understand – *cough* – erm, I mean, anyway, so, being a vampire has really changed your life. I have to admit it would be kind of nice to be super strong and not be scared of anything, anymore. Or, is there something that scares you still?

R: Ghouls. Humans don’t understand when they see those things. I think that sightings of them inspired zombies. But they are vampires that could not or would not drink human blood. Now they “live” in cemeteries digging up corpses to eat. And sometimes go after fresh meat. They don’t care what or who they eat. Steopa had a chunk of his arm taken out by one. But I knock it away. First time I realized how strong I had gotten. They are nasty vile, parasites. I hate running into them.

Photo by Mark Hill

K: Wow! I was thinking something like rejection – holy crap those sound scary! *shivers* You don’t have any other enemies, do you?

R: Enemy by proxy. This short vampire by the name of Jalmari. He locked horns a few times with Steopa. And during the story was threatening my friends and family. We had to stop him. He was up to some real nasty things.

K: What is it with authors writing us into books full of nasty things? Is yours as bad as mine?

R: My author did a good job. She could have made me thin, pretty, and strong from the beginning. I thank her for not doing that. Though, I’m sorry the readers had to meet me when I was difficult to deal with.

K: Well, if you don’t change and evolve then what’s the point? Who wants to read a book about someone who is already perfect? It takes all the fun out! Sadly, I think we’re almost out of time, but before you have to go back to your universe, what is the one thing you want the most in the whole world?

R: Before I met Steopa. Something to settle my head. That’s why I had so many pills. Now, I want to spend the rest of my time with him. I can’t see me going anywhere else.

That’s one of the sweetest answers I’ve gotten so far! Thanks so much for stopping by, Rebecka! I have to say you’re one of the nicest vampires I’ve ever met! It’s been a real change not to have to fear for my life for a few minutes!

You can find Rebecka in Fledgling, the first book in the Coriee Guardians series by Mari Miniatt. The book is available in soft cover or Kindle from Amazon  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0982666004?ie=UTF8&tag=thecoi02-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0982666004

Or from Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/13210

And a special thanks to Mari for playing along! Be sure to check out her website at http://mariminiatt.com

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:

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

Posted by Joleene Naylor on May 28, 2011

https://joleenenaylor.wordpress.com/2011/05/28/interview-with-rebecka-saberhagen/